Parametric optimization of a solar-driven Braysson heat engine with variable heat capacity of the working fluid and radiation–convection heat losses

An irreversible solar-driven Braysson heat engine system is presented, in which the temperature-dependent heat capacity of the working fluid, the radiation–convection heat losses of the solar collector and the irreversibilities resulting from heat transfer and non-isentropic compression and expansion processes are taken into account. Based on the thermodynamic analysis method and the optimal control theory, the mathematical expression of the overall efficiency of the system is derived and the maximum overall efficiency is calculated, and the operating temperatures of the solar collector and the cyclic working fluid and the ratio of heat-transfer areas of the heat engine are optimized. By using numerical optimization technology, the influences of the variable heat capacity of the working fluid, the radiation–convection heat losses of the solar collector and the multi-irreversibilities on the performance characteristics of the solar-driven heat engine system are investigated and evaluated in detail. Moreover, it is expounded that the optimal performance and important parametric bounds of the irreversible solar-driven Braysson heat engine with the constant heat capacity of the working fluid and the irreversible solar-driven Carnot heat engine can be deduced from the conclusions in the present paper.     

Performance characteristics of an irreversible solar-driven Braysson heat engine at maximum efficiency

A novel model of the solar-driven thermodynamic cycle system which consists of a solar collector and a Braysson heat engine is established. The performance characteristics of the system are optimized on the basis of the linear heat-loss model of a solar collector and the irreversible cycle model of a Braysson heat engine. The maximum efficiency of the system and the optimally operating temperature of the solar collector are determined and other relevant performance characteristics of the system are discussed. The results obtained here may provide some theoretical guidance for the optimal design and operation of solar-driven Braysson and Carnot heat engines.     

Effects of combined heat transfer on the thermo-economic performance of irreversible solar-driven heat engines

A thermo-economic performance analysis and optimization has been carried out for an irrversible solar-driven heat engine with losses due to heat transfer across finite temperature differences, heat leak and internal irreversibilities. In the considered heat engine model, heat transfer from the hot reservoir is assumed to be simultaneous radiation and convection mode and the heat transfer to the cold reservoir is assumed to be convection mode. The effects of the technical and economical parameters on the thermo-economic performance have been investigated in order to see the collective effects of the radiation and convection modes of heat transfer. Also the optimal performance parameters of the heat engine, such as the thermal efficiency, temperatures of the working fluid and the ratio of heat transfer areas have been discussed in detail.     

Optimum performance characteristics of an irreversible solar-driven Brayton heat engine at the maximum overall efficiency

An irreversible cycle model of a solar-driven Brayton heat engine is established, in which the heat losses of the solar collector and the external and internal irreversibilities of the heat engine are taken into account, and used to investigate the optimal performance of the cycle system. The maximum overall efficiency of the system is determined. The operating temperature of the solar collector and the temperature ratio in the isobaric process are optimized. The influence of the heat losses of the solar collector and the external and internal irreversibilities of the heat engine on the cyclic performance is discussed in detail. Some important curves which can reveal the optimum performance characteristics of the system are given. The results obtained here are general, and consequently, may be directly used to discuss the optimal performance of other solar-driven heat engines.     

Performance optimization of a solar driven heat engine with finite-rate heat transfer

An optimal performance analysis for an equivalent Carnot-like cycle heat engine of a parabolic-trough direct-steam-generation solar driven Rankine cycle power plant at maximum power and maximum power density conditions is performed. Simultaneous radiation-convection and only radiation heat transfer mechanisms from solar concentrating collector, which is the high temperature thermal reservoir, are considered separately. Heat rejection to the low temperature thermal reservoir is assumed to be convection dominated. Irreversibilities are taken into account through the finite-rate heat transfer between the fixed temperature thermal reservoirs and the internally reversible heat engine. Comparisons proved that the performance of a solar driven Carnot-like heat engine at maximum power density conditions, which receives thermal energy by either radiation-convection or only radiation heat transfer mechanism and rejects its unavailable portion to surroundings by convective heat transfer through heat exchangers, has the characteristics of (1) a solar driven Carnot heat engine at maximum power conditions, having radiation heat transfer at high and convective heat transfer at low temperature heat exchangers respectively, as the allocation parameter takes small values, and of (2) a Carnot heat engine at maximum power density conditions, having convective heat transfer at both heat exchangers, as the allocation parameter takes large values. Comprehensive discussions on the effect of heat transfer mechanisms are provided.     

Optimization of solar-powered Stirling heat engine with finite-time thermodynamics

A mathematical model for the overall thermal efficiency of the solar-powered high temperature differential dish-Stirling engine with finite-rate heat transfer, regenerative heat losses, conductive thermal bridging losses and finite regeneration processes time is developed. The model takes into consideration the effect of the absorber temperature and the concentrating ratio on the thermal efficiency; radiation and convection heat transfer between the absorber and the working fluid as well as convection heat transfer between the heat sink and the working fluid. The results show that the optimized absorber temperature and concentrating ratio are at about 1100 K and 1300, respectively. The thermal efficiency at optimized condition is about 34%, which is not far away from the corresponding Carnot efficiency at about 50%. Hence, the present analysis provides a new theoretical guidance for designing dish collectors and operating the Stirling heat engine system.     

Efficiency bound of a solar-driven stirling heat engine system

A solar-driven Stirling engine is modelled as a combined system which consists of a solar collector and a Stirling engine. The performance of the system is investigated, based on the linearized heat loss model of the solar collector and the irreverisible cycle model of the Stirling engine affected by finite-rate heat transfer and regenerative losses. The maximum efficiency of the system and the optimal operating temperature of the solar collector are determined. Moreover, it is pointed out that the investigation method in the present paper is valid for other heat loss models of the solar collector as well, and the results obtained are also valid for a solar-driven Ericsson engine system using an ideal gas as its engine work substance. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

复杂热源下不可逆诺维科夫热机最大功率输出

考虑实际热机工作下的旁通热漏和内部耗散等不可逆因素,建立了包括连续均匀分布、三角形分布、二次分布和帕累托分布等四种不同的统计概率分布高温热源温度下的广义不可逆诺维科夫热机模型,导出了热机最大输出功率及相应的热效率和熵产率随高温热源温度、内部不可逆性等因素变化的关系式。结果表明：热漏和内部耗散分别对热机性能有着不同的影响,热漏使统计热源温度分布下最大功率输出对应的热效率减小,同时也增大了熵产率,但对热机的最大功率输出无影响;内部耗散不可逆性使热机的最大输出功率及相应热效率均明显减小,但使熵产率先增大后减小;熵产率随高温热源温度的标准差增大而减小。研究结果对太阳能发电厂性能提升具有一定理论指导意义。     

线性唯象传热定律下广义不可逆卡诺热机的频率特性

以广义不可逆卡诺热机模型为研究对象,考虑工质与热源间传热服从线性唯象定律,研究热机性能与循环频率的关系.得到了不同于内可逆情况下的输出功率、效率以及可利用温差与循环频率和吸、放热时间比的关系式,通过数值计算,分析了热漏、内不可逆性的影响特点.结果表明,在任一循环吸、放热时间比下,存在一个最佳循环频率,使循环输出功率达到最大;存在热漏时,任一循环吸、放热时间比下,存在一个最佳循环频率,使循环效率达到最大.     

Convective‐radiative fins with simultaneous variation of thermal conductivity,heat transfer coefficient,and surface emissivity with temperature

This paper is a numerical study of thermal performance of a convective‐radiative fin with simultaneous variation of thermal conductivity, heat transfer coefficient, and surface emissivity with temperature. The convective heat transfer is assumed to be a power function of the local temperature between the fin and the ambient which allows simulation of different convection mechanisms such as natural convection (laminar and turbulent), boiling, etc. The thermal conductivity and the surface emissivity are treated as linear functions of the local temperature between the fin and the ambient which provide a satisfactory representation of the thermal property variations of most fin materials. The thermal performance is governed by seven parameters, namely, convection–conduction parameter Nc, radiation–conduction parameter Nr, thermal conductivity parameter A, emissivity parameter B, the exponent n associated with convective heat transfer coefficient, and the two temperature ratios, θ_a and θ_s, that characterize the temperatures of convection and radiation sinks. The effect of these parameters on the temperature distribution and fin heat transfer rate are illustrated and the results interpreted in physical terms. Compared with the constant properties model, the fin heat transfer rate can be underestimated or overestimated considerably depending on the values of the governing parameters. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20408     

Entropy generation in a hollow cylinder with temperature dependent thermal conductivity and internal heat generation with convective–radiative surface cooling

This article investigates entropy generation in an asymmetrically cooled hollow cylinder with temperature dependent thermal conductivity and internal heat generation. The inside surface of the cylinder is cooled by convection on its inside surface while the outside surface experiences simultaneous convective–radiative cooling. The thermal conductivity of the cylinder as well as the internal heat generation within the cylinder are linear functions of temperature, introducing two nonlinearities in the one-dimensional steady state heat conduction equation. A third nonlinearity arises due to radiative heat loss from the outside surface of the cylinder. The nonlinear system is solved analytically using the differential transformation method (DTM) to obtain the temperature distribution which is then used to compute local and total entropy generation rates in the cylinder. The accuracy of DTM is verified by comparing its predictions with the analytical solution for the case of constant thermal conductivity and constant internal heat generation. The local and total entropy generations depend on six dimensionless parameters: heat generation parameter Q, thermal conductivity parameter β, conduction–convection parameters Nc₁ and Nc₂, conduction–radiation parameter Nr, convection sink temperature δ and radiation sink temperature η.     

基于传热系数反求法的船用柴油机组合活塞热分析

建立了柴油机组合活塞的2D有限元模型,并利用传热系数反求法对该模型进行热分析。在仿真分析中,将活塞头部外表面传热系数定义为设计参数,实测温度与仿真温度的差值定义为目标函数。通过仿真计算得到了活塞头部外表面传热系数的分布,并利用反求法得到的传热系数对有限元模型进行热分析,仿真结果与实测温度吻合;传热系数反求法收敛迅速,可以有效用于活塞及其他内燃机零部件的温度分布和热负荷分析。     

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.     

热漏对热机功率效率特性的影响分析

在以往文献的基础上,对定常态流不可逆卡诺热机的热漏模型进行了改进,将热机热漏分为外热漏和内热漏两种方式,分析两种热漏方式对不可逆热机最优性能的影响。分析得出内热漏对热机功率效率特性的影响不同于外热漏,也与摩擦,涡流和非平衡等各种不可逆效应不同,内热漏应单独作为影响热机特性的一种因素。并导出存在热阻和两种热漏损失的热机存在最佳功率和最佳效率两种工作状态,两种工作状态分别对应不同的面积比。所得结果对热机设计具有一定指导意义。     

Effect of rotation and internal heat generation on Darcy–Brinkman convection in Oldroyd-B liquid

Convection in an Oldroyd-B liquid saturated highly permeable porous medium is studied via both linear and nonlinear theories. Estimating a convection threshold is the objective of linear-stability analysis whereas convection amplitudes and heat transfer are elucidated by performing nonlinear-stability analysis. The eigenvalue problem is solved by the Galerkin method of weighted residuals. The oscillatory mode becomes dominant over the stationary mode. This is because of the race among diffusivity, viscoelasticity, internal-heat generation, and rotation. The increasing permeability, internal heat generation coefficient, and stress-relaxation parameter are liable to subcritical motions while the rotation, viscosities ratio, heat capacities ratio, and strain retardation parameter are responsible for the system attaining a supercritical state. The Runge–Kutta–Gill method presents the mechanism to evaluate the amount of heat transfer. The increasing Rayleigh number, internal Rayleigh number, Darcy number, Deborah number, Prandtl number, and the heat capacities ratio enhance the heat transfer. This offers a convenient mechanism for regulating convection. The results obtained in the present paper are expected to play a decisive role in some of the real-life applications such as oil-reservoir modeling, crude oil extraction, crystal growth, medicine industries, geothermal-energy utilization, and so on.     

Modelling and validation of a gas engine heat pump working with R410A for cooling applications

Gas engine heat pumps play an important role in energy saving and environment protection in both cooling and heating applications. In the present work, a thermal modelling of the gas engine driven heat pump in cooling mode is performed and system main parameters such as cooling capacity, gas engine energy consumption and primary energy ratio (PER) are computed. The modelling of the gas engine heat pump includes modelling of the scroll compressor, the plate evaporator and the gas engine. Discharged refrigerant mass flow rate and compressor power represent the main output parameters of the compressor semi-empirical model. Using the discharged refrigerant mass flow rates along with the available evaporation heat transfer correlations, the system cooling capacity is deduced. Based on the present experimental data, a correlation of gas engine energy consumption as function of compressor power, engine speed and ambient air temperature is obtained. Furthermore, the gas engine heat pump model is validated by comparing experimental and simulation data. The model error percentages to predict the cooling capacity, the gas engine energy consumption and the PER are 7%, 5%, 6% respectively.     

On optimized solar-pond-driven irreversible heat engines

Optimum operating temperature and design parameters are defined for a salt gradient solar pond in combination with an irreversible Carnot heat engine. The influence of the design limits of the heat engine and the design parameter of the pond on the operating temperature are considered. It was found that when a solar-pond-driven heat engine is designed to operate close to a maximum power point, the operating temperature must be increased. Apart from this, the heat engine will operate close to the maximum efficiency limit.     

Thermoeconomic analysis of a solar driven heat engine

Thermoeconomic optimization has been carried out for an endoreversible solar driven heat engine using finite-time/finite-size thermodynamic theory. In the considered heat engine model, heat transfer from the hot reservoir is assumed to be radiation mode and the heat transfer to the cold reservoir is assumed to be convection mode. The power output per unit total cost is taken as objective function and the optimum performance and design parameters have been investigated. The effects of the technical and economical parameters on the thermoeconomic performances have been also discussed.     

Natural convection heat transfer from an inclined wavy plate in a bidisperse porous medium

This work studies the natural convection heat transfer from an inclined wavy plate in a bidisperse porous medium with uniform wall temperature. The two-velocity two-temperature formulation is used to derive the governing equations of this system. The Prandtl coordinate transformation is used to transform the wavy surface into a regular plane, and the obtained equations are then simplified further by the order-of-magnitude analysis to give the boundary layer equations. The cubic spline collocation method is used to solve the boundary layer governing equations. The effects of dimensionless amplitude, angle of inclination, inter-phase heat transfer parameter, modified thermal conductivity ratio, and permeability ratio on the heat transfer and flow characteristics are studied. Increasing the modified thermal conductivity ratio and the permeability ratio can effectively enhance the natural convection heat transfer of the inclined plate in bidisperse porous media. Moreover, the thermal non-equilibrium effects are significant for low values of the inter-phase heat transfer parameter. As the dimensionless amplitude increases, both the fluctuations of the local Nusselt number for the f-phase and the p-phase with the streamwise coordinate are enhanced.     

Performance analysis and comparison of an Atkinson cycle coupled to variable temperature heat reservoirs under maximum power and maximum power density conditions

In this paper, performance analysis and comparison based on the maximum power and maximum power density conditions have been conducted for an Atkinson cycle coupled to variable temperature heat reservoirs. The Atkinson cycle is internally reversible but externally irreversible, since there is external irreversibility of heat transfer during the processes of constant volume heat addition and constant pressure heat rejection. This study is based purely on classical thermodynamic analysis methodology. It should be especially emphasized that all the results and conclusions are based on classical thermodynamics. The power density, defined as the ratio of power output to maximum specific volume in the cycle, is taken as the optimization objective because it considers the effects of engine size as related to investment cost. The results show that an engine design based on maximum power density with constant effectiveness of the hot and cold side heat exchangers or constant inlet temperature ratio of the heat reservoirs will have smaller size but higher efficiency, compression ratio, expansion ratio and maximum temperature than one based on maximum power. From the view points of engine size and thermal efficiency, an engine design based on maximum power density is better than one based on maximum power conditions. However, due to the higher compression ratio and maximum temperature in the cycle, an engine design based on maximum power density conditions requires tougher materials for engine construction than one based on maximum power conditions.