Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is used, amongst the others, in geothermal facilities, in waste heat recovery or in domestic combined heat and power (CHP) generation. The paper presents optimization of an idealized ORC equivalent of the Carnot cycle with non-zero temperature difference in heat exchangers and with energy dissipation caused by the viscous fluid flow. In this analysis the amount of heat outgoing from the ORC is given. Such a case corresponds to the application of an ORC in domestic CHP. This assumption is different from the most of ORC models where the incoming amount of heat is given.

Low manganese and sulfur gray irons were produced by adding inoculant base Fe-Si with small amounts of Al and Ca in the ladle. The effect of the cast thickness, inoculant amount and shakeout time of the green sand molds were studied on the graphite flake formation by microscopically techniques. A thermodynamic analysis was carried out for the cast iron produced with the FactSage 7.2 software. Stability phase diagrams were obtained for both gray cast irons to different manganese (0.1 to 0.9 wt.%) and sulfur (0.01 to 0.12 wt.%) amounts to 1150°C. It was shown that lower amounts of manganese and sulfur allow forming the 3Al2O3·2SiO2, Al2O3, and ZrO2 solid compounds. The thermodynamic results match with those obtained by SEM-EDS. It is possible to form MnS particles in the liquid phase when the solubility product (%Mn) × (%S) equals 0.042 and 0.039 for heats A and B, respectively.

The paper presents the results of a simulative thermodynamic analysis of a multifuel CHP plant basing on the technological diagram of Avedøre 2. Calculations have been carried out for the operation of Avedøre 2 plant in the district heating mode. Several variants of simulation have been considered, determined by the choice of operation of the respective plants, viz. main boiler fired with natural gas, main and biomass boiler, main boiler and GT plant, joint operation of the main and biomass boiler and GT plant, main boiler (fired with heavy fuel oil or/and wood chips) and biomass boiler and GT plant. For each variants a diagram of iso-fuel curves has been developed, illustrating the variability of useful effects (power output and district heat) at various loads of the CHP steam part. In case of the variant in which the main boiler and GT are in operation with natural gas as fuel the exemplary energy indices were determined.

The paper analyzes a new concept of integration of combined cycle with the installation of supplementary firing. The whole system was enclosed by thermodynamic analysis, which consists of a gas-steam unit with triple-pressure heat recovery steam generator. The system uses a determined model of the gas turbine and the assumptions relating to the construction features of steam-water part were made. The proposed conception involves building of supplementary firing installation only on part of the exhaust stream leaving the gas turbine. In the proposed solution superheater was divided into two sections, one of which was located on the exhaust gases leaving the installation of supplementary firing. The paper presents the results of the analyses of which the main aim was to demonstrate the superiority of the new thermodynamic concept of the supplementary firing over the classical one. For this purpose a model of a system was built, in which it was possible to carry out simulations of the gradual transition from a classically understood supplementary firing to the supplementary firing completely modified. For building of a model the GateCycle™ software was used.

Among the technologies which allow to reduce greenhouse gas emission, mainly carbon dioxide, special attention deserves the idea of 'zero-emission' technology based on boilers working in oxy-combustion technology. In the paper the results of analyses of the influence of changing two quantities, namely oxygen share in oxidant produced in the air separation unit, and oxygen share in oxidant supplied to the furnace chamber on the selected characteristics of a steam boiler including the degree of exhaust gas recirculation, boiler efficiency and adiabatic flame temperature, was examined. Due to the possibility of the integration of boiler model with carbon dioxide capture, separation and storage installation, the subject of the analysis was also to determine composition of the flue gas at the outlet of a moisture condensation installation. Required calculations were made using a model of a supercritical circulating fluidized bed boiler working in oxy-combustion technology, which was built in a commercial software and in-house codes.

Thermodynamic equilibrium-based models of gasification process are relatively simple and widely used to predict producer gas characteristics in performance studies of energy conversion plants. However, if an unconstrained calculation of equilibrium is performed, the estimations of product gas yield and heating value are too optimistic. Therefore, reasonable assumptions have to be made in order to correct the results. This paper proposes a model of the process that can be used in case of deficiency of information and unavailability of experimental data. The model is based on free energy minimization, material and energy balances of a single zone reactor. The constraint quasi-equilibrium calculations are made using approximated amounts of non-equilibrium products, i.e. solid char, tar, CH4 and C2H4. The yields of these products are attributed to fuel characteristics and estimated using experimental results published in the literature. A genetic algorithm optimization technique is applied to find unknown parameters of the model that lead to the best match between modelled and experimental characteristics of the product gas. Finally, generic correlations are proposed and quality of modelling results is assessed in the aspect of its usefulness for performance studies of power generation plants.

Fast development of computation techniques for electrolyte activities contributed recently to introduction of a few substantial programmes for thermodynamic computing of multiphase systems. The presented study comprises useful information for practical computing using selected thermodynamic models of aqueous electrolyte solutions. Those models enable quantitative description of both phase and ionic equilibria and provide values of activity coefficients. The carried out analysis of individual models involved a comparison of their practical effectiveness features along with problems encountered in evaluation of the coefficients. The authors conclude that for the Solvay soda system the exUNIQUAC model for an in-house code or the MSE model for a commercial one can be used.

Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Cu system and its binary sub-system B-Cu aredeveloped in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems (Fe-B and Fe-Cu) are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature have been used for the optimization of the Fe-B-Cu and B-Cu systems’ thermodynamic parameters. The solution phases are described using a substitutional solution model and the compounds (two borides of the Fe-B system) are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good agreement was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.

Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Si system and its binary sub-system, B-Si, are developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Si, Ti, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems, Fe-Si and Fe-B, are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature has been used for the optimization of the thermodynamic parameters of the Fe-B-Si and B-Si systems. The solution phases are described using substitutional solution model and the compounds (silicides and borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The calculated and experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data were found to be in good agreement.

Thermodynamic optimizations of the ternary Fe-B-Ti system and its binary sub-system, B-Ti are presented. The thermodynamic descriptions of the other binaries, Fe-Ti and Fe-B, are taken from the earlier studies slightly modifying the Fe-Ti system assessment. The adjustable parameters of the Fe-B-Ti and B-Ti systems are optimized in this study using the experimental thermodynamic and the phase equilibrium data from the literature. The solution phases of the system are described using the substitutional solution model and the compounds (including borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The results show a good correlation between the calculated and measured thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.

Thermodynamic description of the Fe-B-C system in its iron-rich corner is developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Fe-B, Fe-C and B-C, are taken from earlier assessments modifying the B-C description. The parameters of the Fe-B-C system are optimized in this study using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. Liquid, beta-rhombo-B and graphite phases are described using the substitutional solution model, while the ferrite (bcc), the austenite (fcc), the cementite (M3C) and the M23C6 phases are described with the sublattice model and the borides, Fe2B, FeB and B4C, are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data. The description is recommended to be used at the composition region of wt% C + wt% B < 15 and at temperatures below 2700oC.

This paper presents the results of thermodynamic analysis of the crude distillation units of two refineries in Nigeria. The analysis was intended to assess the thermodynamic efficiencies of the refineries and proffer methods of improving the efficiencies. Presented results show the atmospheric distillation units of the refineries have 33.3% and 31.6% exergetic efficiencies and 86.5% and 74.6% energetic efficiencies, respectively. Modifications of the operating and feed conditions of the refineries resulted in increased exergetic efficiencies for as much as 62.3% and 38.7% for the refineries. Thermodynamic analysis of the refineries can bring about efficiency improvement and effectiveness of the refineries.

Most satellites stationed in space use catalytic propulsion systems for attitude control and orbit adjustment. Hydrazine is consumed extensively as liquid monopropellant, in the thrusters. Catalytic reactor is the most important section in the catalytic thruster. Ammonia and nitrogen gases are produced as a result of complete catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in the reactor, causing an increase in temperature and a rise in specific impulse. Ammonia is subsequently decomposed, leading to nitrogen and hydrogen gases. Decomposition of ammonia leads to a decrease in temperature, molecular weight and specific impulse. The latter phenomenon is unavoidable. The effect of ammonia decomposition on the reactor temperature, molecular weight of gaseous products and conclusively on specific impulse was studied in this article. At adiabatic state, thermodynamic analysis revealed that the maximum and minimum temperatures were 1655 K and 773 K, respectively. The highest molecular weight was obtained at ammonia conversion of zero and the lowest when ammonia conversion was 100%. The maximum specific impulse (305.4 S) was obtained at ammonia conversion of zero and completely conversion of ammonia, the minimum specific impulse (about 213.7 s) was obtained. For specific impulse, the result of thermodynamic calculation in this work was validated by the empirical results.

One of the problems in Russia Power Sector strategy until 2035 is the technologies development for mitigation of harmful emissions by the heat and power production industry. This goal may be reached by the transition to environmentally friendly generation units such as oxy-fuel combustion power cycles that burn organic fuels in pure oxygen. This paper provides the results of research on one of the most efficient oxy-fuel combustion power cycle, which was modified by the usage of nitrogen for turbine cooling. The computer simulation and parametric optimization approaches are described in detail. The net efficiency of the oxy-fuel combustion power cycle in relationship to the carbon dioxide turbine exhaust pressure is shown. Moreover, the influence of the regenerator scheme and modeling parameters on heat performance is obtained. Particularly, it was found that the transition to a scheme with five two-threaded heat exchangers decrease cycle efficiency by 4.2% compare to a scheme with a multi-stream regenerator.