A Validated Numerical-Experimental Design Methodology for a Movable Supersonic Ejector Compressor for Waste-Heat Recovery

Author(s):  
Sajad Alimohammadi ◽  
Tim Persoons ◽  
Darina B. Murray ◽  
Mohamadreza S. Tehrani ◽  
Bijan Farhanieh ◽  
...  

The aim of this paper is to develop the technical knowledge, especially the optimum geometries, for the design and manufacturing of a supersonic gas–gas ejector for a waste-heat driven vehicle cooling system. Although several studies have been performed to investigate the effects of geometrical configurations of gas–gas ejectors, a progressive design methodology of an ejector compressor for application to a vehicle cooling system has not yet been described. First, an analytical model for calculation of the ejector optimum geometry for a wide range of operating conditions is developed, using R134a as the working fluid with a rated cooling capacity of 2.5 kW. The maximum values of entrainment ratio (ω) have been estimated by correlation of the main parameters in a nondimensional form. The optimum values of nozzle throat diameter (dnt) and mixing chamber diameter (dmc) thus obtained are used as a starting point for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) optimization covering a wide range of geometrical configurations. To assess the effect of various dimensional quantities, an optimization technique has been proposed for calculation of the most efficient geometry of the target ejector for manufacturing. Using a vehicle cooling system as a test case, the final optimized dimensions are reported and discussed. An experimental validation confirms the CFD results and the ejector performance with a normalized deviation of 5% between observed and simulated results, demonstrating that the methodology is a valid ejector design tool for a wide range of applications.

Author(s):  
Sergei Gusev ◽  
Martijn van den Broek

Waste heat recovery has become very important in the last decennia. The Organic Rankine Cycle is the most popular technology to transform waste heat into mechanical work or electricity. While large and medium scale installations are widely available on the market for various temperature and power levels, small scale ORCs are still in a pre-commercial phase because of a relatively high specific price. To make small scale ORCs more attractive for potential customers, the price has to be drastically reduced which means reducing the manufacturing and assembling operations, the number of parts in assemblies and unification of these assemblies. In addition, the performance has to be increased by using advanced cycle architectures and the right fluids. Not only the right choice of the working fluid is important but also the expander built-in volume ratio (BVR) has to be optimal or improved. Neither a fixed volume ratio expander, nor a turbine can provide an optimal expansion of a working fluid in a wide range of operating conditions [1]. In automotive applications, for instance, a strongly fluctuating heat input will be introduced to an ORC unit. To estimate losses caused by non-optimal operation, a model of a volumetric expander has been developed and verified using the result of extensive test campaigns with a screw expander. The volume ratio of the expander mentioned cannot be physically changed, so under widely changing pressure ratio, caused by varying inlet waste heat and ambient temperatures, it operates mostly far from its design point. The model gives a possibility to vary the BVR in order to compare a fixed-volume ratio expander with a variable one. Benefits from replacement of this expander by an adaptive one are studied. Only steady states are taken into account since there is no dynamic model of this expander developed yet. As a consequence of the results obtained, a concept of a variable volume ratio expander is proposed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984
Author(s):  
Ramin Moradi ◽  
Emanuele Habib ◽  
Enrico Bocci ◽  
Luca Cioccolanti

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are some of the most suitable technologies to produce electricity from low-temperature waste heat. In this study, a non-regenerative, micro-scale ORC system was tested in off-design conditions using R134a as the working fluid. The experimental data were then used to tune the semi-empirical models of the main components of the system. Eventually, the models were used in a component-oriented system solver to map the system electric performance at varying operating conditions. The analysis highlighted the non-negligible impact of the plunger pump on the system performance Indeed, the experimental results showed that the low pump efficiency in the investigated operating range can lead to negative net electric power in some working conditions. For most data points, the expander and the pump isentropic efficiencies are found in the approximate ranges of 35% to 55% and 17% to 34%, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum net electric power was about 200 W with a net electric efficiency of about 1.2%, thus also stressing the importance of a proper selection of the pump for waste heat recovery applications.


Author(s):  
Noman Yousuf ◽  
Timothy Anderson ◽  
Roy Nates

Abstract Despite being identified nearly a century ago, the diffusion absorption refrigeration (DAR) cycle has received relatively little attention. One of the strongest attractions of the DAR cycle lies in the fact that it is thermally driven and does not require high value work. This makes it a prime candidate for harnessing low grade heat from solar collectors, or the waste heat from stationary generators, to produce cooling. However, to realize the benefits of the DAR cycle, there is a need to develop an improved understanding of how design parameters influence its performance. In this vein, this work developed a new parametric model that can be used to examine the performance of the DAR cycle for a range of operating conditions. The results showed that the cycle's performance was particularly sensitive to several factors: the rate of heat added and the temperature of the generator, the effectiveness of the gas and solution heat exchangers, the mass flowrate of the refrigerant and the type of the working fluid. It was shown that can deliver good performance at low generator temperatures if the refrigerant mass fraction in the strong solution is made as high as possible. Moreover, it was shown that a H2O-LiBr working pair could be useful for achieving cooling at low generator temperatures.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip L. Andrew ◽  
Harika S. Kahveci

Avoiding aerodynamic separation and excessive shock losses in gas turbine turbomachinery components can reduce fuel usage and thus reduce operating cost. In order to achieve this, blading designs should be made robust to a wide range of operating conditions. Consequently, a design tool is needed—one that can be executed quickly for each of many operating conditions and on each of several design sections, which will accurately capture loss, turning, and loading. This paper presents the validation of a boundary layer code, MISES, versus experimental data from a 2D linear cascade approximating the performance of a moderately loaded mid-pitch section from a modern aircraft high-pressure turbine. The validation versus measured loading, turning, and total pressure loss is presented for a range of exit Mach numbers from ≈0.5 to 1.2 and across a range of incidence from −10 deg to +14.5 deg relative to design incidence.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Tamm ◽  
D. Yogi Goswami

A combined thermal power and cooling cycle proposed by Goswami is under intensive investigation, both theoretically and experimentally. The proposed cycle combines the Rankine and absorption refrigeration cycles, producing refrigeration while power is the primary goal. A binary ammonia-water mixture is used as the working fluid. This cycle can be used as a bottoming cycle using waste heat from a conventional power cycle or as an independent cycle using low temperature sources such as geothermal and solar energy. An experimental system was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of the cycle and to compare the experimental results with the theoretical simulation. Results showed that the vapor generation and absorption condensation processes work experimentally, exhibiting expected trends, but with deviations from ideal and equilibrium modeling. The potential for combined turbine work and refrigeration output was evidenced in operating the system. Analysis of losses showed where improvements could be made, in preparation for further testing over a broader range of operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Fredrik Ahlgren ◽  
Maria E. Mondejar ◽  
Magnus Genrup ◽  
Marcus Thern

Maritime transportation is a significant contributor to SOx, NOx and particle matter emissions, even though it has a quite low CO2 impact. New regulations are being enforced in special areas that limit the amount of emissions from the ships. This fact, together with the high fuel prices, is driving the marine industry towards the improvement of the energy efficiency of current ship engines and the reduction of their energy demand. Although more sophisticated and complex engine designs can improve significantly the efficiency of the energy systems in ships, waste heat recovery arises as the most influent technique for the reduction of the energy consumption. In this sense, it is estimated that around 50% of the total energy from the fuel consumed in a ship is wasted and rejected in fluid and exhaust gas streams. The primary heat sources for waste heat recovery are the engine exhaust and the engine coolant. In this work, we present a study on the integration of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in an existing ship, for the recovery of the main and auxiliary engines exhaust heat. Experimental data from the operating conditions of the engines on the M/S Birka Stockholm cruise ship were logged during a port-to-port cruise from Stockholm to Mariehamn over a period of time close to one month. The ship has four main engines Wärtsilä 5850 kW for propulsion, and four auxiliary engines 2760 kW used for electrical consumers. A number of six load conditions were identified depending on the vessel speed. The speed range from 12–14 knots was considered as the design condition, as it was present during more than 34% of the time. In this study, the average values of the engines exhaust temperatures and mass flow rates, for each load case, were used as inputs for a model of an ORC. The main parameters of the ORC, including working fluid and turbine configuration, were optimized based on the criteria of maximum net power output and compactness of the installation components. Results from the study showed that an ORC with internal regeneration using benzene would yield the greatest average net power output over the operating time. For this situation, the power production of the ORC would represent about 22% of the total electricity consumption on board. These data confirmed the ORC as a feasible and promising technology for the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of existing ships.


Author(s):  
Concepción Paz ◽  
Eduardo Suarez ◽  
Miguel Concheiro ◽  
Antonio Diaz

Waste heat dissipated in the exhaust system in a combustion engine represents a major source of energy to be recovered and converted into useful work. A waste heat recovery system (WHRS) based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a promising approach, and has gained interest in the last few years in an automotive industry interested in reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Understanding the thermodynamic response of the boiler employed in an ORC plays an important role in steam cycle performance prediction and control system design. The aim of this study is therefore to present a methodology to study these devices by means of pattern recognition with infrared thermography. In addition, the experimental test bench and its operating conditions are described. The methodology proposed identifies the wall coordinates, traces paths, and tracks wall temperature along them in a way that can be exported for subsequent post-processing and analysis. As for the results, through the wall temperature paths on both sides (exhaust gas and working fluid) it was possible to quantitatively estimate the temperature evolution along the boiler and, in particular, the beginning and end of evaporation.


Author(s):  
Azzam S. Salman ◽  
Jamil A. Khan

Experiments were conducted in a closed loop spray cooling system working with deionized water as a working fluid. This study was performed to investigate the effect of the spraying parameters, such as Sauter mean diameter (SMD), the droplet velocity, and the residual velocity on the spray cooling heat transfer in the non-boiling region. Thermal effects on plain and modified surfaces with circular grooves were examined under different operating conditions. The inlet pressure of the working fluid was varied from 78.6 kPa to 183.515kPa, and the inlet temperature was kept between 21–22 °C. The distance between the nozzle and the target surface 10 mm. The results showed that increasing the coolant inlet pressure increases the droplet velocity and the number of droplets produced while decreasing the droplet size. As a consequence of these changes, increasing inlet pressure improved the heat transfer characteristics of both surfaces.


Author(s):  
Liju Su ◽  
Ramesh K. Agarwal

Supersonic steam ejectors are widely used in many industrial applications, for example for refrigeration and desalination. The experimental evaluation of the flow field inside the ejector is relatively difficult and costly due to the occurrence of shock after the velocity of the steam reaches over the sonic level in the ejector. In this paper, numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the detailed flow field inside a supersonic steam (water vapor being the working fluid) ejector. The commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solver ANSYS-Fluent and the mesh generation software ANSYS-ICEM are used to predict the steam performance during the mixing inside the ejector by employing two turbulence models, the k-ω SST and the k-ε realizable models. The computed results are validated against the experimental data. The effects of operating conditions on the efficiency of the ejector such as the primary fluid pressure and condenser pressure are studied to obtain a better understanding of the mixing process and entrainment. Velocity contours, pressure plots and shock region analyses provide a good understanding for optimization of the ejector performance, in particular how to increase the entrainment ratio.


Author(s):  
Oumayma Bounefour ◽  
Ahmed Ouadha

This paper examines through a thermodynamic analysis the feasibility of using waste heat from marine Diesel engines to drive a vapor compression refrigeration system. Several working fluids including propane, butane, isobutane and propylene are considered. Results showed that isobutane and Butane yield the highest performance, whereas propane and propylene yield negligible improvement compared to R134a for operating conditions considered.


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