Analytic Optimization of Cost Effective Thermoelectric Generation on Top of Rankine Cycle

Author(s):  
Kazuaki Yazawa ◽  
Yee Rui Koh ◽  
Ali Shakouri

Thermoelectric (TE) generators have a potential advantage of the wide applicable temperature range by a proper selection of materials. In contrast, a steam turbine (ST) as a Rankine cycle thermodynamic generator is limited up to more or less 630 °C for the heat source. Unlike typical waste energy recovery systems, we propose a combined system placing a TE generator on top of a ST Rankine cycle generator. This system produces an additional power from the same energy source comparing to a stand-alone steam turbine system. Fuel efficiency is essential both for the economic efficiency and the ecological friendliness, especially for the global warming concern on the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. We report our study of the overall performance of the combined system with primarily focusing on the design parameters of thermoelectric generators. The steam temperature connecting two individual generators gives a trade-off in the system design. Too much lower the temperature reduces the ST performance and too much higher the temperature reduces the temperature difference across the TE generator hence reduces the TE performance. Based on the analytic modeling, the optimum steam temperature to be designed is found near at the maximum power design of TE generator. This optimum point changes depending on the hours-of-operation. It is because the energy conversion efficiency directly connects to the fuel consumption rate. As the result, physical upper-limit temperature of steam for ST appeared to provide the best fuel economy. We also investigated the impact of improving the figure-of-merit (ZT) of TE materials. As like generic TE engines, reduction of thermal conductivity is the most influential parameter for improvement. We also discuss the cost-performance. The combined system provides the payback per power output at the initial and also provides the significantly better energy economy [$/KWh].

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 141-154
Author(s):  
Marcus Vitlin ◽  
Miroshan Naicker ◽  
Augustine Frederick Gardner

Generation III+ reactors are the latest generation of Nuclear Power Plants to enter the market. The key evolution in these reactors is the introduction of stringent safety standards. This is done through thorough incident scenario analysis and preparation, resulting in the addition of novel active and passive auxiliary safety systems, affecting the power consumption in the balance of plant. This paper analyses the parameters of PWR power plants of similar design, to determine the parameters for optimal efficiency, regarding gross and net electrical output, determining the impact the balance of plant has on this efficiency. While two of the three main factors affecting the Rankine cycle – boiler pressure and steam temperature – behaved as theoretically expected, there was a notable point of departure with the third parameter – condenser pressure. The relationship between steam temperature and gross electrical efficiency was linear across all reactors but the relation between the steam temperature and the net electrical efficiency ceased to be linear for secondary loop steam temperatures above 290°C. The relationship between boiler pressure and both gross and net electrical efficiency was linear, proving the Rankine cycle. A relationship was not observed between the condenser pressure and either the gross or net electrical efficiency


Author(s):  
Qilun Zhu ◽  
Robert Prucka ◽  
Michael Prucka ◽  
Hussein Dourra

The need for cost-effective fuel economy improvements has driven the introduction of automatic transmissions with an increasing number of gear ratios. Incorporation of interlocking dog clutches in these transmissions decreases package space and increases efficiency, as compared to conventional dry or wet clutches. Unlike friction based clutches, interlocking dog clutches require very precise rotational speed matching prior to engagement. Precise engine speed control is therefore critical to maintaining high shift quality. This research focuses on controlling the engine speed during a gearshift period by manipulating throttle position and combustion phasing. Model predictive control (MPC) is advantageous in this application since the speed profile of a future prediction horizon is known with relatively high confidence. The MPC can find the optimal control actions to achieve the designated speed target without invoking unnecessary actuator manipulation and violating hardware and combustion constraints. This research utilizes linear parameter varying (LPV) MPC to control the engine speed during the gearshift period. Combustion stability constraints are considered with a control oriented covariance of indicated mean effective pressure model (COV of IMEP). The proposed MPC engine speed controller is validated with a high-fidelity 0-dimensional engine model with crank angle resolution. Four case studies, based on simulation, investigate the impact of different MPC design parameters. They also demonstrate that the proposed MPC engine controller successfully achieves the speed reference tracking objective while considering combustion variation constraints.


Author(s):  
David Cimba ◽  
Kyle Gilbert ◽  
John Wagner

Sport utility and light-duty commercial vehicles exhibit a higher propensity for rollover during aggressive driving maneuvers, emergency scenarios, and degraded environmental conditions. A variety of strategies have been proposed to reduce vehicle body roll including active suspensions, comprehensive yaw stability systems, and active torsion bars. The active torsion bar systems have recently gained popularity due to their cost effective design and adaptability to existing chassis systems. However, the development of new control algorithms, design of subsystem components, and the evaluation of parameter sensitivity via testing a full scale vehicle is not always practical due to cost and safety concerns. Thus, a modular simulation tool and bench top testing environment is required to facilitate design and performance studies. In this paper, a series of mathematical models will be introduced to describe the vehicle dynamics and the roll prevention system. Representative numerical results are discussed to investigate a vehicle’s transient response with and without an active torsion bar system, as well as the impact of torsion bar and hydraulic component design parameters. Finally, a hardware in-the-loop test environment will be presented.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1030
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tauseef Nasir ◽  
Michael Chukwuemeka Ekwonu ◽  
Yoonseong Park ◽  
Javad Abolfazli Esfahani ◽  
Kyung Chun Kim

This study presents a combined cooling, heating, and power system powered by biogas, suitable for small scale communities in remote locations. To run such a system, in order to obtain the daily life essentials of electricity, hot water, and cooling, municipal waste can be considered as an option. Furthermore, the organic Rankine cycle part of the organic Rankine cycle powered vapor compression chiller can be used in times of need for additional electric production. The system comprises a medium temperature organic Rankine cycle utilizing M-xylene as its working fluid, and the cooling was covered by an Isobutane vapor compression cycle powered by an R245fa employing organic Rankine cycle. The system analyzed was designated to provide 250 kW of electricity. The energetic and exergetic analysis was performed, considering several system design parameters. The impact of the design parameters in the prime mover has a much greater effect on the whole system. The system proposed can deliver cooling values at the rate between 9.19 and 22 kW and heating values ranging from 879 up to 1255 kW, depending on the design parameter. Furthermore, the second law efficiency of the system was found to be approximately 56% at the baseline conditions and can be increased to 64.5%.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Shutang Zhu ◽  
Ying Tang ◽  
Kun Xiao ◽  
Zuoyi Zhang

This paper presents investigations on the possible combination of modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) technology with the supercritical (SC) steam turbine technology and the prospective deployments of the MHTGR SC power plant. Energy conversion efficiency of steam turbine cycle can be improved by increasing the main steam pressure and temperature. Investigations on SC water reactor (SCWR) reveal that the development of SCWR power plants still needs further research and development. The MHTGR SC plant coupling the existing technologies of current MHTGR module design with operation experiences of SC FPP will achieve high cycle efficiency in addition to its inherent safety. The standard once-reheat SC steam turbine cycle and the once-reheat steam cycle with life-steam have been studied and corresponding parameters were computed. Efficiencies of thermodynamic processes of MHTGR SC plants were analyzed, while comparisons were made between an MHTGR SC plant and a designed advanced passive PWR - AP1000. It was shown that the net plant efficiency of an MHTGR SC plant can reach 45% or above, 30% higher than that of AP1000 (35% net efficiency). Furthermore, an MHTGR SC plant has higher environmental competitiveness without emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.


1997 ◽  
Vol 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Fatemizadehl ◽  
Y. Granik

AbstractThis paper presents a methodology to optimize the design of different types of IGBT using TWB (TMA WorkBench). Using RSM (Response Surface Modeling) and DOE (Design of Experiment) in TWB we have developed a methodology, which can be applied to explore the impact of design modifications on the speed improvement and study the trade-off between speed, on-resistance, and breakdown voltage of IGBT. This method is a rapid and cost-effective approach for studying design alternatives. Two-dimensional simulations were used to determine the influence of technology and design parameter on device characteristics.


Author(s):  
Qilun Zhu ◽  
Robert Prucka ◽  
Michael Prucka ◽  
Hussein Dourra

The need for cost-effective fuel economy improvements has driven the introduction of automatic transmissions with an increasing number of gear ratios. Incorporation of interlocking dog clutches in these transmissions decreases package space and increases efficiency, as compared to conventional dry or wet clutches. Unlike friction-based clutches, interlocking dog clutches require very precise rotational speed matching prior to engagement. Precise engine speed control is, therefore, critical to maintaining high shift quality. This research focuses on controlling the engine speed during a gearshift period by manipulating throttle position and combustion phasing. Model predictive control (MPC) is advantageous in this application since the speed profile of a future prediction horizon is known with relatively high confidence. The MPC can find the optimal control actions to achieve the designated speed target without invoking unnecessary actuator manipulation and violating hardware and combustion constraints. This research utilizes linear parameter varying (LPV) MPC to control the engine speed during the gearshift period. Combustion stability constraints are considered with a control-oriented covariance of indicated mean effective pressure model (COV of IMEP). The proposed MPC engine speed controller is validated with a high-fidelity zero-dimensional engine model with crank angle resolution. Four case studies, based on simulation, investigate the impact of different MPC design parameters. They also demonstrate that the proposed MPC engine controller successfully achieves the speed reference tracking objective while considering combustion variation constraints.


Author(s):  
P. Jafarali ◽  
Dmitry Krikunov ◽  
Amir Mujezinović ◽  
Nicholas A. Tisenchek

This paper consists of two parts. Part I presents a probabilistic based approach to determine an allowable manufacturing tolerance range on a steam turbine blade when the allowable Defects Per Million Opportunity (DPMO) are known a priori. The method allows simulating the entire row of blades with geometrical deviations by using only a few representative blade models. The proposed method takes into account the probabilistic nature of the dimensional variation within the tolerance ranges. Furthermore, the method allows the designer to understand the impact on critical blade design parameters. Part II of this paper proposes a probabilistic evaluation of gap / interference between shrouds of two adjacent blades of a steam turbine. The method uses manufacturing process capability of the relevant design parameter: tip shroud pitch for the tip shroud gap. This method allows for a probabilistic optimization of the shroud gap between two adjacent blades in order to balance reliability and ease of assembly.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Maciej Cholewiński ◽  
Wojciech Pospolita ◽  
Dominik Błoński

Reducing the amount of energy required in industrial activities is one of the proven ways to achieve major cost savings, especially in the face of soaring energy prices. In the transport sector, besides the financial benefits, low energy consumption leads to the significant reduction of emissions of many pollutants. In this paper the new concept of dual power technology, dedicated to heavy road transport, was modelled and analysed by computer simulations. The combination of organic Rankine cycle and Brayton cycle was proposed, where the waste heat of fumes was recognized as a upper heat source, whereas the surrounding was adopted to be the lower one. Improvement of total energy conversion efficiency of the truck was the key success factor. Environmental friendly fluids (air and R123) were utilised. The operating parameters, power characteristics and energy streams (i.e. dispersion) of the system were evaluated, calculated and commented from the perspective of its theoretical profitability. The calculated net power capacity of analysed dual system was around 50 hp for 100% load. However, when the engine load is below 50% of nominal capacity, the power generation of combined system might be lower than in the case of single ORC system.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 519-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Crisp ◽  
Richard Riehle

Polyaminopolyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins are the predominant commercial products used to manufacture wet-strengthened paper products for grades requiring wet-strength permanence. Since their development in the late 1950s, the first generation (G1) resins have proven to be one of the most cost-effective technologies available to provide wet strength to paper. Throughout the past three decades, regulatory directives and sustainability initiatives from various organizations have driven the development of cleaner and safer PAE resins and paper products. Early efforts in this area focused on improving worker safety and reducing the impact of PAE resins on the environment. These efforts led to the development of resins containing significantly reduced levels of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), potentially carcinogenic byproducts formed during the manufacturing process of PAE resins. As the levels of these byproducts decreased, the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) profile of PAE resins and paper products improved. Recent initiatives from major retailers are focusing on product ingredient transparency and quality, thus encouraging the development of safer product formulations while maintaining performance. PAE resin research over the past 20 years has been directed toward regulatory requirements to improve consumer safety and minimize exposure to potentially carcinogenic materials found in various paper products. One of the best known regulatory requirements is the recommendations of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), which defines the levels of 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD that can be extracted by water from various food contact grades of paper. These criteria led to the development of third generation (G3) products that contain very low levels of 1,3-DCP (typically <10 parts per million in the as-received/delivered resin). This paper outlines the PAE resin chemical contributors to adsorbable organic halogens and 3-MCPD in paper and provides recommendations for the use of each PAE resin product generation (G1, G1.5, G2, G2.5, and G3).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document