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By utilizing the similarity characteristics of turbines, their performance can be tested under conditions more relaxed than the design conditions. The use of the similarity model provides the benefit of saving time and the cost required to build a turbine test bench for the performance measurements. This study employs a partial similarity model, rather than a complete similarity model, with a rotational speed of 6000 rpm and air as the working fluid. Condition selection for this model was based on Buckingham's Pi theorem to nondimensionalize the parameters affecting turbine performance. Particularly, the pressure ratio was derived using in-house code. Based on mean-line design results, three-dimensional modeling and numerical analysis were performed using commercial software to compare the performances of the design and partial similarity models. The numerical analysis predicted the isentropic efficiencies of 86.1 % and 80.4 % for the design and partial similarity models, respectively. This study is significant as it enables turbine performance testing at a lower rotational speed with air as the working fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental investigation of R245fa flow boiling in the horizontal flow (θ fd = 0°), vertical upward flow (θ fd = 90°), and vertical downward flow (θ fd = –90°) was carried out using a bare stainless-steel tube (BT) with an inner diameter of 10.02 mm and an effective heating length of 820 mm. The experimental condition was performed under a saturation pressure of 0.6 MPa, a heat flux varying from 4.99–74.60 kW/m2, a mass flux range of 197.94–696.63 kg/(m2·s), and a vapour quality range from 0.01 to 0.9. Five flow patterns, stratified flow, intermittent flow, churn flow, annular flow, and drying flow, could be observed in the experiment. When the heat flux was relatively low (q ≤ 15 kW/m2)), the variation of the heat transfer coefficient with flow direction was relatively gradual. However, when q ≥ 30 kW/m2, a distinct 'U'-shaped trend in the heat transfer coefficient is observed with the flow direction transitioning from vertical downward to horizontal and then to vertical upward. Due to the effect of buoyancy force, the heat transfer performance was relatively better at θ fd = –90° The friction pressure drop in the horizontal flow was the smallest, and the maximum value always occurred at θ fd = 90° Meanwhile, the experimental data for heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop was compared to the well-known correlations from the literature. The predictive correlation by Fang et al. for the heat transfer coefficient was in good agreement with the experimental data. Regarding frictional pressure drop, the Filho, Muller-Steinhagen and Heck and Zakaria correlations were recommended for pressure drop in horizontal flow, upward flow, and downward flow, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-liquid evaporator is an important part of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). It is of great guiding significance to study the pool boiling heat transfer characteristics (high-temperature level) of the evaporator heat exchange tube for evaporator design. The pool boiling heat transfer characteristics (high-temperature level) of working fluid R245fa outside smooth tube and fish-scale tube are analyzed. The outcomes exhibit that the overall Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) of the smooth tube is 1.9–3.9 kW m−2 K−1, and the fish-scale tube is 3.8–4.3 kW m−2 K−1 when the saturation temperature of organic working medium R245fa is 80.5 °C. The HTC outside the fish scale tube is 1.45–3.13 instances that of the smooth tube. The external HTC of the smooth tube and fish-scale tube increases with the increase of heat flux, but the strengthening rate decreases. After the outer wall of the heat exchange tube used in the ORC evaporator is strengthened, the water velocity in the tube increases, which can not only strengthen the heat exchange in the tube but also play an anti-scaling effect.

This paper analyzes the developing adiabatic two-phase flow after an expansion valve in an air conditioning system. R245fa and POE 32 mixture is used as the working fluid. The developing two-phase flow patterns are visualized in an 8 mm straight tube after the expansion valve from 15 to 595 mm. To explore the effect of fluid properties on the developing two-phase flow, the experimental results from previous research by the same authors are compared with those of R245fa in this paper. An image analysis technique and a one-dimensional developing two-phase flow model proposed in a previous paper by the same authors (Yao & Hrnjak, 2023c) are applied to both R134a and R245fa. The flow patterns near the expansion valve exhibit some similarities when comparing the two refrigerants. However, a significant contrast emerges in the presence of a greater number of droplets suspended within the vapor phase in the case of R245fa flow. This disparity is primarily attributed to R245fa's higher vapor velocity. Furthermore, R245fa exhibits a shorter developing length than R134a. For fully developed flow, R245fa showcases a more pronounced turbulent behavior, and the transition to annular flow happens at a lower vapor quality in comparison to R134a. All of these distinctions can be adequately accounted for by the proposed model. The developed flow patterns of both refrigerants are compared with some existing flow pattern maps. At last, a new flow pattern map is proposed based on the observed flow patterns in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ORC cycle is one of the most efficient technologies for the utilization of low-grade heat. ORC systems cover a wide range of heat sources and power outputs. Apart from increasing the overall efficiency, CHP systems contribute to the decentralization of energy production, the conservation of primary fuel, the reduction of the emission of greenhouse gasses and the reduction of the cost to the final consumer. This justifies the research activity around CHP-ORC systems. In the present paper, a steady-state thermodynamic model for a 50 kWel biomass microCHP-ORC was developed and four candidate fluids were selected: R124, isobutane, R245fa and isopentane. The multi-objective optimization under supercritical conditions was performed using the genetic algorithm. The thermal efficiency, the exergy efficiency and the total heat exchanger surface were selected as single objectives. The evaporation temperature and pressure and the pinch point temperature differences at the heat exchangers were selected as decision variables. Careful examination of the optimal results revealed a systematic tendency for high evaporation temperatures and pressures and low recuperator pinch point temperature differences. Recuperation was found beneficial in many aspects, especially at higher evaporation temperatures. Also, the use of cogeneration leads to overall system efficiencies that surpass 90%, while simultaneously saving at least 20% fuel. Lastly, isopentane was found to be the best-performing fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]