Data-Driven Predesign Tool for Small-Scale Centrifugal Compressor in Refrigeration

Author(s):  
Mounier Violette ◽  
Picard Cyril ◽  
Schiffmann Jürg

Domestic scale heat pumps and air conditioners are mainly driven by volumetric compressors. Yet the use of reduced scale centrifugal compressors is reconsidered due to their high efficiency and power density. The design procedure of centrifugal compressors starts with predesign tools based on the Cordier line. However, the optimality of the obtained predesign, which is the starting point of a complex and iterative process, is not guaranteed, especially for small-scale compressors operating with refrigerants. This paper proposes a data-driven predesign tool tailored for small-scale centrifugal compressors used in refrigeration applications. The predesign model is generated using an experimentally validated one-dimensional (1D) code which evaluates the compressor performance as a function of its detailed geometry and operating conditions. Using a symbolic regression tool, a reduced order model that predicts the performance of a given compressor geometry has been built. The proposed predesign model offers an alternative to the existing tools by providing a higher level of detail and flexibility. Particularly, the model includes the effect of the pressure ratio, the blade height ratio, and the shroud to tip radius ratio. The analysis of the centrifugal compressor losses allows identifying the underlying phenomena that shape the new isentropic efficiency contours. Compared to the validated 1D code, the new predesign model yields deviations below 4% on the isentropic efficiency, while running 1500 times faster. The new predesign model is, therefore, of significant interest when the compressor is part of an integrated system design process.

Author(s):  
Violette Mounier ◽  
Cyril Picard ◽  
Jürg Schiffmann

Domestic scale heat pumps and air conditioners are mainly driven by volumetric compressors. Yet the use of reduced scale centrifugal compressors is reconsidered due to their high efficiency and power density. Recent work has demonstrated the technical feasibility of a 20 mm centrifugal compressor on gas lubricated bearings operated with R134a by achieving isentropic efficiencies in excess of 75%. The design procedure of such centrifugal compressor starts by using pre-design tools based on the Cordier line. However, the optimality of the obtained pre-design, which is the starting point of a complex and iterative process, is not guaranteed, especially when small-scale compressors operating with organic fluids are targeted. This paper proposes an updated data-driven pre-design tool tailored for small-scale centrifugal compressors used in refrigeration applications. The pre-design model is generated using an experimentally validated 1D code which evaluates the compressor performance as a function of its detailed geometry and operating conditions. Using a symbolic regression tool, a reduced order model that predicts the performance of a given compressor geometry has been built. The proposed pre-design model offers an alternative to the tools available in literature by providing a higher level of detail and flexibility. Particularly, the model includes the effect of the pressure ratio PR and additional geometrical features such as blade height ratio b4 and the shroud to tip radius ratio r2s for addressing the inlet and exhaust areas. The analysis of the centrifugal compressor losses allows identifying the underlying phenomena that shape the new isentropic efficiency contours. As a consequence, for a specific operating condition, a compressor can have different geometries that yield the same efficiency. Low Ns compressors with high b4 are limited by blade loading and recirculation losses and operate closer to the surge limit. Compressors with low b4 and high Ns are exposed to high tip clearance and skin friction losses. Finally, the design space is limited at high Ns due to choke at the compressor inlet, while high incidence losses occur at low Ns at a constant r2s. Since incidence losses relate to the impeller inlet area, increasing r2s enables to achieve higher Ns, while decreasing r2s enables to explore lower Ns conditions. Compared to the 1D model the new pre-design model yields deviations below 4% on the isentropic efficiency, while running 1500 times faster. The new pre-design model is therefore of significant interest when the compressor is part of an integrated system design process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 6639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietropaolo Morrone ◽  
Angelo Algieri

In recent years, an increasing interest in geothermal energy has been registered in both the scientific community and industry. The present work aims to analyse the energy performance and the economic viability of an innovative high-efficiency geothermal-driven integrated system for a combined heat and power (CHP) application. The system consists of a heat exchanger (HEX) and a transcritical organic Rankine cycle (ORC) that work in parallel to exploit a high-temperature geothermal source (230 °C) and satisfy the energy demand of a commercial centre located in Southern Italy. The ORC and HEX sub-units can operate at partial load to increase the system flexibility and to properly react to continuous changes in energy request. A lumped model was developed to find the proper operating conditions and to evaluate the energy production on an hourly basis over the whole year. In particular, a multi-variable optimisation was implemented to find the most suitable configuration and a 101.4 kWel ORC was selected while the HEX nominal power was 249.5 kWth. The economic viability of the integrated system was evaluated in terms of net present value and payback period and different operating strategies were compared: thermal-driven, electric-driven, and a mixed strategy. The latter turned out to be the best solution according to both energy and economic criteria, with electric and thermal self-consumptions larger than 90%, with no heat dumping and a payback time close to five years.


Author(s):  
Xu Yu-dong ◽  
Li Cong ◽  
Lv Qiong-ying ◽  
Zhang Xin-ming ◽  
Mu Guo-zhen

In order to study the effect of the trailing edge sweep angle of the centrifugal impeller on the aerodynamic performance of the centrifugal compressor, 6 groups of centrifugal impellers with different bending angles and 5 groups of different inclination angles were designed to achieve different impeller blade trailing edge angle. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to simulate and analyze the flow field of centrifugal compressors with different blade shapes under design conditions. The research results show that for transonic micro centrifugal compressors, changing the blade trailing edge sweep angle can improve the compressor’s isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. The pressure ratio of the compressor shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with the increase of the blade bending angle. When the blade bending angle is 45°, the pressure ratio of the centrifugal compressor reaches a maximum of 1.69, and the isentropic efficiency is 67.3%. But changing the inclination angle of the blade trailing edge has little effect on the isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. The sweep angle of blade trailing edge is an effective method to improve its isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. This analysis method provides a reference for the rational selection of the blade trailing edge angle, and provides a reference for the design of micro centrifugal compressors under high Reynolds numbers.


Author(s):  
José Carlos Teixeira ◽  
Rui Ferreira ◽  
Eurico A. Seabra ◽  
Manuel Eduardo Ferreira

Environmental concerns and the drive to reduce the dependence on petroleum brought the use of renewable energies to the forefront. Biomass appears as a very interesting alternative for direct conversion into heat. In this context, densified forms of biomass such as pellets are of great relevance because of their easy of use, high efficiency and low emissions. The practical interest in pellet combustion has been driven by the domestic heating sector, which favors the characteristics that are intrinsic of this fuel, despite its relatively higher price. However, the growing costs of fossil fuels have extended the interest of pellet fuels into industrial applications, including co-firing in power stations. A fast growing market includes the retrofitting of existing fuel boilers and furnaces with alternative burners that can be fitted into existing combustion systems. Such an approach has proved very attractive due to the low installation cost and the growing existence of fuels produced in the vicinity of the end user. This involves in most cases a custom built application which requires a high level of flexibility to variable operating conditions. This work reports on the development of a 120 kW pellet burner. A prototype of the burner was built that enables the independent control of the air supply into various regions of the combustion chamber and an accurate supply of fuel. The burner was fitted into a testing furnace of cylindrical shape oriented horizontally. Its diameter is 0.5 m and is constructed in a modular fashion with a total length of 2.2 m. All the facility is fully instrumented and includes: temperature data in various locations inside the chamber, flue gases emissions (CO, CO2, NOx) measurements and flow rates. The objective of the test and development is to optimize the combustion over the thermal load range of the facility. The excess air, fuel supply (primary and secondary) and the shape of the furnace grate enable the optimization of the burner with CO emissions of approximately 50 ppm, well below the acceptable limits.


1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Qinghuan

Based on a series of theoretical and experimental investigation, this paper presents several fundamental views on some basic physical phenomena of centrifugal compressors, such as choking flow, surge characteristics, matching of impeller and diffuser, the position of high-efficiency region on the performance map, etc. A prototype centrifugal compressor for a marine turbocharger series has been designed according to the principles discussed in this paper. It was a great success and has been put into production.


Author(s):  
Mateusz Stajuda ◽  
David Garcia Cava ◽  
Grzegorz Liśkiewicz

Abstract This study intends to explore the capabilities of the cyclostationary approach for instabilities detection and operating conditions monitoring of centrifugal compressors. Cyclostationary approach offers powerful signal analysis methods, applicable to different processes. It was proven useful for analysis of vibration, acoustic and pressure data for systems exhibiting periodicity. Cyclostationarity has been used for extracting subtle changes between cycles of the periodic signal which could be used for condition monitoring. Recent research focuses on employing this method for fault indication. Cyclostationary approach has not been extensively used in the field of turbomachinery, except for a few cases when it was proven to give a better insight into flow structure than standard signal processing techniques and allow for the detection of instabilities in flow systems. Thus, the cyclostationary approach may be suitable for instabilities detection and condition monitoring in centrifugal compressors. This paper exploits various techniques employing a cyclostationary framework for instabilities detection and operating conditions monitoring with the use of pressure signals from the low-speed centrifugal compressor. The most prospective cyclostationarity-based indicators are applied for the detection of instabilities. Due to a lack of second-order cyclostationarity, the study confines to the analysis of first-order cyclostationarity strongly exhibited in the compressor pressure signal. First-order cyclostationarity analysis provides an indication of instabilities and working conditions differentiation, but due to time-domain sampling, it is not fully robust and reliable. The highest potential is perceived in the cyclostationary approach use to extract changes between cycles. Different measures of change in variability could serve as a valuable indicator of instabilities.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Ermanoski ◽  
Nathan P. Siegel ◽  
Ellen B. Stechel

We describe and analyze the efficiency of a new solar-thermochemical reactor concept, which employs a moving packed bed of reactive particles produce of H2 or CO from solar energy and H2O or CO2. The packed bed reactor incorporates several features essential to achieving high efficiency: spatial separation of pressures, temperature, and reaction products in the reactor; solid–solid sensible heat recovery between reaction steps; continuous on-sun operation; and direct solar illumination of the working material. Our efficiency analysis includes material thermodynamics and a detailed accounting of energy losses, and demonstrates that vacuum pumping, made possible by the innovative pressure separation approach in our reactor, has a decisive efficiency advantage over inert gas sweeping. We show that in a fully developed system, using CeO2 as a reactive material, the conversion efficiency of solar energy into H2 and CO at the design point can exceed 30%. The reactor operational flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of operating conditions, allowing for high efficiency on an annual average basis. The mixture of H2 and CO, known as synthesis gas, is not only usable as a fuel but is also a universal starting point for the production of synthetic fuels compatible with the existing energy infrastructure. This would make it possible to replace petroleum derivatives used in transportation in the U.S., by using less than 0.7% of the U.S. land area, a roughly two orders of magnitude improvement over mature biofuel approaches. In addition, the packed bed reactor design is flexible and can be adapted to new, better performing reactive materials.


2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Bader ◽  
Rohini Bala Chandran ◽  
Luke J. Venstrom ◽  
Stephen J. Sedler ◽  
Peter T. Krenzke ◽  
...  

The design procedure for a 3 kWth prototype solar thermochemical reactor to implement isothermal redox cycling of ceria for CO2 splitting is presented. The reactor uses beds of mm-sized porous ceria particles contained in the annulus of concentric alumina tube assemblies that line the cylindrical wall of a solar cavity receiver. The porous particle beds provide high surface area for the heterogeneous reactions, rapid heat and mass transfer, and low pressure drop. Redox cycling is accomplished by alternating flows of inert sweep gas and CO2 through the bed. The gas flow rates and cycle step durations are selected by scaling the results from small-scale experiments. Thermal and thermo-mechanical models of the reactor and reactive element tubes are developed to predict the steady-state temperature and stress distributions for nominal operating conditions. The simulation results indicate that the target temperature of 1773 K will be reached in the prototype reactor and that the Mohr–Coulomb static factor of safety is above two everywhere in the tubes, indicating that thermo-mechanical stresses in the tubes remain acceptably low.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Seong Kim ◽  
Do-Yeop Kim

Recently, the advantages of radial outflow turbines have been outstanding in various operating conditions of the organic Rankine cycle. However, there are only a few studies of such turbines, and information on the design procedure is insufficient. The main purpose of this study is to provide more detailed information on the design methodology of the turbine. In this paper, a preliminary design program of a radial outflow turbine for organic Rankine cycles was developed. The program determines the main specifications of the turbine through iterative calculations using the enthalpy loss model and deviation angle model. For reliability evaluation of the developed algorithm, a 400.0 kW turbine for R143a was designed. The designed turbine was validated through computational fluid dynamics. As a result, the accuracy of the program was about 95% based on the turbine power, which shows that it is reliable. In addition, the turbine target performance could be achieved by fine-tuning the blade angle of the nozzle exit. In addition, performance evaluation of the turbine against off-design conditions was performed. Ranges of velocity ratio, loading coefficient, and flow coefficient that can expect high efficiency were proposed through the off-design analysis of the turbine.


Author(s):  
B. Monge ◽  
D. Sánchez ◽  
M. Savill ◽  
P. Pilidis ◽  
T. Sánchez

The development of the supercritical Carbon Dioxide power cycle has relied on parallel tracks along which theoretical and experimental works have successfully complemented each other in the last few years. Following this approach, intensive work on the development of critical components has enabled the demonstration of the technology in small-scale test loops. The next step in the roadmap is scaling-up the technology in order to bridge the gap to commercialisation. To this aim, not only is it necessary to demonstrate that the cycle works, but it is also mandatory to rise component (and system) efficiencies to levels comparable with competing technologies. In this process, assessing the impact of the main design parameters on the efficiency of turbomachinery is deemed crucial. The present work is a follow-up to others presented by the authors in previous years where preliminary analysis on centrifugal compressor design combining tools of different levels of fidelity were used. Nevertheless, whilst these presented guidelines to design the main compressor successfully, this new piece of research presents how the design space of the unit is affected by the characteristics of the working fluid. A review of past research is first presented to evidence that the design space is largely influenced by the particular behaviour of the working fluid close to the critical point. Then, design maps are presented for different operating conditions (cycle heat balance), showing that their shapes change substantially depending on compressor inlet pressure and temperature. Also, a comparison of these maps confirms that the design regions enabling high efficiency can be substantially reduced depending on the inlet/outlet thermodynamic states. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding optimal intervals for the main design parameters involved in the process.


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