Thermodynamic behaviour of supercritical water as working fluid in advanced coal-fired power plants: simulation and design study

Gil-García, Álvaro Antonio (2017). Thermodynamic behaviour of supercritical water as working fluid in advanced coal-fired power plants: simulation and design study. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The UK is facing an energy crisis due to the closure of old nuclear power plants which will not be replaced until Generation III nuclear reactors are built. Coal is a realistic option to fill the gap, although there is a need to use cleaner and efficient technologies as a means to comply with global environmental regulations.
Supercritical coal-fired power is a viable clean coal technology; however the UK National Grid Code is built around conventional power plants, and thus compliance is uncertain. Modelling the thermal behaviour of the supercritical boiler water cycle using computational fluid dynamics is a practical method to approach compliance.
The CFD models developed with the software Comsol Multiphysics were validated and verified using experimental and numerical data, respectively. Subsequently, a test-element representing one pipe from the water wall was scaled-down to match computational requirements, and tested at two different thermal boundary conditions. A strong, forcedconvective flow was revealed, with buoyancy effects at the inlet and a considerable influence of thermal acceleration. The sharp changes of the thermo-physical properties were the most influential hydrothermal factor. Heat transfer coefficient peaked near the pipe inlet, and the outlet section showed mild hydro-thermal performance, impaired by the acceleration effects.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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