Chemical Engineering

1. Introduction and Classification of Fluid Machinery 2. Principles of Thermodynamics and Technical Physics - Work, heat, and the first law of thermodynamics - Open thermodynamic systems - Thermal equation form - The second law of thermodynamics - Internal and external irreversibilities - The Carnot cycle - Entropy and the TdS equation - The TS diagram - Thermodynamic effects - Ideal and real cycles - Overall plant efficiency 3. Gas Turbines - The closed Joule-Brayton cycle: Work and ideal efficiency - The open cycle - The real open cycle - Internal efficiency - Thermal regeneration - Intercooled gas turbines - Industrial engines - Aeronautical engines 4. Steam Power Plants - Thermodynamics of water vapor - The Andrews dome in thermodynamic diagrams - Basic steam plants with Rankine and Hirn cycles - Steam cycles in thermodynamic diagrams - Energy balance and efficiency of a steam cycle - Calculating typical quantities for steam plants (steam required to produce 1 kWh, cooling water, fuel consumption) - Thermodynamic analysis of a steam cycle: Interventions to improve efficiency - Multiple superheating stages - Thermal regeneration with 1, 2, and z steam extractions - Main components of steam plants: Mixing and surface regenerators, degasser, condenser - Configuration of a real steam plant with 5 steam extractions and one reheating stage 5. Combined Cycle Power Plants - Classification - Efficiency of an unfired combined cycle - Recovery steam cycles: Heat exchange diagram in the recovery boiler (approach point, pinch point, subcooling point) - The recovery steam generator - Configurations of a recovery steam cycle: One, two, and three pressure levels, with and without reheating - Recovery steam cycle with post-combustion and expression of its efficiency - Repowering - Mixed cycles: STIG and ISTIG cycles; RWI plants 6. Turbomachinery - Recap of thermo-fluid dynamics for sub- and supersonic flows - One-dimensional flow: Hugoniot equation - Convergent ducts: Stodola’s cone - Behavior of a convergent-divergent duct - Impulse and momentum equations - Applications: 90° elbow; 180° elbow; hydraulic whirlpool - Motive turbomachines: One-dimensional Eulerian theory of turbomachines (axial machines); velocity triangles - Euler work for axial motive and operative machines - Radial turbomachines: Euler work expressions for motive and operative machines - Reaction degree of a turbomachine - Limit case: Axial motive machine with action, blade profile - Comparison between real and ideal cases - Operative turbomachines: Head - Machine-circuit coupling - Radial centrifugal turbomachines: Rotor behavior - Fluid inlet to the rotor: Inducer, prerotation blades, smooth and bladed diffuser - Installation and operating issues of centrifugal machines: Cavitation problem - Pumps in series and parallel 7. Hydraulic Turbines - Similarity theory; specific speed - Energy capture in hydraulic plants - Pelton turbine - Francis turbine - Kaplan turbine - Reaction degree of hydraulic turbines 8. Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) - Classification - Characteristic parameters - Reference thermodynamic cycles: Otto-Beau de Rochas, Diesel, Sabathé cycles; ideal case - Phase diagrams in ideal and real cases - Power expressions of an ICE, an overview of regulation systems - Two-stroke engines: Operation

The prerequisites are listed below: Fundamentals on Physics and Applied Physics (heat and mass transfer, heat exchangers). Knowledge of basics hydraulics and fluid-dynamics.

Impianti convertitori di energia, C. Caputo, ESA, Roma. La turbina a gas e i cicli combinati, G. Lozza, Ed. Pitagora, Milano. Lecture notes.

3 lectures a week

The evaluation consists of assessing the achievement of the learning objectives and outcomes through a written exam, which includes open-ended questions and the resolution of one or more exercises

Lectures will be given to introduce and explain the mathematical and methodological approaches used in the study of fluid machinery for energy conversion systems. Lectures will be also dedicated to the computation of practical test cases, dealing with mass and energy balances, and performance computation and optimization in power plants. Attending of the course is highly recommended.