Developing a new hydrogen liquefaction process through configuration modification and parameter optimization

A new concept for hydrogen liquefaction with a capacity of 300 tons per day is developed through the modification of an existing one. Pressure and temperature levels, mixed-refrigerant composition, and different configurations are explored to achieve a new concept with lower SEC and higher COP. Aspen HYSYS V9 is used to simulate the process. Exergy and energy analyses are employed for evaluating the process to capture the effect of changes. As different parameters of the liquefaction process are interlinked and depend on each other, optimization is done using a trial and error procedure. Modified-Benedict–Webb–Rubin and Peng-Robinson equations of state are utilized to simulate hydrogen and mixed refrigerant streams to increase the accuracy of the results, especially for the ortho-para conversion. Power consumption of the coolers is considered, and exergy destruction for all the components is calculated. It is found that ortho-para converters and separators could affect the total exergy destruction and efficiency of the process; however, their exergy efficiency is nearly 100%. The SEC of the new concept is 5.97 kWhr/kg, which shows an 18.8% improvement compared to the base concept. The COP and ε are improved by 14.4% and 15.5% too. The results show that the liquefaction section is responsible for 85% of the total SEC of the process, and it deserves to focus on this section for future studies

Evaluation of repowering in a gas fired steam power plant based on exergy and exergoeconomic analysis

Abstract: Increased competition among power generating companies, changes in generating system load requirements, lower allowable plant emissions, and changes in fuel availability and cost accentuate the need to closely assess the economics and performance of older electric generating units. Generally, decisions must be made as to whether these units should be retired and replaced with new generation capacity, whether capacity should be purchased from other generation companies, or if these existing units should be repowered. These decisions usually require the evaluation of many factors. The analysis is usually complicated due to the interaction of all the factors involved. In this paper, evaluation of a 156MW steam power plant and proposed repowered scenario has been performed. The exergy and exergoeconomic analysis method was applied in order to evaluate the proposed repowered plant. Simulation of each case has been performed in Thermoflow software. Also, computer code has been developed for exergy and exergoeconomic analysis. It is anticipated that the results provide insights useful to designers into the relations between the thermodynamic losses and capital costs, it also helps to demonstrate the merits of second law analysis over the more conventional first law analysis techniques

Comparison of repowering by STIG combined cycle and full repowering based on exergy and exergoeconomic analysis

Abstract: Nowadays, repowering is considered as the most common methods for improving status of current power plants. Repowering is the transformation of an existing steam power plant into a combined cycle system by adding one or more gas turbines and heat recovery capacity. It is a cost-effective way to improve performance and extended unit lifetime while adding capacity, reducing emissions and lowering heat rejection and water usage per kW generated. Each methods of repowering from "para repowering" to "full repowering" shall probably be the best choice for special national and economical power plant. In this paper different repowering methods have been introduced. The design concept consists in adding a gas turbine to the combined cycle, integrated by steam injection into the existing gas turbine. The steam is produced in a simplified heat recovery steam generator fed by the additional turbine's exhaust gas. A 156MW steam cycle power plant has been chosen as a case study. Two repowering scenarios have been utilized for this case. Thermodynamics code has been supplied for combined cycle and STIG combined cycle and compare with each others. The exergy and exergoeconomic analysis method was applied in order to evaluate the proposed repowered plant. Also, computer code has been developed for exergy and exergoeconomic analysis. It is anticipated that the results provide insights useful to designers into the relations between the thermodynamic losses and capital costs, it also helps to demonstrate the merits of second law analysis over the more conventional first law analysis techniques.The efficiency of the STIG repowered plant compares favourably with repowered combined cycle

AJK2011-03079 NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF POROUS MEDIUM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

ABSTRACT Porous media (PM) has interesting advantages compared with free flame combustion due to the higher burning rates, the increased power range, the extension of the lean flammability limits, and the low emissions of pollutants. Future internal combustion (IC) engines should have had minimum emissions level, under possible lowest fuel consumption permitted at all operational conditions. This may be achieved by realization of homogeneous combustion process in engine. In this paper, possibility of using PM in direct injection IC engine, with cylindrical geometry for PM to have homogeneous combustion, is examined. A three-dimensional numerical model for the regenerative engine is presented in this study based on a modified version of the KIVA-3V code that is very popular for engine simulation. Methane as a fuel is injected directly inside hot PM that is assumed mounted in cylinder head. Very lean mixture is formed and volumetric combustion occurs in PM. Mixture formation, pressure, temperature distribution in both phases of PM and in-cylinder fluid with the production of pollutants CO and NO, in the closed part of the cycle is studied. INTRODUCTION The most important issue of internal combustion engines that currently exists, is non-homogeneous mixture formation in the combustion chamber, which causes heterogeneous heat release and high temperature gradient in combustion chamber and thus production of pollutants such as NO x , unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, soot and suspended particles. To avoid the temperature gradient in IC engines, homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines, as an option, have been proposed. Control problems with start of ignition time under variable engine operational conditions and heat release rate, in this type of engines exist. In such engines, lean mixtur

Improving Energy Efficiency by Utilizing Wetted Cellulose Pads in Passive Cooling Systems

The effectiveness of using wetted cellulose pads on improving the performance of two conventional passive cooling systems has been evaluated. First, an experimental design was developed to determine the impact of using a wetted cellulose pad on the temperature and velocity of the airflow. A cellulose pad (7090 model) with a cross-sectional area of 0.5 × 0.5 m2 and three different thicknesses of 10, 15, and 30 cm were selected and tested. The results indicated that using wetted cellulose pads with thicknesses ranging from 10–30 cm decreased the outlet airflow temperature from 11.3 to 13.7 °C on average. For free airflow at velocity 3.5 m/s, the outlet airflow velocity from the wetted cellulose pad decreased to 0.9, 0.7 and 0.6 m/s, respectively, for cellulose pads with thicknesses of 10, 15, and 30 cm. By applying experimental results on a psychrometric chart, the humidity ratio of outlet airflow was obtained between 40–70%. The study established airflow velocity as the critical parameter in passive cooling systems. With the novel concept of combining wetted cellulose pads for passive cooling systems (i.e., wind catchers and induced ventilation), there is good potential to reduce the energy requirements for thermal comfort in buildings in regions with a hot and arid climate

Improving Energy Efficiency by Utilizing Wetted Cellulose Pads in Passive Cooling Systems

The effectiveness of using wetted cellulose pads on improving the performance of two conventional passive cooling systems has been evaluated. First, an experimental design was developed to determine the impact of using a wetted cellulose pad on the temperature and velocity of the airflow. A cellulose pad (7090 model) with a cross-sectional area of 0.5 × 0.5 m2 and three different thicknesses of 10, 15, and 30 cm were selected and tested. The results indicated that using wetted cellulose pads with thicknesses ranging from 10–30 cm decreased the outlet airflow temperature from 11.3 to 13.7 °C on average. For free airflow at velocity 3.5 m/s, the outlet airflow velocity from the wetted cellulose pad decreased to 0.9, 0.7 and 0.6 m/s, respectively, for cellulose pads with thicknesses of 10, 15, and 30 cm. By applying experimental results on a psychrometric chart, the humidity ratio of outlet airflow was obtained between 40–70%. The study established airflow velocity as the critical parameter in passive cooling systems. With the novel concept of combining wetted cellulose pads for passive cooling systems (i.e., wind catchers and induced ventilation), there is good potential to reduce the energy requirements for thermal comfort in buildings in regions with a hot and arid climate