Performance optimisation for two classes of combined regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles

This paper proposes a new cyclic model of combined regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles. The new combined regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles recover heat energy after the working fluid leaves the turbine of the inverse Brayton cycle while the original combined regenerative Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles recover heat energy before the working fluid enters the turbine of the inverse Brayton cycle. Performance analysis and optimisation of the two classes combined cycles are carried out. Furthermore, the effect of the regenerator on the performance of the two combined cycles is analysed. It is found that the new combined cycle can obtain higher thermal efficiency and larger specific work than those of the original combined cycle at low compressor pressure ratio of the top cycle, and the regenerator can improve the performance of both the combined cycles. By theoretical analysis of this paper, it reveals that the new combined cycle will be well applied in the prospect, and the original combined cycle will be suited to low power output equipments. This paper aims at enriching the gas turbine theory and providing a possible way to save energy.     

A Parametric Study of an Irreversible Closed Intercooled Regenerative Brayton Cycle

Entropy generation minimization technique is used in the analysis of an irreversible closed intercooled regenerative Brayton cycle coupled to variable-temperature heat reservoirs. Mathematical models are developed for dimensionless power and efficiency for a multi-stage Brayton cycle. The dimensionless power and efficiency equations are used to analyze the effects of total pressure ratio, intercooling pressure ratio, thermal capacity rates of the working fluid and heat reservoirs, and the component (regenerator, intercooler, hot- and cold-side heat exchangers) effectiveness. Using detailed numerical examples, the optimal power and efficiency corresponding to variable component effectiveness, compressor and turbine efficiencies, intercooling pressure ratio, total pressure ratio, pressure recovery coefficients, heat reservoir inlet temperature ratio, and the cooling fluid in the intercooler and the cold-side heat reservoir inlet temperature ratio are analyzed.     

Finite time thermodynamic evaluation of endoreversible Stirling heat engine at maximum power conditions

Maximum power and efficiency at the maximum power point of an endoreversible Stirling heat engine with finite heat capacitance rate of external fluids in the heat source/sink reservoirs with regenerative losses are treated. It was found that the thermal efficiency depends on the regenerator effectiveness and the internal irreversibility resulting from the working fluid for a given value of reservoir temperature. It was also concluded that it is desirable to have larger heat capacity of the heat sink in comparison to the heat source reservoir for higher maximum power output and lower heat input.     

Thermodynamic optimization for an open cycle of an externally fired micro gas turbine (EFmGT). Part 1: Thermodynamic modelling

The principle of optimally tuning the air flow rate and subsequent distribution of pressure drops is applied to optimize the performance of a thermodynamic model for an open regenerative cycle of an externally fired micro gas turbine power plant with pressure drop irreversibilities by using finite-time thermodynamics and considering the size constraints of the real plant. There are eight flow resistances encountered by the working fluid stream for the cycle model. Two of these, the friction through the blades and vanes of the compressor and the turbine, are related to the isentropic efficiencies. The remaining flow resistances are always present because of the changes in flow cross-section at the compressor inlet and outlet, the turbine inlet and outlet and the regenerator hot/cold-side inlet and outlet. These resistances associated with the flow through various cross-sectional areas are derived as functions of the compressor inlet relative pressure drop, and control the air flow rate and the net power output and thermal efficiency. The analytical formulae for the power output, efficiency and other coefficients are derived, which indicate that the thermodynamic performance for an open regenerative cycle of an externally fired micro gas turbine power plant can be optimized by adjusting the mass flow rate (or the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path). It is shown that there are optimal air mass flow rates (or the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path) which maximize the net power output.     

Power and efficiency optimization for combined Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles

A thermodynamic model for open combined Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles is established considering the pressure drops of the working fluid along the flow processes and the size constraints of the real power plant using finite time thermodynamics in this paper. There are 11 flow resistances encountered by the gas stream for the combined Brayton and inverse Brayton cycles. Four of these, the friction through the blades and vanes of the compressors and the turbines, are related to the isentropic efficiencies. The remaining flow resistances are always present because of the changes in flow cross-section at the compressor inlet of the top cycle, combustion inlet and outlet, turbine outlet of the top cycle, turbine outlet of the bottom cycle, heat exchanger inlet, and compressor inlet of the bottom cycle. These resistances control the air flow rate and the net power output. The relative pressure drops associated with the flow through various cross-sectional areas are derived as functions of the compressor inlet relative pressure drop of the top cycle. The analytical formulae about the relations between power output, thermal conversion efficiency, and the compressor pressure ratio of the top cycle are derived with the 11 pressure drop losses in the intake, compression, combustion, expansion, and flow process in the piping, the heat transfer loss to the ambient, the irreversible compression and expansion losses in the compressors and the turbines, and the irreversible combustion loss in the combustion chamber. The performance of the model cycle is optimized by adjusting the compressor inlet pressure of the bottom cycle, the air mass flow rate and the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path. It is shown that the power output has a maximum with respect to the compressor inlet pressure of the bottom cycle, the air mass flow rate or any of the overall pressure drops, and the maximized power output has an additional maximum with respect to the compressor pressure ratio of the top cycle. When the optimization is performed with the constraints of a fixed fuel flow rate and the power plant size, the power output and efficiency can be maximized again by properly allocating the fixed overall flow area among the compressor inlet of the top cycle and the turbine outlet of the bottom cycle.     

Ecological performance analysis of an endoreversible modified Brayton cycle

An endoreversible closed modified simple Brayton cycle model with isothermal heat addition coupled to variable-temperature heat reservoirs is established using finite-time thermodynamics. Analytical expressions of dimensionless power output, thermal efficiency, dimensionless entropy generation rate and dimensionless ecological function are derived. Influences of cycle thermodynamic parameters on ecological performance and optimal compressor pressure ratio, optimal power output, optimal cycle thermal efficiency and optimal entropy generation rate corresponding to maximum ecological function are obtained and compared with those corresponding to maximum power output. The results show that cycle thermal efficiency improvement and entropy generation rate reduction are obtained at the expense of higher compressor pressure ratio and a little sacrifice of power output at maximum ecological function. The compromises between power output and entropy generation rate and between power output and cycle thermal efficiency, respectively, are achieved.     

Carbon Dioxide as Working Fluids in Transcritical Rankine Cycle for Diesel Engine Multiple Waste Heat Recovery in Comparison to Hydrocarbons

In consideration of the high-temperature characteristic of engine's waste heat and stricter environmental regulations, natural substance, including CO_2 and hydrocarbons, have been treated as promising working fluid for diesel engine waste heat recovery due to its environment friendly and excellent physical and chemical properties. This paper presented a comprehensive performance analysis on transcritical Rankine cycles for diesel engine multiple waste heat recovery using hydrocarbons and CO_2 as working fluid. The optimal turbine inlet pressures corresponding to maximum net power output, maximum exergy efficiency and minimum electricity production cost(EPC) were obtained. The effect of working fluid on these optimal pressures has been discussed. For fluids with low critical temperature, the optimal pressure corresponding to maximum net power output is lower than the one for maximum exergy efficiency, while the opposite results can be found for fluid with high critical temperature. Then, the effect of various working fluid properties in transcritical cycle performance is discussed. Comparison results show that CO_2 obtains only more power output than Ethane, Propane and Propene, but CO_2 is capable of absorbing more energy from engine coolant and regeneration heat with comparable total heat transfer areas and has an advantage in turbine size, particularly for hydrocarbons with high critical temperature.     

Optimal design of the regenerative gas turbine engine with isothermal heat addition

A regenerative gas turbine engine, with isothermal heat addition, working under the frame of a Brayton cycle has been analyzed. With the purpose of having a more efficient small-sized gas turbine engine, the optimization has been carried out numerically using the maximum power (MP) and maximum power density (MPD) method. The effects of internal irreversibilities have been considered in terms of the isentropic efficiencies of the turbine and compressor and of the regenerator efficiency. The results summarized by figures show that the regenerative gas turbine engine, with isothermal heat addition, designed according to the maximum power density condition gives the best performance and exhibits highest cycle efficiencies.     

海上油气平台余热朗肯循环发电系统热力学分析

海上油气平台存在大量的燃气轮机余热。通过建立海上平台余热朗肯循环发电系统仿真模型,开展平台余热发电热力学及热经济性分析。选取工质泵功率、发电机输出功率、系统热效率、换热面积和单位面积发电量等参数作为优化目标,研究不同冷凝温度下优化目标函数随蒸发器烟气进出口温差的变化规律。结果表明:随着蒸发器烟气进出口温差的增加,工质泵功率、发电机输出功率和系统APR先增大后减小。冷凝温度越高,工质泵功率越大,发电机输出功率和系统热效率越小。当冷凝温度为65℃时,系统APR最大。受透平出口蒸汽干度的限制,所研究工况下,系统发电机最大输出功率为7 496 kW,系统最大热效率和APR分别为14.16%和5 kW·m~(-2)。研究结果可为撬装化、集成化海上油气平台余热发电系统研制提供理论参考。     

Power,power density and efficiency optimization of an endoreversible Braysson cycle

The performance optimization of an endoreversible Braysson cycle with heat resistance losses in the hot- and cold-side heat exchangers is performed by using finite-time thermodynamics. The relations between the power output and the working fluid temperature ratio, between the power density and the working fluid temperature ratio, as well as between the efficiency and the working fluid temperature ratio of the cycle coupled to constant-temperature heat reservoirs are derived. Moreover, the optimum heat conductance distributions corresponding to the optimum dimensionless power output, the optimum dimensionless power density and the optimum thermal efficiency of the cycle, and the optimum working fluid temperature ratios corresponding to the optimum dimensionless power output and the optimum dimensionless power density are provided. The effects of various design parameters on those optimum values are studied by detailed numerical examples.     

Influence of heat loss on the performance of an air-standard Atkinson cycle

This study is aimed at investigating the effects of heat loss, as characterized by a percentage of fuel’s energy, friction and variable specific heats of the working fluid, on the performance of an air-standard Atkinson cycle under the restriction of the maximum cycle-temperature. A more realistic and precise relationship between the fuel’s chemical-energy and the heat leakage is derived through the resulting temperature. The variations in power output and thermal efficiency with compression ratio, and the relations between the power output and the thermal efficiency of the cycle are presented. The results show that the power output as well as the efficiency, for which the maximum power-output occurs, will rise with the increase of maximum cycle-temperature. The temperature-dependent specific heats of the working fluid have a significant influence on the performance. The power output and the working range of the cycle increase while the efficiency decreases with the rise of specific heats of working fluid. The friction loss has a negative effect on the performance. Therefore, the power output and efficiency of the Atkinson cycle decrease with increasing friction loss. It is noteworthy that the results obtained in the present study are of significance for providing guidance with respect to the performance evaluation and improvement of practical Atkinson-cycle engines.     

Energetic and exergetic performance analyses of a combined heat and power plant with absorption inlet cooling and evaporative aftercooling

In this paper, exergy method is applied to analyze the gas turbine cycle cogeneration with inlet air cooling and evaporative aftercooling of the compressor discharge. The exergy destruction rate in each component of cogeneration is evaluated in detail. The effects of some main parameters on the exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of the cycle are investigated. The most significant exergy destruction rates in the cycle are in combustion chamber, heat recovery steam generator and regenerative heat exchanger. The overall pressure ratio and turbine inlet temperature have significant effect on exergy destruction in most of the components of cogeneration. The results obtained from the analysis show that inlet air cooling along with evaporative aftercooling has an obvious increase in the energy and exergy efficiency compared to the basic gas turbine cycle cogeneration. It is further shown that the first-law efficiency, power to heat ratio and exergy efficiency of the cogeneration cycle significantly vary with the change in overall pressure ratio and turbine inlet temperature but the change in process heat pressure shows small variation in these parameters.     

Modeling and optimization of a novel pressurized CHP system with water extraction and refrigeration

A novel cooling, heat, and power (CHP) system has been proposed that features a semi-closed Brayton cycle with pressurized recuperation, integrated with a vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS). The semi-closed Brayton cycle is called the high-pressure regenerative turbine engine (HPRTE). The VARS interacts with the HPRTE power cycle through heat exchange in the generator and the evaporator. Waste heat from the recirculated combustion gas of the HPRTE is used to power the absorption refrigeration unit, which cools the high-pressure compressor inlet of the HPRTE to below ambient conditions and also produces excess refrigeration in an amount that depends on ambient conditions. Water produced as a product of combustion is intentionally condensed in the evaporator of the VARS, which is designed to provide sufficient cooling for the inlet air to the high-pressure compressor, water extraction, and for an external cooling load. The computer model of the combined HPRTE/VARS cycle predicts that with steam blade cooling and a medium-sized engine, the cycle will have a thermal efficiency of 49% for a turbine inlet temperature of 1400°C. This thermal efficiency, is in addition to the large external cooling load, generated in the combined cycle, which is 13% of the net work output. In addition, it also produces up to 1.4 kg of water for each kg of fuel consumed, depending upon the fuel type. When the combined HPRTE/VARS cycle is optimized for maximum thermal efficiency, the optimum occurs for a broad range of operating conditions. Details of the multivariate optimization procedure and results are presented in this paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

太阳能驱动闭式不可逆布雷顿循环性能解析式

在计入换热器阻和压气机，涡轮中不可逆损失后，导出太阳能驱动变温热源闭式简单布雷顿循环功率，效率与循环压比关系的解析公式。     

Parametric analysis and optimization for a combined power and refrigeration cycle

A combined power and refrigeration cycle is proposed, which combines the Rankine cycle and the absorption refrigeration cycle. This combined cycle uses a binary ammonia–water mixture as the working fluid and produces both power output and refrigeration output simultaneously with only one heat source. A parametric analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of thermodynamic parameters on the performance of the combined cycle. It is shown that heat source temperature, environment temperature, refrigeration temperature, turbine inlet pressure, turbine inlet temperature, and basic solution ammonia concentration have significant effects on the net power output, refrigeration output and exergy efficiency of the combined cycle. A parameter optimization is achieved by means of genetic algorithm to reach the maximum exergy efficiency. The optimized exergy efficiency is 43.06% under the given condition.     

闭式内可逆中冷回热布雷顿循环的功率优化

考虑高低温侧换热器、回热器和中冷器的热阻损失,以功率为优化目标,对恒温热源条件下内可逆闭式布雷顿循环的高低温侧换热器、回热器和中冷器的热导率以及中间压比的分配进行了优化。借助数值计算,分析了一些主要循环特征参数对最大功率及相应热导率和中间压比分配、双重最大功率的影响。     

100 MW级蒸汽轮机系统稳态变工况运行特性

  目的  为有效提高循环效率,整体煤气化联合循环（Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle, IGCC）发电系统因其自身所具备的热效率高、污染小、运行灵活等优势得到广泛关注。余热锅炉与蒸汽轮机共同构成了联合循环系统的底循环。  方法  文章主要采用能量平衡和热力学计算公式,运用MATLAB进行建模运算,研究了蒸汽流量、给水温度、过热蒸汽温度和再热蒸汽温度的变化对蒸汽轮机的输出功率、热效率和蒸汽总吸热负荷的影响,同时在稳态运行的条件下,对底循环的工作原理和传质传热流程进行分析。  结果  结果表明:增加高压蒸汽流量,减小低压蒸汽流量,可以在具有较高热效率前提下,使蒸汽轮机输出更高的功率。在优化运行参数下,吸热负荷比参考工况减小了45.7 kW,热效率由23.82%增至26.92%。  结论  高压过热蒸汽和再热蒸汽的温度升高,蒸汽轮机系统热效率越高,但吸热负荷和输出功率变化幅度很小,可适当提高高压过热蒸汽和再热蒸汽的温度,有利于提高蒸汽轮机的热效率。而给水温度升高时,输出功率不随给水温度发生变化,而蒸汽吸热负荷会随着给水温度的升高而降低。给水温度越高,蒸汽所需热负荷就越小,有利于减少热能的输入而提高蒸汽轮机的热效率。     

Ecological optimization of an irreversible Ericsson cryogenic refrigerator cycle

The ecological optimization and parametric study of an irreversible Ericsson cryogenic refrigerator cycle with finite heat capacities of external reservoirs is studied. The ecological function is defined as the cooling load minus the loss of the cooling load (the irreversibility) due to the entropy generation rate. The ecological function is optimized with respect to working fluid temperatures and the values of the cooling load, power input, the loss rate of the cooling load and COP are calculated for a typical set of operating parameters. The effects of different operating parameters on the ecological function, cooling load, the loss rate of the cooling load and COP are studied. The loss rate of the cooling load and the power input are found to be increasing functions of the cycle temperature ratio and decreasing functions of COP while the COP is found to be a decreasing function of the cycle temperature ratio. On the other hand, there exist the optimal values of the cycle temperature ratio and COP at which the ecological function and cooling load attain their maximum values. Also the ecological function and the cooling load are found to be increasing functions of the sink‐side heat capacitance rate and the effectiveness on the source‐, sink‐, and regenerative‐side heat exchangers while the decreasing functions of the source‐side heat capacitance rate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal Performance Characteristics of Subcritical Simple Irreversible Organic Rankine Cycle

Based on the theory of finite time thermodynamics, a subcritical simple irreversible organic Rankine cycle (SSIORC) model considering heat transfer loss and internal irreversible losses is established in this paper. The total heat transfer surface area is taken as a constraint, and R245fa is adopted as working fluid of the cycle in the performance optimization. The evaporator heat transfer surface area and mass flow rate of the working fluid are optimized to obtain the maximum power output and thermal efficiency of the SSIORC, respectively. In addition, the influences of the internal irreversibilities on the optimal performances are also investigated. The results show that when the evaporator heat transfer surface area is varied, the relationship between power output and thermal efficiency is a loop-shaped curve, and there exist maximum power output and thermal efficiency points, respectively. However, the two maximum points are very close to each other. When the mass flow rate of the working fluid is varied, the relationship between power output and thermal efficiency is a parabolic-like curve. With the decreases of expander and pump irreversible losses, the performances of the irreversible SSORC are close to those of the endoreversible SSORC with the only loss of heat transfer loss.     

Influence of multiple irreversible losses on the performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid system

In this study, a new molten carbonate fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid system, which consists of a fuel cell, three heat exchangers, a compressor, and a turbine, is established. The multiple irreversible losses existing in real hybrid systems are taken into account by the models of a molten carbonate fuel cell and an open Brayton cycle with a regenerative process. Expressions for the power outputs and efficiencies of the subsystems and hybrid system are derived. The maximum power output and efficiency of the hybrid system are numerically calculated. It is found that compared with a single molten carbonate fuel cell, both the power output and efficiency of the hybrid system are greatly enhanced. The general performance characteristics of the hybrid system are evaluated and the optimal criteria of the main performance parameters are determined. The effects of key irreversibilities on the performance of the hybrid system are investigated in detail. It is found that the use of a regenerator in the gas turbine can availably improve the power output and efficiency of the system. The results obtained here are significant and may be directly used to discuss the optimal performance of the hybrid system in special cases.