Primary energy savings using heat storage for biomass heating systems

District heating is an efficient way to provide heat to residential, tertiary and industrial users. The heat storage unit is an insulated water tank that absorbs surplus heat from the boiler. The stored heat in the heat storage unit makes it possible to heat even when the boiler is not working, thus increasing the heating efficiency. In order to save primary energy (fuel), the boiler operates on nominal load every time it is in operation (for the purpose of this research). The aim of this paper is to analyze the water temperature variation in the heat storage, depending on the heat load and the heat storage volume. Heat load is calculated for three reference days, with average daily temperatures from -5 to 5°C. The primary energy savings are also calculated for those days in the case of using heat storage in district heating.[Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 33051: The concept of sustainable energy supply of settlements with energy efficient buildings

Thermal mass impact on energy performance of a low, medium and heavy mass building in Belgrade

Heavy mass materials used in building structures and architecture can significantly affect building energy performance and occupant comfort. The purpose of this study was to investigate if thermal mass can improve the internal environment of a building, resulting in lower energy requirements from the mechanical systems. The study was focused on passive building energy performance and compared annual space heating and cooling energy requirements for an office building in Belgrade with several different applications of thermal mass. A three-dimensional building model was generated to represent a typical office building. Building shape, orientation, glazing to wall ratio, envelope insulation thickness, and indoor design conditions were held constant while location and thickness of building mass (concrete) was varied between cases in a series of energy simulations. The results were compared and discussed in terms of the building space heating and cooling energy and demand affected by thermal mass. The simulation results indicated that with addition of thermal mass to the building envelope and structure: 100% of all simulated cases experienced reduced annual space heating energy requirements, 67% of all simulated cases experienced reduced annual space cooling energy requirements, 83% of all simulated cases experienced reduced peak space heating demand and 50% of all simulated cases experienced reduced peak space cooling demand. The study demonstrated that there exists a potential for reducing space heating and cooling energy requirements with heavy mass construction in the analyzed climate region (Belgrade, Serbia)

Experimental and Analytical Research of the Heat Transfer Process in the Package of Perforated Plates

The need for compact heat exchangers has led to the development of many types of surfaces that enhance the rate of heat transfer, among them the perforated plate heat exchangers, also known as matrix heat exchangers. The perforated plate heat exchangers consist of a series of perforated plates that are separated by a series of spacers. The present study investigates the heat transfer characteristics of the package of perforated plates. Perforated plates were 2 mm thick, with holes with 2 mm in diameter and porosity of 25.6%. The package of one, two, and three perforated plates was set in the channel of the experimental chamber at which entrance was a thrust fan with the ability to control the flow rate. The fluid flow rates, the temperatures of the fluids at the inlet and outlet of the chamber and the temperature of the air between the plates, were measured at the pre-defined locations in the package and the experimental chamber. Based on the measurements, heat transfer coefficients for the individual plates, as well as for the packages of perforated plates were determined. In further research, an iterative analytical procedure for investigation of the heat transfer process and the overall heat transfer coefficient for the package of perforated plates were developed. Based on these analytical and experimental results, conclusions were drawn about the heat transfer in a package of perforated plates.17th Symposium of the Society-of-Thermal-Engineers-of-Serbia (SIMTERM), Oct 20-23, 2015, Sokobanja, Serbi

Experimental research of the influence of particle size and fluidization velocity on zeolite drying in a two-component fluidized bed

This paper presents the results of the kinetics research into the drying of fine grained material in a two-component fluidized bed. A review of theoretical and experimental investigations of aerodynamics of the fluidized bed is given, with a special insight into two-component fluidized beds, as well as the basics of heat and material transfer through a fluidized bed. Apart from the theoretical basis of convective drying of wet materials in a stagnant fluidized bed, the paper also emphasizes different approaches to fine grained material drying kinetics. Based on the experimental investigations, where zealots used as a representative of fine grained material and polyethylene as a representative of inert material (another component), an analysis of the influence of working parameters on drying in a two-component fluidized bed is performed. It is established that, apart from the influence of the considered parameters, such as fluidization velocity, diameter of fine grained material particles and drying agent temperature, on the drying curve, the participation of inert material can considerably increase the intensity of heat and material transfer in the fluidized bed. A comparison of the experimental drying curves of fine grained material in the two-component fluidized bed with the results from the studies by other authors shows satisfactory agreement

Mathematical model of unsteady gas to solid particles heat transfer in fluidized bed

The mathematical model of unsteady one-dimensional gas to particles heat transfer for non-isothermal fluidized bed with periodic heating of solid particles has been described. The method of numerical solution of governing differential equations, the algorithm and the computer program, have been presented. By using mathematical model and computer program, the temperature profiles for interstitial gas, gas in bubbles, and solid particles along the height of fluidized bed in function of time, have been determined. The results obtained on the basis of prediction method are compared to the experimental results of the authors; the satisfactory agreement has been found for interstitial gas temperature and solid particle temperature. On the basis of this comparison, the mathematical model has been verified

Exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a steam boiler

Relying on coal as primary fuel in thermal power plants represents an unsustainable concept due to limited coal reserves and a negative environmental impact. Efficient utilization of coal reserves and a request for minimization of irreversibilities are imperative for thermal power plants operation. Numerous studies have shown that a steam boiler is a thermal power plant component with the highest irreversibility. The idea of this paper is to quantify the amounts and sources of irreversibilities within a steam boiler and its components, serving a 348.5MWe thermal power plant. Having this in mind, exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a steam boiler is presented in this paper. Exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of all boiler components and of the boiler as a whole were calculated. Based on exergy flows and economic parameters (cost of the boiler, annual operation hours of the unit, maintenance factor, interest rate, operating period of the boiler), exergy analysis resulted in the cost of produced steam. The obtained results show that the boiler exergy efficiency is at 47.4%, with the largest exergy destruction occurring in the combustion chamber with a value of 288.07 MW (60.04%), and the smallest in the air heater with a value of 4.57 MW (0.95%). The cost of produced steam is calculated at 49,356.7 $/h by applying exergoeconomic analysis

Comparative exergetic performance analysis for certain thermal power plants in Serbia

Traditional methods of analysis and calculation of complex thermal systems are based on the first law of thermodynamics. These methods use energy balance for a system. In general, energy balances do not provide any information about internal losses. In contrast, the second law of thermodynamics introduces the concept of exergy, which is useful in the analysis of thermal systems. Exergy is a measure for assessing the quality of energy, and allows one to determine the location, cause, and real size of losses incurred as well as residues in a thermal process. The purpose of this study is to comparatively analyze the performance of four thermal power plants from the energetic and exergetic viewpoint. Thermodynamic models of the plants are developed based on the first and second law of thermodynamics. The primary objectives of this paper are to analyze the system components separately and to identify and quantify the sites having largest energy and exergy losses. Finally, by means of these analyses, the main sources of thermodynamic inefficiencies as well as a reasonable comparison of each plant to others are identified and discussed. As a result, the outcomes of this study can provide a basis for the improvement of plant performance for the considered thermal power plants

Experimental and analytical research of the heat transfer process in the package of perforated plates

The need for compact heat exchangers has led to the development of many types of surfaces that enhance the rate of heat transfer, among them the perforated plate heat exchangers, also known as matrix heat exchangers. The perforated plate heat exchangers consist of a series of perforated plates that are separated by a series of spacers. The present study investigates the heat transfer characteristics of the package of perforated plates. Perforated plates were 2 mm thick, with holes with 2 mm in diameter and porosity of 25.6%. The package of one, two, and three perforated plates was set in the channel of the experimental chamber at which entrance was a thrust fan with the ability to control the flow rate. The fluid flow rates, the temperatures of the fluids at the inlet and outlet of the chamber and the temperature of the air between the plates, were measured at the predefined locations in the package and the experimental chamber. Based on the measurements, heat transfer coefficients for the individual plates, as well as for the packages of perforated plates were determined. In further research, an iterative analytical procedure for investigation of the heat transfer process and the overall heat transfer coefficient for the package of perforated plates were developed. Based on these analytical and experimental results, conclusions were drawn about the heat transfer in a package of perforated plates. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 42008