Publications
483 results found
Herrando M, Ramos A, Freeman J, et al., 2018, Technoeconomic modelling and optimisation of solar combined heat and power systems based on flat-box PVT collectors for domestic applications, Energy Conversion and Management, Vol: 175, Pages: 67-85, ISSN: 0196-8904
We investigate solar combined heat and power (S-CHP) systems based on hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors for the simultaneous provision of domestic hot water (DHW), space heating (SH) and power to single- family homes. The systems include PVT collectors with a polycarbonate flat-box structure design, a water storage tank, an auxiliary heater and a battery storage subsystem. A methodology is developed for modelling the en- ergetic and economic performance of such PVT-based S-CHP systems, which is used to optimally size and operate systems for covering the energy demands of single-family reference households at three selected locations: Athens (Greece), London (UK) and Zaragoza (Spain). The results show that optimised systems are capable of covering ∼65% of the annual household electricity demands in Athens, London and Zaragoza when employing 14.0, 17.0 and 12.4 m2 collector array areas respectively, while also covering a significant fraction of the thermal energy demands in Athens (∼60%) and Zaragoza (∼45%); even in London, almost 30% of the reference household’s thermal demand is covered by such a system. A corresponding economic analysis reveals that, despite the suitability of Athens’ weather conditions for implementing such solar-energy systems, the payback time (PBT) of the optimised S-CHP system in Athens is 15.6 years in contrast to the 11.6 years predicted for Zaragoza, due to the lower electricity prices in Greece. On the other hand, the high carbon emission factor of the electricity grid in Greece makes these systems particularly promising at this location. Specifically, the in- vestigated systems have the potential to displace 3.87, 1.65 and 1.54 tons of CO2 per year in Athens, London and Zaragoza, when substituting the conventional means for household energy provision (i.e. grid electricity and gas- fired boilers). Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the optimised systems outperform benchmark equivalent systems comprisin
Mellor A, Alonso Alvarez D, Guarracino I, et al., 2018, Roadmap for the next-generation of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar energy collectors, Solar Energy, Vol: 174, Pages: 386-398, ISSN: 0038-092X
For hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors to become competitive with other types of solar energy converters, they must offer high performance at fluid outlet temperatures above 60 °C, as is required for space heating and domestic hot water provision, which together account for nearly 50% of heat demand. A roadmap is presented of the technological advances required to achieve this goal. Strategies for reducing convective, radiative and electrical losses at elevated temperature are discussed, and an experimental characterisation of a novel transparent low-emissivity coating for photovoltaic solar cells is presented. An experimentally-validated simulation formalism is used to project the performance of different combinations of loss-reduction strategies implemented together. Finally, a techno-economic analysis is performed to predict the price points at which the hybrid technologies along the roadmap become competitive with non-hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies. The most advanced hybrid technology along the roadmap employs an evacuated cavity, a transparent low-emissivity coating, and silicon heterojunction photovoltaic cells.
Sorrentino A, Pantaleo AM, Markides C, et al., 2018, Energy performance and profitability of biomass boilers in commercial sector: the case study of Sainsbury’s stores in the UK, 73rd Conference of the Italian Thermal Machines Engineering Association (ATI 2018), Publisher: Elsevier, Pages: 539-646, ISSN: 1876-6102
Commercial buildings or shopping malls are characterized by large thermal and electrical energy consumptions with high variability of energy demand. Therefore, there is a large interest to explore novel renewable energy generation systems for these applications. A novel flexible configuration of biomass-fired CHP system with organic Rankine cycle(ORC) is here proposedand applied to the case study of Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the UK.The proposed configuration adoptsa molten salt (MS) circuitto transfer heat from the biomass furnace to the ORC plant. A thermal Energy Storage (TES) is proposedtoimprove the flexible operation of the plantand reduce the size of the biomass boiler. Molten salts have been preferredto thermal oil as they have no fire risks and low environmental impactand can be used as medium for a Two Tank TES with a “direct heating” scheme. The planthas beenanalysedusing real input data of biomass boiler installed, conversion efficiency and heat demand from the store. The model is informed by hourly energy costs and electricity feed in tariff in order to define optimal size and operation of the bottoming ORC for the specific case study of large commercial energy end userin the UK.The results show that the use of thermal storage in a biomass-fired ORC plant can improve the boiler efficiency and reduce the biomass consumption in thermal-load following operating mode and increase the investment profitability.
Ramos A, Chatzopoulou MA, Freeman J, et al., 2018, Optimisation of a high-efficiency solar-driven organic Rankine cycle for applications in the built environment, Applied Energy, Vol: 228, Pages: 755-765, ISSN: 0306-2619
Energy security, pollution and sustainability are major challenges presently facing the international community, in response to which increasing quantities of renewable energy are to be generated in the urban environment. Consequently, recent years have seen a strong increase in the uptake of solar technologies in the building sector. In this work, the potential of a solar combined heat and power (CHP) system based on an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine is investigated in a domestic setting. Unlike previous studies that focus on the optimisation of the ORC subsystem, this study performs a complete system optimisation considering both the design parameters of the solar collector array and the ORC engine simultaneously. Firstly, we present thermodynamic models of different collectors, including flat-plate and evacuated-tube designs, coupled to a non-recuperative sub-critical ORC architecture that delivers power and hot water by using thermal energy rejected from the engine. Optimisation of the complete system is first conducted, aimed at identifying operating conditions for which the power output is maximised. Then, hourly dynamic simulations of the optimised system configurations are performed to complete the system sizing. Results are presented of: (i) dynamic 3-D simulations of the solar collectors together with a thermal energy storage tank, and (ii) of an optimisation analysis to identify the most suitable working fluids for the ORC engine, in which the configuration and operational constraints of the collector array are considered. The best performing working fluids (R245fa and R1233zd) are then chosen for a whole-system annual simulation in a southern European climate. The system configuration combining an evacuated-tube collector array and an ORC engine is found to be best-suited for electricity prioritisation, delivering an electrical output of 3,605 kWh/year from a 60 m2 collector array. In addition, the system supplies 13,175 kWh/year in the form of domes
White M, Oyewunmi OA, Chatzopoulou M, et al., 2018, Computer-aided working-fluid design, thermodynamic optimisation and technoeconomic assessment of ORC systems for waste-heat recovery, Energy, Vol: 161, Pages: 1181-1198, ISSN: 0360-5442
The wider adoption of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology for power generation or cogeneration from renewable or recovered waste-heat in many applications can be facilitated by improved thermodynamic performance, but also reduced investment costs. In this context, it is suggested that the further development of ORC power systems should be guided by combined thermoeconomic assessments that can capture directly the trade-offs between performace and cost with the aim of proposing solutions with high resource-use efficiency and, importantly, improved economic viability. This paper couples, for the first time, the computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) of the ORC working-fluid based on the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT)-γ Mie equation of state with thermodynamic modelling and optimisation, in addition to heat-exchanger sizing models, component cost correlations and thermoeconomic assessments. The resulting CAMD-ORC framework presents a novel and powerful approach with extended capabilities that allows the thermodynamic optimisation of the ORC system and working fluid to be performed in a single step, thus removing subjective and pre-emptive screening criteria that exist in conventional approaches, while also extending to include cost considerations relating to the resulting optimal systems. Following validation, the proposed framework is used to identify optimal cycles and working fluids over a wide range of conditions characterised by three different heat-source cases with temperatures of 150 °C, 250 °C and 350 °C, corresponding to small- to medium-scale applications. In each case, the optimal combination of ORC system design and working fluid is identified, and the corresponding capital costs are evaluated. It is found that fluids with low specific-investment costs (SIC) are different to those that maximise the power output. The fluids with the lowest SIC are isoheptane, 2-pentene and 2-heptene, with SICs of £5620, £2760 an
Wang Y, Markides CN, Chachuat B, 2018, Optimization-based investigations of a thermofluidic engine for low-grade heat recovery, IFAC-PapersOnLine, Vol: 51, Pages: 690-695, ISSN: 2405-8963
This paper presents an analysis of the non-inertive-feedback thermofluidic engine (NIFTE) under cyclic steady-state conditions. The analysis is based on a nonlinear model of NIFTE that had previously been validated experimentally, and applies an optimization-based approach to detect the cyclic steady states (CSS). The stability of the CSS is furthermore determined by analyzing their monodromy matrix. It is found that NIFTE can exhibit multiple CSS for certain values of the design parameters, which may be either stable or unstable, a result that had not been reported before. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted by varying key design parameters, revealing that higher efficiencies could be achieved by controlling the engine at different CSS, including unstable ones. Lastly, the paper investigates the trade-offs between efficiency and work output in NIFTE.
McTigue JD, Markides C, White AJ, 2018, Performance response of packed-bed thermal storage to cycle duration perturbations, Journal of Energy Storage, Vol: 19, Pages: 379-392, ISSN: 2352-152X
Packed-bed thermal stores are integral components in numerous bulk electricity storage systems and may also be integrated into renewable generation and process heat systems. In such applications, the store may undergo charging and discharging periods of irregular durations. Previous work has typically concentrated on the initial charging cycles, or on steady-state cyclic operation. Understanding the impact of unpredictable charging periods on the storage behavior is necessary to improve design and operation. In this article, the influence of the cycle duration (or ‘partial-charge’ cycles) on the performance of such thermal stores is investigated. The response to perturbations is explained and provides a framework for understanding the response to realistic load cycles.The packed beds considered here have a rock filler material and air as the heat transfer fluid. The thermodynamic model is based on a modified form of the Schumann equations. Major sources of exergy loss are described, and the various irreversibility generating mechanisms are quantified.It is known that repeated charge-discharge cycles lead to steady-state behavior, which exhibits a trade-off between round-trip efficiency and stored exergy, and the underlying reasons for this are described. The steady state is then perturbed by cycles with a different duration. Short duration perturbations lead to a transient decrease in exergy losses, while longer perturbations increase it. The magnitude of the change in losses is related to the perturbation size and initial cycle period, but changes of 1–10 % are typical. The perturbations also affect the time to return to a steady-state, which may take up to 50 cycles. Segmenting the packed bed into layers reduces the effect of the perturbations, particularly short durations.Operational guidelines are developed, and it is found that packed beds are more resilient to changes in available energy if the store is not suddenly over-charged (i.e. longer
Wang K, Herrando M, Pantaleo AM, et al., 2018, Thermodynamic and economic assessments of a hybrid PVT-ORC combined heating and power system for swimming pools, Heat Powered Cycles Conference 2018
The thermodynamic and economicperformance of a solar combined heatand power(S-CHP) system based on an array of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectorsandan organic Rankine cycle (ORC)engineis considered for the provision of heating and power to swimming poolfacilities. Priority is given to meeting the thermaldemand of the swimming pool,in order to ensure a comfortable condition for swimmers in colderweather conditions, while excessthermal output from the collectorsat highertemperatures is converted toelectricityby the ORC engine inwarmerweather conditions. The thermodynamic performance of this system and its dynamic characteristicsare analysed on the basis of a transient thermodynamic model. Various heat losses and gains are considered in accordance toenvironmental and user-relatedfactorsfor both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. A case study is then performed for the swimming pool atthe UniversitySportCentre (USC)of Bari, Italy. The results show thatemployinga zeotropic mixture of R245fa/R227ea (30/70%) as the ORC working fluidallows such an ORC systemto generate~50% more power than when usingpure R236eadue to the better temperature matchof the cycle tothe low-temperature hot-water heat sourcefrom the output of the PVT collectors.Apart from generatingelectricity, the ORC enginealso alleviatesPVT collectoroverheating,and reducesthe required size of the hot-water storage tank. With an installation of 2000 m2of PVT collectors, energetic analysesindicate that the proposedS-CHP systemcan cover 84-96% of the thermal demand of the swimming pool during the warm summer months and 61% of itsannually integratedtotal thermal demand. In addition, the system produces a combined (from thecollectors andORC engine) of 328 MWhofelectricityper year, corresponding to 36% of the total electricity demand of the USC, with ~4% coming from the ORC engine.Theanalysis suggestsa minimum payback time of 12.7yearswith anopt
Georgiou S, Aunedi M, Strbac G, et al., 2018, Application of liquid-air and pumped-thermal electricity storage systems in low-carbon electricity systems, Heat Powered Cycles - HPC-2018
In this study, we considertwo medium-to large-scale electricity storage systems currently under development, namely ‘Liquid-Air Energy Storage’ (LAES) and ‘Pumped-Thermal Electricity Storage’ (PTES). Consistent thermodynamic models and costing methodologies for the twosystems are presented,with the objective of integrating the characteristics of these technologies intoa whole-electricity system assessment model,andassessingtheirsystem-levelvalue in different scenarios for power system decarbonisation.It is found that the value of storage variesgreatlydepending on the cumulative installed capacity of storage in the electrical system, withthe storage technologies providinggreater marginal benefits at low penetrations. Two carbon target scenarios showed similar results, with a limited effect of the carbon target on the system value of storage (althoughit is noted thatthis may change for even more ambitious carbon targets). On the other hand, the location and installed capacity of storage plants isfound to have a significantimpact on the system value and acceptable cost of thesetechnologies. The whole-system value of PTES was foundto be slightly higher than that of LAES, driven by a higher storage duration and efficiency,however, due to the higher power capital cost of PTES, this becomes less attractive for implementation at lower volumes than LAES.
Georgiou S, Shah N, Markides C, 2018, A thermo-economic analysis and comparison of pumped-thermal and liquid-air electricity storage systems, Applied Energy, Vol: 226, Pages: 1119-1133, ISSN: 0306-2619
Efficient and affordable electricity storage systems have a significant potential to support the growth and increasing penetration of intermittent renewable-energy generation into the grid from an energy system planning and management perspective, while differences in the demand and price of peak and off-peak electricity can make its storage of economic interest. Technical (e.g., roundtrip efficiency, energy and power capacity) as well as economic (e.g., capital, operating and maintenance costs) indicators are anticipated to have a significant combined impact on the competitiveness of any electricity storage technology or system under consideration and, ultimately, will crucially determine their uptake and implementation. In this paper, we present thermo-economic models of two recently proposed medium- to large-scale electricity storage systems, namely ‘Pumped-Thermal Electricity Storage’ (PTES) and ‘Liquid-Air Energy Storage’ (LAES), focusing on system efficiency and costs. The LAES thermodynamic model is validated against data from an operational pilot plant in the UK; no such equivalent PTES plant exists, although one is currently under construction. As common with most newly proposed technologies, the absence of cost data results to the economic analysis and comparison being a significant challenge. Therefore, a costing effort for the two electricity storage systems that includes multiple costing approaches based on the module costing technique is presented, with the overriding aim of conducting a preliminary economic feasibility assessment and comparison of the two systems. Based on the results, it appears that PTES has the potential to achieve higher roundtrip efficiencies, although this remains to be demonstrated. LAES performance is found to be significantly enhanced through the integration and utilisation of waste heat (and cold) streams. In terms of economics on the other hand, and at the system size intended for commercial applicat
Chatzopoulou MA, Markides C, 2018, Thermodynamic optimisation of a high-electrical efficiency integrated internal combustion engine – organic Rankine cycle combined heat and power system, Applied Energy, Vol: 226, Pages: 1229-1251, ISSN: 0306-2619
Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engines are suitable for heat recovery from internal combustion engines (ICE) in combined heat and power (CHP) systems. However, trade-offs must be considered between ICE andORC engine performance in such integrated solutions. The ICE design and operational characteristics influence its own performance along withthe exhaust-gas conditions available as heat source to the ORC engine, impacting ORC design and performance, while the heat-recovery heat exchanger (ORC evaporator) will affect the ICE operation. In this paper, an integrated ICE-ORC CHP whole-system optimisation framework is presented. This differs from other efforts in that we develop and apply a fully-integrated ICE-ORC CHP optimisation framework, considering the design and operation of both the ICE and ORC enginessimultaneously within the combined system, to optimise the overall system performance. A dynamic ICE model is developed and validated, along with a steady-state model of subcritical recuperative ORC engines. Both naturally aspirated and turbocharged ICEs are considered, of two different sizes/capacities. Nine substances (covering low-GWP refrigerants and hydrocarbons) are investigated as potential ORC working fluids. The integrated ICE-ORC CHP system isoptimised for eithermaximum total power output, or minimum fuel consumption. Resultshighlight that by optimising the complete integrated ICE-ORC CHP system simultaneously, the total power output increases by up to 30% in comparison to a nominal system design. In the integrated CHP system,the ICE power output is slightly lower than that obtained for optimal standalone ICE application, as the exhaust-gas temperature increases to promote the bottoming ORC engine performance, whose power increasesby 7%. The ORC power output achieved accounts for up to 15% of the total power generated by the integrated system, increasing the system efficiency by up to 11%. When only power optimisation is performed, the
Pantaleo AM, de palma P, Fordham J, et al., 2018, Integrating cogeneration and intermittent waste-heat recovery in food processing: Microturbines vs. ORC systems in the coffee roasting industry, Applied Energy, Vol: 225, Pages: 782-796, ISSN: 0306-2619
Coffee roasting is a highly energy intensive process wherein a large quantity of heat is discharged from the stack at medium-to-high temperatures. Much of the heat is released from the afterburner, which is required to remove volatile organic compounds and other pollutants from the flue gases. In this work, intermittent waste-heat recovery via thermal energy storage (TES) and organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) is compared to combined heat and power (CHP) based on micro gas-turbines (MGTs) for a coffee roasting plant. With regard to the former, a promising solution is proposed that involves recovering waste heat from the flue gas stream by partial hot-gas recycling at the rotating drum coffee roaster, and coupling this to a thermal store and an ORC engine for power generation. The two solutions (CHP + MGT prime mover vs. waste-heat recovery + ORC engine) are investigated based on mass and energy balances, and a cost assessment methodology is adopted to compare the profitability of three system configurations integrated into the selected roasting process. The case study involves a major Italian roasting plant with a 500 kg per hour coffee production capacity. Three options are investigated: (i) intermittent waste-heat recovery from the hot flue-gases with an ORC engine coupled to a TES system; (ii) regenerative topping MGT coupled to the existing modulating gas burner to generate hot air for the roasting process; and (iii) non-regenerative topping MGT with direct recovery of the turbine outlet air for the roasting process. The results show that the profitability of these investments is highly influenced by the natural gas and electricity prices and by the coffee roasting production capacity. The CHP solution via an MGT appears as a more profitable option than waste-heat recovery via an ORC engine primarily due to the intermittency of the heat-source availability and the high electricity cost relative to the cost of natural gas.
White MT, Markides CN, Sayma AI, 2018, Working-Fluid Replacement in Supersonic Organic Rankine Cycle Turbines, JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, Vol: 140, ISSN: 0742-4795
Georgiou S, Acha S, Shah N, et al., 2018, A generic tool for quantifying the energy requirements of glasshouse food production, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol: 191, Pages: 384-399, ISSN: 0959-6526
Quantifying the use of resources in food production and its environmental impact is key to identifying distinctive measures which can be used to develop pathways towards low-carbon food systems. In this paper, a first-principle modelling approach is developed, referred to as gThermaR (Glasshouse-Thermal Requirements). gThermaR is a generic tool that focuses on the energy requirements of protected heated production, by integrating holistic energy, carbon, and cost modelling, food production, data analytics and visualization. The gThermaR tool employs historic data from weather stations, growing schedules and requirements specific to grower and product needs (e.g. set-point temperatures, heating periods, etc.) in order to quantify the heating and cooling requirements of glasshouse food production. In the present paper, a case study is reported that employs a database compiled for the UK. Another relevant feature of the tool is that it can quantify the effects that spatial and annual weather trends can have on these heating and cooling requirements. The main contribution of this work, therefore, concerns the development a tool that can provide a simple integrated approach for performing a wide range of analyses relevant to the thermal requirements of heated glasshouses. The tool is validated through collaborations with industrial partners and showcased in a case study of a heated glasshouse in the UK, offering the capacity to benchmark and compare different glasshouse types and food growth processes. Results from the case study indicate that a significant reduction in the heating requirement and, therefore, carbon footprint, of the facility can be achieved by improving key design and operational parameters. Results indicate savings in the peak daily and annual heating requirements of 44-50% and 51-57% respectively, depending on the region where the glasshouse is located. This improvement is also reflected in the carbon emissions and operating costs for the different en
Cherdantsev A, An J, Charogiannis A, et al., 2018, Cross-validation of PLIF and BBLIF towards the detailed study of gas-sheared liquid films in downward annular flows, 19th International Symposium on the Application of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics
This paper is devoted to the development and application of two spatiotemporally resolved optical techniquescapable of liquid film thickness measurements in downward annular (co-current) gas-liquid flows, namely PlanarLaser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and Brightness-Based Laser-Induced Fluorescence (BBLIF). A single laser sheet is used to excite the liquid film, which has been doped with a fluorescent dye, along a longitudinal/vertical planenormal to the pipe wall. Two cameras (one for each technique) are placed at different angles to the plane of the lasersheet in order to recover independently the shape of the gas-liquid interface along this section. The effect of theangle between the laser sheet and the PLIF camera axis is also investigated. It is found that, at film regions wherethe gas-liquid interfaceis smooth, the conventional approach used for interpreting PLIF data is vulnerable to totalinternal reflection of the fluorescent light at the free surface, which leads to an overestimation of the film thicknessthat increases as the angle between the laser sheet and the camera axis is decreased. Nonetheless, local features suchas light intensity maxima or minima can often be located within the fluorescent signal that correctly identify theinterface, which in these conditions also coincides with the BBLIF film-thickness measurement. The BBLIFmeasurement, on the other hand, can lead to localized overestimation of the film thickness at flow regions withsignificant wave activity, i.e. steep slopes or agitated films, and around gas bubbles entrained into the liquid film, or an underestimation inside the gas bubbles. Correction procedures are developed to compensate distortions causedby both methods that would make these techniques more accurate for standalone employment. The simultaneousapplication of both techniqu
Wright SF, Charogiannis A, Voulgaropoulos V, et al., 2018, Laser-based measurements of stratified liquid-liquid pipe flows interacting with jets in cross-flow, 19th International Symposium on the Application of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics
At low velocities, horizontal liquid-liquid flows uder go gravitation ally-induced stratification, which in many practical applications complicatessignificantly the direct measurement of the average properties of theflow. The extent of flow stratification, however, can be limited through in line mixing leading to the formation of liquid-liquid dispersions withmore homogenous properties. In this work, we focus on the use of‘active’ mixing methods using jets in cross flows (JICFs). In this paper,a dedicated experimental flow facility for the investigation of such flowsis presented, along with the accompanying laser-based optical measurement techniques and associated algorithms that have beendeveloped for this investigation. The facility allows simultaneous,space-and time-resolved phase and velocity information to be generatedvia plan ar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle velocimetry(PIV/ PTV), with stereo-PIV used to provide information on the third (out-of-plane) velocity component. Preliminary experimental results arepresented which demonstrate the capabilities of this arrangementfor optically examining stratified liquid-liquid flows interacting withJICFs, leading to new insights into these complex flows. The key resultsinclude phenomena of jets interacting with the liquid-liquid inter face,recirculation zones that lead to further mixing, the presence of complexcompound droplets, droplet size distributions, and water concentrationprofiles.
Georgiou S, Shah N, Markides C, 2018, Potential for Carbon Savings from the Deployment of Liquid-Air and Pumped-Thermal Electricity Storage Systems, Offshore Energy and Storage 2018
Herrando M, Pantaleo AM, Wang K, et al., 2018, Technoeconomic assessment of a PVT-based solar combined cooling heating and power (S-CCHP) system for the university campus of Bari, 13th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems - SDEWES Conference, Publisher: SEDWES
In thiswork weanalyse the year-round technoeconomicperformance of a solar combined cooling, heating and power (S-CCHP)system that features polymeric flat-box PVT collectorscoupled via a thermal store to an absorptionchiller. The hourly space heating (SH), cooling and electricitydemands of the University Campus of Bari are used as inputs to amodeldeveloped in TRNSYS.Current electricity and gas prices are considered in order to estimate the annual cost savings which, together with the system’s investment cost, allow an estimation of itspayback time (PBT). The results are then compared to a PV systemthat matchesthe electricity demand of the Campus (including the electricity required to run the current HVAC system for air-conditioning).The results show that the main limiting factorfor the implementationof the S-CCHP systemis the roof-space availability in this application. Asystem with aninstalled power of 1.68MWpcan cover14% of the SH, 66% of the cooling and 17% oftheelectricaldemands of the Campus. The system’s PBTis estimated at 19.3years, which is 3 times higher than the PBTof a PV system of the same installed power, nevertheless,the proposed S-CCHPsystemhas the potential to displace 1,170tons CO2/year, or 50% more than theequivalentPV solution.
Acha Izquierdo S, Shah N, Markides C, et al., 2018, Fuel cells as CHP systems in commercial buildings: a case study for the food retail sector, 2018 ASHRAE Annual Conference, Publisher: ASHRAE
This study investigates fuel cells as combined heat and power systems (CHPs) for distributed applications in commercial buildings, specifically supermarkets. Up-to-date technical data from a specialized manufacturing company wasinvestigated and used to conduct a case study analysis on several food retail buildings using half-hourly historical data. A detail mathematical model, described in previous publications (Cedillos et al. 2016, Achaet al.2018), was used to simulate the performance of fuel cells through a year of operation in each supermarket. The simulations employ comprehensive energy market costing data and practical informationto evaluate project feasibility such as installation workcosts. The results of the simulations are discussed and a techno-economic assessment is conducted to evaluate the main factors affecting the economics of fuel cell projects.In addition, a comparative analysis with competing CHP technologies (internal combustion engines) is covered. Results show that fuel cells are becoming financially competitivealthough combustion engines are still amoreviableoption. For large-size supermarketsthe payback time forinstalling a fuel cell system is 4.7-5.6years versus 3.6-5.6years for internal combustion engines. The work alsodiscusses the prospects of fuel cells under different market and policy scenariosas well astechnologicalimprovements; thus,offering insights in what are the key aspects which can foster fuel cell installations
Acha Izquierdo S, Lambert R, Le Brun N, et al., 2018, Optimal CHP investments applying sensitivity analyses and financial risk management indicators, 2018 ASHRAE Annual Conference, Publisher: ASHRAE
Evaluating combined heat and power (CHP) investments for commercial applications is not a straightforward task.This work assesses the impact multipletechno-economicuncertainties can have on CHP investments.Understanding the impact these uncertaintiescanhave on projectviabilityallows decision-makers to make informed decisions on capital intensive projects. In this work,amathematical model described previously (Cedillos et al.)wasused to select the optimal CHP size and calculate a reference solution on the financial viability of such investments in a set of buildings. After generating these reference CHP solutions, the impact of uncertainty is then assessed by applying Monte-Carlo based sensitivity analyses and financial and risk management key performance indicators (KPIs). Results suggest thefour most influential parameters in CHP priojects areheating demand, installation costs, electricity prices, and electricity demand. For attractive investments cost uncertainty made projects vary in their payback from2.6 to 6.9years, while for unattractive investments payback ranged from 4 to 11.3 years. Furthermore, Monte-Carlo results illustrate thedifferent distributions of each project, with significant variations in tails risks; indicating which sites are more suitable than others. Results presented show the economic impactuncertainties have onCHP projects, hence allowing decision-makers to make informed decisions before committing their resources to such capital-intensive projects.
Pantaleo AM, Camporeale S, Sorrentino A, et al., 2018, Distributed heat and power generation: thermoeconomic analysis of Biomass-fired Rankine cycle systems with molten salts as heat transfer fluid, The 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, Publisher: ECOS
Distributed cogeneration systems can be used to serve onsite energy demands in industrial and commercial buildings. In market segments with highly variable heat-demand patterns, the thermal plant is often composed of a boiler that is operated at part load in case of low thermal demands. To improve the plant flexibility and its overall energy efficiency, the biomass boiler can be coupled to a combined heat and power (CHP) generation system, as an alternative to a heat-only plant. In this work, three thermodynamic configurations are compared: (A) a biomass furnace that acts as a heat-source for a steam Rankine cycle (ST) plant coupled to an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine; (B) the same as Case A but without the bottoming ORC; and (C): the same as Case A but without the steam cycle. All configurations assume the cogeneration of heat and power to match onsite energy demands. The plant adopts a molten salt (MS) circuit to transfer heat from the biomass furnace to the power generation system. The energy analysis assumes a ternary MS mixture operating up to 450 °C and with minimum temperature of 200 °C. Two organic fluids (Pentafluoropropane R245fa and Toluene) are considered, based on the temperature of heat available to the ORC engine. In the combined cycle of Case A, R245fa is selected and the maximum cycle temperature is 130 °C, with a global electrical efficiency of 16.6%. In Case C, when only the ORC system is used with Toluene as the working fluid, the electrical efficiency is 18.8% at the higher turbine inlet temperature of 330 °C. Production of hot water for cogeneration at different temperature levels is also considered. Based on the results of the thermodynamic simulations, upfront and operational costs assessments, and feed-in tariffs for renewable electricity, energy efficiency and investment profitability are estimated.
van Kleef LMT, Oyewunmi OA, Harraz AA, et al., 2018, Case studies in computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) of low- and medium-grade waste-heat recovery ORC systems, ECOS 2018 - 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, Publisher: ECOS
Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engines are suitable for theconversion oflow-grade heat into useful power. While numerous substances are available asORC working-fluid candidates, computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) techniques allow the rigorous selection of an optimal working fluid during system optimisation. The aim of this present study is to extend an existing CAMD-ORC framework [1,2] by incorporating, in addition to thermodynamic performance objectives, economic objectives when determining the optimal systemdesign, while maintaining the facility of selecting optimal working fluids. The SAFT-γ Mie equation of state is used to predictthethermodynamic properties of theworking fluids(here, hydrocarbons)that are relevant to the systems’economic appraisalsand critical/transport properties are estimated using empirical group-contribution methods. System investment costs are estimated with equipment cost correlations for the key system components, andthe stochastic NSGA-II solver is used for system optimisation. From a set of NLP optimisations, it is concluded that the optimal molecular size of the working fluid is linked to the heat-source temperature. The optimal specific investment cost (SIC) values were £10,120/kW and£4,040/kW when using heat-source inlet temperatures of 150°Cand250°C (representative of low-and medium-gradeheat) respectively, andthe corresponding optimal working fluids were propane, 2-butane and 2-heptene.
Chatzopoulou MA, Sapin P, Markides C, et al., 2018, Optimisation of off-design internal combustion-organic Rankine engine combined cycles, ECOS 2018 - 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, Publisher: ECOS
Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) enginesare an efficient means of convertinglow-to-medium renewable orwaste heat to useful power. In practicalapplications, ORC systemsexperience varying thermalinputprofile,due to the dynamic nature of realheat sources. Maximisingthe uptake of this technology requiresoptimisedORC designsand sizing tomaintain high efficiencyand power output,not only at full-load operation, but also under off-design conditions. Key for maintaining the efficient operationof the systemis the maximisation of heat extraction from the heat source, inthe ORC evaporator. In this paper, the off-design operation of an ICE-ORC combined heat and power (CHP) system is investigated, to optimise the ORC performance under varying ICE load conditions. First, the ORC enginethermodynamic design is optimised for the 100% load operation of the ICE. Alternative working fluids are investigated, including low ODP/GWP refrigerants and hydrocarbons. The ORC system is then sized using two different heat exchanger (HEX) architectures; tube-in-tube (DPHEX) and plate (PHEX) designs, at designconditions. The sizing results reveal that the PHEX area requirements are almost 50% lower than the respective ones for DPHEX, while recovering equivalent quantities of heat. Next, the ORC engine operation is optimised atpart-load ICE conditions, and the HEX heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) are predicted. Results indicate that: i) PHEX HTCs are up to 50% higher than DPHEX equivalents;ii)HTCsdecreaseat part load for both HEXs, but because the average temperaturedifferenceincreases, the overall HEX effectiveness improves; and iii) the ORC system with a PHEX evaporator has slightly higher power output thanthe DPHEX equivalent at off-design operation.Overall, the modelling tool developed here can predict ORC performance over an operating envelopeand allows the selection ofoptimal designsand si
Najjaran Kheirabadi A, Harraz AA, Freeman J, et al., 2018, Numerical and experimental investigations of diffusion absorption refrigeration systems for use with low temperature heat sources, ECOS 2018 - 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, Publisher: ECOS
he diffusion absorption refrigeration (DAR) cycle is a technology of increasing interest thanks to its suitabilityfor providing cooling from a thermal energyinputin a range of applications. Itcan bedistinguished from other absorption refrigeration cycles by its employment of a thermally-driven bubble pump to circulate the working fluid, which gives it anability to operate entirely off-gridwithout an electricity input. In this work,we present results from an experimentalcampaign aimed atcharacterisingthe performance of aprototypeammonia-water-hydrogen DAR system with a nominal cooling capacity of 100 W,over a range of operating conditions, specifically with a view ofadaptingthe system for use in low-temperature applications. In the experiments, the heat input to the DAR generator is provided over a range of temperatures from175to215°Cby using electrical cartridge heaters. The system is charged to 22 bar, and the ammonia mass concentration of the working fluid mixture is 30%. The resulting coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is measured in the range 0.12to 0.26. A new methodology for the selection of optimal working-fluid mixtures using the state-of-the-art, statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) approach implemented within the process modelling software gPROMS®is also presented. The experimental results will be used for futurevalidation of a thermodynamic model of the cycle. Finally,the performance of the system in a solar application is investigated, with a thermal inputprovided by an array of evacuated tube heat pipe solar collectors. The system pressure and condensation temperature are found to be key factors in determining the performance of solar-DAR systems.
Simpson M, Pantaleo AM, De Palma P, et al., 2018, Design and thermo-economic optimisation of small-scale bottoming ORC systems coupled to biomass CHP gasification cycles, ECOS 2018 - 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems., Publisher: ECOS
Optimisation of a small-scale bottoming organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine is carried out for a combined biomass-gasifier-CHP system, drawing heat from the syngas conditioning unit of the gasifier and the exhaust gas of the internal combustion(IC) engine. The optimisation considers different working fluids and selection of a positive-displacement expander. Single-and two-stage screw expanders and single-stage reciprocating-piston expanders are modelled in order to capture the variation in their performance at a range of design points.Double-pipe heat exchangers are employed for both evaporator and condenser, leading to a low-cost but bulky design.The system is optimised first for maximum electrical power output, and second for minimum specific investment cost(SIC). Cost correlations are used for each of the principal ORC components. The optimal design for minimum SIC is found to be a two-stage screw expander withethanol as the working fluid, which produces a 13.6% increase in the electrical power output relative to the system without an ORC.The investment attractiveness of the whole system with and without the bottoming ORC is assessed and the system is found tobe profitable for avoided electricity costs above 150 $/MWheland biomass costs of 50 $/t, with the ORC making the system more attractive in all cases studied.Discounted payback periods range from 12years at 150 $/MWhelto 3.5years at 250 $/MWhelforthe system with ORC.
Moran H, Gupta A, Voulgaropoulos V, et al., 2018, Autoignition of a liquid n-heptane jet injected into a confined turbulent hot co-flow, 3rd SEE SDEWES 2018, Publisher: SDEWES
Alternatives to conventional combustion engines, such as gasoline direct injection engines, homogeneous charge compression injection engines and dual-fuel turbines, promise improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. The present study of liquid-fuel autoignition in turbulent flows explores the underlying phenomena in these applications towards next-generation combustors. Experiments have been performed on the autoignition of continuous liquid n-heptane jets injected axisymmetrically into confined turbulent coflows of preheated air. Jet atomisation was characterised using high-speed imaging, and autoignition locations and corresponding delay times were recorded for various bulk air temperatures and velocities. Two turbulence-generating plates with different perforation sizes were used to investigate the role of turbulence in affecting the phenomena under investigation. Smaller droplets formed in flows with lower turbulence intensities and larger integral lengthscales. The autoignition length increased and delay time decreased with increasing bulk air velocity, the latter being contrary to results from pre-vaporized n-heptane autoignition in an identical apparatus.
Mellor A, Guarracino I, Llin LF, et al., 2018, Specially designed solar cells for hybrid photovoltaic-thermal generators, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), Publisher: IEEE
The performance of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal systems can be improved using PV cells that are specially designed to generate both electricity and useful heat with maximum efficiency. Present systems, however, use standard PV cells that are only optimized for electrical performance. In this work, we have developed two cell-level components that will improve the thermal efficiency of PV-T collectors, with minimal loss of electrical efficiency. These are a spectrally-selective low- emissivity coating to reduce radiative thermal losses, and a nanotextured rear reflector to improve absorption of the near- infrared part of the solar spectrum for heat generation.
Charogiannis A, Denner F, Van Wachem BGM, et al., 2018, Heat tranfer phenomena in falling liquid films: A synergistic experimental and computational study, International Heat Transfer Conference
We employ planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) and infrared thermography (IR) towards the detailed investigation of the flow and heat transfer phenomena underlying harmonically-excited, gravity-driven film flows falling over an inclined, electrically-heated substrate. PLIF is used to generate space and time-resolved film-height measurements, PTV to retrieve two-dimensional (2-D) velocity-field information, and IR to recover the temperature of the film free-surface. The experiments are complemented by direct numerical simulations (DNSs) that provide additional information on the liquid temperature, viscosity and velocity distributions between the flow inlet and the location along the axial direction of the flow where optical measurements are conducted. By adoption of this synergistic approach, we recover results on the spatiotemporal evolution of the flow and temperature fields, and link the variation of the gas-liquid interface temperature along the waves to the variation of the local film-height, flow-rate and streamwise and cross-stream velocity components. Despite the intermittent observation of localized hotspots in the experiments, which constitute precursors to the formation of thermal rivulets, the mean wall-temperature, bulk liquid-temperature and gas-liquid interface temperature display clear trends with respect to the mean film-thickness, which largely dictates the heat transfer performance of the examined film flows.
Sapin P, Simpson M, Kirmse C, et al., 2018, Dynamic modeling of water-droplet spray injection in reciprocating-piston compressors, ECOS 2018 - 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems
Ibarra R, Zadrazil I, Matar O, et al., 2018, Dynamics of liquid-liquid flows in horizontal pipes using simultaneous two-line planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle velocimetry, International Journal of Multiphase Flow, Vol: 101, Pages: 47-63, ISSN: 0301-9322
Experimental investigations are reported of stratified and stratified–wavy oil–water flows in horizontal pipes, based on the development and application of a novel simultaneous two–line (two–colour) technique combining planar laser–induced fluorescence with particle image/tracking velocimetry. This approach allows the study of fluid combinations with properties similar to those encountered in industrial field–applications in terms of density, viscosity, and interfacial tension, even though their refractive indices are not matched, and represents the first attempt to obtain detailed, spatiotemporally–resolved, full 2–D planar–field phase and velocity information in such flows. The flow conditions studied span mixture velocities in the range 0.3–0.6 m/s and low water–cuts up to 20%, corresponding to in situ (local) Reynolds numbers of 1750–3350 in the oil phase and 2860–11,650 in the water phase, and covering the laminar/transitional and transitional/turbulent flow regimes for the oil and water phases, respectively. Detailed, spatiotemporally–resolved in situ phase and velocity data in a vertical plane aligned with the pipe centreline and extending across the entire height of the channel through both phases are analysed to provide statistical information on the interface heights, mean axial and radial (vertical) velocity components, (rms) velocity fluctuations, Reynolds stresses, and mixing lengths. The mean liquid–liquid interface height is mainly determined by the flow water cut and is relatively insensitive (up to 20% the highest water cut) to changes in the mixture velocity, although as the mixture velocity increases the interfacial profile transitions gradually from being relatively flat to containing higher amplitude waves. The mean velocity profiles show characteristics of both laminar and turbulent flow, and interesting interactions between the two co–flowing phases
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