Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Investigation of an ORC System for Waste Heat Recovery Applications in Transportation Sector

ORC power units represent a promising technology for the recovery of waste heat in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), allowing to reduce emissions while keeping ICE performance close to expectations. However, the intrinsic transient nature of exhaust gases represents a challenge since it leads ORCs to often work in off-design conditions. It then becomes relevant to study their transient response to optimize performance and prevent main components from operating at inadequate conditions. To assess this aspect, an experimental dynamic analysis was carried out on an ORC-based power unit bottomed to a 3 L Diesel ICE. The adoption of a scroll expander and the control of the pump revolution speed allow a wide operability of the ORC. Indeed, the refrigerant mass flow rate can be adapted according to the exhaust gas thermal power availability in order to increase thermal power recovery from exhaust gases. The experimental data confirmed that when the expander speed is not regulated, it is possible to control the cycle maximum pressure by acting on the refrigerant flow rate. The experimental data have also been used to validate a model developed to extend the analysis beyond the experimental operating limits. It was seen that a 30% mass flow rate increase allowed to raise the plant power from 750 W to 830 W

Design and analysis of a sliding vane pump for waste heat to power conversion systems using organic fluids

The current research work assesses the relevance of pumping work in energy recovery systems based on bottoming Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) and presents the development of a sliding vane pump prototype for small scale units. The novel device was installed on an ORC-based power unit for waste heat to power conversion in compressed air applications in which the heat source was a compressor lubricant while the heat sink was tap water. Tests were performed with R236fa as working fluid at different pressure rises (3.9-9.7) and revolution speeds (500-1300 RPM). The experimental dataset was used to validate a numerical one-dimensional CFD model of the sliding vane pump developed in the GT-SUITE™ environment. The model takes into account the fluid dynamics and friction phenomena that are involved in the pump operation such as vane filling and emptying, leakages as well as dry and viscous friction between components in relative motion. The modelling platform was further exploited to retrieve performance maps of the pump, angular vane pressure evolution as well as to break down leakage and friction losses. The effects of geometrical features on the pump performance were eventually investigated through variations of the aspect ratio. With reference to the best experimental operating point (pressure rise 9.7, revolution speed 1250 RPM), simulations showed that, with a stator 5% bigger than the nominal one and the length almost halved, overall pump efficiency could be increased from the experimental 36.9% to a value of 48.0%. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Fuel economy benefits of a new engine cooling pump based on sliding vane technology with variable eccentricity

During a homologation cycle, engine cooling pump operates at off-design conditions that are characterized by low efficiency and, in turn, impacts on the vehicle fuel economy and emissions performances. Furthermore, the conventional centrifugal technology struggles with the need of implementing thermal management strategies. In order to address these issues, the current paper presents the development of an innovative engine cooling pump for automotive applications that is based on the sliding vane technology. The experimental performances of the novel pump were compared with the ones of a conventional centrifugal device through a test bench that reproduced the real operating conditions of a passenger car engine cooling circuit. Characteristic curves and efficiency maps were further used as input data for a comprehensive model that takes into account heat transfer and hydraulic phenomena of a real engine cooling circuit. The simulation platform was eventually used to assess the energy benefits of the sliding vane pump over a centrifugal machine along theWorldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) with respect to a fixed geometrical configuration and an optimized one achieved through a control on the eccentricity between stator and rotor that tuned up the flow rate on the cooling demand. A mechanical power reduction of 12% was estimated for a sliding vane pump mechanically linked to the engine crankshaft while the benefits reached 22% if the eccentricity actuation was considered. In terms of CO2 reduction, the benefits related to the introduction of the sliding vane pump are of about 0.5 g/km.Dr. Giulio Contaldi, CEO of Ing. Enea Mattei S.p.A. and Marco Benincasa, technical sales director of Meccanotecnica Umbra S.p.A., are gratefully acknowledged for the continuous research funding and technical support

Numerical CFD simulations and indicated pressure measurements on a sliding vane expander for heat to power conversion applications

The paper presents an extensive investigation of a small-scale sliding vane rotary expander operating with R245fa. The key novelty is in an innovative operating layout, which considers a secondary inlet downstream of the conventional inlet port. The additional intake supercharges the expander by increasing the mass of the working fluid in the working chamber during the expansion process; this makes it possible to harvest a greater power output within the same machine. The concept of supercharging is assessed in this paper through numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations which are validated against experimental data, including the mass flow rate and indicated pressure measurements. When operating at 1516 rpm and between pressures of 5.4 bar at the inlet and 3.2 bar at the outlet, the supercharged expander provided a power output of 325 W. The specific power output was equal to 3.25 kW/(kg/s) with a mechanical efficiency of 63.1%. The comparison between internal pressure traces obtained by simulation and experimentally is very good. However, the numerical model is not able to account fully for the overfilling of the machine. A comparison between a standard and a supercharged configuration obtained by CFD simulation shows that the specific indicated power increases from 3.41 kW/(kg/s) to 8.30 kW/(kg/s). This large power difference is the result of preventing overexpansion by supercharging. Hence, despite the greater pumping power required for the increased flow through the secondary inlet, a supercharged expander would be the preferred option for applications where the weight of the components is the key issue, for example, in transport applications

Development of an organic Rankine cycle system for exhaust energy recovery in internal combustion engines

Road transportation is currently one of the most influencing sectors for global energy consumptions and CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, more than one third of the fuel energy supplied to internal combustion engines is still rejected to the environment as thermal waste at the exhaust. Therefore, a greater fuel economy might be achieved recovering the energy from exhaust gases and converting it into useful power on board. In the current research activity, an ORC-based energy recovery system was developed and coupled with a diesel engine. The innovative feature of the recovery power unit relies upon the usage of sliding vane rotary machines as pump and expander. After a preliminary exhaust gas mapping, which allowed to assess the magnitude of the thermal power to be recovered, a thermodynamic analysis was carried out to design the ORC system and the sliding vane machines using R236fa as working fluid. An experimental campaign was eventually performed at different operating regimes according to the ESC procedure and investigated the recovery potential of the power unit at design and off-design conditions. Mechanical power recovered ranged from 0.7 kW up to 1.9 kW, with an overall cycle e ciency from 3.8% up to 4.8% respectively. These results candidate sliding vane machines as e cient and reliable devices for waste heat recovery applications

Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Investigation of an ORC System for Waste Heat Recovery Applications in Transportation Sector

Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.ORC power units represent a promising technology for the recovery of waste heat in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), allowing to reduce emissions while keeping ICE performance close to expectations. However, the intrinsic transient nature of exhaust gases represents a challenge since it leads ORCs to often work in off-design conditions. It then becomes relevant to study their transient response to optimize performance and prevent main components from operating at inadequate conditions. To assess this aspect, an experimental dynamic analysis was carried out on an ORC-based power unit bottomed to a 3 L Diesel ICE. The adoption of a scroll expander and the control of the pump revolution speed allow a wide operability of the ORC. Indeed, the refrigerant mass flow rate can be adapted according to the exhaust gas thermal power availability in order to increase thermal power recovery from exhaust gases. The experimental data confirmed that when the expander speed is not regulated, it is possible to control the cycle maximum pressure by acting on the refrigerant flow rate. The experimental data have also been used to validate a model developed to extend the analysis beyond the experimental operating limits. It was seen that a 30% mass flow rate increase allowed to raise the plant power from 750 W to 830 W.Italian National project “H2ICE—Development of a Hydrogen Fueled Hybrid Powertrain for Urban Buses”; H2020 European Project LONGRUN: Development of efficient and environmental friendly LONG distance powertrain for heavy duty trucks and coaches (Grant Agreement Number 874972)

Green solvents and restoration: Application of biomass-derived solvents in cleaning procedures

Blends of solvents from non-renewable sources, often polluting and toxic to humans, are routinely used in the restoration of painted artifacts. Here we present the application of three different green solvents (and their mixtures) as a viable alternative to the standard triad of solvents (acetone, ethanol, and isooctane) used in the solubility test for cleaning polychromic artworks. Solketal (SOLK), γ-valerolactone (GVL), and 2-ethylhexyl pelargonate (ARGO) were selected among the solvents achievable from bio-based synthons such as glycerol, levulinic acid, and pelargonic acid, which are mainly produced from biomass and renewable feedstocks as exhausted vegetable oils, carbohydrates, and lignocellulose. Specifically, ARGO solvent was prepared by esterification reaction and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy coupled to gas chromatography (GC–MS). Hansen solubility parameters for each solvent were determined by a group contribution method, thus enabling their placement in the Teas graph. Their penetration ability in wooden specimens was investigated by evaluating the volume retention of each solvent with different coated specimens. The solvent ability of the selected compounds was tested by visible and UV observations on specimens prepared with film-forming substances (Dammar, Mastic, Shellac, Paraloid® B72 and linseed oil) brushed onto glass plates. Our results pointed out the suitability of this solvent triad for application to panel painting surfaces. The effectiveness of mixtures made with the above green solvent was successfully tested to remove a terpenic varnish from a 16th century oil painting on a wooden panel

Influence of ARHGEF3 and RHOA Knockdown on ACTA2 and Other Genes in Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that has a strong genetic component. Genome-wide linkage studies have identified the chromosomal region 3p14-p22 as a quantitative trait locus for bone mineral density (BMD). We have previously identified associations between variation in two related genes located in 3p14-p22, ARHGEF3 and RHOA, and BMD in women. In this study we performed knockdown of these genes using small interfering RNA (siRNA) in human osteoblast-like and osteoclast-like cells in culture, with subsequent microarray analysis to identify genes differentially regulated from a list of 264 candidate genes. Validation of selected findings was then carried out in additional human cell lines/cultures using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results showed significant down-regulation of the ACTA2 gene, encoding the cytoskeletal protein alpha 2 actin, in response to RHOA knockdown in both osteoblast-like (P<0.001) and osteoclast-like cells (P = 0.002). RHOA knockdown also caused up-regulation of the PTH1R gene, encoding the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor, in Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells (P<0.001). Other findings included down-regulation of the TNFRSF11B gene, encoding osteoprotegerin, in response to ARHGEF3 knockdown in the Saos-2 and hFOB 1.19 osteoblast-like cells (P = 0.003– 0.02), and down-regulation of ARHGDIA, encoding the Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha, in response to RHOA knockdown in osteoclast-like cells (P<0.001). These studies identify ARHGEF3 and RHOA as potential regulators of a number of genes in bone cells, including TNFRSF11B, ARHGDIA, PTH1R and ACTA2, with influences on the latter evident in both osteoblast-like and osteoclast-like cells. This adds further evidence to previous studies suggesting a role for the ARHGEF3 and RHOA genes in bone metabolism

Neurotensin Receptor 1 Gene (NTSR1) Polymorphism Is Associated with Working Memory

BACKGROUND: Recent molecular genetics studies showed significant associations between dopamine-related genes (including genes for dopamine receptors, transporters, and degradation) and working memory, but little is known about the role of genes for dopamine modulation, such as those related to neurotensin (NT), in working memory. A recent animal study has suggested that NT antagonist administration impaired working memory in a learning task. The current study examined associations between NT genes and working memory among humans. METHODS: Four hundred and sixty healthy undergraduate students were assessed with a 2-back working memory paradigm. 5 SNPs in the NTSR1 gene were genotyped. 5 ANOVA tests were conducted to examine whether and how working memory differed by NTSR1 genotype, with each SNP variant as the independent variable and the average accuracy on the working memory task as the dependent variable. RESULTS: ANOVA results suggested that two SNPs in the NTSR1 gene (rs4334545 and rs6090453) were significantly associated with working memory. These results survived corrections for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that NTSR1 SNP polymorphisms were significantly associated with variance in working memory performance among healthy adults. This result extended previous rodent studies showing that the NT deficiency impairs the working memory function. Future research should replicate our findings and extend to an examination of other dopamine modulators