Cavitation models with thermodynamic effect for organic fluid cavitating flows in organic Rankine cycle systems: a review

Li, W. and Yu, Z. (2021) Cavitation models with thermodynamic effect for organic fluid cavitating flows in organic Rankine cycle systems: a review. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 26, 101079. (doi: 10.1016/j.tsep.2021.101079)

[img] Text
251298.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

2MB

Abstract

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plants are considered as one of the most promising technologies to generate power from low temperature heat sources such as biomass combustion, industrial waste heat, geothermal heat, and solar thermal energy. A feed pump is a key component of an ORC power plant to circulate the working fluid within the system. Owing to the low boiling temperature of most organic fluids, the feed pumps of ORC power plants are more vulnerable to suffer from cavitation. Cavitation of the organic fluid in the feed pump in an ORC system can degrade the evaporator performance and cause instabilities in the systems’ operation. Properly determining the required net positive suction head or subcooling for the pump is critical for the ORC system design and operation. Thus, this paper presents a systematic review of cavitation models with thermodynamic effect in simulations of cavitating flows. Methods for implementing thermodynamic effect were summarised. The features of the cavitation models were characterised and criticized, and their drawbacks were identified. A number of newly established cavitation models were explained and discussed in detail. Homogeneous mixture cavitation models have advantages such as less computational effort and easier implementation of thermodynamic effect in comparison with fully coupled multiscale models. However, when the thermodynamic effect is considered in the existing cavitation models, the cavitation regimes are not distinguished and applied properly. Nucleation cavitation models for organic fluids in ORC systems should be developed in terms of experimental nuclei profile and non-condensable gas concentration in future.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Li, Dr Wenguang and Yu, Professor Zhibin
Authors: Li, W., and Yu, Z.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2451-9049
Published Online:20 September 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 The Authors
First Published:First published in Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 26: 101079
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
172394Thermally Driven Heat Pump Based on an Integrated Thermodynamic Cycle for Low Carbon Domestic Heating (Therma-Pump)Zhibin YuEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/N020472/1ENG - Systems Power & Energy
171763Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste HeatZhibin YuEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/N005228/1ENG - Systems Power & Energy
300663Geothermally Sourced Power and Freshwater Generation for Eastern AfricaZhibin YuEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/P028829/1ENG - Systems Power & Energy
300273An ORC power plant integrated with thermal energy storage to utilise renewable heat sources for distributed H&PProject Number; 102883Zhibin YuEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/R003122/1ENG - Systems Power & Energy