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This study investigates the potential of installing an integrated solar powered Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) with electric energy storage (EES) to provide clean energy to commercial buildings in different climate zones in the US. Reducing the primary energy consumption (PEC), lowering the carbon dioxide emissions (CDE) and increasing the operational cost savings are primary objectives. Firstly, a large office building for eight US climates is studied. The EES is sized to store all the electricity generated by the system. Secondly, the system is studied for sixteen different commercial buildings, in the best climate zone, by considering two operational strategies. Finally, the influence of variable expander efficiency on the system performance is investigated. Results indicate that Phoenix is the best location in the US, among the evaluated locations, to install the ORC-EES. The model for the full-service restaurant shows higher savings and more electricity supply percentage than the other buildings. The model under the variable expander efficiency lowers the yearly PEC by 1.6% and CDE and operational cost savings both by 11%.

No description available.

The waste heat recovery technologies have become very relevant since many industrial plants continuously reject large amounts of thermal energy during normal operation which contributes to the increase of the production costs and also impacts the environment. The simulation programs used in industrial engineering enable development and optimization of the operational processes in a cost-effective way. The company Chematur Engineering AB, which supplies chemical plants in many different fields of use on a worldwide basis, was interested in the investigation of the possibilities for effective waste heat recovery from the hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene, which is a sub-process in the toluene diisocyanate manufacture plant. The project objective was to implement waste heat recovery by application of the Organic Rankine Cycle and the Absorption Refrigeration Cycle technologies. Modeling and design of the Organic Rankine Cycle and the Absorption Refrigeration Cycle systems was performed by using Aspen Plus® simulation software where the waste heat carrier was represented by hot water, coming from the internal cooling system in the hydrogenation process. Among the working fluids investigated were ammonia, butane, isobutane, propane, R-123, R-134a, R-227ea, R-245fa, and ammonia-water and LiBr-water working pairs. The simulations have been performed for different plant capacities with different temperatures of the hydrogenation process. The results show that the application of the Organic Rankine Cycle technology is the most feasible solution where the use of ammonia, R-123, R-245fa and butane as the working fluids is beneficial with regards to power production and pay-off time, while R-245fa and butane are the most sustainable choices considering the environment.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão dos ciclos teóricos estudados por outros autores sobre o funcionamento de uma máquina a vapor funcionando como máquina de expansão e propõe um ciclo generalizado para o estudo. Esse ciclo generalizado é equacionado e seus pontos operacionais de otimização são determinados. Ao estudar os ciclos teóricos, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor pode atingir a eficiência isentrópica igual de 100%. Um estudo experimental foi conduzido em uma máquina a vapor, a fim de verificar os fenômenos que ocorrem e que influenciam na sua eficiência, fazendo o funcionamento real se afastar do ciclo teórico. Ao fazer o estudo experimental, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor real utilizada possui baixa eficiência, atingindo um máximo de 10% de eficiência isentrópica. Essa eficiência não é do ciclo e sim do conjunto todo, e é devido a diversos fatores, como, por exemplo, atritos, problemas de lubrificação, imperfeições físicas que provocam o vazamento do fluido de trabalho. Uma simulação computacional é realizada, visando prever o comportamento real da máquina a vapor e comparar com os dados obtidos experimentalmente. Verificando assim se a simulação consegue prever os fenômenos físicos e auxiliar no projeto de uma máquina a vapor. Após analisar os dados simulados, verificou-se que as válvulas possuem grande influência na eficiência isentrópica do ciclo da máquina a vapor. Válvulas de acionamento rápido preveem uma eficiência que pode chegar a 96%, enquanto as válvulas reais provocam uma eficiência de aproximadamente 60% para as mesmas condições de simulação. Uma das principais diferenças entre a simulação e os dados reais é a restrição ao fluxo provocada pelas válvulas, e que exigem coeficientes de descarga específicos para esse tipo de válvula. / This work reviews the theoretical cycles studied by other authors on the operation of a steam engine as an expansion machine and chooses a generalized cycle for the study. This generalized cycle is modeled and the points of optimization are determined. By studying the theoretical cycles, it was found that the steam engine can reach the isentropic efficiency equal to 100%. An experimental study carried out in a steam engine in order to verify the phenomena occurring that influence their effectiveness, moving the actual operation away from the theoretical cycle. By making the experimental study, it was found that the actual steam engine has a low efficiency, reaching a maximum 10% isentropic efficiency. This efficiency is not of the cycle, but of the whole set, and is due to several factors, such as friction problems, lubrication problems, physical imperfections causing leakage of the working fluid. A computer simulation was performed in order to predict the actual behavior of the steam engine and compare with the experimental data. After analyzing the simulated data, it was found that the valves have a great influence on the isentropic efficiency of the steam cycle. Valves operating instantly can reach 96% of isentropic efficiency, while real valves cause an efficiency of approximately 60% for the same simulation conditions. A major difference between the simulation and the actual data is the flow restriction caused by valves, which requires specific discharge coefficients for this type of valve.

Submitted by Nara Lays Domingues Viana Oliveira (naradv) on 2015-06-12T22:36:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 000006AB.pdf: 9859828 bytes, checksum: 7298da927fa0f798beed1d1cb69fcb2a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-12T22:36:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000006AB.pdf: 9859828 bytes, checksum: 7298da927fa0f798beed1d1cb69fcb2a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Neste trabalho, foi realizada a simulação do ciclo térmico da Usina Termoelétrica São Jerônimo – UTSJ. A Usina, muito antiga, possui caldeira do tipo grelha. Na mesma Usina foi instalada uma caldeira experimental de leito fluidizado, para funcionar em paralelo com a existente. O trabalho é iniciado com a modelagem de um ciclo de Rankine simples e segue evoluindo até se estabelecer a configuração mais adequada e representativa na tarefa de simular o modo de trabalho da Usina Termelétrica São Jerônimo – UTSJ. Desta forma, foram adotadas as considerações mais convencionais na prática de projeto de centrais termelétricas cujos sistemas térmicos baseiam-se no ciclo de Rankine. As simulações, que se caracterizam pela resolução simultânea das equações que modelam o ciclo e seus componentes, foram efetuadas através de programa IPSE-pro®. As simulações foram aplicadas para a obtenção dos resultados mais importantes na análise de sistemas térmicos, tais como rendimento térmico do ciclo, potência, vazões mássicas do sistema, calor trocado no gerador de vapor e no condensador, entre outros. Por fim, com objetivo de melhorar o rendimento térmico da planta, são apresentadas algumas alternativas ao sistema atual, tais como o aumento de eficiência da caldeira mediante substituição ou a adição de uma caldeira em paralelo à original. / In this work was made the simulation of the thermal cycle of São Jerônimo - UTSJ thermal power plant. The power plant, very old, has a grate boiler. In the same power plant was installed an experimental fluidized bed boiler, workingin parallel with the existing one. The work starts with the modeling of a simple Rankine cycle and evolves up to establish the most suitable and representative configuration to simulate the mode the work of São Jerônimo –UTSJ thermal power plant. Therefore, in this work it was adopted the more conventional considerations in the design practice for thermal power plants whose systems are based on the Rankine cycle. The simulations, which are characterized by the simultaneous solving of equations that model the cycle and its components, were made through the IPSE-pro® software. The simulations were applied to obtain the main results on the analysis of thermal systems such as, thermal efficiency of the cycle, power, system mass flow, heat exchanged in the steam generator and condenser, among others. Finally, in order to improve the thermal efficiency of the plant, some alternatives to the actual system were presented.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão dos ciclos teóricos estudados por outros autores sobre o funcionamento de uma máquina a vapor funcionando como máquina de expansão e propõe um ciclo generalizado para o estudo. Esse ciclo generalizado é equacionado e seus pontos operacionais de otimização são determinados. Ao estudar os ciclos teóricos, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor pode atingir a eficiência isentrópica igual de 100%. Um estudo experimental foi conduzido em uma máquina a vapor, a fim de verificar os fenômenos que ocorrem e que influenciam na sua eficiência, fazendo o funcionamento real se afastar do ciclo teórico. Ao fazer o estudo experimental, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor real utilizada possui baixa eficiência, atingindo um máximo de 10% de eficiência isentrópica. Essa eficiência não é do ciclo e sim do conjunto todo, e é devido a diversos fatores, como, por exemplo, atritos, problemas de lubrificação, imperfeições físicas que provocam o vazamento do fluido de trabalho. Uma simulação computacional é realizada, visando prever o comportamento real da máquina a vapor e comparar com os dados obtidos experimentalmente. Verificando assim se a simulação consegue prever os fenômenos físicos e auxiliar no projeto de uma máquina a vapor. Após analisar os dados simulados, verificou-se que as válvulas possuem grande influência na eficiência isentrópica do ciclo da máquina a vapor. Válvulas de acionamento rápido preveem uma eficiência que pode chegar a 96%, enquanto as válvulas reais provocam uma eficiência de aproximadamente 60% para as mesmas condições de simulação. Uma das principais diferenças entre a simulação e os dados reais é a restrição ao fluxo provocada pelas válvulas, e que exigem coeficientes de descarga específicos para esse tipo de válvula. / This work reviews the theoretical cycles studied by other authors on the operation of a steam engine as an expansion machine and chooses a generalized cycle for the study. This generalized cycle is modeled and the points of optimization are determined. By studying the theoretical cycles, it was found that the steam engine can reach the isentropic efficiency equal to 100%. An experimental study carried out in a steam engine in order to verify the phenomena occurring that influence their effectiveness, moving the actual operation away from the theoretical cycle. By making the experimental study, it was found that the actual steam engine has a low efficiency, reaching a maximum 10% isentropic efficiency. This efficiency is not of the cycle, but of the whole set, and is due to several factors, such as friction problems, lubrication problems, physical imperfections causing leakage of the working fluid. A computer simulation was performed in order to predict the actual behavior of the steam engine and compare with the experimental data. After analyzing the simulated data, it was found that the valves have a great influence on the isentropic efficiency of the steam cycle. Valves operating instantly can reach 96% of isentropic efficiency, while real valves cause an efficiency of approximately 60% for the same simulation conditions. A major difference between the simulation and the actual data is the flow restriction caused by valves, which requires specific discharge coefficients for this type of valve.

In this study, the feasibility of using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in trigeneration plants is examined through thermodynamic modeling and thermoeconomic optimization. Three novel trigeneration systems are considered. Each one of these systems consists of an ORC, a heating-process heat exchanger, and a single-effect absorption chiller. The three systems are distinguished by the source of the heat input to the ORC. The systems considered are SOFC-trigeneration, biomass- trigeneration, and solar-trigeneration systems. For each system four cases are considered: electrical-power, cooling-cogeneration, heating-cogeneration, and trigeneration cases. Comprehensive thermodynamic analysis on each system is carried out. Furthermore, thermoeconomic optimization is conducted. The objective of the thermoeconomic optimization is to minimize the cost per exergy unit of the trigeneration product. The results of the thermoeconomic optimization are used to compare the three systems through thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analyses. This study illustrates key output parameters to assess the trigeneration systems considered. These parameters are energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, net electrical power, electrical to cooling ratio, and electrical to heating ratio. Moreover, exergy destruction modeling is conducted to identify and quantify the major sources of exergy destruction in the systems considered. In addition, an environmental impact assessment is conducted to quantify the amount of CO2 emissions in the systems considered. Furthermore, this study examines both the cost rate and cost per exergy unit of the electrical power and other trigeneration products. This study reveals that there is a considerable efficiency improvement when trigeneration is used, as compared to only electrical power production. In addition, the emissions of CO2 per MWh of trigeneration are significantly lower than that of electrical power. It was shown that the exergy destruction rates of the ORC evaporators for the three systems are quite high. Therefore, it is important to consider using more efficient ORC evaporators in trigeneration plants. In addition, this study reveals that the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest electrical energy efficiency while the biomass-trigeneration system and the solar mode of the solar trigeneration system have the highest trigeneration energy efficiencies. In contrast, the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest exergy efficiency for both electrical and trigeneration cases. Furthermore, the thermoeconomic optimization shows that the solar-trigeneration system has the lowest cost per exergy unit. Meanwhile the solar-trigeneration system has zero CO2 emissions and depends on a free renewable energy source. Therefore, it can be concluded that the solar-trigeneration system has the best thermoeconomic performance among the three systems considered.

Low-grade heat sources, here defined as below 300 ºC, are abundantly available as industrial waste heat, solar thermal, and geothermal, to name a few. However, they are under-exploited for conversion to power because of the low efficiency of conversion. The utilization of low-grade heat is advantageous for many reasons. Technologies that allow the efficient conversion of low-grade heat into mechanical or electrical power are very important to develop. This work investigates the potential of supercritical Rankine cycles in the conversion of low-grade heat into power. The performance of supercritical Rankine cycles is studied using ChemCAD linked with customized excel macros written in Visual Basic and programs written in C++. The selection of working fluids for a supercritical Rankine cycle is of key importance. A rigorous investigation into the potential working fluids is carried out, and more than 30 substances are screened out from all the available fluid candidates. Zeotropic mixtures are innovatively proposed to be used in supercritical Rankine cycles to improve the system efficiency. Supercritical Rankine cycles and organic Rankine cycles with pure working fluids as well as zeotropic mixtures are studied to optimize the conversion of lowgrade heat into power. The results show that it is theoretically possible to extract and convert more energy from such heat sources using the cycle developed in this research than the conventional organic Rankine cycles. A theory on the selection of appropriate working fluids for different heat source and heat sink profiles is developed to customize and maximize the thermodynamic cycle performance. The outcomes of this research will eventually contribute to the utilization of low-grade waste heat more efficiently.

Water and energy crises have forced researchers to seek alternative water and energy sources. Seawater desalination can contribute towards meeting the increasing demand for fresh water using alternative energy sources like low-grade heat. Industrial waste heat, geothermal, solar thermal, could help to ease the energy crisis. Unfortunately, the efficiency of the conventional power cycle becomes uneconomically low with low-grade heat sources, while, at the same time, seawater desalination requires more energy than a conventional water treatment process. However, heat discarded from low-grade heat power cycles could be used as part of desalination energy sources with seawater being used as coolant for the power cycles. Therefore a study of desalination using low-grade heat is of great significance. This research has comprehensively reviewed the current literature and proposes two systems that use low-grade heat for desalination applications or even desalination/power cogeneration. The proposed two cogeneration systems are a supercritical Rankine cycle-type coupled with a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane desalination process, and a power cycle with an ejector coupled with a multi-effect distillation desalination system. The first configuration provides the advantages of making full use of heat sources and is suitable for hybrid systems. The second system has several advantages, such as handling highly concentrated brine without external electricity input as well as the potential of water/power cogeneration when it is not used to treat concentrated brine. Compared to different stand-alone power cycles, the proposed systems could use seawater as coolant to reject low-grade heat from the power cycle to reduce thermal pollution.