Methodology for thermal design of novel combined refrigeration/power binary fluid systems

Refrigeration cogeneration systems which generate power alongside with cooling improve energy utilization significantly, because such systems offer a more reasonable arrangement of energy and exergy “flows” within the system, which results in lower fuel consumption as compared to the separate generation of power and cooling or heating. This paper proposes several novel systems of that type, based on ammonia–water working fluid. Importantly, general principles for integration of refrigeration and power systems to produce better energy and exergy efficiencies are summarized, based primarily on the reduction of exergy destruction. The proposed plants analyzed here operate in a fully-integrated combined cycle mode with ammonia–water Rankine cycle(s) and an ammonia refrigeration cycle, interconnected by absorption, separation and heat transfer processes. It was found that the cogeneration systems have good performance, with energy and exergy efficiencies of 28% and 55–60%, respectively, for the base-case studied (at maximum heat input temperature of 450 °C). That efficiency is, by itself, excellent for cogeneration cycles using heat sources at these temperatures, with the exergy efficiency comparable to that of nuclear power plants. When using exhaust heat from topping gas turbine power plants, the total plant energy efficiency can rise to the remarkable value of about 57%. The hardware proposed for use is conventional and commercially available; no hardware additional to that needed in conventional power and absorption cycles is needed.     

Downward two-phase flow applications for a non-conventional heat pump

A non-conventional heat pump working by a difference in density between two branches of a hydraulic vertical loop has been described. This system called thermogravimetric heat pump, TGHP, operates with a non-conventional regenerative thermodynamic cycle which remarkably improves COP values. The lower density in the ‘downward branch’ is obtained by a liquid–vapour two-phase flow. Performances and main geometrical characteristic trends, such as plant height Z and two-phase column diameter D_T–PD have been drawn, varying the minimum cycle temperature between 15 and 25 °C and the user temperature, T_max, in the range 60–70 °C. The carrier fluid is demineralized water; according to the peculiar working fluid—PP 50, HFC 134a and HFC 338cca—different solutions can be obtained, such as for 10–12 storey buildings or for skyscrapers. Yet, the results obtained with HFC 338cca must be accepted with some cautions while waiting for a better characterisation of such fluid. Chemical compatibility, thermal stability, environmental impact have been also taken into account in the choice of the operating couple, carrier fluid—working fluid. While the thermodynamic conversion process is non-conventional, the TGHP can be assembled by standardised technology. The compressor of a conventional plant is here replaced by a feeding pump and COP values obtained through a regenerative TGHP are globally larger than those of a common heat pump.     

Modern trends in heat pump development

Modern trends in heat pump development are discussed. Motor/compressor units are now being designed specifically for heat pumps. The use of solar heat, direct fired domestic heat pumps (eg with natural gas), the Stirling engine and Rankine cycle heat pump are being investigated.     

Analysis of a refrigeration cycle driven by refrigerant steam turbine

The objectives of this paper are to develop a novel cycle with refrigerant Rankine and refrigeration cycles, and to discuss the thermodynamic analysis of the cycle and the adequacy of the development. The combined cycle uses only one working fluid, has a simple mechanical system and does not have abrading parts. Three different refrigerants are evaluated to find the best candidate for the novel combined cycle—R123, R134a and R245ca. It is found that the R123 cycle gives the highest cycle efficiency among all cycles considered in the present study. The base cycle has a low efficiency because of the high temperature at the turbine outlet. By recovering the heat at the turbine outlet, the overall COP increases by 47% in case of the R245ca cycle. In the base cycle, COP depends mostly on the boiler pressure, while in the modified cycle with the recuperator, the cycle efficiency depends mostly on the boiler temperature. Considering the cycle efficiency and environmental issues, it is concluded that R245ca is the most promising refrigerant out of the cycles considered in the present paper.     

Stirling engine heat pumps

A Stirling engine is a thermal system that may be used to produce power from a high temperature heat source or as a refrigerator and heat pump to deliver energy at a higher temperature than abstracted from the source. A Stirling engine may therefore be used as the driver for natural gas heated air conditioning/heat pump Rankine cycle vapour compression systems or itself be used as the refrigerating/heat pump system requiring an input of work. Two Stirling systems, one acting as the driver, the other as the heat pump may be combined into the Stirling-Stirling or duplex Stirling arrangement. This paper touches briefly on a number of topics about fundamental aspects and recent developments in this field.     

Compression heat pump with solution circuit Part 1: design and experimental results

This Paper presents the design and experimental results of a compression heat pump with solution circuit (CHSC) that has been constructed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The CHSC offers two major advantages over a single fluid Rankine cycle: 1, the heating capacity is easily varied by a large factor by adjusting the composition of the mixture; and 2, the approximation of the Lorenz process allows for substantially high COP values in cases with gliding temperatures. The test plant heats water from 40 to 70°C and cools water from 40 to 15°C. The heating capacity can be varied from 5 to 15 kW. A COP of 4.3 was measured, representing an energy saving of 23%, compared with a good single fluid Rankine cycle. Measured heat and mass transfer coefficients are presented and discussed.     

Simulation and validation of a hybrid-power gas engine heat pump

Hybrid-power gas engine heat pump (HPGHP) combines hybrid power technology with gas engine heat pump, which can keep the gas engine working in the economical zone. In this paper, a steady-state model of the HPGHP in heating condition has been established, the optimal torque curve control strategy is proposed to distribute power between the gas engine and battery pack. The main operating parameters of the HPGHP system are simulated on Matlab/Simulink and validated by experimental data, such as operating temperature, coefficient of performance (COP), fuel-consumed rate, etc. Heating capacity and COP of the heating pump system are validated under different ambient temperatures and water flow rates. The simulation and experiment results shows acceptable agreement, the maximum difference is respectively 8.9%, 5.9%, 9.5% and 8.2% for engine torque, motor torque, reclaimed heat and fuel-consumed rate. Based on the simulation results, HPGHP has the lowest fuel-consumed rate of 283 g (kWh)⁻¹ at engine speed of 3000 rpm; the PER of HPGHP system is about 15.9% and 11.4% higher than the GHP under the same load in Mode C and D.     

Utilization of low-grade waste heat-to-energy technologies and policy in Indian industrial sector: a review

This article emphasizes on waste heat recovery for the implementation of organic Rankine cycle technology in the Indian industrial sector. A large proportion of energy is consumed by various industries, which leads to environmental pollution in multiple ways. Since the past few years, research is going on for re-using this low-grade waste energy utilizing organic Rankine cycle technology. In this report, a thorough review has been carried out to find the significant scope for recovering low-grade waste energy, primarily in cement, iron and steel and glass industries. Case studies based on the data collected from the associated plants have also been reported. A summary of different waste heat recovery cycles mechanism and working fluid selection procedure is also included. In the succeeding stage, various technological and legal aspects of using the recovered energy through power grid lines have been discussed. The review sketches a potential scope of using the low-grade waste energy in fulfilling the high energy demand of Indian commercial sector as well as domestic energy industry.     

Turbomachinery for small solar power plants

Conversion of solar energy into mechanical or electrical energy in small solar power plants (10–500 kW) requires new design criteria, especially with regard to turbomachinary. The cycles suitable for solar power production are affected by many variable such as kinds of working fluid, range of power and maximum cycle temperature determined by the type of collector. Also, the size of the plant will influence the selection of the various components of the plant, especially that of the turbomachinery. A study of a suitable thermodynamic cycle and working fluid is done for diffèrent ranges of power and temperature. The working fluids considered are steam, toluene, and refrigerant 113 for the Rankine cycle systems and air for gas turbine systems. For Rankine cycles, turbine selection is a problem in the small power range. This is mainly due to the fact, that for high efficiency the enthalpy drop should be as high as possible, and the mass flow rate of the working fluid through the turbine becomes very small. This, in turn, requires high rotational speed, multistaging and partial admission, especially if water is the working fluid. Toluene offers better design criteria for the turbine in the same temperature and power range (50–200 kW). For the very small range (10 kW) refrigerant 113 or similar should be used, otherwise severe design problems with the turbine will occur. In this power range, photovoltaics may also be considered. For high concentration systems with “Brayton cycles” (800–1000°C) only open-cycle gas turbine plants should be used.     

Thermal modeling of gas engine driven air to water heat pump systems in heating mode using genetic algorithm and Artificial Neural Network methods

The gas-engine driven air-to-water heat pump, type air conditioning system, is composed of two major thermodynamic cycles (including the vapor compression refrigeration cycle and the internal combustion gas engine cycle) as well as a refrigerant-water plate heat exchanger. The thermal modeling of gas engine driven air-to-water heat pump system with engine heat recovery heat exchangers was performed here for the heating mode of operation (in which it was required to model engine heat recovery heat exchanger). The modeling was performed using typical thermodynamic characteristics of system components, Artificial Neural Network and the multi-objective genetic algorithm optimization method. The comparison of modeling results with experimental ones showed average differences of 5.08%, 5.93%, 5.21%, 2.88% and 6.2% which shows acceptable agreement for operating pressure, gas engine fuel consumption, outlet water temperature, engine rotational speed, and system primary energy ratio.     

State of the art in sorption heat pumping and cooling technologies

Heat transformation with sorption systems has received increased attention in recent years. In this review it is intended to discuss current trends as well as forthcoming applications with the respective appropriate technology as it is deduced from activities in the field. Especially, we report about the papers and discussions of the International Sorption Heat Pump Conference (ISHPC'99) which was held in March 1999 in Munich, Germany. The review is grouped into a fundamentals part, a part about thermodynamic cycles, and an applications part. In the fundamentals part the discussion about working pairs and heat and mass transfer is reflected. Thermodynamic cycles which are being discussed are special solid sorption cycles, cycles fit for low-temperature driving heat, compression-sorption hybrids, and open cycles. In the applications part the classical cooling business is the main issue. The review comprises chillers and refrigerators which may be direct fired or waste heat driven. Interest is given to the improvement of efficiency on the one hand as well as to adaptation to low temperature waste heat use on the other hand — two very different developments. The use of solar energy as a heat source belongs to that area also. An additional important role — for decades — is played by automotive application. The area of heat pumping for heating purposes is less prominent but not negligible. Systems with a large capacity are being installed every once in a while, but the small scale domestic market still is not really covered with appropriate technology. Finally, industrial heat pumping involves the reverse cycle (heat transformer) also. Activity in this field is rather small. In summary, no unexpected developments can be reported on, but progress is steady and the market increases continuously, especially in the far east.     

吸收式制冷(热泵)循环流程研究进展

吸收式制冷作为最早的人工制冷方法,诞生至今已有200多年。在民用和工业中的实际应用有60多年。近20余年来,吸收式制冷在理论与应用等方面都取得了迅速发展,并在制冷机市场上占有相当的份额,得到国内外厂商和学者的广泛关注与研究。随着人类能源消耗量的不断增加,需要进一步深入研究新能源、分布式能源及能源的高效利用。余热、废热、可再生的太阳能、地热能等的利用使得热能驱动的吸收式制冷(热泵)技术得到越来越多的关注。与采用电驱动蒸气机械压缩式制冷(热泵)系统不同,吸收式制冷(热泵)技术可利用采用低品位热源的热能直接驱动,运行成本远低于电驱动系统。吸收式系统多采用H2O-LiB r溶液、NH3-H2O溶液等自然工质作为制冷剂,具有环境友好特性,同时具有安全、可无噪音运行、可靠性高等显著优点。但也具有占地面积大、初投资高,冷却负荷高,一次能源效率低(直燃形式)等不足。针对这些特性,现阶段的主要研究方向包括:循环设计优化、工质对选择、系统部件热质传递强化、系统控制策略优化等。狭义的吸收式循环是指闭式、溶液吸收制冷剂蒸气的吸收式制冷(热泵)循环。该类循环按照循环形式分类包括单吸收循环、多吸收循环和复合循环。单吸收循环主要包括基本单效吸收循环、扩散吸收循环、膜吸收循环、热变换器循环、重力驱动的阀切换循环以及自复叠循环;多吸收循环主要包括再吸收循环、多效循环、中间效循环、多级循环、中间级循环以及GAX循环;复合循环主要包括喷射-吸收复合、压缩-吸收复合和膨胀-吸收复合等复合形式。现有吸收式制冷技术研究热点主要包括且不局限于太阳能、中低温余热利用、冷热电联产、储能(蓄冷、蓄热),膜交换材料、高温下耐腐蚀材料,塑料热交换器等方面。吸收式循环现有循环结构的提出针对的是一定温度和浓度下循环,面对新的应用场景、新材料以及新吸收工质对,吸收式循环可以提出多种更高效、更宽热源驱动温度范围和溶液浓度范围的新循环。     

液氮发动机循环分析

新型零排放液氮发动机存在朗肯循环和布雷顿循环两种做功循环方式,为了了解两种循环方式对液氮发动机匹配设计的要求,基于有限时间热力学理论,对比了两种循环对液氮发动机输出功率的影响,研究了液氮发动机在变温热源和恒温冷源之间朗肯循环和布雷顿循环的性能,着重分析了导热率对循环性能及输出功率的影响,为液氮发动机换热器的匹配提供依据.得出换热器的热导率和热容率的匹配决定朗肯循环的最佳循环功率,而与朗肯循环相比布雷顿循环能更好的实现发动机的功率特性的结论.     

Simulation of ternary ammonia–water–salt absorption refrigeration cyclesSimulation des cycles frigorifiques à absorption à ammoniac / eau / sel

This paper proposes a new working fluid for refrigeration cycles utilizing low temperature heat sources. The proposed working fluid consists of the ammonia–water working fluid mixture and a salt. The salt is used to aid the removal of ammonia from the liquid solution. This effect is a manifestation of the well known “salting-out” effect. While the addition of salt improves the generator performance, it also has a detrimental effect on the absorber. The overall effects on the performance of three absorption cycles using the NH₃–H₂O–NaOH working fluid have been investigated using computer simulations. The results indicated that salting out can lower the generator operating temperature while simultaneously improving the cycle performance. Furthermore, limiting the salt to the generator suggests potential for further improvement in cycle performance.     

Regenerated air cycle potentials in heat pump applications

Air (reversed Brayton) cycle has been utilized in the area of refrigeration and cryogenics for several decades, but its potentials in heat pump applications were longtime underestimated. In this paper, a thermodynamic model for the regenerated air heat pump cycle with practical compressor, expander and regenerated heat exchanger was developed. Based on the model, the relations between the system performance and the operating parameters were analyzed. The optimal heating COP (coefficient of performance) and the corresponding pressure ratio were derived. Then, air heat pump cycles (regenerated cycle and basic cycle) and vapor-compression heat pump cycles (CO₂ trans-critical cycle and R410A subcritical cycle) were numerically compared. The results indicated that the regenerated air heat pump cycle not only gets the heating capacity in line with the heating load under different operating conditions but also achieves higher COP over trans-critical CO₂ heat pump cycle in applications of large temperature difference.     

Potential performance of real gas Stirling cycle heat pumps

Heat pumps based on the reversed Stirling cycle are shown to be positively influenced by real gas effects, provided they are designed to operate in a proper region of the fluid state diagram. A simplified model of a Stirling heat pump, aimed at understanding the basic cycle thermodynamics is presented, which allows a first optimization of real gas cycles. Provided the expansion process takes place in a proper narrow region close to the critical point, efficiencies much higher than those achievable with an ideal gas and similar to those of vaporization-compression cycles are obtained. A number of zero ODP, safe fluids are considered (Xe, CHF₃, C₂F₆, CHF₃ + CF₄ mixtures) allowing optimum operation in a wide range of heat source and heat production temperatures. Only mixtures, however, are recognized to permit a fine adjustment of the fluid properties to the heat source characteristics and to the user's temperature requirements. In order to reach good energy performance, high-pressure operation (around 200 bar) and an efficient internal regeneration of heat are needed. Graphs are supplied that reveal the heat pump cycle performance for each fluid at a wide range of temperatures, pressures and cycle compression volume ratios. Loss analysis shows that fluids having a simple molecule yield the best efficiency and the minimum amount of heat regeneration. Stirling power cycles are also shown to benefit from real gas effects, with the result that at top temperatures around 400–450°C, which are probably acceptable for a number of organic fluids, a fuel to work conversion efficiency around 25–30% seems possible for a cogenerative prime mover. The performance of such motors, intended for heat pump drives, are given for C₂HF₅ and C₃F₈ fluids. Very high pressures are required to optimize the cycle performance. Preliminary information on the prospective characteristics of a fuel powered Stirling-Stirling low-grade heat generator is given.     

适合分布式冷热电联供系统的中小型发电装置

分布式冷热电联供（combined cooling,heating and power,CCHP）系统是一种小型、临近用户的新型供能方式,可避免能量长距离传输过程损失,同时具有灵活、高效、环保特点,成为大规模、集中式供能方式的重要补充。中小型发电装置是分布式冷热电联供系统的核心,制冷和制热也都围绕发电装置余热展开。对适合分布式冷热电联供系统的2类中小型发电装置的基本工作原理、热力性能和相关研究进展进行综述。一类是以化石燃料为能源输入的中小型发电装置,包括微型燃气轮机、燃气内燃机、小型燃气轮机和燃料电池;另一类是以发电装置余热或太阳能集热等其他热源为能源输入的中小型发电装置,包括有机朗肯循环、正逆耦合循环、热声发电机等。最后,对2类中小型发电装置的优缺点进行对比分析,为分布式供能系统的发电装置选型、系统方案设计等提供参考。     

Thermodynamic Properties of Ammonia–Water Mixtures for Power Cycles

Power cycles with ammonia–water mixtures as working fluids have been shown to reach higher thermal efficiencies than the traditional steam turbine (Rankine) cycle with water as the working fluid. Different correlations for the thermo-dynamic properties of ammonia–water mixtures have been used in studies of ammonia–water mixture cycles described in the literature. Four of these correlations are compared in this paper. The differences in thermal efficiencies for a bottoming Kalina cycle when these four property correlations are used are in the range 0.5 to 3.3%. The properties for saturated liquid and vapor according to three of the correlations and available experimental data are also compared at high pressures and temperatures [up to 20 MPa and 337°C (610 K)]. The difference in saturation temperature for the different correlations is up to 20%, and the difference in saturation enthalpy is as high as 100% when the pressure is 20 MPa.