Numerical research of cavitation on Francis turbine runners

Francis turbines, as other hydraulic turbines, are custom-designed for nominal operating conditions specific to each power plant. However, they may need to be operated at off-design flow conditions because of variable reservoir levels and flowrates. Operating the turbine at off-design points can cause cavitation. Four cavitation types can be observed on Francis turbine runners. These are leading edge, travelling bubble, draft tube swirl and inter-blade vortex cavitation. They may cause erosion, reduction in efficiency, vibration, instability of operation and noise. Runner blades must be designed taking the flow characteristics into account for design conditions to prevent cavitation. Cavitation limits for the off-design points must also be determined. In this study, the runner geometry of an actual hydroelectric power plant that was designed and implemented in 1960s, is redesigned with the help of the state of the art computational fluid dynamics techniques for cavitation free operation. The cavitation limits for the off-design points are also determined.     

Counter-rotating turbines for solar chimney power plants

An efficiency model at design performance for counter-rotating turbines is developed and validated. Based on the efficiency equations, an off-design performance model for counter-rotating turbines is developed. Combined with a thermodynamic model for a solar chimney system and a solar radiation model, annual energy output of solar chimney systems is determined. Two counter-rotating turbines, one with inlet guide vanes, the other without, are compared to a single-runner system. The design and off-design performances are weighed against in three different solar chimney plant sizes. It is shown that the counter-rotating turbines without guide vanes have lower design efficiency and a higher off-design performance than a single-runner turbine. Based on the output torque versus power for various turbine layouts, advantageous operational conditions of counter-rotating turbines are demonstrated.     

Performance investigation of a hydroelectric power station at Batang Ai-Sarawak

Hydraulic power generator is known to offer one of the cleanest energy supply. However, much emphasis in these plants appears to be directed towards condition monitoring (based on typical weekly and monthly data gathering) and less attention is directed towards continuous performance monitoring. This paper offers an invesigative study of the effect of some performance parameters such as inlet and outlet relative flow angles, nozzle angle, hydraulic turbine efficiency on the overall performance of 108 MW station using four identical vertical shaft Francis turbines. The results of the study indicates that for a given energy supply, determined by the available water head, a one percentage point improvement of the turbine efficiency might lead to increased earnings of about 1·25%. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AE94.3A型燃气轮机进气冷却的应用可行性研究

对AE94.3A型燃气轮机燃气-蒸汽联合循环热力系统平衡进行研究进而发现,与同类型、同等级不同型号机组相比,AE94.3A型联合循环机组余热锅炉的排烟温度较高,排烟余热仍有进一步利用的空间。通过设计优化,扩大省煤器受热面,回收烟气余热加热给水,驱动热水型溴化锂制冷机制冷,用于机组满负荷调峰时的压气机进气冷却或厂房及办公区域空调供冷,对改善燃气轮机联合循环的运行性能,实现能源梯级利用,提高能源利用率和机组经济性运行起到了很大作用。     

Dynamic modeling,simulation and control design of an advanced micro-hydro power plant for distributed generation applications

A small-scale hydropower station is usually a run-of-river plant that uses a fixed speed drive with mechanical regulation of the turbine water flow rate for controlling the active power generation. This design enables to reach high efficiency over a wide range of water flows but using a complex operating mechanism, which is in consequence expensive and tend to be more affordable for large systems. This paper proposes an advanced structure of a micro-hydro power plant (MHPP) based on a smaller, lighter, more robust and more efficient higher-speed turbine. The suggested design is much simpler and eliminates all mechanical adjustments through a novel electronic power conditioning system for connection to the electric grid. In this way, it allows obtaining higher reliability and lower cost of the power plant. A full detailed model of the MHPP is derived and a new three-level control scheme is designed. The dynamic performance of the proposed MHPP is validated through digital simulations and employing a small-scale experimental set-up.     

Thermoeconomic optimization of an ice thermal storage system for gas turbine inlet cooling

The gas turbine power output and efficiency decrease with increasing ambient temperature. With compressor inlet air cooling, the air density and mass flow rate as well as the gas turbine net power output increase. The inlet cooling techniques include vapor or absorption refrigeration systems, evaporative cooling systems and thermal energy storage (TES) systems. In this paper the thermoeconomic analysis of ice (latent) thermal energy storage system for gas turbine inlet cooling application was performed. The optimum values of system design parameters were obtained using genetic algorithm optimization technique. The objective function included the capital and operational costs of the gas turbine, vapor compression refrigeration system, without (objective function I) and with (objective function II) corresponding cost due to the system exergy destruction. For gas turbines with net power output in the range of 25-100 MW, the inlet air cooling using a TES system increased the power output in the range of 3.9-25.7%, increased the efficiency in the range 2.1-5.2%, while increased the payback period from about 4 to 7.7 years.     

Rotational speed adjustment of axial flow fans to maximize net power output for direct dry cooling power generating units

The power consumption of axial flow fans may account for more than 1% of the rated power output of the power generating unit, so it is of benefit to the energy efficiency of the power generating unit to propose an operation adjustment approach to axial flow fans. On the basis of representative 2 × 600 MW direct dry cooling generating units, a computational model of air‐side flow and heat transfer of an air‐cooled condenser (ACC) combined with exhaust steam condensation is developed, by which the airflow rate, inlet air temperature of ACCs, the power consumption of axial flow fans, turbine backpressure, and net power output of power generating units at various wind speeds and in various wind directions are obtained. The results show that the net power output in the presence of winds always decreases when the rational speeds of the first upwind row axial flow fans increase from the rated speed of 79 rpm by 10% to 86.9 rpm. However, the net power output will increase in various wind directions if the rational speeds of all the fans except the upwind first row fans increase to 86.9 rpm. This can contribute to the optimal operation of the ACC by rotational speed adjustment of axial flow fans.     

Counter-rotating type pump-turbine unit cooperating with wind power unit

This serial research proposes the hybrid power system combined the wind power unit with the counter-rotating type pump-turbine unit,to provide the constant output for the grid system,even at the suddenly fluctuating/turbulent wind.In this paper,the tandem impellers of the counter-rotating type pumping unit was operated at the turbine mode,and the performances and the flow conditions were investigated numerically and experimentally.The 3-D turbulent flows in the runners were simulated at the steady state condition by using the commercial CFD code of ANSYS-CFX ver.12 with the SST turbulence model.While providing the pump unit for the turbine mode,the maximum hydraulic efficiency is close to one of the counter-rotating type hydroelectric unit designed exclu-sively for the turbine mode.Besides,the runner/impeller of the unit works evidently so as to coincide the angularmomentum change through the front runners/impellers with that through the rear runners/impellers,namely to take the axial flow at not only the inlet but also the outlet without the guide vanes.These results show that this type of unit is effective to work at not only the pumping but also the turbine modes.     

Analytical method for evaluation of gas turbine inlet air cooling in combined cycle power plant

Gas turbine inlet air cooling technologies (GTIAC), mainly including chilling with LiBr/water absorption chiller and fogging as well, are being used during hot seasons to augment the power output. To evaluate the general applicability of inlet air cooling for gas–steam combined cycle power plant (GTCCIAC), parameters such as efficiency ratio, profit ratio and relative payback period were defined and analyzed through off-design performances of both gas turbine and inlet air cooling systems. An analytical method for applicability evaluation of GTCCIAC with absorption chiller (inlet chilling) and saturated evaporative cooler (inlet fogging) was presented. The applicability study based on typical off-design performances of the components in GTCCIAC shows that, the applicability of GTCCIAC with chilling and fogging depends on the design economic efficiency of GTCC power plant. In addition, it relies heavily on the climatic data and the design capacity of inlet air cooling systems. Generally, GTCCIAC is preferable in the zones with high ambient air temperature and low humidity. Furthermore, it is more appropriate for those GTCC units with lower design economic efficiency. Comparison of the applicability between chilling and fogging shows that, inlet fogging is superior in power efficiency at t_a = 15–20 °C though it gains smaller profit margin than inlet chilling. GTCC inlet chilling with absorption chiller is preferable in the zones with t_a > 25 °C and RH > 0.4.     

冷却塔内小型混流式水轮机的设计及数值模拟

为减少冷却塔内小型混流式水轮机生产工艺过程的复杂性和较高的制造成本,以水动风机冷却塔内流量为3 000 t/h的小型混流式水轮机为研究对象进行结构设计。通过CFD对设计后的水轮机模型进行全流道三维定常湍流数值模拟,数值模拟中采用单方程Spalart-Allmars湍流模型,假定水流为不可压缩流体,不考虑能量方程,仅将质量守恒和动量守恒作为控制方程。结果表明,所设计的小型混流式水轮机整体流态较好,水力性能稳定,在设计转速149 r/min时,流量和出力均达到了驱动冷却塔内风机的要求,且水轮机效率较高。     

火力抽水_蓄能发电

提出一种具有更高经济性能的电力生产方式--火力抽水--蓄能发电。火力抽水--蓄能发电是由汽轮机直接带动水泵抽水蓄能,减少了两次能量转换环节,发电效率可提高11%以上。锅炉、汽轮机、水泵都可以按额定容量满负荷运行,得到最高的效率。火力抽水--蓄能发电系统还具有更高的安全性,深度的调峰能力,可以节约冷凝器循环不,建设投资小等优点。     

Engineering design and exergy analyses for combustion gas turbine based power generation system

This paper presents the engineering design and theoretical exergetic analyses of the plant for combustion gas turbine based power generation systems. Exergy analysis is performed based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics for power generation systems. The results show the exergy analyses for a steam cycle system predict the plant efficiency more precisely. The plant efficiency for partial load operation is lower than full load operation. Increasing the pinch points will decrease the combined cycle plant efficiency. The engineering design is based on inlet air-cooling and natural gas preheating for increasing the net power output and efficiency. To evaluate the energy utilization, one combined cycle unit and one cogeneration system, consisting of gas turbine generators, heat recovery steam generators, one steam turbine generator with steam extracted for process have been analyzed. The analytical results are used for engineering design and component selection.     

凝结水泵的最佳调节方案分析

为研究变频调速技术在200MW凝汽机组凝结水泵调节中应用的节能效果，分别按照由机组承担的负荷、除氧器运行方式及调节形式形成的6个方案进行计算分析。首先，由管路性能曲线和泵特性曲线取得各工况点的流量、扬程和效率，椐此并利用电动机和变频器的效率等获得凝结水泵消耗的电功率和全年运行时间段的耗电量，最后可有进行方案比较分析的年费用值。在各方案中采用变频调速方式相对于节流调节方式耗电量要小；调峰负荷下的各种方案要比对应基本负荷的情况耗电量和年费用小；调峰负荷时除氧器滑压运行方式下的变频调速方案是最经济方案。结果表明，虽然凝结水泵的变速调节方式初投资较高，但在各运行工况特别是启停和非设计工况节能潜力巨大，可延长设备寿命，有较强的经济效益，推广应用性强。图4表1参6     

Comparative exergoeconomic analyses of the integration of biomass gasification and a gas turbine power plant with and without fogging inlet cooling

Inlet cooling is effective for mitigating the decrease in gas turbine performance during hot and humid summer periods when electrical power demands peak, and steam injection, using steam raised from the turbine exhaust gases in a heat recovery steam generator, is an effective technique for utilizing the hot turbine exhaust gases. Biomass gasification can be integrated with a gas turbine cycle to provide efficient, clean power generation. In the present paper, a gas turbine cycle with fog cooling and steam injection, and integrated with biomass gasification, is proposed and analyzed with energy, exergy and exergoeconomic analyses. The thermodynamic analyses show that increasing the compressor pressure ratio and the gas turbine inlet temperature raises the energy and exergy efficiencies. On the component level, the gas turbine is determined to have the highest exergy efficiency and the combustor the lowest. The exergoeconomic analysis reveals that the proposed cycle has a lower total unit product cost than a similar plant fired by natural gas. However, the relative cost difference and exergoeconomic factor is higher for the proposed cycle than the natural gas fired plant, indicating that the proposed cycle is more costly for producing electricity despite its lower product cost and environmental impact.     

火电机组热力系统成本分布通用矩阵方程

基于成本理论建立了热力系统局部成本分析通用模型及火电机组热力系统成本分布的通用矩阵方程,并对某600MW机组的热力系统进行实例计算与分析,得到了额定工况下独立流的单位成本.结果表明：该方程构造规范,适用于各种不同的热力系统,可以用于分析热力系统中存在的共性规律;对于具体的热力系统,通过将一些必要的矩阵元素代入方程中,可得到独立流的单位成本和单位成本的分布规律,为机组的节能降耗提供指导;如果对方程进行进一步的微分运算分析,还可求出一些因素变化对单位成本影响的敏感度.     

Integration of absorption heat pumps in a Kraft pulp process for enhanced energy efficiency

A preliminary feasibility study of the implementation of various absorption heat pump configurations in a Kraft pulping process has been performed. Three different cases were considered: (i) integration of a double lift heat transformer into the heat recovery circuit of the wood chips digesters to produce low pressure steam equivalent to 25% of the steam demand of the chemical pulping plant, (ii) a double effect chiller installed in the bleaching chemicals making plant to chill cooling water and produce middle pressure steam and, (iii) a heat pump installed on the steam extraction line of a turbine which, combined with the addition of a condensing unit, increases substantially the power output. The simple payback time and net present value were used to compare the three cases. Both indices are highly dependant upon steam prices. The net present value is, in all cases, positive, which indicates that the equipment is viable using the assumed cost and efficiency data in this study. Absorption heat pumps are increasingly attractive options for energy upgrading and conversion in a context of increasing energy costs.     

Thermal‐economic analysis of a transcritical Rankine power cycle with reheat enhancement for a low‐grade heat source

A thermal‐economic analysis of a transcritical Rankine power cycle with reheat enhancement using a low‐grade industrial waste heat is presented. Under the identical operating conditions, the reheat cycle is compared to the non‐reheat baseline cycle with respect to the specific net power output, the thermal efficiency, the heat exchanger area, and the total capital costs of the systems. Detailed parametric effects are investigated in order to maximize the cycle performance and minimize the system unit cost per net work output. The main results show that the value of the optimum reheat pressure maximizing the specific net work output is approximately equal to the one that causes the same expansion ratio across each stage turbine. Relative performance improvement by reheat process over the baseline is augmented with an increase of the high pressure but a decrease of the turbine inlet temperature. Enhancement for the specific net work output is more significant than that for the thermal efficiency under each condition, because total heat input is increased in the reheat cycle for the reheat process. The economic analysis reveals that the respective optimal high pressures minimizing the unit heat exchanger area and system cost are much lower than that maximizing the energy performance. The comparative analysis identifies the range of operating conditions when the proposed reheat cycle is more cost effective than the baseline. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An all-condition simulation model of the steam turbine system for a 600 MW generation unit

Coal-fired generation units in China often operate under off-design loads. The off-design performance has important influence on operation energy consumption of generation units. An all-condition model is of critical importance for studying the off-design performance. In this paper, an all-condition simulation model of the steam turbine system for a 600 MW generation unit is built. Based on the actual system composition, the steam turbine system is divided into several sub equipment. A sub model is established for each device. In the turbine model, a parameter M is defined as the intermediate variable to calculate the extraction pressure of turbine. The operating data from a 600 MW generation unit are used to verify the all-condition model. The heater fouling conditions are also calculated. The result shows that the model successfully predicts the operation parameters under different loads and forecasts the thermal performance of typical equipment failure.     

能源、环保与超超临界汽轮机的发展

为了节约能源、提高热效率和减少对环境的污染, 必须大力发展超超临界发电技术. 本文介绍了STC正在设计制造由“HMN” 模块组成的1000MW超超临界汽轮机, 它具有单轴、最高的进汽压力、 3-D叶片等一系列先进技术, 使机组的性能达到世界先进水平. 通过本文介绍可知, 该机型还适合作为百万千瓦超超临界的空冷、抽汽供热机组以及最高30MPa进汽压力的两排汽660MW机组, 具有广阔的市场前景.     

微型燃气轮机外燃循环的分析

介绍了微型燃气轮机结构及其回热循环,阐述了微型燃气轮机的外燃循环的结构和特点,以及外燃循环在可再生能源利用方面的贡献,并采用MATLAB软件建立了以生物沼气为燃料的微型燃气轮机外燃循环的数学模型,对其在额定工况和变工况下进行了稳态分析,给出了各个运行参数对其性能的影响曲线和最佳运行曲线.结果表明:与采用天然气为燃料的回热循环相比,微型燃气轮机外燃循环具有较好的热经济性,在变工况下保持了较高的热效率,发电效率可达到30%左右,为可再生能源在热电联供中的应用提供了一种有前途、高效和廉价的供能方式.