A thermodynamic design-point performance analysis is performed on a novel cooling and power cycle that combines a semiclosed cycle gas turbine called the high-pressure regenerative turbine engine (HPRTE) with a vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS). Waste heat from the recirculated combustion gas of the HPRTE is used to power the VARS. Water produced as a product of combustion is intentionally condensed and harvested. A part of the VARS cooling is used to chill the gas entering the high-pressure compressor, allowing water condensation and extraction as well as large efficiency gains. The remaining cooling capacity is provided to an external refrigeration load. The cycle is modeled using zero-dimensional steady-state thermodynamics, considering conservative values of polytropic efficiencies, a conservative model for turbine blade cooling, conservative values of pressure drops for the turbomachinery, including heat exchangers, and accurate correlations for the properties of the LiBr–H2O mixture and the combustion products. The cycle is shown to operate with a thermal efficiency greater than 40% for parameters appropriate to medium sized engines, while producing about 1.5kg of water per kilogram of fuel (propane) consumed. This thermal efficiency is in addition to the large cooling effect generated in the evaporator of VARS, equivalent to 3–4% increased efficiency. The efficiency would be greater than 51% without turbine cooling bleed. The refrigeration ratio, defined as the ratio of external refrigeration load to the net work output, is found to be 0.38 for the base case. The water extracted is found to be a strong function of the recirculation ratio and low pressure compressor ratio PRc1. Based on these and prior results, which showed that the HPRTE is very compact and has inherently low emissions, it appears that this cycle would be well suited for distributed power and some vehicle applications, especially ones with associated air conditioning loads.
A novel cooling and power cycle has been proposed that combines a semi-closed cycle gas turbine called the High Pressure Regenerative Turbine Engine (HPRTE) with a vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS). The refrigeration cycle (VARS) interacts with the power cycle (HPRTE) solely through heat transfer 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 which 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 three purposes: chilling the inlet air to the high pressure compressor, water extraction, and for an external cooling load. In a previous study, the combined cycle was modeled using zero-dimensional steady-state thermodynamics, with the specified values of efficiencies and pressure drops for the turbo-machinery and heat exchangers. The model predicts that the combined cycle with steam blade cooling for a medium-sized engine will have a thermal efficiency of 49%, in addition to the external refrigeration load generated in the cycle which is 13% of the net work output. It also produces about 1.4 kg of water for each kg of fuel (propane) consumed. A small experimental unit demonstrating the HPRTE/VARS combined cycle has been constructed and is currently being tested in the Energy & Gas-dynamic Systems Laboratory at the University of Florida. A 45 HP Rover 1S-60 engine is integrated with a NH3/H2O vapor absorption refrigeration unit having a capacity of 19 Ton Refrigeration. The engine flow-path has been significantly modified to include partial recirculation of exhaust products, turbocharging, and recuperation, thus implementing the HPRTE concept. In addition, a significant modeling effort has been undertaken to simulate the combined cycle operation under design and off-design conditions. Initial experimental results show good agreement with the model predictions, including overall efficiency and water extraction rates.
The power, water extraction, and refrigeration (PoWER) engine has been investigated for several years as a distributed energy (DE) system among other applications for civilian or military use. Previous literature describing its modeling and experimental demonstration have indicated several benefits, especially when the underlying semiclosed cycle gas turbine is combined with a vapor absorption refrigeration system, the PoWER system described herein. The benefits include increased efficiency, high part-power efficiency, small lapse rate, compactness, low emissions, lower air and exhaust flows (which decrease filtration and duct size), and condensation of fresh water. The present paper describes the preliminary design and its modeling of a modified version of this system as applied to DE, especially useful in regions, which are prone to major grid interruptions due to hurricanes, undercapacity, or terrorism. In such cases, the DE system should support most or all services within an isolated service island, including ice production, so that the influence of the power outage is contained in magnitude and scope. The paper describes the rather straightforward system modifications necessary for ice production. However, the primary focus of the paper is on dynamic modeling of the ice making capacity to achieve significant load-leveling via thermal energy storage during the summer utility peak, hence reducing the electrical capacity requirements for the grid.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.