A dynamic model for the optimization of oscillatory low grade heat engines
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Markides, CN
Smith, TCB
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The efficiency of a thermodynamic system is a key quantity on which its usefulness and wider application relies. This is especially true for a device that operates with marginal energy sources and close to ambient temperatures. Various definitions of efficiency are available, each of which reveals a certain performance characteristic of a device. Of these, some consider only the thermodynamic cycle undergone by the working fluid, whereas others contain additional information, including relevant internal components of the device that are not part of the thermodynamic cycle. Yet others attempt to factor out the conditions of the surroundings with which the device is interfacing thermally during operation. In this paper we present a simple approach for the modeling of complex oscillatory thermal-fluid systems capable of converting low grade heat into useful work. We apply the approach to the NIFTE, a novel low temperature difference heat utilization technology currently under development. We use the results from the model to calculate various efficiencies and comment on the usefulness of the different definitions in revealing performance characteristics. We show that the approach can be applied to make design optimization decisions, and suggest features for optimal efficiency of the NIFTE.
Date Acceptance
2015-01-01
Citation
AIP Conference Proceedings, 1642
ISSN
1551-7616
Publisher
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Journal / Book Title
AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume
1642
Copyright Statement
© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. The following article appeared in AIP Conf. Proc. 1642, 417 (2015); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4906709
Conference date: 3–8 October 2010 and may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4906709
Conference date: 3–8 October 2010 and may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4906709
Sponsor
Research Councils UK
Grant Number
EP/E500641/1
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
417