Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Measurements on air-cooled reflux steam condensers or dephlegmators at different power plants have shown that sections of these units do not transfer heat effectively over a range of operating conditions. The ineffective sections may be due to flooding in the finned tubes although entrainment of condensate in certain steam inlet manifolds is usually the main reason for the poor performance. In this dissertation factors that limit effective dephlegmator operation are discussed and the influence of two inlet manifold designs on dephlegmator operation is investigated. Laboratory experiments are conducted to show under which conditions liquid entrainment occurs and to visualize the flow distribution within the respective manifolds. An alternative, essentially horizontal arrangement of the dephlegmator is proposed. In order to evaluate the performance of such a system, the heat transfer and pressure drop on the steam-side is determined experimentally in an air-cooled finned tube. No flooding was observed during tests conducted at zero and negative tube angles to the horizontal. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toetse op lugverkoelde stoom terugvloeikondensors, of deflegmators, by verskeie kragstasies het getoon dat sekere dele van hierdie eenhede onder verskeie werkstoestande nie warmte effektief oordra nie. Hierdie oneffektiewe dele kan deur vloeding van die vinbuise veroorsaak word alhoewel die meesleur van kondensaat in sekere stoom inlaatspruitstukke gewoonlik die hoof oorsaak is. In hierdie dissertasie word faktore wat effektiewe deflegmator werksverrigting beinvloed bespreek en die invloed van twee inlaatspruitstukontwerpe op deflegmator werksverrigting ondersoek. Eksperimente is in 'n laboratorium uitgevoer om aan te toon onder watter werkstoestande vloeistof samesleping voorkom en om vloeiverdeling binne die onderskeie inlaatspruitstukke te visualiseer. 'n Altematiewe, wesenlike horisontale deflegmator opstelling word voorgestel. Die werksverrigting van hierdie voorstelling is ondersoek deur die warmteoordrag en stoorn-kant drukval eksperimenteel te bepaal in 'n lugverkoelde vinbuis. Geen vloeding is opgemerk vir toetsgevalle waar klein negatiewe of zero hoeke tot die horisontaal ondersoek is nie.

Thesis (MEng.) -- Stellenbosch University, 1988. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this report various mathematical models for the thermal evaluation of evaporative coolers and condensers are presented. These models range from the exact model based on the work by Poppe [84P01] to the simplified logarithmic models based on the work of McAdams [54Mcl] and Mizushina et al. [67MI1], [68MI1]. Various computer programs were written to perform rating and selection calculations on cross-flow and counterflow evaporative coolers and condensers. Experimental tests were conducted on a cross-flow evaporative cooler to determine the governing heat and mass transfer coefficients. The experimentally determined coefficients were cqrrelated and these correlations are compared to the existing correlations. The two-phase pressure drop across the tube bundle was also measured and a correlation for two-phase pressure drop across a tube bundle is presented.

Limited worldwide energy supplies demand the improved utilization of thermal energy, which is the dominant form of all primary energy sources used today. Large quantities of waste heat are routinely exhausted wherever thermo-mechanical energy conversion occurs, providing an opportunity to improve utilization. Two waste-heat-driven cycles are analyzed: an absorption/compression cascade cooling cycle and a coupled Rankine/compression cycle. The absorption/compression cascade provides an environmentally-sound option for a common approach to thermal energy recovery: the use of absorption cycles for cooling applications. To achieve cooling at temperatures below 0ºC, ammonia-water is the overwhelming choice for the working fluid. However, concerns about the toxicity and flammability of ammonia sometimes limit its application in sensitive arenas. In this study, a lithium bromide-water absorption cycle is coupled with a carbon dioxide vapor compression cycle to realize the benefits of high-lift cooling without the concerns associated with ammonia. This cycle utilizes a waste heat stream at temperatures as low as 150°C to provide cooling at -40°C. The topping absorption cycle achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) of about 0.77, while the bottoming cycle achieves a COP of about 2.2. The coupled Rankine/compression cycle provides a mechanical expansion and compression approach to achieve thermally activated cooling, again driven by waste heat. The power produced in the turbine of the Rankine cycle is directly coupled to the compressor of a vapor-compression cooling cycle to generate cooling to be utilized for space-conditioning. The refrigerant R245fa is used throughout the cycle. Even with low grade waste heat sources, a Rankine cycle efficiency of about 11-12 percent can be achieved. When coupled to the bottoming compression cycle with a COP of about 2.7, this yields an overall waste heat to cooling conversion efficiency of about 32 percent at nominal conditions.

No description available.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματοποιήθηκε κατά το διάστημα 11/2011-9/2012 στα πλαίσια των ερευνητικών δραστηριοτήτων του εργαστηρίου Παραγωγής, Μεταφοράς, Διανομής και Χρησιμοποίησης Ηλεκτρικής Ενέργειας του τμήματος Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, υπό την επίβλεψη του καθηγητή Γαβριήλ Β. Γιαννακόπουλου. Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η σύγκριση της δυναμικής συμπεριφοράς ενός συμβατικού σύγχρονου αντισταθμιστή και ενός εγκάρσιου στατικού αντισταθμιστή αέργου ισχύος (SVC) σε ένα εγκατεστημένο ηλεκτρικό δίκτυο, προσομοιώνοντας διαφορετικές περιπτώσεις που επηρεάζουν την διαδικασία αντιστάθμισης αέργου ισχύος και υποστήριξης τάσης σε ζυγούς του δικτύου. Στην εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζονται το μαθηματικό μοντέλο του σύγχρονου αντισταθμιστή, οι επαγωγικές παράμετροι που το χαρακτηρίζουν, τα διαφορετικά μοντέλα συστημάτων διέγερσης που χρησιμοποιούνται και ο Μετασχηματισμός Park. Όσον αφορά τον εγκάρσιο στατικό αντισταθμιστή (SVC) παρουσιάζονται οι βασικές αρχές ελέγχου των TCR και TSC που διαθέτει, η χαρακτηριστική τάσης-ρεύματος και γίνεται μια αναλυτική περιγραφή των συνιστωσών του συστήματος ελέγχου του, όπως ο ρυθμιστής τάσης, το σύστημα συγχρονισμού και η γεννήτρια παραγωγής παλμών. Τέλος, για την μοντελοποίηση και την προσομοίωση των αντισταθμιστών και του ηλεκτρικού δικτύου χρησιμοποιείται το πρόγραμμα PSCAD/EMTDC λόγω της αξιοπιστίας και της ευχρηστίας του σε μεγάλος εύρος ενεργειακών μελετών. / The current thesis was held during the period 11/2011-9/2012 within the research activities of the Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Utilization of Electric Energy Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, under the supervision of Professor Gabriel B. Giannakopoulos. The purpose of this study is to compare the dynamic performance of a conventional synchronous condenser and a static reactive power compensator (SVC) on an installed electrical grid, simulating different cases affecting the process of reactive power compensation and voltage support at the network’s load buses. This thesis includes representation of the mathematical model of the conventional synchronous condenser and the inductive parameters that characterize it, the different excitation system models used and the Park Transformation. Regarding the static VAR compensator (SVC), this thesis also refers to the fundamentals of TCR and TSC control, the explanation of the current-voltage characteristic and the analytic description of the control system’s components, such as the voltage regulator, the synchronization system and the gate-pulse generator. Lastly, for the modeling and simulation of both compensators and the installed electrical grid, the simulation program used is PSCAD / EMTDC because of its usability and reliability on a wide range of energy projects.

M. Tech. Mechanical Engineering.

Numerous findings have indicated that the distance between the evaporator and condenser of the molecular still is not as critical, as far as mean free-path design criteria are concerned, as formerly believed. It had been recommended that studies be made on the present apparatus at Virginia Polytechnic Institute to determine exactly how critical this factor is. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of condenser temperature and location on the molecular distillation characteristics of stearic acid, and from this study, determine this relationship of condenser temperature and location to be used in centrifugal molecular still operation. This investigation was accomplished using a magnetically driven centrifugal molecular still with a five-inch rotor and employing the following operating conditions: operating pressure, 24 ± 2 microns of mercury, absolute; feed rate, 60 to 65 milliliters per minute; rotor speed, 1000 ± 50 revolutions per minute; feed-residue temperature differential, 24 ± 1 degrees centigrade; condenser water temperature, 25, 35, and 45 degrees centigrade; condenser locations, 3/4 2-1/2, and 5-3/8 inches from the evaporator; and number of passes of the feed over the rotor per fraction, one. lt was concluded from this investigation that if the Iocation of the condenser did not exceed a mean free-path multiple of three, that the location of the condenser had no effect on the elimination maximum of stearic acid, and the elimination maximum was increased approximately one degree centigrade for every four degrees centigrade decrease in condenser temperature. The elimination maximum was not affected by condenser temperature when the condenser was located in a position with a mean free path multiple of six. / Master of Science

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Air-cooled steam condensers are used in arid regions where adequate cooling water is not available or very expensive. In this thesis the effect of steam-side and air-side effects on the condenser performance, steam distribution and critical dephlegmator length is investigated for air-cooled steam condensers as found in power plants. Solutions are found so that no backflow is present in the condenser. Both single and two-row condensers are investigated. The tube inlet loss coefficients have the largest impact on the critical dephlegmator tube length in both the single and two-row condensers. The critical dephlegmator tube lengths were determined for different dividing header inlet geometries and it was found that a step at the inlet to the dividing header resulted in the shortest tubes. Different ambient conditions were found to affect the inlet steam temperature, the steam flow distribution, heat rejection distribution and the critical dephlegmator length for the single and two-row condensers. There were differences in the steam mass flow distributions for the single and two-row condensers with opposite trends being present in parts of the condenser. The single-row condenser’s critical dephlegmator tube lengths were shorter than those of the two-row condenser for the same ambient conditions. Areas of potential backflow change with different ambient conditions and also differ between a single and two-row condenser. The two-row condenser always have an area of potential backflow for the first row at the first condenser fan unit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Droë lug-verkoelde stoom kondensors word gebruik in droë gebiede waar genoegsame verkoelingswater nie beskikbaar is nie of baie duur is. In hierdie tesis word die effek van stoomkant en lugkant effekte op die vermoë van die kondensor, die stoomvloeiverdeling en kritiese deflegmator lengte ondersoek vir lug-verkoelde stoom kondensors soos gevind in kragstasies. Dit word opgelos sodat daar geen terugvloei in enige van die buise is nie. ʼn Enkel- en dubbelry kondensor word ondersoek. Die inlaatverlieskoëffisiënte van die buise het die grootste impak op die lengte van die kritiese deflegmator buise in beide die enkel- en dubbelry kondensors. Die kritiese deflegmator buis lengtes is bereken vir verskillende verdeelingspyp inlaat geometrië en dit is gevind dat ʼn trap by die inlaat van die verdeelingspyp die kortste buise lewer. Dit is gesien dat verskillende omgewingskondisies die inlaat stoom temperatuur, die stoomvloeiverdeling, die warmteoordrag verdeling en die kritiese lengte van die deflegmator buise vir die enkel- en dubbelry kondensor. Daar was verskille tussen die stoomvloeiverdelings vir die enkel- en dubbelry met teenoorgestelde neigings in dele van die kondensor. Die kritiese deflegmator buis lengte vir die enkelry kondensor was korter as die vir die dubbelry kondensor vir dieselfde omgewingskondisies. Die areas in die kondensor waar terugvloei moontlik kan plaasvind in die kondensor verander met ongewingskondisies en verskil vir die enkel- en dubbelry kondensers. Die dubbelry kondensor het altyd ʼn area van moontlike terugvloei vir die eerste buisry by die eerste kondensor waaiereenheid.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This study evaluates the performance characteristics of a power plant incorporating a steam turbine and a direct air-cooled dry/wet condenser operating at different ambient temperatures. The proposed cooling system uses existing A-frame air-cooled condenser (ACC) technology and through the introduction of a hybrid (dry/wet) dephiegmator achieves measurable enhancement in cooling performance when temperatures are high. In order to determine the thermal-flow performance characteristics of the wet section of the dephlegmator, tests are conducted on an evaporative cooler. From the experimental results, correlations for the water film heat transfer coefficient, air-water mass transfer coefficient and the air-side pressure drop over a deluged tube bundle are developed. During periods of high ambient temperatures the hybrid (dry/wet) condenser operating in a wet mode can achieve the same increased turbine performance as an oversized air-cooled condenser or an air-cooled condenser rith adiabatic cooling (spray cooling) of the inlet air at a considerably lower cost. For the same turbine power output the water consumed by an air-cooled condenser incorporating a hybrid (dry/wet) dephlegmator is at least 20% less than an air- cooled condenser with adiabatic cooling of the inlet air. / Sponsored by the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Air-cooled steam condensers (ACSCs) are used in the power generation industry to directly condense turbine exhaust steam in areas where cooling water is expensive or unavailable. Large axial flow fans force ambient air through A-frame heat exchanger bundles made up of a number of rows of finned tubes through which the steam is ducted and consequently condensed during the heat transfer process to the air. The heat rejection rate or performance of an ACSC is proportional to the air mass flow rate, determined by fan volumetric performance, and the temperature difference between the finned tubes and the air. The air flow through a 30 fan ACSC (termed the generic ACSC) operating under windy conditions is solved using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT and the required data is extracted from the solution to calculate performance trends. It is found that fan performance is reduced due to a combination of factors. The first is additional upstream flow losses caused by separated flow occurring primarily at the leading edge of the ACSC and secondarily at the fan bellmouth inlets. The second factor leading to reduced fan performance is the presence of distorted flow conditions at the fan inlets. Hot plume air recirculation is responsible for decreased ACSC thermal performance due to increased fan inlet air temperatures. It is found that reduced fan performance is the greater contributor to reduced ACSC performance. The performance effects of varying two geometrical parameters of the generic ACSC, namely the fan platform height and the windwall height, are investigated under windy conditions. It is found that each parameter is linked to a specific mechanism of performance reduction with the fan platform height affecting fan performance and the windwall height affecting recirculation. The respective platform and windwall heights specified for the generic ACSC are found to provide acceptable performance results. To mitigate wind induced performance reductions a number of modification and additions to the ACSC are investigated. These primarily aim at improving fan performance and included the addition of walkways or skirts, the addition of wind screens beneath the fan platform, removing the bellmouth fan inlets, using different types of fans and increasing fan power. The addition of a periphery walkway and windscreens is considered to be the most practical methods of improving ACSC performance under windy conditions. The generic ACSC is modified to include both modifications and under high wind conditions the performance is found to increase measurably. The modifications also resulted in the ACSC performance being less sensitive to wind direction effects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lugverkoelde kondensators word in die kragopwekkings industrie gebruik om turbine uitlaatstoom te kondenseer, veral in gebiede waar verkoelingwater duur of onbeskikbaar is. Aksiaalvloei-waaiers forseer omgewingslug deur A-raam warmteuitruiler bondels wat bestaan uit verskeie rye vinbuise. Die uitlaatstoom vloei in die vinbuise en kondenseer as gevolg van die warmteoordrag na die lug. Die warmteoordragkapasiteit van die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator is eweredig aan die massavloei-tempo van die lug, wat bepaal word deur die waaierwerkverigting, en die temperatuur verskil tussen die vinbuise en die lug. Die lugvloei deur 'n 30 waaier lugverkoelde stoom kondensator (genoem die generiese lugverkoelde stoom kondensator) onderworpe aan winderige toestande word opgelos deur die gebruik van die kommersiële vloeidinamika-pakket, FLUENT. Die nodige data is onttrek uit die oplossing en werkverrigting neigings is bereken. Dit is gevind dat waaierwerkverigting verminder as gevolg van 'n kombinasie van faktore. Die eerste is bykomende vloeiverliese wat veroorsaak word deur vloeiwegbreking wat plaasvind primêr by die voorste rand van die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator asook by die klokvormige waaier-inlate. 'n Tweede faktor wat lei tot vermindere waaierwerkverigting is die teenwoordigheid van lugvloeiversteurings by die waaier-inlate. Hersirkulering van warm pluim lug is ook verantwoordelik vir verminderde lugverkoelde stoom kondensator werkverrigting. Daar word bevind dat die vermindering in waaierwerkverrigting die grootste bydraende faktor tot vermindere lugverkoelde stoom kondensator werkverrigting is. Die effek van verandering van twee geometriese lugverkoelde stoom kondensator parameters, naamlik die waaierplatformhoogte en die windwandhoogte is ondersoek onder winderige toestande. Daar word bevind dat elk van die parameters gekoppel is aan 'n spesifieke meganisme van vermindere lugverkoelde stoom kondensator verrigting: Die waaierplatformhoogte beïnvloed waaierverrigting terwyl die windwandhoogte hersirkulering beinvloed. Daar word ook bevind dat die onderskeie waaierplatform- and windwandhoogtes van die generiese lugverkoelde stoom kondensator, van so 'n aard is dat dit aanvaarbare werkverrigting tot gevolg het. Om verlaging in werksverrigting in winderige toestande te verminder is verskeie modifikasies en byvoegings tot die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator ondersoek wat primêr gemik is op verbetering in waaierwerkverigting. Die ondersoek dek die byvoeging van 'n loopvlak, die byvoeging van windskerms onder die waaierplatform, verwydering van die klokvormige waaier-inlate, die gebruik van verskillende waaiers en die verhoging van waaierdrywing. Daar was besluit dat die byvoeging van 'n loopvlak rondom die rand van die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator en die byvoeging van windskerms die mees praktiese manier was om die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator verigting te verbeter. Die generiese lugverkoelde stoom kondensator was aangepas om beide veranderings in te sluit en meetbare verbetering in werkrigting was verkry. Die veranderings het ook meegebring dat die lugverkoelde stoom kondensator minder sensitief is vir windrigting effekte.