Design of Thermal Systems
Year
2024
Class Overview
In Design of Thermal Systems, I developed expertise in analyzing and designing complex thermo-fluid and energy systems, covering topics such as power generation, refrigeration, HVAC, and renewable energy sources. I applied thermodynamic principles to projects involving phase change and heat exchangers, including detailed environmental impact assessments. My final project integrated research, design synthesis, and environmental analysis, culminating in a comprehensive report and presentation.
Sports Car Engine Design
In a final group project for my Design of Thermal Systems course, I analyzed sports car engine optimization with a focus on thermodynamic efficiency, compression ratio, and air-to-fuel ratio (AFR). Our team calculated a maximum efficiency of 59.49% with a compression ratio of 12 and a lambda value of 1.4. This project highlighted the cost-effectiveness of increasing lambda for fuel efficiency, as well as the environmental and financial impacts of different engine design choices, emphasizing strategies to balance power, efficiency, and emissions.
Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine for a Solar Tower Power System
In this project, I designed a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) for a solar tower power system, integrating Brayton and Rankine cycles with a custom-designed heat exchanger. This heat exchanger connects the topping and bottoming cycles through preheating, evaporating, and superheating processes. After analyzing component efficiencies and operating conditions, the system achieved a net thermodynamic efficiency of 28.71% with a net power output of 38.92 MW. The heat exchanger design includes 200 tubes per section, achieving a balance between effective heat transfer and structural requirements, with an actual heat flux well below the critical threshold for safe operation.
Brayton Cycle Topping System for a Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine
In this report, I designed a Brayton cycle topping system for a combined-cycle gas turbine using a solar tower power setup, modeled for optimal performance in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Utilizing ambient air as the working fluid and high Direct Normal Irradiation, I analyzed the cycle’s thermodynamic efficiency under various compression ratios and component efficiencies. MATLAB simulations enabled optimization, resulting in a thermodynamic efficiency of 28.1% at an ideal compression ratio of 21 and mass flow rate of 335.83 kg/s. This setup requires 3,205 heliostats, each with a 100 m² surface area, and achieves a net power output of 38,105 kW.
Bottoming Cycle for a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
In this report, I designed a bottoming cycle for a combined cycle gas turbine, selecting the Farmington River as the coolant source based on environmental relevance to my Connecticut upbringing. I explored various operating parameters and idealized assumptions, including adiabatic and isobaric processes, to optimize the system's thermodynamic efficiency. Through MATLAB and XSteam, I modeled component efficiencies, heat exchange, and flow characteristics to achieve a thermal efficiency of 29.7% at an optimal turbine inlet temperature of 403.15 K. This design utilized a 60-tube condenser and achieved a turbine power output of 811.44 kW, demonstrating a robust approach to effective energy conversion in a Rankine cycle.
