Search

This article analyses the possibility of using hydrogen as fuel in furnaces used in the metallurgical industry. The research was conducted for a selected continuous furnace. For this purpose, based on actual measurements, a heat balance of the furnace was prepared to determine its energy indicators. These values were used to verify the developed numerical model in IPSEpro 7.0 software. Numerical calculations were performed for three variants: pure natural gas; 30% hydrogen, 70% natural gas; and 100% hydrogen. The determined values of gas and combustion air streams allowed for achieving the assumed charge temperature in the heating technology. Calculations of the impact of the excess combustion air ratio on process parameters were also carried out. It was found that no changes are required in the exhaust gas removal system, but verification of the fan supplying air to cool the exhaust gases before the recuperator is necessary. The amount of hydrogen required to fuel the continuous furnace also increases significantly (nearly threefold), which may also affect operating costs. At the same time, the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is completely reduced, which may be an important criterion when considering modernization options for heating furnaces in the metallurgical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes applying an in-house mathematical model of a liquid flat-plate solar collector to calculate the collector time constant. The described model, proposed for the first time in an earlier study, is a one-dimensional distributed parameter model enabling simulations of the collector operation under arbitrarily variable boundary conditions. The model is based on the solution of energy balance equations for all collector components. The formulated differential equations are solved iteratively using an implicit difference scheme. To obtain a stable numerical solution, it is necessary to use appropriate steps of time and spatial division. These were found by comparing the results obtained from the model with the results of the analytical solution available in the literature for the transient state, which constitutes the novelty of the present study. The accuracy of the results obtained from the model was verified experimentally by comparing the measured and calculated history of the fluid temperature at the outlet of the collector. The calculation of the collector time constant is proposed in the paper as an example of the model's practical application. The results of the time constant calculation were compared with the values obtained experimentally on the test stand. This is another novelty of the presented research. The analysed collector instantaneous efficiency was then calculated for selected outdoor conditions. The presented mathematical model can also be used to verify the correctness of the collector operation. By comparing, on an ongoing basis, the measured and calculated values of the fluid temperature at the collector outlet, conclusions can be drawn about the process of solar glass fouling or glycol gelling. The simplicity of the model and the low computational demands enable such comparisons in an online mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the crucial role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology in mitigating CO2 emissions from Poland's power systems, which is essential not only for meeting climate targets but also for maintaining energy security in the country. Acknowledging natural gas as a transitional fuel, the focus is on evaluating the decarbonization potential of the natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant. The NGCC with and without an amine-based carbon capture unit was modeled using IPSEpro (SimTech, version 7.0). It was found that the annual CO2 emission from 435.68 MWe (net) NGCC can be reduced from 1,365,501 tons (357.8 kgCO2/MWh) to 136,556 tons (42.9 kgCO2/MWh). On the other hand, the CCS reduced the net electric power of the NGCC from 435.68 MW to 363.47 MW and the net energy efficiency from 55.60% to 46.39%. Nonetheless, these results demonstrate the potential of using the amine-based CO2 capture technology in NGCC systems. This is especially important in the context of the decarbonization of the Polish power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the flow resistance of slurry ice flowing through ball valves. Loss coefficients in ball valves were determined from experimental investigations. The study focused on 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” ball valves at two valve positions (20˚ and 30˚). The ice mass fraction in the studied ice slurry ranged between 5% and 30%.

More efficient use of the primary energy contained in fuels translates into tangible earnings for power plants while reductions in the amounts of fuel burned, and of non-renewable resources in particular, certainly have a favourable impact on the natural environment. The main aim of the paper is to investigate the contribution of theuse of adsorption chillers to improve the production energy efficiencyin combined cycle gas turbine. Simulation calculations were performed using Sim tech's IPSEPro software.

Important parameters used for adsorption chillers, e.g. cooling capacity, coefficient of performance, are strictly dependent on heat and mass transfer conditions between adsorbent mass and the cooling/heating medium. With the aim of energy efficiency increasing it is essential to reduce heat transfer resistance. Different bed configurations and heat exchangers constructions are recommended for adsorption bed application. In the paper the review of commonly used adsorption bed configurations, i.e. loose-grain beds or fixed beds, is presented. Also, different heat exchangers for adsorption technology were described. The characteristic features of commonly applied constructions, both for commercial use and scientific research, were presented. The experimental studies presented in the literature were investigated and the substantial conclusions from the literature review are mentioned. Also, the proposition of new adsorption bed construction using the binder and additives was mentioned.

According to predictions, electricity consumption in developed countries will increase three times by 2020 compared with 1970. In contrast, in developing countries, where the population may double by 2020 relative to 1970, there may even be a twentyfold increase in electricity consumption [1]. Other sources predict that increases in electricity demand by 2030 will be approx. 2 ÷ 3% a year. With such a high rate of development of the world economy, the electricity demand will be increasing. Thus, using only renewable sources to satisfy the demand for energy is insufficient and will remain so in the near future. Coal will remain the predominant fuel used to produce electricity. One of the ways to reduce the adverse effect of fossil fuels on the natural environment is to increase the efficiency of use of primary energy. Electricity production is associated with large losses, including in the form of heat which can be used to produce cold with adsorption chillers that can be powered by low-temperature heat. The paper presents the possibility to employ adsorption chillers in power units in order to increase the efficiency of electricity production. Simulation calculations were performed using Sim tech’s IPSEPro software.

In response to international regulations, natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide are more and more frequently used in the refrigeration industry. Due to thermodynamic properties, R-744 is used in the transcritical cycle as an individual refrigerant. In the hereby article, high pressure of CO2 and air temperature values were analysed. The measurements were conducted on the gas cooler side and involved external air temperature values in the summer period between 1 June to 30 September 2018. The “Booster” installation was used in one of Polish supermarkets. Correlations required to determine the optimal pressure of carbon dioxide depending on ambient temperature were presented in the article. The equations presented hereby allowed to maximize the energy efficiency ratio. An optimal high pressure for one of the correlations from literature was calculated on the basis of the measurement of ambient temperature. Actual and optimal pressure values of carbon dioxide were compared in the analysed period of time.

Long-term forecasts indicate that the annual increases in electricity demand by 2030 will be approx. 2 ÷ 3% a year. At present, 40% of the world's electricity is produced using coal-fired power plants. Forecasts indicate that coal will still be the predominant fuel used to produce electricity and thus any actions aimed at increasing the efficiency of electricity production are purposeful. Enormous amounts of waste heat, which is not sufficiently used, are released during the process of electricity production. One of the ways to manage it is to use refrigeration systems based on adsorption chillers which would use waste heat to generate cold that would be employed for air-conditioning or process purposes. In this paper, the cycle of a conventional coal-fired power plant was modelled and then the possibilities of using waste heat for generation of cold as well as the impact of a chiller on the operation of a power unit were analysed using IPSEpro software.

Adsorption cooling and desalination technologies have recently received more attention. Adsorption chillers, using eco-friendly refrigerants, provide promising abilities for low-grade waste heat recovery and utilization, especially renewable and waste heat of the near ambient temperature. However, due to the low coefficient of performance (COP) and cooling capacity (CC) of the chillers, they have not been widely commercialized. Although operating in combined heating and cooling (HC) systems, adsorption chillers allow more efficient conversion and management of low-grade sources of thermal energy, their operation is still not sufficiently recognized, and the improvement of their performance is still a challenging task. The paper introduces an artificial intelligence (AI) approach for the optimization study of a two-bed adsorption chiller operating in an existing combined HC system, driven by low-temperature heat from cogeneration. Artificial neural networks are employed to develop a model that allows estimating the behavior of the chiller. Two crucial energy efficiency and performance indicators of the adsorption chiller, i.e., CC and the COP, are examined during the study for different operating sceneries and a wide range of operating conditions. Thus this work provides useful guidance for the operating conditions of the adsorption chiller integrated into the HC system. For the considered range of input parameters, the highest CC and COP are equal to 12.7 and 0.65 kW, respectively. The developed model, based on the neurocomputing approach, constitutes an easy-to-use and powerful optimization tool for the adsorption chiller operating in the complex HC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Energy Policy Journal / Polityka Energetyczna is the property of Mineral & Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Technical Transactions / Czasopismo Techniczne is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Technical Transactions / Czasopismo Techniczne is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents experimental determination of the heat transfer coefficient and the friction factor in an internally rifled tube. The experiment was carried out on a laboratory stand constructed in the Department of Energy of the Cracow University of Technology. The tested tube is used in a Polish power plant in a supercritical circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler with the power capacity of 460 MW. Local heat transfer coefficients were determined for Reynolds numbers included in the range from ~6000 to ~50,000, and for three levels of the heating element power. Using the obtained experimental data, a relation was developed that makes it possible to determine the dimensionless Chilton–Colburn factor. The friction factor was also determined as a function of the Reynolds number ranging from 20,000 to 90,000, and a new correlation was developed that represents the friction factor in internally ribbed tubes. The local heat transfer coefficient and the friction factor obtained during the testing were compared with the CFD modelling results. The modelling was performed using the Ansys Workbench application. The k-ω, the k-ε and the transition SST (Share Stress Transport) turbulence models were applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]