| 1. |
- Wang, Wujun
(författare)
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Development of an Impinging Receiver for Solar Dish-Brayton Systems
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A new receiver concept utilizing impinging jet cooling technology has been developed for a small scale solar dish-Brayton system. In a typical impinging receiver design, the jet nozzles are distributed evenly around the cylindrical absorber wall above the solar peak flux region for managing the temperature at an acceptable level. The absorbed solar irradiation is partially lost to the ambient by radiation and natural convection heat transfer, the major part is conducted through the wall and taken away by the impingement jets to drive a gas turbine. Since the thermal power requirement of a 5 kWe Compower® micro gas turbine (MGT) perfectly matches with the power collected by the EuroDish when the design Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) input is 800 W/m2, the boundary conditions for the impinging receiver design in this work are based on the combination of the Compower®MGT and the EuroDish system.In order to quickly find feasible receiver geometries and impinging jet nozzle arrangements for achieving acceptable temperature level and temperature distributions on the absorber cavity wall, a novel inverse design method (IDM) has been developed based on a combination of a ray-tracing model and a heat transfer analytical model. In this design method, a heat transfer model of the absorber wall is used for analyzing the main heat transfer process between the cavity wall outer surface, the inner surface and the working fluid. A ray-tracing model is utilized for obtaining the solar radiative boundary conditions for the heat transfer model. Furthermore, the minimum stagnation heat transfer coefficient, the jet pitch and the maximum pressure drop governing equations are used for narrowing down the possible nozzle arrangements. Finally, the curves for the required total heat transfer coefficient distribution are obtained and compared with different selected impinging arrangements on the working fluid side, and candidate design configurations are obtained.Furthermore, a numerical conjugate heat transfer model combined with a ray-tracing model was developed validating the inverse design method and for studying the thermal performance of an impinging receiver in detail. With the help of the modified inverse design method and the numerical conjugate heat transfer model, two impinging receivers based on sintered α-SiC (SSiC) and stainless steel 253 MA material have been successfully designed. The detailed analyses show that for the 253 MA impinging receiver, the average air temperature at the outlet and the thermal efficiency can reach 1071.5 K and 82.7% at a DNI level of 800 W/m2 matching the system requirements well. Furthermore, the local temperature differences on the absorber can be reduced to 130 K and 149 K for two different DNI levels, which is a significant reduction and improvement compared with earlier published cavity receiver designs. The inverse design method has also been verified to be an efficient way in reducing the calculation costs during the design procedure.For the validation and demonstration of the receiver designs, a unique experimental facility was designed and constructed. The facility is a novel high flux solar simulator utilizing for the first time Fresnel lenses to concentrate the light of 12 commercial high power Xenon-arc lamps. Finally, a prototype of a 253 MA based impinging was experimentally studied with the help of the 84 kWe Fresnel lens based high flux solar simulator in KTH.
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| 2. |
- Abeywecra, Ruchira, et al.
(författare)
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A Remote Mode High Quality International Master Degree Program in Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT) -Pilot Program Experiences During First Year of Studies
- 2018
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF 2018 IEEE GLOBAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION CONFERENCE (EDUCON) - EMERGING TRENDS AND CHALLENGES OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. - : IEEE. - 9781538629574 ; , s. 276-284
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Remote mode study programs at master degree level are becoming more popular than undergraduate level programs. Students after graduation with Bachelors degree very often are employed and the most appropriate mode for them to pursue higher studies is the remote mode. Postgraduate programs with one or two year duration mostly focus on specific areas of research based industrial application. Traditional remote education is thought to be more centered on web based on-line programs with a little opportunity for teacher student interaction and interaction with peers. In such programs motivation for studies has been a problem and as a result many students drop off and also those remain in the program for prolonged periods do not show good performance. One of the reasons for failures of students in remote studies is the isolation leading to discouragement for the completion studies. A remote mode Master Degree Program in Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (MSc-SELECT), consisting of a number of innovative features aimed at improved student engagement, motivation, exposure to experiences in multi-national setting and team work, was developed and implemented by the Master School of the EIT-InnoEnergy, as a pilot project. The program was offered, collaboratively and simultaneously to students in three locations, Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Spain and the Open University of Sri Lanka. The students in Sweden and Spain each followed 50% of the courses on-campus and 50% in remote mode depending upon the university they registered with. The students in Sri Lanka followed the entire 1st year fully remotely. All the students (from KTH, OUSL and UPC) will spend the 2nd year on-campus at another university in the consortium. This paper discusses, from the perspective of the fully remote site, the remote program with its innovative aspects, student performance and experience together with future tasks for making the program viable and beneficial to all partner countries.
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| 3. |
- Abeyweera, Ruchira, et al.
(författare)
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Capacity Building Through a Web Based Master Degree Programme in Sustainable Energy Engineering
- 2017
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF 2017 IEEE GLOBAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION CONFERENCE (EDUCON2017). - : IEEE. - 9781509054671 ; , s. 800-805
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Open Distance Learning is gaining popularity as a successful alternative for on-campus higher education especially with the emergence of web based platforms which enable the online delivery of courses worldwide. This emerging educational pedagogy can successfully be employed as means of capacity building of the people living in the less fortunate parts of the world where higher education especially at master level are scarce. This paper presents a two-year collaborative master study programme in sustainable energy engineering offered in synchronous with an on-campus study programme conducted by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden, to students of Sri Lanka, which was facilitated by the Open University of Sri Lanka. The paper describes the need of such a programme, the format of course delivery and assessment thereof, plus the benefits gained. This programme has produced 72 post graduates in Sri Lanka alone and more than 200 distant postgraduates worldwide in the field of sustainable energy engineering during last 10 years period. In terms of capacity building in the energy sector in Sri Lanka this is considered a great achievement. The experience gained by the local staff in the role of local facilitators who engaged in some of the academic related activities such as evaluation of students' presentation and co-supervision of thesis projects have been greatly appreciated as being additional benefits to the staff in terms of their own academic development and capacity building. Finally, conclusions are made on how remote programmes of study could successfully be delivered to places where such know-how is scarce by adapting appropriate technologies in training personnel at postgraduate level to meet the needs of the industry.
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| 4. |
- Araoz Ramos, Joseph Adhemar, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Development and validation of a thermodynamic model for the performance analysis of a gamma Stirling engine prototype
- 2015
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Ingår i: Applied Thermal Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-4311 .- 1873-5606. ; 83, s. 16-30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work presents the development and validation of a numerical model that represents the performance of a gamma Stirling engine prototype. The model follows a modular approach considering ideal adiabatic working spaces; limited internal and external heat transfer through the heat exchangers; and mechanical and thermal losses during the cycle. In addition, it includes the calculation of the mechanical efficiency taking into account the crank mechanism effectiveness and the forced work during the cycle. Consequently, the model aims to predict the work that can be effectively taken from the shaft. The model was compared with experimental data obtained in an experimental rig built for the engine prototype. The results showed an acceptable degree of accuracy when comparing with the experimental data, with errors ranging from +/- 1% to +/- 8% for the temperature in the heater side, less than +/- 1% error for the cooler temperatures, and +/- 1 to +/- 8% for the brake power calculations. Therefore, the model was probed adequate for study of the prototype performance. In addition, the results of the simulation reflected the limited performance obtained during the prototype experiments, and a first analysis of the results attributed this to the forced work during the cycle. The implemented model is the basis for a subsequent parametric analysis that will complement the results presented.
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| 5. |
- Araoz Ramos, Joseph A., et al.
(författare)
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Numerical simulation for the design analysis of kinematic Stirling engines
- 2015
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Ingår i: Applied Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-2619 .- 1872-9118. ; 159, s. 633-650
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Stirling engine is a closed-cycle regenerative system that presents good theoretical properties. These include a high thermodynamic efficiency, low emissions levels thanks to a controlled external heat source, and multi-fuel capability among others. However, the performance of actual prototypes largely differs from the mentioned theoretical potential. Actual engine prototypes present low electrical power outputs and high energy losses. These are mainly attributed to the complex interaction between the different components of the engine, and the challenging heat transfer and fluid dynamics requirements. Furthermore, the integration of the engine into decentralized energy systems such as the Combined Heat and Power systems (CHP) entails additional complications. These has increased the need for engineering tools that could assess design improvements, considering a broader range of parameters that would influence the engine performance when integrated within overall systems. Following this trend, the current work aimed to implement an analysis that could integrate the thermodynamics, and the thermal and mechanical interactions that influence the performance of kinematic Stirling engines. In particular for their use in Combined Heat and Power systems. The mentioned analysis was applied for the study of an engine prototype that presented very low experimental performance. The numerical methodology was selected for the identification of possible causes that limited the performance. This analysis is based on a second order Stirling engine model that was previously developed and validated. The simulation allowed to evaluate the effect that different design and operational parameters have on the engine performance, and consequently different performance curves were obtained. These curves allowed to identify ranges for the charged pressure, temperature ratio, heat exchangers dimensions, crank phase angle and crank mechanical effectiveness, where the engine performance was improved. In addition, the curves also permitted to recognise ranges were the design parameters could drastically reduce the brake power and efficiency. The results also showed that the design of the engine is affected by the conditions imposed by the CHP interactions, and that the engine could reach a brake power closer to 832 W with a corresponding brake efficiency of 26% when the adequate design parameters were considered. On the other hand, the performance could also be very low; as the reported in experimental tests, with brake power measurements ranging 52-120W.
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| 6. |
- Araoz Ramos, Joseph Adhemar, 1982-
(författare)
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Thermodynamic analysis of Stirling engine systems : Applications for combined heat and power
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Increasing energy demands and environmental problems require innovative systems for electrical and thermal energy production. In this scenario, the development of small scale energy systems has become an interesting alternative to the conventional large scale centralized plants. Among these alternatives, small scale combined heat and power (CHP) plants based on Stirling Engines (SE) have attracted the interest among research and industry due to the potential advantages that offers. These include low maintenance, low noise during operation, a theoretically high electrical efficiency, and principally the fuel flexibility that the system offers. However, actual engine performances present very low electrical efficiencies and consequently few successful prototypes reached commercial maturity at elevated costs.Considering this situation, this thesis presents a numerical thermodynamic study for micro scale CHP-SE systems. The study is divided in two parts: The first part covers the engine analysis; and the second part studies the thermodynamic performance of the overall CHP-SE system. For the engine analysis a detailed thermodynamic model suitable for the simulation of different engine configurations was developed. The model capability to predict the engine performance was validated with experimental data obtained from two different engines: The GPU-3 Stirling engine studied by Lewis Research Centre; and the Genoa engine studied on the experimental rig built at the Energy Department at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). The second part of the research complemented the study with the analysis of the overall CHP-SE system. This included numerical simulations of the different CHP components and the sensitivity analysis for selected design parameters.The complete study permitted to assess the different operational and design configurations for the engine and the CHP components. These improvements could be implemented for test field evaluations and thus foster the development of more efficient SE-CHP systems. In addition, the detailed thermodynamic-design methodology for the SE-CHP systems was established and the numerical tool for the design assessment was developed.
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| 7. |
- Baina, Fabiola, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of a high-temperature heat exchanger for an externally-fired micro gas turbine
- 2015
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Ingår i: Applied Thermal Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-4311 .- 1873-5606. ; 75, s. 410-420
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The externally-fired gas turbine (EFGT) can convert fuels such as coal, biomass, biomass gasification gas and solar energy into electricity and heat. The combination of this technology with biomass gasification gas represents an interesting option for gasification, for which it has been difficult to find a conversion technology. In this system, the heat exchanger deals with the contaminants of biomass derived gas instead of the turbine itself. However, these contaminants can build a deposit layer in the heat exchanger that can affect its performance. The heat exchanger is important in externally fired gas turbines since the turbine inlet temperature is directly dependent on its performance. Several studies on heat exchangers for externally fired gas turbines have been carried out. However, very few detailed studies were found comparing the performance of heat exchangers for externally fired gas turbines considering the effect of deposit materials on the surfaces. In this regard, this work compares the performance of a corrugated plate heat exchanger and a two-tube-passes shell and tube heat exchanger considering the effect of thickness of deposit material with different thermal conductivities on pressure drop and effectiveness. The results show that the effectiveness of the corrugated plate heat exchanger is more influenced at larger thicknesses of deposit materials than the two-tube-passes shell and tube heat exchanger. There is an exponential increase in the pressure drop of the plate heat exchanger while a monotonic increase of pressure drop is seen for the shell and tube heat exchanger. The increase in the thickness of the deposit material has two effects. On one hand, it increases the resistance to heat transfer and on the other hand, it reduces the through flow area increasing the velocity and hence the heat transfer coefficient. Additionally, the effectiveness of the heat exchangers had a stronger influence on the power output than the pressure drop.
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| 8. |
- Baina, Fabiola, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of the fuel type on the performance of an externally fired micro gas turbine cycle
- 2015
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Ingår i: Applied Thermal Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-4311 .- 1873-5606. ; 87, s. 150-160
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Externally fired gas turbines open the possibility of using fuels of lower quality than conventional gas turbines and internal combustion engines. This is because in externally fired gas turbines, the flue gases heat the compressed air in a high temperature heat exchanger. This heat exchanger can more easily deal with contaminants present in the flue gases. In this regard, the configuration of externally fired gas turbines represents an interesting option for biomass gasification gas. The contaminants and low heating value (LHV) of this fuel have made it difficult to find a conversion technology for heat and power generation. For this reason, it is important to study the influence of biomass derived gas as fuel on the performance of this system and consider the effects of the contaminants in the high temperature heat exchanger. This is studied in this work through simulations using Aspen Plus and Matlab. The test data of an externally fired micro gas turbine prototype was used to validate the simulation. The fuel considered was biomass gasification gas with varying concentrations of benzene 100, 10 and 1 g/Nm3 (hereafter named m100, m10, and m1 respectively). Additionally, mixtures of biomass derived gas and methane were studied for 10 and 50% of the thermal power of the combustor. The fuel inlet temperature to the combustor varied from 150 °C to 750 °C in order to represent the fuel gas after removal of particles by a cyclone and a filter. The results showed that the electrical power output increases when high fuel inlet temperatures to the combustor are used. Additionally, although it would be expected that fuels with higher LHV (lower heating value) show higher temperatures and higher output power, this does not always occur because of the composition of the fuels and their respective flue gas temperatures. The addition of methane does not have a large effect on the electrical power output. For a fixed temperature limit in the heat exchanger, the composition of the fuels does not play an important role. However, high fuel inlet temperatures to the combustor show slightly higher efficiencies. Additionally, the effect on the electrical power output of increasing the pressure drop as a result of increased thickness of deposit materials in the heat exchanger was analyzed.
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| 9. |
- Baina, Fabiola, et al.
(författare)
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Extended operability of a commercial air-staged burner using a synthetic mixture of biomass derived gas for application in an externally fired micro gas turbine
- 2015
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Ingår i: Fuel. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-2361 .- 1873-7153. ; 150, s. 664-671
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biomass gasification converts solid biomass into a gaseous fuel that is more versatile and can be used in many applications. However, biomass gasification gas contains some contaminants and inert compounds. The contaminants can cause several problems in the downstream equipment and undesirable emissions while the inert compounds can affect the lower heating value of the gas. Because of these characteristics, there have been difficulties in finding a conversion technology using biomass gasification gas for heat and power generation. In this regard, externally fired gas turbines open a possibility for this combustible gas since due to its configuration, combustion takes place outside the conventional gas turbine cycle. For this reason, combustion studies of biomass derived gas are important. In this work the operability of a commercial air-staged natural gas burner is shown in terms of CO, UHC, and NOX emissions using a synthetic mixture of biomass gasification gas. Two fuel gas mixtures simulating the composition of biomass gasification gas are injected in the combustor. Each fuel gas contains different injection rates of benzene in order to represent tars and to understand their effect on the combustion performance. Additionally, the equivalence ratio is varied in a range of lean conditions in order to find an optimum operation point for the burner studied. The results showed that the presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene reduced the CO concentrations in the exhaust gas while it increased the concentrations of unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) at equivalence ratios lower than 0.68. Additionally, NOX emissions showed a relatively constant trend over the range of equivalence ratios studied for both fuels. It was also observed that NOX emissions increase with the addition of benzene in the fuel gas. An optimum point with regards CO and UHC concentrations was found for the fuels tested.
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| 10. |
- Baina Veizaga, Fabiola, 1985-
(författare)
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Externally fired gas turbine cycle based on biomass gasification gas as fuel
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Energy services are essential for the development of societies, reduce poverty, and improve the living standards of inhabitants. The conventional routes to provide energy services employ fossil fuels. However, this involves environmental and availability concerns. Environmental issues and the need for energy security demand the use of alternative energy sources. Biomass is a renewable energy source that is advantageous because of its dispatchability and local availability worldwide. Local generation at small scales is interesting because it reduces energy losses when transporting electricity and heat. The development of sustainable decentralized small scale heat and power plants (CHP) using biomass is thus important.In this context, this work is mainly focused on the development of an energy conversion technology based on an externally fired gas turbine using biomass gasification gas as fuel. Although this system is not new, its applicability with biomass gasification gas has not been widely studied. This work is divided in three parts. In the first part, the effect of the fuel composition and fuel inlet temperature on the performance of an externally fired gas turbine prototype is analyzed through simulations. Then, the performances of two types of heat exchangers are compared under the operational conditions of the prototype taking into account different thicknesses of deposit materials. The results shows that the composition of the fuels and the corresponding flue gas temperatures affect the electrical power output of the system. However, this is limited by the operating temperature of the heat exchanger. It is also reported that a decrease in the effectiveness of the heat exchanger has a greater influence on the electrical power output than an increase in the pressure drop as a result of deposit materials. High pressure drops in the hot side of the heat exchanger slightly affect the electrical power output. If biomass gasification gas is to be used after the gasifier with reduced cleaning steps, the effect of contaminants such as tar in the combustion performance is important. The last part in this work describes experimental studies of the effect of benzene as tar representative in the combustion performance of a surrogate mixture of biomass gasification gas. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, present in tar in biomass derived gas, affect the combustion emissions depending on their concentration in the fuel gas.
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