scholarly journals Experimentally Validated Extension of the Operating Range of an Electrically Driven Turbocharger for Fuel Cell Applications

Machines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
Markus Schoedel ◽  
Marco Menze ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Wide Range

From an aerodynamic point of view, the electric turbocharger for the air supply of an automotive fuel cell faces difficult requirements: it must not only control the pressure level of the fuel cell, but it also has to operate with very high efficiency over a wide range. This paper explores features for the compressor and the turbine of an existing electric turbocharger, which are intended to meet the specific requirements of a fuel cell in an experimentally validated numerical study. Adjustable diffuser or nozzle vanes in the compressor and turbine achieve wider operating ranges but compromise efficiency, especially because of the necessary gaps between vanes and end walls. For the turbine, there are additional efficiency losses since the pivoting of the nozzle vanes leads to incidence and thus to flow separation at the leading edge of the nozzle vanes and the rotor blades. An increase in the mass flow and a slight efficiency improvement of the turbine with the low solidity nozzle vanes counteracts these losses. For the compressor, a reduction in the diffuser height and its influence over the operating range and power consumption yields an increase in surge margin as well as in maximum efficiency.

Numerical Study of Droplet Erosion in the First-Stage Rotor of an Axial Flow Compressor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliano Agati ◽  
Domenico Borello ◽  
Francesca Di Gruttola ◽  
Franco Rispoli ◽  
Paolo Venturini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Computational Grids ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Washing Process ◽  
Flow Compressor

Abstract In the present paper, a procedure for the study of the water washing in axial flow compressors is presented. The study is part of an ongoing partnership between Baker Hughes and Sapienza University of Rome aiming at maximizing the washing of the compressor blades while maintaining the erosion under specific thresholds. A computational analysis in the first part of an axial flow compressor (i.e. up to the first rotor) was carried out by using Ansys Fluent for the solution of multi-phase flow, while the water droplet erosion mechanism was modeled by the authors by using a properly developed methodology implemented in Fluent though the use of User Defined Functions. The washing process efficiency as well as the erosion rate are evaluated by introducing appropriate indexes. A parametric analysis was carried out by varying the mass flow rate of injected water. Two different computational grids were considered aiming at simulating two different configurations. In the first one the rotor blades leading edge (LE) is placed in the wake released by IGVs trailing edge (TE). In the second configuration, the rotor blades LE is located in a circumferential position corresponding to the mid-pitch between two successive IGVs. These two configurations simulate the situations of minimum and maximum water impact on the rotor blade surfaces. For all the injection conditions here considered, the configuration where IGVs trailing edges were aligned with the rotor blades LEs resulted in higher impacts and erosion on the blade pressure sides. When rotating rotor blades LEs in the middle of the IGVs vanes, rotor LEs were found to be the mostly washed regions but also the most subject to erosion phenomena. The computed indexes show the not optimal distribution of the injectors from the washing efficiency point of view.

Conceptual Analysis of Air Supply Systems For In-Flight PEM-FC

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas P. Barchewitz ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Combustion Chamber ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Thermodynamic Evaluation ◽  
Radial Turbine ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Inlet Conditions

To cover the increasing demand of on-board electrical power and for further reduction of emissions, the conventional auxiliary power unit (APU) shall be replaced by a fuel cell system. The main components are a compressor-turbine unit, a kerosene reformer, and the fuel cell. Polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM-FC) are favoured because of their currently advanced level of development. During in-flight operation, the inlet conditions of the PEM-FC system must be kept constant in order to avoid mechanical and thermal damage of the membrane and to ensure low levels of pressure fluctuations in the reformer section. A centrifugal compressor is chosen for pressurization of the system. The advantages of turbomachinery are low specific weight, high efficiency, and good controllability by inlet guide vanes and/or adjustable diffuser vanes. To drive the compressor, a radial turbine is used so that the air supply system resembles the turbocharger for a combustion engine (Fig. 1). A steady state thermodynamic evaluation of the entire system is carried out to identify an optimal system configuration that covers the large range of pressure, temperature, and humidity of ground operation of the aircraft in various regions on the earth as well as take-off, cruise, and landing. A catalytic combustion chamber is located between the PEM-FC and the radial turbine. In this combustion chamber, the hydrogen which is not used in the fuel cell is used to raise the turbine inlet temperature (TIT) and thus the mechanical power delivered by the turbine. To overcome an additional pressure loss of the reformer section, which occurs in the anode stream, an additional low-pressure-ratio compressor is used. The result is a highly thermally integrated PEM-FC system with three centrifugal turbomachines.

scholarly journals Improved Atomization via a Mechanical Atomizer with Optimal Geometric Parameters and an Air-Assisted Component

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 584
Author(s):  
Inna Levitsky ◽  
Dorith Tavor
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Supply Pressure ◽  
Swirl Chamber ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liquid Atomization ◽  
Atomization Characteristics ◽  
Geometrical Dimensions

Atomization of liquid media is a key aim in various technological disciplines, and solutions that improve spray performance, while decreasing energy consumption, are in great demand. That concept is very important in the development of liquid fuel spray atomizers in high-efficiency microturbines and other generator systems with low inlet pressure and a wide range of power supply. Here we present a study of the liquid atomization characteristics for a new mechanical atomizer that has optimal geometric parameters and a preliminary swirl stage. In our air-assisted atomizer, air is introduced through a swirl chamber positioned at the exit of the mechanical atomizer. The optimized mechanical atomizer alone can achieve D32 drop diameters in the range of 80 to 40 µm at water supply pressures of 2 to 5 bar, respectively. The addition of an air swirl chamber substantially decreases drop sizes. At an air–liquid ratio (ALR) equal to 1, water pressures of 2.5 to 3 bar and air supply pressures 0.35 to 1 bar, D32 drops with diameters of 20–30 µm were obtained. In an air-assisted atomizer the parameters of the mechanical atomizer have a much stronger influence on drop diameters than do characteristics of the air-swirl chamber. Using a mechanical atomizer with optimal geometrical dimensions allows limiting the liquid supply pressure to 5 bar; but when an air-assisted component is introduced we can recommend an ALR ≈ 1 and an air supply pressure of up to 1 bar.

DOE FE Distributed Generation Program

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Williams ◽  
Bruce R. Utz ◽  
Kevin M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Distributed Generation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The U.S

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in partnership with private industries, is leading the development and demonstration of high efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and fuel cell turbine hybrid power generation systems for near term distributed generation (DG) markets with an emphasis on premium power and high reliability. NETL is partnering with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in developing new directions in research under the Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) initiative for the development and commercialization of modular, low cost, and fuel flexible SOFC systems. The SECA initiative, through advanced materials, processing and system integration research and development, will bring the fuel cell cost to $400 per kilowatt (kW) for stationary and auxiliary power unit (APU) markets. The President of the U.S. has launched us into a new hydrogen economy. The logic of a hydrogen economy is compelling. The movement to a hydrogen economy will accomplish several strategic goals. The U.S. can use its own domestic resources—solar, wind, hydro, and coal. The U.S. uses 20 percent of the world’s oil but has only 3 percent of resources. Also, the U.S. can reduce green house gas emissions. Clear Skies and Climate Change initiatives aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. SOFCs have no emissions, so they figure significantly in these DOE strategies. In addition, DG—SOFCs, reforming, energy storage—has significant benefit for enhanced security and reliability. The use of fuel cells in cars is expected to bring about the hydrogen economy. However, commercialization of fuel cells is expected to proceed first through portable and stationary applications. This logic says to develop SOFCs for a wide range of stationary and APU applications, initially for conventional fuels, then switch to hydrogen. Like all fuel cells, the SOFC will operate even better on hydrogen than conventional fuels. The SOFC hybrid is a key part of the FutureGen plants. FutureGen is a major new Presidential initiative to produce hydrogen from coal. The highly efficient SOFC hybrid plant will produce electric power and other parts of the plant could produce hydrogen and sequester CO2. The hydrogen produced can be used in fuel cell cars and for SOFC DG applications.

scholarly journals Controlled-Endwall-Flow Blading for Multistage Axial Compressor Rotor

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
M. Kuroumaru ◽  
M. Furukawa ◽  
Y. Kinoue ◽  
T. Tanino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Surge Margin ◽  
Highly Loaded

This research aims to develop an advanced technology of highly loaded axial compressor stages with high efficiency and sufficient surge margin. To improve endwall boundary layer flows which lead to energy loss and instability at an operation of low flow rate, the Controlled-Endwall-Flow (CEF) rotor blades were designed and tested in the low speed rotating cascade facility of Kyushu University. The CEF rotor blades have three distinctive features: the leading-edge sweep near hub and casing wall, the leading-edge bend near the casing, and the same exit metal angle of blade evaluated by a conventional design method. Mechanical strength of the blade was verified by a numerical simulation at a high speed condition. The baseline rotor blades were designed under the same design condition and tested to compare with the CEF rotor. The results showed that the maximum stage efficiency of the CEF rotor was higher by 0.7 percent and the increase in surge margin was more than 20 percent in comparison with the baseline rotor. The results of both internal flow survey and 3D Navier-Stokes analysis showed that improvement of the overall stage performance resulted from activation of the endwall boundary layers, and suggested that further improvement might be expected by combination of end-bend stator blades and a highly loaded axial compressor stage could be developed by use of the CEF rotor.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of Horizontal Shear Instability Waves along Narrow Cold Frontal Rainbands

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 878-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki Kawashima
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Shear Instability ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Edge Waves ◽  
Instability Waves ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Mean

Abstract The effects of variations in low-level ambient vertical shear and horizontal shear on the alongfront variability of narrow cold frontal rainbands (NCFRs) that propagate into neutral and slightly unstable environments are investigated through a series of idealized cloud-resolving simulations. In cases initialized with slightly unstable sounding and weak ambient cross-frontal vertical shears, core-gap structures of precipitation along NCFRs occur that are associated with wavelike disturbances that derive their kinetic energy mainly from the mean local vertical shear and buoyancy. However, over a wide range of environmental conditions, core-gap structures of precipitation occur because of the development of a horizontal shear instability (HSI) wave along the NCFRs. The growth rate and amplitude of the HSI wave decrease significantly as the vertical shear of the ambient cross-front wind is reduced. These decreases are a consequence of the enhancement of the low-level local vertical shear immediately behind the leading edge. The strong local vertical shear acts to damp the vorticity edge wave on the cold air side of the shear zone, thereby suppressing the growth of the HSI wave through the interaction of the two vorticity edge waves. It is also noted that the initial wavelength of the HSI wave increases markedly with increasing horizontal shear. The local vertical shear around the leading edge is shown to damp long HSI waves more strongly than short waves, and the horizontal shear dependency of the wavelength is explained by the decrease in the magnitude of the vertical shear relative to that of the horizontal shear.

Development of a Novel Axial Compressor Generation for Industrial Applications: Part 2 — Blade Mechanics

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Anding ◽  
Henning Ressing ◽  
Klaus Hörmeyer ◽  
Roland Pisch ◽  
Kai Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Forced Response ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Strain Gauges ◽  
Blade Design ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Resonance Frequencies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Blade Vibrations

Blade vibrations resulting in alternating stresses are often the critical factor in determining blade life. Indeed, many of the failures experienced by turbomachinery blades occur due to high-cycle fatigue caused by blade vibrations. These vibrations can arise either through self-excited oscillations known as flutter or through aerodynamic forcing of the blades from factors such as periodic wakes from up and/or downstream vanes or unsteady flow phenomena such as compressor surge. The current paper deals with the design and the analytical and experimental verification of the axial blading for a new generation of industrial compressors, a hybrid axial compressor that combines the advantages of conventional industrial compressors — broad operating range and high efficiency — with the advantages of gas turbine compressors — high power-density and high stage pressure ratios. Additionally, the surge robustness of this novel compressor blading has been greatly improved. During the development phase extensive efforts were made to ensure safe operation for future service life. This was achieved by designing blades that will not flutter, do not have high resonance amplitudes throughout their entire operating range and are extremely robust against surge. This strongly increased robustness of the new compressor blading was achieved by the implementation of a “wide-chord” blade design in all rotor blade rows in combination with a proper tuning of resonance frequencies throughout the entire operating range. For the verification of the new blading well-established methods accepted by industry were used such as CFD and FEA. Furthermore, coupling of the two into a method referred to as Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) was used to more closely investigate the interaction of flow and structural dynamics phenomena. These analytical techniques have been used in conjunction with extensive testing of a scaled test compressor, which was operated at conditions of dynamic similitude (matching of scaled blade vibration frequencies, flow conditions, and Mach number) with full-scale operational conditions. Strain gauges placed on the blades and a state of the art technique known as “tip timing” were used to verify blade vibrations over a wide range of combinations of guide vane positions and rotational speeds. No propensity was found of any of the blades to develop high vibration amplitudes at any of the operating conditions investigated in the rig tests. The comparison of non-linear forced response analyses and the rig test results from strain gauges and tip timing showed close agreement, verifying the analysis techniques used. In conclusion it can be stated that the blade design exhibits a very high level of safety against vibrations within the entire operating range and during surge.

scholarly journals SYNCHRONIZATION OF PENDULUMS (NUMERICAL STUDY)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
Robert A. Sunarchin ◽  
Pavel V. Petrov
Keyword(s):  
Strouhal Number ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Auxiliary Problem ◽  
Free Vibrations ◽  
Mutual Synchronization ◽  
Wide Range

This paper presents the results of a numerical study of synchronization of pendulums, chronometers, and mechanical clocks suspended from a common movable beam. An auxiliary problem is considered about the oscillations of a pendulum with a swinging weight, then the mutual synchronization of free vibrations of two and four pendulums (and pendulums with the supply of a moment pulse-clock) on a common movable spring-loaded beam. It is shown that in the considered simplest configuration, mutual synchronization (equality of frequencies or oscillation periods) is performed with high efficiency. The frequency of synchronized oscillations of the pendulums is close to the frequency of vibrations of the platform in a wide range of changes in its rigidity. The degree of connectivity of pendulums and synchronization of their oscillations is determined by the Strouhal number. Synchronization of clocks does not guarantee the accuracy of their movement, which is achieved only when the Strouhal number is equal to one.

A Solution for Experimental Modeling the Axial Fans With High Efficiency and Reduced Noise

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victorita Radulescu
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Rotation Velocity ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Axial Fan ◽  
Experimental Stand

Abstract Present paper describes some experimental results obtained for modeling an axial fan with newly designed blade profiles, having high efficiency, low vibrations and noise. The axial fan was firstly designed by computational method, during a research project with our industrial partner SAVEB SA. One of the company objectives is represented by the production of the axial industrial fans, dedicated to different users to eliminate the smoke and the air pollutants from industrial halls, according to their specific needs. In the beginning, are presented some aspects of the theoretical aspects used in the numerical modeling for designing the rotor blades. Some considerations concerning the selection of the incidence angles of 10°, 15°, and 20° are mentioned. The profiles were selected from the recommended schemes, for different industrial applications, as the industrial halls for the air or gas circulation without corrosive, abrasive, or toxic agents, metallic dust, or with crowding/sticking suspensions contents. For this type of axial fan, the content of suspensions should not exceed 50 mg/m3. Further is presented the experimental stand, in conformity with actual standards, STAS 7466-84 and DIN 24163, equipped with a hydrometer with an error less than 3%, barometer with an error less than 1 mm Hg, stroboscope and tachometer with an error less 0,5% from the total rotation velocity, two voltmeters, with an error less 0,5, two wattmeters, etc. For the experimental tests was selected a fan with a diameter of 630 mm, which as standard execution has a maximum efficiency of 56%, in six different constructive variants: a rotor with 12 profiles and directory device with 11 blades, with 6 blades and directory device, etc. As the first variant of the rotor’s profiles has been used two solutions for the realization as two technological options, both of them tested in the laboratory. There are detailed some schemes adopted for the measurements and tests, and finally the adopted solution for measuring different characteristic parameters like efficiency, noise, and vibrations produced by the axial fan. Next are illustrated part of the measurement reports and the corresponding charts. Of the total amount of experimental results were selected for measuring scheme III and IV for their optimum energetic characteristics and high efficiency. All four diagrams are presented for both selected solutions used in the realization of the fan rotor blades. Finally, some conclusions and references are presented.

Optimization of a Small Scale Pellet Boiler

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose´ Carlos Teixeira ◽  
Rui Ferreira ◽  
Manuel Eduardo Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Direct Conversion ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Great Relevance ◽  
Secondary Air

Environmental concerns and the drive to reduce the dependence on petroleum based fuels brought the use of renewable energies to the forefront. Biomass appears as a very interesting option for direct conversion into heat. In this context, densified forms of biomass such as pellets are of great relevance because of their easy of use, high efficiency and low emissions. Expected trends in the biomass market suggest that equipments should operate over a wide range of thermal loads and with fuels derived from lower quality raw materials; simultaneously, a high efficiency and low emissions are taken for granted. Currently, biomass domestic boilers prove to be very sensitive to fuel characteristics and load conditions. This work reports on the development of a 15 kW net pellet boiler. A prototype was built that enables the independent control of the air supply into various regions of the combustion chamber and an accurate supply of fuel. The test rig also includes: boiler and flue gases extraction system; feeding system; heat dissipation system; flue gas analyzer; data acquisition system and all sensors. In order to optimize the combustion conditions, pollutant emissions and their relation with feeding conditions, primary and secondary air flow rate and excess of air was analyzed. The results suggest that this burner is a promising for implementation in domestic boilers. The advantages are: CO emissions well below those observed in similar equipments and the capacity to maintain the emissions level constant under different loading conditions.

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