With different computational tools, simulations ranging from detailed and rigorous mathematical models to overall process plant of black box models can be carried out. Whereas most of these computational tools cannot practically execute different scales of models at the same time, it becomes relevant to devise strategies in coupling two or more of them for better analysis of processes. In this light, this study proposes Excel as an interactive scale bridge of data exchange to aid the multiscale modeling and dynamic simulation of combined cycle (CC) power plant integration with two-tank thermal energy storage (TES) system using gPROMS and SimCentral. This was relevant to analyze not only the performance of TES, but the feasibility of its integration with CC in augmenting energy production to meet daily power demand. The integrated system modeled in four operational modes of CC, increased in power generation by 7.3 MW at an efficiency of 98.30%. The study validated the usefulness of the TES integration of 99.66% efficiency. The research results provide a communication strategy for different computational tools and an approach to effectively increase CC power production to meet varying daily demand.
Mixing and crystallization are strongly influenced by fluid flow and kinetics in a stirred vessel. Computation fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is a powerful tool to predict transient behaviors of such processes. In this study, we developed a software that simplifies procedures such as geometry, meshing, simulation, and preprocessing that occur when using CFD. For the development of this software, C# language was employed for a user-friendly interface with a built-in library, generation of user-defined functions for crystallization kinetics, and a translator to generate script language to invoke FLUENT software. To elucidate applications of the developed software, CDF simulation for mixing in a stirred vessel with four different impellers and scale-up of DTB crystallizer from 500 to 3000 L was executed within the framework of this software. Results of both cases were compared with corresponding references and showed good agreements. Examples showed the benefit of this software in saving time and effort, eventually giving a user more time to focus on problem solving strategies.
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