Comparison of nuclear and solar power plants with turboelectric generators for application in space

Organic Rankine cycle turbogenerators are a viable option as stationary energy converters for external heat sources, in the low power range (from a fewkWup to a few MW). The fluid-dynamic design of organic Rankine cycle turbines can benefit from computational fluid dynamics tools which are capable of properly taking into account realgas effects occurring in the turbine, which typically expands in the nonideal-gas thermodynamic region. In addition, the potential efficiency increase offered by supercritical organic Rankine cycles, which entails even stronger real-gas effects, has not yet been exploited in current practice. In this paper, real-gas effects occurring in subcritical and supercritical organic Rankine cycle nozzles have been investigated. Two-dimensional Euler simulations of an existing axial organic Rankine cycle stator nozzle are carried out using a computational fluid dynamics code, which is linked to an accurate thermodynamic model for the working fluid octamethyltrisiloxane C8H24O2Si3). The cases analyzed include the expansions starting from actual subcritical conditions, that is, the design point and part-load operation, and three expansions starting from supercritical conditions. Results of the simulations of the existing nozzle for current operating conditions can be used to refine its design. Moreover, the simulations of the nozzle expansions starting from supercritical conditions show that a nozzle geometry with a much higher exit-to-throat area ratio is required to obtain an efficient expansion. Other peculiar characteristics of supercritical expansions such as low sound speed and velocity, high density, and mass flow rate, are discussed

show abstract

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.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Comparison of nuclear and solar power plants with turboelectric generators for application in space

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Optimisation of concentrating solar cell systems with passive and active cooling

Optimisation of concentrating solar cell systems with passive and active cooling

Net electric power of concentrating solar mirror systems for application in space as a function of the distance to the sun

Real-Gas Effects in Organic Rankine Cycle Turbine Nozzles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About