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Investigation of energy saving potentials in T-junction and elbow in compressed air systems

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Abstract

In recent times, the applications of numerical methods are gaining momentum to carry out critical analysis to identify electrical energy and related emission saving potential on real-time application. The chosen specific area of the current work is the simulation of compressed airflow through pipes. The pressure gradient across compressed air pipe junction was simulated, and the result showed that the minimum pressure drop occurs when a branch line is taken at an angle of 46° with horizontal from the main pipe against the conventional T branch. In case of elbow, 150-mm fillet radius gave minimum pressure drop against 90° elbow. The CFD analysis carried out on T and elbow of compressed air pipe network with various inlet air pressures of 4 × 105, 6 × 105, and 8 × 105 Pa showed that a no. of redesigned junction geometry, which is 5000, can reduce compressor electricity consumption by 127.14 MWh per annum and CO2 emission by 37.31 t per annum.

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Abbreviations

C ε1, C ε2 :

Standard k-ε model constants

Dy:

No. of days for the year

E R :

Energy recovered (MWh)

ES i :

Energy source i (electricity or fuel wood/Briquette)

EF i :

Emission factor for the fuel type (i)

H :

Operating hour

INR:

Indian Rupees

N θ :

Adiabatic power (kW) at angle θ and is replaced with fillet radius (r) in case of elbows

n :

No. of junctions

Na:

Adiabatic power required (MWh)

p 1 and p 2 :

Initial and final pressure in pascal (absolute)

Q :

Flow rate (m3/h)

r :

Fillet radius

γ :

Compression index, 1.4

k :

Turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s2)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg/ms)

μ t :

Turbulent viscosity (kg/ms)

σ k :

Turbulent Prandtl number for k

σ ε :

Turbulent Prandtl number for ε

ε :

Turbulent dissipation per unit mass

ρ :

Mass density (kg/m3)

k :

Kinetic energy of turbulent fluctuations

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kalasalingam, Anandnagr, Krishnankoil, India

    M. T. Sambandam & S. Rajakarunakaran

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kufa, 21 Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

    N. A. Madlool

  3. UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), Level 4, Wisma R&D UM, University of Malaya, 59990, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    N. A. Madlool

  4. School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    R. Saidur

  5. Department of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK

    R. Saidur

  6. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Kalasalingam, Anandnagar, India

    D. Devaraj

Authors
  1. M. T. Sambandam
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  2. N. A. Madlool
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  3. R. Saidur
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  4. D. Devaraj
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  5. S. Rajakarunakaran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. A. Madlool.

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Sambandam, M.T., Madlool, N.A., Saidur, R. et al. Investigation of energy saving potentials in T-junction and elbow in compressed air systems. Energy Efficiency 10, 1099–1113 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-016-9493-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-016-9493-0

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