Optimization and experimental validation of a model for scroll expander applied to organic Rankine cycles

• Grant number: 23/15486-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Cristiano Bigonha Tibirica
• Grantee: Guilherme Crovador
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This undergraduate scientific research project aims to improve the modeling of organic Rankine cycles studied by the Heat Transfer Research Group of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the São Carlos School of Engineering, giving sequence to the regular FAPESP project "Study of critical heat flux and film boiling applied to compact heat exchangers at high temperatures", (proc. FAPESP n. 2019/110066-9). In the latter, heat exchangers were modeled and experimentally tested for application in organic Rankine cycles to reuse thermal energy from exhaust gases and a complete experimental test facility was completed. The current scientific project aims to optimize the scroll expander model of this bench, which is a component with the highest effect on the thermal efficiency. This model defines the thermodynamic processes and irreversibility calculation procedures throughout the flow within this expander allowing the determination of its main operational characteristics. The model will be validated with data from the experimental facility. It is expected to obtain a model of low computational complexity, so that it can be applied in the dynamic simulation of organic Rankine cycles carried out in our laboratory.