Carnot Cycle and Heat Engine Fundamentals and Applications II

This second Special Issue connects both the fundamental and application aspects of thermomechanical machines and processes. Among them, engines have the largest place (Diesel, Lenoir, Brayton, Stirling), even if their environmental aspects are questionable for the future. Mechanical and chemical processes as well as quantum processes that could be important in the near future are considered from a thermodynamical point of view as well as for applications and their relevance to quantum thermodynamics. New insights are reported regarding more classical approaches: Finite Time Thermodynamics F.T.T.; Finite Speed thermodynamics F.S.T.; Finite Dimensions Optimal Thermodynamics F.D.O.T. The evolution of the research resulting from this second Special Issue ranges from basic cycles to complex systems and the development of various new branches of thermodynamics

Techno-economic analysis of combined inverted Brayton – Organic Rankine cycle for high-temperature waste heat recovery

Many practical cases with waste heat recovery potential such as exhaust gases of reciprocating engines, cement kilns or heat-treating furnaces, are nowadays often integrated with organic Rankine cycle to convert waste heat to the mechanical power. However, when dealing with high-temperature waste heat, organic Rankine cycle faces efficiency limit due to the physical properties of the working and thermal fluids. That gives room for further enhancement of the waste heat recovery technologies via the investigation of different non-conventional schemes as one of the possible ways. In the present work, a system introducing the combined inverted Brayton plus organic Rankine cycle is under investigation. Aspen Hysys models of both conventional organic Rankine cycle and combined cycle were designed, orienting on waste heat recovery from the heavy-load gas-fueled reciprocating engine exhaust. In this way, the performance of the combined scheme was benchmarked versus the conventional organic Rankine cycle. An assessment of the organic Rankine cycle working fluids was provided, and pentane has shown the best thermodynamic performance. The study on inverted Brayton cycle defined the remarkable effect of the water condensation in the gas duct on the inverted Brayton cycle performance. Finally, both thermodynamic and economic optimizations of the models were conducted, setting the stage for the comparison of solutions. Results have shown the 10% advantage of the combined scheme over organic Rankine cycle in generated power and system efficiency. The levelized-cost-of-energy-based optimization for variable capacity factors has highlighted above 6% advantage of the investigated solution. The analysis of the sensitivity from machines' efficiencies and heat exchangers' pinches has shown that with some sets of parameters, the studied scheme may concede to the organic Rankine cycle. Keywords: Inverted Brayton cycle, Organic Rankine cycle, Waste heat recovery, High-temperature exhaust, Techno-economic analysi

Closed Cycle Propulsion for Small Unmanned Aircraft

This study evaluates the merit of closed cycle propulsion systems for use in unmanned systems. The complexity and added weight of closed cycle engines is offset by benefits in high altitude performance, operation in polluted air environments, multi-fuel operation, and potential for flight in low oxygen environments using generic thermal heat sources. Although most closed thermal cycles cannot match the efficiency and power density potential of internal combustion engines (ICE) and turbomachines in aircraft propulsion applications, the addition of design requirements regarding noise output, and operation at high altitude results in IC and CC engine�s performance becoming much more comparable. Muffling devices increase backpressure on internal combustion engines thereby reducing power output and efficiency. Multi stage turbo supercharging for operation at high altitude can in some cases increase efficiency of ICE�s, but at the result of significant additional complexity and cost that also reduces practical reliability because of the often intricate mechanisms involved. It is in these scenarios that closed cycle engines offer a comparable performance alternative that may prove to be simpler, cheaper, and more reliable than high altitude or low noise internal combustion or turbomachine propulsion systems.Mechanical & Aerospace Engineerin

Further analysis of a compression-expansion machine for a Brayton Waste Heat Recovery cycle on an IC engine

[EN] In order to comply with the legislation, car manufacturers are looking for a way to lower the CO2 emission by improving engine efficiency. About one third of the fuel combustion energy is wasted through exhaust gasses. Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) could improve engine efficiency by recovering a part of exhaust gasses energy. In this study, the potential use of an open loop Brayton cycle with a volumetric compression expansion machine for exhaust gas waste heat recovery was investigated. The use of the Brayton cycle system with only two main elements, a heat exchanger and a volumetric machine, could be very interesting due to its compactness and versatility. However, the publications on this subject are scarce. The present paper aims at bridging this knowledge gap by studying the cycle viability for passenger car application characterized by low temperatures, variable working conditions and several restrictions of available space and weight. The simulated vehicle was a Ford Mondeo family car with an Ecoboost 2.0 engine. The main components of the Brayton cycle WHR system model were a heat exchanger and an alternating piston machine that was used both as a compressor and as an expander. Theoretical studies were conducted in the compression-expansion machine model in order to determine the main parameters that influence the cycle and optimize those parameters in order to obtain the maximum recuperated power. The conclusion was that the cycle viability is not clear because cycle losses are in the same order of magnitude as the recuperated power. Considering future improvements of the compression-expansion machine and the heat exchanger, the recuperated power could be positive. Nevertheless, it is hard to expect that recuperated power would be sufficient to justify the application of this WHR system in the vehicle. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Galindo, J.; Guardiola, C.; Dolz, V.; Kleut, P. (2018). Further analysis of a compression-expansion machine for a Brayton Waste Heat Recovery cycle on an IC engine. Applied Thermal Engineering. 128:345-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.09.012S34535612

Thermodynamic Analysis For Improving Understanding And Performance Of Hybrid Power Cycles Using Multiple Heat Sources Of Different Temperatures

Past studies on hybrid power cycles using multiple heat sources of different temperatures focused mainly on case studies and almost no general theory about this type of systems has been developed. This dissertation is a study of their general thermodynamic performance, with comparisons to their corresponding single heat source reference systems. The method used in the dissertation was step-wise: to first analyze the major hybrid power cycles (e.g. Rankine, Brayton, Combined Cycles, and their main variants) thermodynamically, without involving specific operation parameter values, and develop some generalized theory that is at least applicable to each type of system. The second step was to look for commonalities among these theories and develop the sought generalized theory based on these commonalities. A number of simulation case studies were performed to help the understanding and confirm the thermodynamic results. Exergo-economic analysis was also performed to complement the thermodynamic analysis with consideration of externalities, and was compared to the conventional economic analysis method. The generalized expressions for the energy/exergy efficiency differences between the hybrid and the corresponding single heat source systems were developed. The results showed that the energy and exergy efficiencies of the hybrid systems are higher than those of their corresponding single heat source reference systems if and only if the energy/exergy conversion efficiency (defined in the dissertation) of the additional heat source (AHS, can be any heat source that has lower temperature) is larger than that of the original heat source. Sensitivity analysis results showed the relations between the temperature and heat addition rate of the AHS and the energy/exergy efficiency of the hybrid systems. Other big advantages of hybrid systems, i.e. the effects on replacement of fossil fuel by renewable, nuclear and waste energy, lower emissions and depletion of fossil fuel, were revealed in the economic analysis, by considering the cost reduction from fuel saving and carbon tax. Simple criteria were developed to help compare the hybrid and reference systems and determine under which conditions the hybrid systems will have better thermodynamic or economic performance than the reference ones. The results and criteria can be used to help design the hybrid systems to achieve higher energy and/or exergy efficiencies and/or lower levelized electricity cost (LEC) before detailed design or simulation or experiment. So far, 3 archival journal papers and 3 conference papers were published from this dissertation work

Comparative Exergy Analysis of Units for the Porous Ammonium Nitrate Granulation

The article deals with the study on the efficiency of units for porous ammonium nitrate production. The ways which increase the effective implementation of energy resources are determined by including the ejector recycling module, heat and mass exchangers that utilize principles of regenerative indirect evaporative cooling, and the sub-atmospheric inverse Brayton cycle. Mixed exergy analysis evaluates all flows of the system contour as those of the same value. The target parameter for determining the efficiency of both systems is the ratio of the unit’s productivity to the exergy expenditures to produce the unit mass of the product. As a result, it is found that the mentioned devices and units enable to increase the efficiency of the basic scheme by 87%

Maximizing power output of heat engines through design optimization : Geothermal power plants and novel exhaust heat recovery systems

Le design de machines thermiques menant à une puissance maximale dépend souvent des températures de la source chaude et de la source froide. C’est pourquoi dégager des lignes directrices à partir des designs optimaux de ces machines selon diverses températures d’opération peut faciliter leur conception. Une telle étude est proposée par cette thèse pour deux types de systèmes thermiques. En premier lieu, le cycle de Rankine organique (ORC) est un cycle thermodynamique de puissance utilisé entre autres dans les centrales géothermiques exploitant des réservoirs à basse température. Depuis quelques années, ce type de centrales suscite un vif intérêt à travers le monde, étant un des modes de production de puissance parmi les plus respectueux de l’environnement. Il s’agit de pomper un géofluide du sol pour transférer sa chaleur à un fluide de travail qui opère en cycle fermé, et de le réinjecter ensuite dans le bassin géologique. Les chercheurs tentent actuellement de mieux caractériser le potentiel géothermique de divers environnements géologiques. Le sous-sol du Québec est relativement froid, alors des études essaient de déterminer s’il serait possible d’y exploiter de manière rentable des centrales géothermiques. Une autre question de recherche importante est de savoir, pour un contexte donné, quel est le design optimal d’une centrale géothermique et quelle est la puissance que l’on peut espérer produire. Pour répondre à cette question, les cycles de Rankine organiques de base (de type souscritique ou transcritique) sont dans un premier temps simulés et optimisés pour des températures du géofluide de 80 à 180°C et pour des températures de condensation du fluide de travail de 0.1 à 50°C. Trente-six (36) fluides pures sont investigués pour toutes les combinaisons de températures. Par la suite, des cycles de Rankine organiques plus avancés sont aussi investigués (ajout d’une tour de refroidissement, d’un système de récupération, et d’une contrainte sur la température de réinjection du géofluide). Les ORCs avec deux pressions de chauffage souscritique et transcritique sont aussi simulés et optimisés. Les optimisations sont faites pour 20 fluides de travail selon la même plage de température du géofluide et selon des températures du thermomètre mouillé de l’air ambient de 10 à 32°C. En second lieu, le cycle de Brayton inversé (IBC) est un cycle thermodynamique qui pourrait être utilisé comme système de récupération de la chaleur perdue dans les gaz d’échappement de moteurs. Il s’agit d’un cycle ouvert comprenant dans sa configuration de base une turbine à gaz, un échangeur de chaleur et un compresseur. Il existe une configuration où l’eau qui se condense lors du refroidissement des gaz est évacuée avant le compresseur pour réduire le débit massique et améliorer le rendement global du système. Le Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) de l’University of Bath s’est intéressé à savoir si certaines variantes de l’IBC découlant de cette configuration seraient des options viables. Ces variantes ont mené à la création de trois nouveaux cycles thermodynamiques couplant l’IBC avec (i) une turbine à vapeur, (ii) un cycle de réfrigération, et (iii) ces deux ajouts. En comptant les deux cycles déjà existants décrits au paragraphe précédent, cinq configurations de l’IBC sont simulées et optimisées pour des températures de gaz d’échappement de 600 à 1200 K et températures de la source froide de 280 à 340 K. La finalité de cette thèse est d’offrir un outil aidant les ingénieurs à concevoir les systèmes introduits précédemment (ORC et IBC) de sorte qu’ils aient un travail spécifique net maximisé. Sous forme d’un ensemble de diagrammes, cet outil peut ainsi être utilisé pour une large plage de température de la source chaude (géofluide ou gaz d’échappement) et de température de la source froide.Heat engines design leading to maximum power output often depends on the hot source temperature and the cold source temperature. This is why drawing guidelines from optimal designs of these machines according to diverse operating temperatures may facilitate their conception. Such a study is proposed by this thesis for two types of heat engines. In the first instance, the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a power thermodynamic cycle used among others in geothermal power plants exploiting low-temperature reservoirs. This type of power plants raises keen interest around the world for being one the most environmentally friendly power production modes. In these power plants, a geofluid is pumped from the ground to transfer its heat to a working fluid operating in a closed cycle. The geofluid is then reinjected in the geological basin. Researchers are currently attempting to characterize in a better way the geothermal potential of diverse geological environments. Considering the province of Québec’s relatively cold underground, studies try to determinate whether it is possible to profitably operate geothermal power plants. Another important research question is to determine, for a given context, the optimal geothermal power plant design, and the amount of power that could be generated. To answer this question, Organic Rankine Cycles (subcritical and transcritical) are first simulated and optimized for geofluid temperatures from 80 to 180°C and for condensing temperatures of the working fluid from 0.1 to 50°C. Thirty-six (36) pure fluids are investigated for each temperature combination. Next, cycles models are improved by adding a cooling tower, a recuperative system and a constraint on the minimum reinjection temperature. ORCs with dual-pressure heater are simulated and optimized as well. Optimization runs are performed considering 20 working fluids for the same range of geofluid temperature and for ambient air wet bulb temperature from 10 to 32°C. In the second instance, the Inverted Brayton Cycle (IBC) is a thermodynamic cycle that could be used as a waste heat recovery system for engines exhaust gases. This is an open cycle which includes a gas turbine, a heat exchanger and a compressor as a basic layout. There is a configuration where the water condensed during the cooling of the gases is evacuated upstream of the compressor in order to reduce the mass flow rate and improve the system global efficiency. The Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) of the University of Bath is interested in finding out whether particular IBC variants arising from this configuration could be viable options. These variants led to the creation of three novel thermodynamic cycles that couple the IBC with (i) a steam turbine, (ii) a refrigeration cycle, and (iii) both additions. Including both already existing cycles described in the preceding paragraph, five IBC layouts are simulated and optimized for exhaust gases temperatures from 600 to 1200 K and for heat sink temperatures from 280 to 340 K. The purpose of this thesis is to offer a tool that help engineers designing the systems previously introduced (ORC and IBC), so that they produced a maximized specific work output. As a set of charts, this tool can be used for a large range of hot source temperature (geofluid or exhaust gases) and of heat sink temperature

Investigation of solar applicable gas cycles

This thesis presents the thermodynamic and economic assessment of gas power cycles for 100 MW solar thermal power generation systems. A gas power cycle for solar power generation is a totally different technology from the current state of the art solar power generation systems. As a result, this thesis provides an assessment of the solar power generation systems with gas power cycles and provides guidance in the selection of design and operating parameters for gas power cycle based solar power generation system. The gas power cycle based power generation systems are assessed by means of thermodynamic and economic models developed and simulated using commercial thermodynamic analysis software. The gas cycle based power generation systems considered in this study are Cold Gas Turbine, High Temperature Solar Gas Turbine and Lorentz Cycle Gas Turbine. The system models are assessed for their thermodynamic performance using theory based turbo-machinery models with practical performance and loss data. In addition, extensive cost models have been developed for assessing the economic performance of the system models to determine their practical feasibility. The results from this study indicate that the most economical power generation system is the HTSGT system for a high peak cycle temperature utilizing the central receiver power tower solar collector system. The LCGT system also has a comparable performance at the same operating temperature. The CGT system assessed for operating with parabolic trough solar collector system at a lower peak cycle temperature had an inferior performance compared to the current state of the art technology for the power generation using parabolic troughs.M.S

Thermodynamic and economic analysis of performance evaluation of all the thermal power plants : a review

Surging in energy demand makes it necessary to improve performance of plant equipment and optimize operation of thermal power plants. Inasmuch as thermal power plants depend on fossil fuels, their optimization can be challenging due to the environmental issues which must be considered. Nowadays, the vast majority of power plants are designed based on energetic performance obtained from first law of thermodynamic. In some cases, energy balance of a system is not appropriate tool to diagnose malfunctions of the system. Exergy analysis is a powerful method for determining the losses existing in a system. Since exergy analysis can evaluate quality of the energy, it enables designers to make intricate thermodynamic systems operates more efficiently. These days, power plant optimization based on economic criteria is a critical problem because of their complex structure. In this study, a comprehensive analysis including energy, exergy, economic (3-E) analyses, and their applications related to various thermal power plants are reviewed and scrutinized.The National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Project of ESI Discipline Development of Wuhan University of Technology and the Scientific Research Foundation of Wuhan University of Technology.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20500505am2020Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin