Hybrid Brayton cycle for distributed micro-grid applications by potential use of biomass and solar renewable resources
| dc.contributor.author | Allahgholipour, Seyedeh Fatemeh | |
| dc.contributor.examiningcommittee | Kuhn, David (Mechanical Engineering) Zhang, Qiang (Biosystems Engineering) | en_US |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Chatoorgoon, Vijay (Mechanical Engineering) | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-12-15T16:53:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-12-15T16:53:08Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2020-12-15 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-12 | en_US |
| dc.date.submitted | 2020-12-15T15:04:57Z | en_US |
| dc.date.submitted | 2020-12-15T16:11:11Z | en_US |
| dc.degree.discipline | Mechanical Engineering | en_US |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Science (M.Sc.) | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Distributed biomass heat-and-power systems can provide robust micro-grids in remote communities that seek to put an end on their diesel dependency, thus providing communities with 100% renewable energy for heat, power, and electrified transportation. These bioenergy systems can be further integrated with local solar resources to reduce wood consumption in summer seasons using low-level concentrated solar to add energy to the heat engine cycle. A comprehensive model for the small-scale biomass novel Hybrid Brayton Cycle is developed using Matlab® environment and integrated with solar energy to provide a simple and inertly safe system for heat and power generation in remote communities. The comprehensive model is then validated by comparing results to a previously defined model by the inventor of the Hybrid Brayton Cycle. The proposed system is designed using water spray injections using humidification at elevated temperatures that address low efficiencies associated with in-direct fired air-cycle turbines. The Hybrid Brayton Cycle with solar heater is shown to operate at an overall electrical efficiency of 23% and thermal efficiency of 74%, using a 250-kW microturbine with a 15°C inlet ambient air temperature, two evaporative-cooling water sprays located before and after the recouperator, and at a compressor outlet pressure of 4.6 atm. As a result of integrating the solar heater and biomass flue gas heat exchanger for the Hybrid Brayton Cycle at the same condition, the overall electrical efficiency is 22%, and thermal efficiency is 78%. A solar after-heater is shown to reduce wood feedstock consumption by more than 20% in summer while achieving potential heat and power economics. Simulations demonstrate that the integrated system mitigates the impact of solar intermittency onto the micro-grid, thus reducing the size of battery storage requirements. Results show that an indirect-fired Hybrid Brayton Cycle with evaporative cooling can be a viable approach for small-scale distributed heat and power generation using biomass and solar in support of remote community micro-grids. | en_US |
| dc.description.note | February 2021 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1993/35164 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en_US |
| dc.rights | open access | en_US |
| dc.subject | Hybrid Brayton cycle | en_US |
| dc.subject | Small scale | en_US |
| dc.subject | Biomass | en_US |
| dc.subject | Solar | en_US |
| dc.subject | Distributed | en_US |
| dc.title | Hybrid Brayton cycle for distributed micro-grid applications by potential use of biomass and solar renewable resources | en_US |
| dc.type | master thesis | en_US |