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Isobaric Expansion Engines–Compressors: Thermodynamic Analysis of Multistage Vapor Driven Compressors

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Kronberg

    (Encontech B.V. TNW/SPT, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Maxim Glushenkov

    (Encontech B.V. TNW/SPT, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Sander Roosjen

    (Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Sascha Kersten

    (Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Isobaric expansion (IE) engines can directly convert heat into mechanical energy, making them particularly attractive for applications such as vapor-driven pumps and compressors. A recent initial assessment investigating the utilization of IE engines as vapor-driven reciprocating compressors has revealed that the vapor use efficiency is inherently low in the case of the simplest direct-acting compressor designs. Based on this analysis, it was anticipated that multistage compression can offer significant advantages for vapor-driven compressors. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a comprehensive analytical thermodynamic analysis of direct vapor-driven multistage reciprocating compressors. The analysis considers processes without intercooling and processes with intercooling of the compressed gas between stages. The findings demonstrate that, for vapor-driven compression, the benefits of multistage compression are superior to those known for conventional compression processes. Multistage vapor-driven compression not only reduces compression work and temperature elevation but, more importantly, mitigates the adverse effects on vapor compression of the driving vapor, thereby enabling a substantial improvement in vapor utilization efficiency. Furthermore, the total volume of the IE engine compressor experiences a significant decrease with an increasing number of stages. Consequently, under specific process parameters, the overall dimensions of the engine-compressor system may also decrease as the number of stages increases. The results offer significant opportunities for energy savings in energy-intensive compression processes by replacing electrical energy with readily available low-grade heat sources (<100 °C). Such processes include hydrogen, air, and ethylene compression at high pressure.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Kronberg & Maxim Glushenkov & Sander Roosjen & Sascha Kersten, 2023. "Isobaric Expansion Engines–Compressors: Thermodynamic Analysis of Multistage Vapor Driven Compressors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:19:p:6791-:d:1246609
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    References listed on IDEAS

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