General methodology for exergy balance in ProSimPlus® process simulator

This paper presents a general methodology for exergy balance in chemical and thermal processes integrated in ProSimPlus® as a well-adopted process simulator for energy efficiency analysis. In this work, as well as using the general expressions for heat and work streams, all of exergy balance is presented within only one software in order to fully automate exergy analysis. In addition, after exergy balance, the essential elements such as source of irreversibility for exergy analysis are presented to help the user for modifications on either process or utility system. The applicability of the proposed methodology in ProSimPlus® is shown through a simple scheme of Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) recovery process and its steam utility system. The methodology does not only provide the user with necessary exergetic criteria to pinpoint the source of exergy losses, it also helps the user to find the way to reduce the exergy losses. These features of the proposed exergy calculator make it preferable for its implementation in ProSimPlus® to define the most realistic and profitable retrofit projects on the existing chemical and thermal plants

Economic and environmental strategies for process design

This paper first addresses the definition of various objectives involved in eco-efficient processes, taking simultaneously into account ecological and economic considerations. The environmental aspect at the preliminary design phase of chemical processes is quantified by using a set of metrics or indicators following the guidelines of sustainability concepts proposed by . The resulting multiobjective problem is solved by a genetic algorithm following an improved variant of the so-called NSGA II algorithm. A key point for evaluating environmental burdens is the use of the package ARIANE™, a decision support tool dedicated to the management of plants utilities (steam, electricity, hot water, etc.) and pollutants (CO2, SO2, NO, etc.), implemented here both to compute the primary energy requirements of the process and to quantify its pollutant emissions. The well-known benchmark process for hydrodealkylation (HDA) of toluene to produce benzene, revisited here in a multiobjective optimization way, is used to illustrate the approach for finding eco-friendly and cost-effective designs. Preliminary biobjective studies are carried out for eliminating redundant environmental objectives. The trade-off between economic and environmental objectives is illustrated through Pareto curves. In order to aid decision making among the various alternatives that can be generated after this step, a synthetic evaluation method, based on the so-called Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) (), has been first used. Another simple procedure named FUCA has also been implemented and shown its efficiency vs. TOPSIS. Two scenarios are studied; in the former, the goal is to find the best trade-off between economic and ecological aspects while the latter case aims at defining the best compromise between economic and more strict environmental impact

Vorticity scattering measurements in a superfluid inertial round jet

International audienceThe aim of this proceeding paper is twofold. First, we present a newly developed cryogenic testing facility where a steady high Reynolds liquid helium inertial round jet flow is generated allowing to address classical turbulence issues, such as statistical intermittency, and quantum turbulence when the facility is operating in superfluid helium. Secondly we present the first spatial Fourier vorticity modes measurements made both above and below the superfluid transition at different nozzle velocities. These preliminary results were obtained by probing the vorticity flow-field with the ultrasonic scattering technique

3D Acoustic Lagrangian Velocimetry

International audienceWe report Lagrangian measurements obtained with an acoustic Doppler velocimetry technique. From the Doppler frequency shift of acoustic waves scattered by tracer particles in a turbulent flow, we are able to measure the full three-component velocity of the particles. As a first application, we have studied velocity statistics of Lagrangian tracers in a turbulent air jet at Rλ∼320 and at various distances from the nozzle. The choice of an air jet is motivated by the fact that jets produce a well characterized high level tubulence and open air flows are well suited to simultaneaously achieve classical hot wire Eulerian measurements. Therefore, we are also able to explicitly address the question of the differences between Eulerian and Lagrangian statistics. As Lagrangian tracers we use soap bubbles inflated with Helium which are neutrally buoyant in air and can be assimilated to fluid particles. Velocity statistics are analysed. We show that the Lagrangian autocorrelation decays faster in time than its Eulerian counterpart. Finally we present Lagrangian time velocity increments statistics which, as already reported by previous work, exhibits stronger intermittency than Eulerian velocity increments

A modelling framework for energy system planning: Application to CHP plants participating in the electricity market

This article presents a general modelling framework dedicated to the short-term planning of energy systems, which supports the fast prototyping of optimization models. Due to the need for its applicability to practical problem instances, the methodology is based on a generic Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation. In addition, a specific graphical formalism called Extended Resource Task Network (ERTN) is proposed for the configuration step, which enables the modelling of any type of system and the automatic instantiation of the optimization models. The value of implementing such a tool is demonstrated through the modelling, operational planning and performance evaluation of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant that participates in the French Day-ahead electricity market. Indeed, while real-time control of utility plants plays an important role in ensuring the balance between production and needs, forecasting and planning these production systems is becoming increasingly necessary to make them more energy and economically efficient. The case study shows, on the one hand the potentialities of the modelling approach through the ability to achieve rapid development and implementation of complex systems, and on the other hand significant opportunities to improve the site’s economic profitability as well as its environmental impact

Exergy analysis in ProSimPlus® simulation software: A focus on exergy efficiency evaluation

On industrial sites, the promotion of best practices to enable an efficient utilization of energy has emerged as one of the major point of focus. Among the different approaches existing to improve industrial processes, the exergy analysis, although limited to the academic world, has been shown to be a powerful tool for improving energy efficiency of thermal and chemical systems. The purpose of this paper is then to present the use of the ProSimPlus® modelling and simulation environment as an exergy analysis computer-aided tool. Expressions implemented in the simulator for computing exergies in its various forms are presented. The adopted approach for calculating exergy efficiency in a systematic way is also exposed; it combines the fuel-product concepts to the transit exergy concept. ProsimPlus® exergy module's capabilities are illustrated through the example of an ammonia production plant

Turbulent velocity spectra in superfluid flows

International audienceWe present velocity spectra measured in three cryogenic liquid 4He steady flows: grid and wake flows in a pressurized wind tunnel capable of achieving mean velocities up to 5 m/s at temperatures above and below the superfluid transition, down to 1.7 K, and a "chunk" turbulence flow at 1.55 K, capable of sustaining mean superfluid velocities up to 1.3 m/s. Depending on the flows, the stagnation pressure probes used for anemometry are resolving from one to two decades of the inertial regime of the turbulent cascade. We do not find any evidence that the second order statistics of turbulence below the superfluid transition differ from the ones of classical turbulence, above the transition

TSF experiment for comparison of high Reynolds number turbulence in both HeI and HeII: First results

International audienceTSF experiment for comparison of high Reynolds number turbulence in both HeI and HeII: First result

TSF Experiment for comparision of high Reynold's number turbulence in He I and He II : first results

International audienceSuperfluid turbulence (TSF) project uses liquid helium for the fundamental study of turbulent phenomena behind a passive grid and is able to work both in HeI and in HeII. Local and semi-local instrumentation was developed specifically for the purpose of this experiment(e.g. sub-micrometer anemometer, total head pressure tube and second sound tweezer). The difficulties encountered with this local and fragile instrumentation are discussed. Global characterization of the flow is presented including velocity, pressure, temperature stability and turbulence intensity. Finally, first results obtained with semi local measurements (total head pressure tube and second sound tweezer) both in the two phases of helium are presented