Module for self-training to energy powered systems

Last modified: 12/14/2007 11:11 PM

Module for self-training to energy powered systems

This pedagogic set dedicated to self-training deals with the energy powered systems based on heat conversion. This pedagogic set stresses with particular emphasis the main types of compressible fluid machines (compressors, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, steam gas turbines, refrigeration machines or facilities, combined cycles, cogeneration). Its aim is that you may understand the design principles of these systems, that you have a global view of the various technologies used for their construction, and finally that you become acquainted with the classical and up-to-date analysis methods (diagrams, charts, software applications, etc.).

This pedagogic set is divided into three main steps :

1) The acquisition of concepts and tools. This part is dedicated to remember the thermodynamic concepts already seen, to study the basic cycles, to discover the used technologies and to train in the use of Thermoptim. (this training lasts about 12 hours, the time for revisions and complements being excluded.)

At the end of this step, you should have perfectly memorized the following knowledge :

The vocabulary and the basic concepts of thermodynamics.
The thermodynamic properties of fluids (in a qualitative way) and their correspondence in the various domains of the charts.
The shape of the isovalues in the thermodynamic charts.
The first principle, the functions h, Q, W, shaft work, energy balances calculation
The architecture of the basic examples, their orders of magnitude for a design.
The shape of the cycles of these examples, at least in the (T,s) and (h, log P) charts
The differences (in a qualitative way) between the cycles of the examples and the Carnot's cycle, (i.e. The qualitative analysis of their irreversibility sources)
The main technological requirements encountered in these examples.

2) The reinforcement of the concepts seen during the first step, with theoretical complements on exergy and heat-exchangers, with the study of variants of the basic cycles, of the combined cycles and cogeneration (about 8 hours of work, complements not included).

At the end of this step, you should have understood the following :

The typology and the calculation principles of the Thermoptim kernel components (as well as their technological characteristics).
For each example, the origin of irreversibilities and the general ideas for an improvement.
The calculation principles of heat-exchangers under the design conditions and in off-design operation.
The shape of the examples cycles in the referentials (h, s), (xh, h), (xh, s).
The influence of the design parameters on the performance of the main Technologies of Energy Conversion (TEC).
The influence of the main external load on the performances of the main TEC.
The environmental impact of the main TEC.
The principles for calculating the exergetic balances.

3) The in-depth analyses and the personal applications. These analyses and personal application will give rise to the study of innovative cycles more complex than the ones of step one and two. Some thoughts about the perspective of these technologies must also be expected during mini-projects that you may lead personally or within a group. (The duration of this step is very dependent on the selected personal activities.)

At the end of this step, you should have acquired the following knowledge :

To be able to configure a quite simple model with Thermoptim and to compute its performances.
To be able to draw its thermodynamic cycle in the adequate thermodynamic charts and to check its consistency.
To be able to design and give the main dimensions of any heat-exchanger.
To be able to find in the technical documentation the technological characteristics of the simple components.
To be able to recalculate from an already defined spreadsheet the exergy balance of one example cycle for a different set of numeric values.

Lastly, you will have improved your analysis capacities and your skills for synthesis in the scope of the project. Your knowledge will be put into practise in order to :

To know how to analyse a layout diagram of any relatively simple facility and to propose, on the basis of a clearly explicit hypothesis, a model representing it (for instance : a Thermoptim diagram). The teacher should be asked for advice, if necessary.
To know which technological characteristics is to be found in the available technical documentation.
To be able to propose ideas for improving the performances, after the development of a model and the definition of its parameters.