Abstract
The power, water extraction, and refrigeration (PoWER) system generates electric power, potable water and refrigeration effects simultaneously, and is composed of a micro-turbine and vapor absorption refrigeration system, which typically uses ammonia, heat exchangers, and a turbocharger. In order to improve the efficiency and the electric output power of the micro-turbine portion of the PoWER system, attempts have previously been made to reduce the inlet temperature of the compressor. However, it was problematic to drive it below the freezing point since frost or ice forms from the humidity in re-circulated air. As a result, the ice accretion that attaches on the bell mouth or guide vane might increase the pressure drop, leading to performance loss. Furthermore, large sections that break from the ice accretion may cause damage to the compressor blades. In this paper experiments have been conducted under the same environmental conditions as the PoWER system in order to observe the physical characteristic of the frost formation on cylindrical tubes. The results show the thickness of the frost formation for different air velocities (3, 5, 7 m/s) and surface temperatures (−9.8, −16.6, −24.4°C) with respect to time.
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Recommended by Associate Editor Tong Seop Kim
Sung Joo Hong received his B.S. in Department of Mechanical Design Engineering from Chonbuk National University, South Korea, in 2007 and a M.S. in Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, USA, in 2013. He is currently a student pursuing Ph.D. in Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Science at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His research interests are in thermal and fluid engineering, energy and gas dynamics, and membrane-typed absorption refrigeration system.
William E. Lear Jr. received his Ph.D. in 1984 from the Stanford University. He is currently an associate-professor in Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, USA. His research interests are in thermal sciences, high-energy gas dynamics, advanced gas turbines, spacecraft thermal management, fuel cells.
Min Soo Kim received his Ph.D. in 1993 from Chonbuk National University, Korea. He has been full-professor at Jeonbuk National University, Korea, since 1993. He had been with the Tohoku University, Japan, during the year 1996 as Post-Doctor and the University of Florida, USA during the year 2012, as a visiting scholar. His research interests include thermal and fluid engineering, heat exchanger and cooler, Renewable energy and application, steam and gas turbine, and refrigeration & air conditioning.
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Hong, S.J., Lear, W.E. & Kim, M.S. Physical characteristics of frost formation in semi-closed cycle turbine engines. J Mech Sci Technol 28, 1581–1588 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0144-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0144-0