Martijn van den Broek

Low-order models of a single-screw expander for organic Rankine cycle applications

Screw-type volumetric expanders have been demonstrated to be a suitable technology for organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems because of higher overall effectiveness and good part-load behaviour over other positive displacement machines. An 11 kWe single-screw expander (SSE) adapted from an air compressor has been tested in an ORC test-rig operating with R245fa as working fluid. A total of 60 steady-steady points have been obtained at four different rotational speeds of the expander in the range between 2000 rpm and 3300 rpm. The maximum electrical power output and overall isentropic effectiveness measured were 7.3 kW and 51.9%, respectively. In this paper, a comparison between two low-order models is proposed in terms of accuracy of the predictions, the robustness of the model and the computational time. The first model is the Pacejka equation-based model and the second is a semi-empirical model derived from a well-known scroll expander model and modified to include the geometric aspects of a single screw expander. The models have been calibrated with the available steady-state measurement points by identifying the proper parameters.

Deformation analysis of the main components in a single Screw compressor

The single screw compressor is used in many fields such as air compression, chemical industry and refrigeration. During operation, different gas pressures and temperatures applied on the components can cause different degrees of deformation, which leads to a difference between the thermally induced clearance and the designed clearance. However, limited research about clearance design is reported. In this paper, a temperature measurement instrument and a convective heat transfer model were described and used to establish the temperature of a single screw air compressors casing, screw rotor and star wheel. 3-D models of these three main components were built. The gas force deformation, thermal- structure deformation and thermal-force coupling deformation were carried out by using a finite element simulation method. Results show that the clearance between the bottom of the groove and the top of star wheel is reduced by 0.066 mm, the clearance between the side of groove and the star wheel is reduced by 0.015 mm, and the clearance between the cylinder and the rotor is reduced by 0.01 mm. It is suggested that these deformations should be taken into account during the design of these clearances.

Performance of heat pump drying system integrated into a blood dryer

ABSTRACT In general, most heat losses in industrial dryers arise due to the discharge of humid air. Using heat pump drying systems, heat from the exhaust humid air can be recovered, thus improving the energy efficiency substantially. In this study, the performance of heat pump integration in a blood dryer was examined. Computer simulation models of the original high-temperature (180°C) dryer and the proposed system with heat pump integration and auxiliary heating were developed. Different heat pump systems and working fluids were investigated to determine the best performing heat pump system. In this case, it was found that an R245fa heat pump system with a subcooler is the best solution. When using an absorption heat pump, the results showed that a type I absorption heat pump with H2O–LiBr as working fluid pair performs the best. In addition, the economic benefit as well as the optimum operating conditions of the dryer with integrated heat pump were also determined.

A synergy-column envelope meshing pair profile for single screw compressors

Multi-column envelope engaging couples have been proposed for single screw compressors to reduce the friction and prolong the operational life. However, little is mentioned about the relationship between columns at opposite sides of the star-wheel teeth. An imbalance in the lubricant film forces would appear and influence the lubrication between the tooth and the groove. During a real design process, it is necessary to try several times for each different type of compressor to find the optimal combination of columns. In part, due to the large number of columns, it also makes both manufacturing processing and product testing difficult. In this paper, a synergy-column design method and its related manufacturing methods are presented. The locations and relationships of the designed columns can be prescribed by given the tooth width. Manufacturing of the rotor and star-wheel shows the new design method can be more efficient through processing. The stable operation results prove that the synergy-column envelope meshing pair can solve the star-wheel’s wear-out problem.

Analysis and Comparison Between Fixed and Variable Volume Ratio Expander for Micro-Scale ORC

Waste heat recovery has become very important in the last decennia. The Organic Rankine Cycle is the most popular technology to transform waste heat into mechanical work or electricity. While large and medium scale installations are widely available on the market for various temperature and power levels, small scale ORCs are still in a pre-commercial phase because of a relatively high specific price.To make small scale ORCs more attractive for potential customers, the price has to be drastically reduced which means reducing the manufacturing and assembling operations, the number of parts in assemblies and unification of these assemblies. In addition, the performance has to be increased by using advanced cycle architectures and the right fluids. Not only the right choice of the working fluid is important but also the expander built-in volume ratio (BVR) has to be optimal or improved. Neither a fixed volume ratio expander, nor a turbine can provide an optimal expansion of a working fluid in a wide range of operating conditions [1]. In automotive applications, for instance, a strongly fluctuating heat input will be introduced to an ORC unit.To estimate losses caused by non-optimal operation, a model of a volumetric expander has been developed and verified using the result of extensive test campaigns with a screw expander. The volume ratio of the expander mentioned cannot be physically changed, so under widely changing pressure ratio, caused by varying inlet waste heat and ambient temperatures, it operates mostly far from its design point. The model gives a possibility to vary the BVR in order to compare a fixed-volume ratio expander with a variable one. Benefits from replacement of this expander by an adaptive one are studied. Only steady states are taken into account since there is no dynamic model of this expander developed yet. As a consequence of the results obtained, a concept of a variable volume ratio expander is proposed.Copyright