Increasing the Efficiency and Level of Environmental Safety of Pro-Environmental City Heat Supply Technologies by Low Power Nuclear Plants

In connection with the current prospect of decarbonization of coal energy through the use of small nuclear power plants (SNPPs) at existing TPPs as heat sources for heat supply to municipal heating networks, there is a technological need to improve heat supply schemes to increase their environmental friendliness and efficiency. The paper proves the feasibility of using the heat-feeding mode of ASHPs for urban heat supply by heating the network water with steam taken from the turbine. The ratio of electric and thermal power of a “nuclear” combined heat and power plant is given. The advantage of using a heat pump, which provides twice as much electrical power with the same heat output, is established. Taking into account that heat in these modes is supplied with different potential, the energy efficiency was used to compare these options. To increase the heat supply capacity, a scheme with the use of a high-pressure heater in the backpressure mode and with the heating of network water with hot steam was proposed. Heat supply from ASHPs is efficient and environmentally friendly even in the case of significant remoteness of heat consumers.

3D electromagnetic simulation of the coupling characteristics and double-stub Ferrite tuners impedance matching for EAST ICRH four-strap antenna

A program developed with COMSOL software integrates EAST four-strap antenna coupling with the double-stub Ferrite tuners(FT)impedance matching,obtaining physical quantities crucial for predicting the overall performance of the ion cyclotron resonance heating(ICRH)antenna and matching system.These quantities encompass S-matrix,port complex impedance,reflection coefficients,electric field and voltage distribution,and optimal matching settings.In this study,we explore the relationship between S-matrix,reflection coefficients,port complex impedance,and frequency.Then,we analyze the impact of Faraday screens placement position and transparency,the distance from the Faraday screen(FS)to the current straps(CS),the relative distance between ports,and the characteristic impedance of the transmission line on the coupling characteristic impedance of the EAST ICRH system.Finally,we simulate the electric field distribution and voltage distribution of the EAST ICRH system for plasma heating with double-stub FT impedance matching.Using optimized parameters,the coupling power of the ICRH system can be approximately doubled.The results present herein may offer guidance for the design of high-power,long-pulse operation ICRH antenna systems.

Experimental Study on the Performance of ORC System Based on Ultra-Low Temperature Heat Sources

This paper discussed the experimental results of the performance of an organic Rankine cycle(ORC)system with an ultra-low temperature heat source.The low boiling point working medium R134a was adopted in the system.The simulated heat source temperature(SHST)in this work was set from 39.51°C to 48.60°C by the simulated heat source module.The influence of load percentage of simulated heat source(LPSHS)between 50%and 70%,the rotary valve opening(RVO)between 20%and 100%,the resistive load between 36Ωand 180Ωor the no-load of the generator,as well as the autumn and winter ambient temperature on the system performance were studied.The results showed that the stability of the system was promoted when the generator had a resistive load.The power generation(PG)and generator speed(GS)of the system in autumn were better than in winter,but the expander pressure ratio(EPR)was lower than in winter.Keep RVO unchanged,the SHST,the mass flow rate(MFR)of the working medium,GS,and the PG of the system increased with the increasing of LPSHS for different generator resistance load values.When the RVO was 60%,LPSHS was 70%,the SHST was 44.15°C and the resistive load was 72Ω,the highest PG reached 15.11 W.Finally,a simulation formula was obtained for LPSHS,resistance load,and PG,and its correlation coefficient was between 0.9818 and 0.9901.The formula can accurately predict the PG.The experimental results showed that the standard deviation between the experimental and simulated values was below 0.0792,and the relative error was within±5%.

Numerical and theoretical investigations of heat transfer characteristics in helium-xenon cooled microreactor core

Helium-xenon cooled microreactors are a vital technological solution for portable nuclear reactor power sources.To exam-ine the convective heat transfer behavior of helium-xenon gas mixtures in a core environment,numerical simulations are conducted on a cylindrical coolant channel and its surrounding solid regions.Validated numerical methods are used to determine the effect and mechanisms of power and its distribution,inlet temperature and velocity,and outlet pressure on the distribution and change trend of the axial Nusselt number.Furthermore,a theoretical framework that can describe the effect of power variation on the evolution of the thermal boundary layer is employed to formulate an axial distribution cor-relation for the Nusselt number of the coolant channel,under the assumption of a cosine distribution for the axial power.Based on the simulation results,the correlation coefficients are determined,and a semi-empirical relationship is identified under the corresponding operating conditions.The correlation derived in this study is consistent with the simulations,with an average relative error of 5.3%under the operating conditions.Finally,to improve the accuracy of the predictions near the entrance,a segmented correlation is developed by combining the Kays correlation with the aforementioned correlation.The new correlation reduces the average relative error to 2.9%and maintains satisfactory accuracy throughout the entire axial range of the channel,thereby demonstrating its applicability to turbulent heat transfer calculations for helium-xenon gas mixtures within the core environment.These findings provide valuable insights into the convective heat transfer behavior of a helium-xenon gas mixture in a core environment.

In-Situ Preparation and Thermal Shock Resistance of Mullite-Cordierite Heat Tube Material for Solar Thermal Power

In order to improve the thermal shock resistance of solar thermal heat transfer tube material, the mullite-cordierite composite ceramic as solar thermal heat transfer tube material were fabricated by pressureless sintering using a-Al203, Suzhou kaolin, talc, and feldspar as starting materials. The important parameter for solar thermal transfer tube such as water absorption （W）, bulk density （Db）, and the mechanical properties were investigated. The phase composition and microstructure of the composite ceramics were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The experimental results show that the B3 sintered at 1 300 ℃ and holding for 3 h has an optimum thermal shock resistance. The bending strength loss rate of B3 is only 2% at 1 100℃ by air quenching-strength test and the sample can endure 30 times thermal shock cycling, and the water absorption, the bulk density and the bending strength are 0.32%, 2.58 g·cm-3, and 125.59 MPa respectively. The XRD analysis indicated that the phase compositions of the sample were mullite, cordierite, corundum, and spinel. The SEM images illustrate that the cordierite is prismatic grain and the mullite is nano rod, showing a good thermal shock resistance for composite ceramics as potential solar thermal power material.

Analysis of Modeling the Influence of Electromagnetic Fields Radiated by Industrial Static Converters and Impacts on Operators Using Maxwell’s Equations

The study of Electromagnetic Compatibility is essential to ensure the harmonious operation of electronic equipment in a shared environment. The basic principles of Electromagnetic Compatibility focus on the ability of devices to withstand electromagnetic disturbances and not produce disturbances that could affect other systems. Imperceptible in most work situations, electromagnetic fields can, beyond certain thresholds, have effects on human health. The objective of the present article is focused on the modeling analysis of the influence of geometric parameters of industrial static converters radiated electromagnetic fields using Maxwell’s equations. To do this we used the analytical formalism for calculating the electromagnetic field emitted by a filiform conductor, to model the electromagnetic radiation of this device in the spatio-temporal domain. The interactions of electromagnetic waves with human bodies are complex and depend on several factors linked to the characteristics of the incident wave. To model these interactions, we implemented the physical laws of electromagnetic wave propagation based on Maxwell’s and bio-heat equations to obtain consistent results. These obtained models allowed us to evaluate the spatial profile of induced current and temperature of biological tissue during exposure to electromagnetic waves generated by this system. The simulation 2D results obtained from computer tools show that the temperature variation and current induced by the electromagnetic field can have a very significant influence on the life of biological tissue. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis using advanced mathematical models to evaluate the influence of electromagnetic fields. The findings have direct implications for workplace safety, potentially influencing standards and regulations concerning electromagnetic exposure in industrial settings.

Modelling Study to Compare the Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Low-Power Hydrogen,Nitrogen and Argon Arc-Heated Thrusters

A modelling study is performed to compare the plasma flow and heat transfer characteristics of low-power arc-heated thrusters （arcjets） for three different propellants： hydrogen, nitrogen and argon. The all-speed SIMPLE algorithm is employed to solve the governing equations, which take into account the effects of compressibility, Lorentz force and Joule heating, as well as the temperature- and pressure-dependence of the gas properties. The temperature, velocity and Mach number distributions calculated within the thruster nozzle obtained with different propellant gases are compared for the same thruster structure, dimensions, inlet-gas stagnant pressure and arc currents. The temperature distributions in the solid region of the anode-nozzle wall are also given. It is found that the flow and energy conversion processes in the thruster nozzle show many similar features for all three propellants. For example, the propellant is heated mainly in the near-cathode and constrictor region, with the highest plasma temperature appearing near the cathode tip; the flow transition from the subsonic to supersonic regime occurs within the constrictor region; the highest axial velocity appears inside the nozzle; and most of the input propellant flows towards the thruster exit through the cooler gas region near the anode-nozzle wall. However, since the properties of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, especially their molecular weights, specific enthMpies and thermal conductivities, are different, there are appreciable differences in arcjet performance. For example, compared to the other two propellants, the hydrogen arcjet thruster shows a higher plasma temperature in the arc region, and higher axial velocity but lower temperature at the thruster exit. Correspondingly, the hydrogen arcjet thruster has the highest specific impulse and arc voltage for the same inlet stagnant pressure and arc current. The predictions of the modelling are compared favourably with available experimental results.

Thermo-economic Investigation of an Enhanced Geothermal System Organic Rankine Cycle and Combined Heating and Power System

As a potentially viable renewable energy, Enhanced Geothermal Systems(EGSs) extract heat from hot dry rock(HDR) reservoirs to produce electricity and heat, which promotes the progress towards carbon peaking and carbon neutralization. The main challenge for EGSs is to reduce the investment cost. In the present study, thermo-economic investigations of EGS projects are conducted. The effects of geofluid mass flow rate, wellhead temperature and loss rate on the thermo-economic performance of the EGS organic Rankine cycle(ORC) are studied. A performance comparison between EGS-ORC and the EGS combined heating and power system(CHP) is presented. Considering the CO_(2)emission reduction benefits, the influence of carbon emission trading price on the levelized cost of energy(LCOE) is also presented. It is indicated that the geofluid mass flow rate is a critical parameter in dictating the success of a project. Under the assumed typical working conditions, the LCOE of EGS-ORC and EGS-CHP systems are 24.72 and 16.1 cents/k Wh, respectively. Compared with the EGS-ORC system, the LCOE of the EGS-CHP system is reduced by 35%. EGS-CHP systems have the potential to be economically viable in the future. With carbon emission trading prices of 12.76 USD/ton, the LCOE can be reduced by approximately 8.5%.

Water, Air Emissions, and Cost Impacts of Air-Cooled Microturbines for Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems： A Case Study in the Atlanta Region

The increasing pace of urbanization means that cities and global organizations are looking for ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Combined cooling, heating, and power （CCHP） systems have the potential to improve the energy generation efficiency of a city or urban region by providing energy for heating, cooling, and electricity simultaneously. The purpose of this study is to estimate the water consumption for energy generation use, carbon dioxide （CO2） and NOx emissions, and economic impact of implementing CCHP systems for five generic building types within the Atlanta metropolitan region, under various operational scenarios following the building thermal （heating and cooling） demands. Operating the CCHP system to follow the hourly thermal demand reduces CO2 emissions for most building types both with and without net metering. The system can be economically beneficial for all building types depending on the price of natural gas, the implementation of net metering, and the cost structure assumed for the CCHP system. The greatest reduction in water consumption for energy production and NOx emissions occurs when there is net metering and when the system is operated to meet the maximum yearly thermal demand, although this scenario also results in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and, in some cases, cost. CCHP systems are more economical for medium office, large office, and multifamilv residential buildings.

Fabrication and testing of phase change heat sink for high power LED

A novel phase change heat sink was fabricated for packaging cooling of high power light emitting diode （LED）. 3D structures as enhanced boiling structure in the evaporation surface were composed of a spiral micro-groove along circumferential direction and radial micro-grooves which were processed by ploughing-extrusion （P-E） and stamping, respectively. Meanwhile, the cycle power of refrigerant was supplied by wick of sintered copper powder on internal surface of phase change heat sink. Operational characteristics were tested under different heat loads and refrigerants. The experimental results show that phase change heat sink is provided with a good heat transfer capability and the temperature of phase change heat sink reaches 86.8 ℃ under input power of 10 W LED at ambient temperature of 20 ℃.

Improving the performance of a thermoelectric power system using a flat-plate heat pipe

A gravitational flat-plate heat pipe is designed and fabricated in this paper to serve as a heat spreader to diffuse the local heat source to the hot side of the thermoelectric power module.Based on this, an experimental test for the thermoelectric power generation system is conducted to study the influences of the heat spreader on the temperature uniformity and power generation performance when exposing to a local heat source.In addition,the effects of the heating power, inclination angle, and local heat source size on the power generation performance of the thermoelectric power module using a flat-plate heat pipe as a heat spreader are examined and compared with that using a metal plate.The results indicate that the gravitational flat-plate heat pipe has considerable advantages over the metal plate in the temperature uniformity.The superiority of temperature uniformity in the improvement of power generation performance for the thermoelectric power system using a heat pipe is demonstrated.Particularly, the heat pipe shows good adaptability to placement mode and the local heat source size, which is beneficial to the application in the thermoelectric power generation.

Recent advance on the efficiency at maximum power of heat engines

This review reports several key advances on the theoretical investigations of efficiency at maximum power of heat engines in the past five years. The analytical results of efficiency at maximum power for the Curzon-Ahlborn heat engine, the stochastic heat engine constructed from a Brownian particle, and Feynman＇s ratchet as a heat engine are presented. It is found that： the efficiency at maximum power exhibits universal behavior at small relative temperature differences; the lower and the upper bounds might exist under quite general conditions; and the problem of efficiency at maximum power comes down to seeking for the minimum irreversible entropy production in each finite-time isothermal process for a given time.

The Trends and Tasks of Modeling and Simulation for Reduction of Heat Treatment Distortion

The development of simulation model and benchmark work have expanded in the past decade and many models and soft ware are introduced. The leading software "Hearts’ developed by Prof Inoue[1] and several other have proved the effectiveness as the pre-production simulation work at many part of heat treatment processes[2-10]. Although, numerous other models and simulation studies dealt with many fundamental factors are reported at many conferences except very few models have not completed three dimensional computation methods, or lack of validation work to evaluate their tools exactly. In this paper, several distortion case studies will be introduced and the needs of fundamental study of distortion and internationally collaborative program on model evaluation and construction of materials database are proposed.

A Financial Approach to Evaluate an Optimized Combined Cooling, Heat and Power System

Iran’s removing subsidy from energy carrier in four years ago leads to spike electricity price dramatically. This abrupt change increases the interest on distributed generation (DG) because of its several benefits such as lower electricity generation price. In Iran among all type of DGs, because of wide natural gas network infrastructure and several incentives that government legislated to support combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) investors, this type of technology is more prevalent in comparison with other technologies. Between existing CCHP technologies, certain economic choices are to be taken into account. For different buildings with different load curves, suitable size and operation of CCHP should be calculated to make the project more feasible. If CCHP does not well suited for a position, then the whole energy efficiency would be plunged significantly. In this paper, a model to find the optimal size and operation of CCHP and auxiliary boiler for any users is proposed by considering an integrated view of electricity and natural gas network using GAMS software. Then this method is applying for a hospital in Tehran as a real case study. Finally, by applying COMFAR III software, useful financial parameters and sensitivity analysis are calculated.

RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS,POWER CONSUMPTION,MASS AND HEAT,TRANSFER DURING XANTHAN GUM FERMENTATION

Xanthan gum fermentation is probably the most complex fermentation process in terms ofrheological property variations and associated mixing,power consumption,mass and heat transferproblems.In order to obtain these data,fermentations of Xanthomonas campestris were carried outon pilot scale bioreactor with different D/T ratios and different feeding strategies(batch andfed-batch).It was discovered that the rheology of xanthan fermentation broth is of paramountimportance to the above characteristics.The aerated power consumption and power number are both afunction of aeration rate during the initial stage of the fermentation when the viscosity is low andthe Reynolds number high.However when the becames viscous and Reynolds unmber≤10~3,thegas velocity does not show any effect on the power number.The oxygen mass transfer coefficientsand the overall heat transfer coefficients are both dependent on the impeller speed,the apparentviscosity of the broth and the D/T ratio.These data taken from practical

Simulation and performance analysis of organic Rankine cycle combined heat and power system

To improve the overall thermal efficiency of the organic Rankine cycle（ ORC）, a simulation study was carried out for a combined heat and power（ CHP） system, using the Redlich-Kuang-Soave（ RKS） equation of state. In the system,R245 fa was selected as the working fluid. A scroll expander was modeled with empirical isentropic expansion efficiency.Plate heat exchangers were selected as the evaporator and the condenser, and detailed heat transfer models were programmed for both one-phase and two-phase regions. Simulations were carried out at seven different heat source temperatures（ 80,90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 ℃） in combination with eight different heat sink temperatures（ 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50,55 ℃）. Results showthat in the ORC without an internal heat exchanger（ IHE）, the optimum cycle efficiencies are in the range of 7. 0% to 7. 3% when the temperature differences between the heat source and heat sink are in the range of 70 to90 ℃. Simulations on CHP reveal that domestic hot water can be produced when the heat sink inlet temperature is higher than40 ℃, and the corresponding exergy efficiency and overall thermal efficiency are 29% to 56% and 87% to 90% higher than those in the non-CHP ORC, respectively. It is found that the IHE has little effect on the improvement of work output and efficiencies for the CHP ORC.

Performance analysis and improvement of geothermal binary cycle power plant in oilfield

In order to improve the efficiency of a geothermal power plant, oil wells in the high water cut stage were used as geothermal wells, thereby improving the recovery ratio and economic benefit. A new function that reflects both the technical and economic performances was put forward and used as the objective function. An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) was analyzed through the energetic and exergetic analyses, and the reasons for low efficiency were pinpointed. Results indicate that geothermal water directly transferring heat to the working fluid reduces energy dissipation and increases cycle efficiencies. The net power output with an internal heat exchanger (IHE) is averagely 5.3% higher than that without an IHE. R601a and R601 can be used to replace R123 for geothermal water below 110℃. Moreover, the modified ORC dramatically outperforms the actual one.

Heat Transfer Between a Missile's Combustion Chamber and the Warhead

Under higher temperatures the charge within a warhead will be subjected to physical and chemical changes, which will influence the security of the warhead launching process. In this paper the problem is studied adopting finite difference method for the case of a rocket powered missile. Temperature distribution tables are given through quadrature experiments, and the results fit the actual measured values very well. The results also show that to ensure the launching security of rocket powered missiles having warhead charge critical temperature close to about 60?℃, the designer can select appropriate heat insulation structural parameters.

Optimizing Grids Demand Reduction through Enhanced Heat Transfer in Low-Temperature Waste Heat Driven ORC Systems

With increasing awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system has gained significant attention. This technology enables the recovery of industrial waste heat, waste incineration heat, and renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat, biomass energy, and solar energy at lower temperatures. However, the low-grade heat source utilized in ORC systems faces a challenge to achieving high power generation efficiency and output power. Therefore, enhancing the power generation capacity of ORC systems is a key research focus in this field. An entranced heat exchanger ORC system with the screw expander driven by the low-temperature heat source is established to investigate the relevant performance. Hot water temperature from 77°C to 132°C is adopted for performance analysis, while the environmental temperature is approximately 25°C. Refrigerant R245fa is selected as the working fluid, and the screw expander is employed for power generation. It is worth noting that the entranced heat exchanger ORC system has significant potential for low-temperature heat recovery. Experimental results indicate that the maximum power output is 12.83 kW, which is obtained at around 105°C hot water inlet temperature. Correspondingly, the average power output remains 11.75 kW, revealing the system’s high stability for power generation. The implementation of a plate heat exchanger for enhanced heat transfer has enabled a 50% reduction in system size compared to traditional shell-tube type ORC systems. Besides, economic calculations demonstrate substantial benefits associated with the ORC system. The calculations indicate an internal benefit of 560,000 RMB/year, accompanied by notable external benefits such as an energy saving and emission reduction potential of up to 784 t CO2 per year. Moreover, the payback period is 2.23 years. It shows a remarkable improvement in terms of performance and excellent economic benefits. As a result, the novel ORC presents a promising alternative for low-grade heat utilization as compared to conventional small-scale ORC systems.

Off-Design Simulation of a CSP Power Plant Integrated with aWaste Heat Recovery System

Concentrating Solar Power(CSP)plants offer a promising way to generate low-emission energy.However,these plants face challenges such as reduced sunlight during winter and cloudy days,despite being located in high solar radiation areas.Furthermore,their dispatch capacities and yields can be affected by high electricity consumption,particularly at night.The present work aims to develop an off-design model that evaluates the hourly and annual performances of a parabolic trough power plant(PTPP)equipped with a waste heat recovery system.The study aims to compare the performances of this new layout with those of the conventional Andasol 1 plant,with the aim of assessing the improvements achieved in the new design.Based on the results,it can be concluded that the new layout has increased the annual generated power to almost 183 GWh(an increase of about 7.60% is achieved compared to the Andasol 1 layout that generates 169 GWh annually).Additionally,the proposed installation has achieved an efficiency of 20.55%,which represents a 7.87% increase compared to the previous design(19.05%).The Levelized Cost of Electricity(LCOE)of the new layout has been reduced by more than 5.8% compared to the Andasol 1 plant.Specifically,it has decreased from 13.11 to 12.35 c/kWh.This reduction in LCOE highlights the improved cost-effectiveness of the newlayout,making it amore economically viable option for generating electricity compared to the conventional Andasol 1 plant.