Simulation modeling and experimental analysis of thermodynamic charge performance in a variable-mass thermodynamic system

Abstract

The thermodynamic charge performance of a variable-mass thermodynamic system was investigated by the simulation modeling and experimental analysis. Three sets of experiments were conducted for various charge time and charge steam flow under three different control strategies of charge valve. Characteristic performance parameters from the average sub-cooled degree and the charging energy coefficient point of views were also defined to evaluate and predict the charge performance of system combined with the simulation model and experimental data. The results show that the average steam flow reflects the average sub-cooled degree qualitatively, while the charging energy coefficients of 74.6%, 69.9% and 100% relate to the end value of the average sub-cooled degree at 2.1, 2.9 and 0 respectively for the three sets of experiments. The mean and maximum deviations of the results predicted from those by experimental data are smaller than 6.8% and 10.8%, respectively. In conclusion, the decrease of average steam flow can effectively increase the charging energy coefficient in the same charge time condition and therefore improve the thermodynamic charge performance of system. While the increase of the charging energy coefficient by extending the charge time needs the consideration of the operating frequency for steam users.

Keywords

variable-mass thermodynamic system / steam accumulator / thermal mixing / simulation

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