Impact of Fluid Substitution on the Performance of an Axial Compressor Blade Cascade Working With Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Recent research on turbomachinery design and analysis for supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) power cycles has relied on Computational Fluid Dynamics. This has produced a large number of works whose approach is mostly case-specific, rather than of general application to sCO2 turbomachinery design. As opposed to such approach, this work explores the aerodynamic performance of compressor blade cascades operating on air and supercritical CO2 with the main objective to evaluate the usual aerodynamic parameters of the cascade for variable boundary conditions and geometries, enabling ‘full’ or ‘partial’ similarity. The results present both the global performance of the cascades and certain features of the local flow (trailing edge and wake). The discussion also highlights the mechanical limitations of the analysis (forces exerted on the blades), which is the main restriction to applying similarity laws to extrapolate the experience gained through decades of work on air turbomachinery to the new working fluid. This approach is a step towards the understanding and appropriate formulation of a multi-objective optimisation problem for the design of such turbomachinery components where sCO2 is used as the operating fluid. With this objective, the paper aims to identify and analyse what would be expected if a common description of such computational design problems similar to those where air is the working fluid were used.

Modelling of Sonic Jets for Gas Leak Applications

Design of gas turbine packages is subjected to safety issues and the related guidelines are provided by ISO-21789. According to this code, the ventilation system shall guarantee a good and safe dilution in case of an unexpected gas leakage from components of the fuel gas system inside the enclosure. The evaluation of the dilution is commonly carried out by CFD simulations and the ISO-21789 indicates the criteria to evaluate the danger of a gas leak by estimating the cloud volume of the explosive mixture. To follow this prescription and to properly calculate the exact volume cloud, it is fundamental to accurately reproduce the fuel gas leak, which is always a supersonic jet of fuel gas into an air-ventilated domain. The main criticality is to simulate a supersonic jet into a complex domain such as the gas turbine package, considering the industrial goals in terms of accuracy and time constraints. The complexity is due to the geometry of the package and to the multiple locations where the leakage could occur. In such context, it is preferable to develop an advanced modeling of the phenomenon rather than simply improve the detail of the CFD, that could turn out to be unfeasible for industrial goals. For this reason, the authors present a series of simulations of under-expanded jets at high pressure ratios carried out to investigate the applicability of the sonic source approach to not-round jets.

The Role of Turbomachinery Performance in the Optimization of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Systems

The successful penetration of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power systems in the energy market largely depends on the achievable turbomachinery performance. The present study illustrates a systematic framework where both the compressor and the turbine are designed via validated (within ±2% pts against experiments) mean-line tools and the related impact on cycle performance estimates is quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. A significant effort is devoted to the analysis of centrifugal compressor performance operating close to the critical point, where sharp thermodynamic property variations may make critical the compression process. The analysis is performed for different compressor sizes and pressure ratios, showing a comparatively small contribution of compressor-intake fluid conditions to the machine efficiency, which may achieve technological competitive values (82 ÷ 85%) for representative full-scale sizes. Two polynomial correlations for both turbomachinery efficiencies are devised as a function of proper similarity parameters accounting for machine sizes and loadings. Such correlations can be easily embedded in power cycle optimizations, which are usually carried out assuming constant-turbomachinery efficiency, thus ignoring the effects of plant size and cycle operating parameters. Efficiency correlations are finally exploited to perform several optimizations of a recompressed sCO2 cycle, by varying multiple cycle parameters (i.e. maximum and minimum temperature, pressure ratio and net power output). The results highlight that the replacement of constant-efficiency assumption with the proposed correlations leads to more accurate performance predictions (i.e. cycle efficiency can differ by more than 4% pts), showing in particular that an optimal pressure ratio exists in the range 2 ÷ 5 for all the investigated configurations.

Numerical Simulation of Non-Equilibrium Condensation in Supercritical CO2 Compressors

There is increasing interest in supercritical CO2 processes, such as Carbon Capture and Storage, and electric power production, which require compressors to pressurize CO2 above the critical point. For supercritical compressor operation close to the critical point there is a concern that the working fluid could cross into the subcritical regime which could lead to issues with compressor performance if condensation was to occur in regions where the fluid dropped below the saturation point. Presently, the question of whether there is sufficient residence time at subcritical conditions for condensation onset in supercritical CO2 compressors is an unresolved issue. A methodology is presented towards providing a validated simulation capability for predicting condensation in supercritical CO2 compressors. The modeling framework involves the solution of a discrete droplet phase coupled to the continuum gas phase to track droplet nucleation and growth. The model is implemented in the CRUNCH CFD® Computational Fluid Dynamics code that has been extensively validated for simulation at near critical conditions with a real fluid framework for accurate predictions of trans-critical CO2 processes. Results of predictions using classical nucleation theory to model homogeneous nucleation of condensation sites in supersaturated vapor regions are presented. A non-equilibrium phase-change model is applied to predict condensation on the nuclei which grow in a dispersed-phase droplet framework. Model validation is provided against experimental data for condensation of supercritical CO2 in a De Laval nozzle including the Wilson line location. The model is then applied for prediction of condensation in the compressor of the Sandia test loop at mildly supercritical inlet conditions. The results suggest that there is sufficient residence time at the conditions analyzed to form localized nucleation sites, however, droplets are expected to be short lived as the model predicts they will rapidly vaporize.

Visualization of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Flow Through a Converging-Diverging Nozzle

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles have the potential to offer a higher plant efficiency than the traditional Rankine superheated/supercritical steam cycle or Helium Brayton cycles. The most attractive characteristic of sCO2 is that the fluid density is high near the critical point, allowing compressors to consume less power than conventional gas Brayton cycles and maintain a smaller turbomachinery size. Despite these advantages, there still exist unsolved challenges in design and operation of sCO2 compressors near the critical point. Drastic changes in fluid properties near the critical point and the high compressibility of the fluid pose several challenges. Operating a sCO2 compressor near the critical point has potential to produce two phase flow, which can be detrimental to turbomachinery performance. To mimic the expanding regions of compressor blades, flow through a converging-diverging nozzle is investigated. Pressure profiles along the nozzle are recorded and presented for operating conditions near the critical point. Using high speed shadowgraph images, onset and growth of condensation is captured along the nozzle. Pressure profiles were calculated using a one-dimensional homogeneous equilibrium model and compared with experimental data.

Simple Recuperated s-CO2 Cycle Revisited: Optimization of Operating Parameters for Maximum Cycle Efficiency

The paper presents modeling and Design of Experiments (DOE) analysis for a simple recuperated s-CO2 closed loop Brayton cycle operating at a maximum temperature of 600°C and a compressor inlet temperature of 45°C. The analysis highlights the impact of isentropic efficiencies of the turbine and compressor, decoupled in this case, on other equipment such as recuperator, gas cooler and heater, all of which have a bearing on the overall performance of the s-CO2 Brayton cycle. A MATLAB program coupled with REFPROP is used to perform the thermodynamic analysis of the cycle. A design space exploration with a Design of Experiments (DOE) study is undertaken using I-sight™ (multi-objective optimization software), which is coupled with the MATLAB code. The outcome of the DOE study provides the optimal pressure ratios and high side pressures for maximum cycle efficiency in the design space. By varying pressure ratios along with a floating high side pressure, the analysis reveals that the cycle performance exhibits a peak around a pressure ratio of 2.5, with cycle efficiency being the objective function. A further interesting outcome of the DOE study reveals that the isentropic efficiencies of the compressor and turbine have a strong influence not only on the overall cycle efficiency, but also the optimum pressure ratio as well as the threshold pressures (low as well as high side pressure). An important outcome of this exercise shows that the isentropic efficiency of the turbine has a much greater impact on the overall cycle performance as compared to that of the compressor.

A Supercritical CO2 Combined Power and Liquefaction Cycle

Natural gas production has increased dramatically in recent years due to advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques. There are still challenges that must be addressed by industry to better utilize these abundant natural gas resources. For example, due to the cost and complexity with piping installations from remote well sites to processing facilities (should they exist), natural gas is often flared at the site whereas the liquid hydrocarbons are stored in holding tanks. For the natural gas that is recovered and processed, there are currently economic benefits to exporting the gas to international markets, provided that the gas can be liquefied and shipped. While the number of liquefaction facilities has increased in recent years, additional liquefaction plants are needed. This paper introduces a novel liquefaction cycle that utilizes a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle to provide power and initial stages of refrigeration to a natural gas liquefaction cycle. The liquefaction cycle uses a flow of CO2 extracted from the power cycle as well as natural gas to provide several stages of refrigeration capable of liquefying the process stream. The combined sCO2 power and liquefaction cycle is described in detail and initial cycle analyses are presented. The cycle performance is compared to small-scale natural gas liquefaction cycles and is shown to provide comparable performance to the reviewed cycles. Due to the compact nature of the sCO2 power cycle equipment, the sCO2 liquefaction cycle described herein can provide small, modular liquefaction plants that can be employed at individual well sites to liquefy and store the natural gas as opposed to flaring the gas.

Effect of Compressor Inlet Condition on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Compressor Performance

Supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton power cycle has attracted a lot of attention around the world in energy conversion field. It takes advantage of the high density of CO2 near the critical point while maintaining low viscosity to reduce compressor power and achieve high cycle efficiency. However, as CO2 approaches to its critical point, the thermodynamic properties of CO2 vary dramatically with small changes in temperature or pressure. As a result, the density of the working fluid varies significantly at the compressor inlet in the practical cycle if operating near the critical point, especially for small-scale cycles and air-cooled cycles, which leads to compressors operating out of the flow range, even being damaged. Concerns of large density variations at the inlet of the compressor result in S-CO2 compressor designers selecting compressor inlet conditions away from the critical point, thereby increasing compressor power. In this paper, a criterion to choose inlet pressure and inlet temperature of compressors as the design inlet condition is proposed, which is guaranteeing ±50% change in inlet specific volume within ±3 °C variation in inlet temperature. By the criterion, 8 MPa and 34.7 °C is selected as the design inlet condition. According to design requirements of the cycle, a S-CO2 centrifugal compressor is designed through 1-D design methodology. Based on the two-zone model, the effects of compressor inlet condition including inlet pressure and inlet temperature on the compressor performance are analyzed in detail. In practical operation, the compressor inlet condition is varied. Thus, an accurate prediction of compressor performance under different inlet conditions is necessary. The traditional correction method is not suitable for S-CO2 compressor. Dimensionless specific enthalpy rise is used to correct pressure ratio by the real gas table. And the S-CO2 compressor performance can be predicted correctly under different inlet conditions.

Wheel Box Test Aeromechanical Verification of New First Stage Bucket With Integrated Cover Plates for MS5002 GT

In the oil and gas industry, manufacturers are continuously engaged in providing machines with improved performance, reliability and availability. First Stage Bucket is one of the most critical gas turbine components, bearing the brunt of very severe operating conditions in terms of high temperature and stresses; aeromechanic behavior is a key characteristic to be checked, to assure the absence of resonances that can lead to damage. Aim of this paper is to introduce a method for aeromechanical verification applied to the new First Stage Bucket for heavy duty MS5002 gas turbine with integrated cover plates. This target is achieved through a significantly cheaper and streamlined test (a rotating test bench facility, formally Wheel Box Test) in place of a full engine test. Scope of Wheel Box Test is the aeromechanical characterization for both Baseline and New bucket, in addition to the validation of the analytical models developed. Wheel Box Test is focused on the acquisition and visualization of dynamic data, simulating different forcing frequencies, and the measurement of natural frequencies, compared with the expected results. Moreover, a Finite Elements Model (FEM) tuning for frequency prediction is performed. Finally, the characterization of different types of dampers in terms of impact on frequencies and damping effect is carried out. Therefore, in line with response assessment and damping levels estimation, the most suitable damper is selected. The proposed approach could be extended for other machine models and for mechanical audits.

Gas Turbine Health State Prognostics by Means of Bayesian Hierarchical Models

The prediction of the time evolution of gas turbine performance is an emerging requirement of modern prognostics and health management (PHM), aimed at improving system reliability and availability, while reducing life cycle costs. In this work, a data-driven Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) is employed to perform a probabilistic prediction of gas turbine future health state thanks to its capability to deal with fleet data from multiple units. First, the theoretical background of the predictive methodology is outlined to highlight the inference mechanism and data processing for estimating BHM predicted outputs. Then, BHM is applied to both simulated and field data representative of gas turbine degradation to assess its prediction reliability and grasp some rules of thumb for minimizing BHM prediction error. For the considered field data, the average values of the prediction errors were found to be lower than 1.0 % or 1.7 % for single- or multi-step prediction, respectively.