UP-THERM engine ready for tests!

During the last months of the project, the UP-THERM Consortium worked hard to prepare the prototype of UP-THERM engine and CHP system. The engine, designed and implemented at the University of Twente, was shipped to LABOR (Rome) in April, and is now ready to be tested.

The UP-THERM engine is a novel two-phase heat engine with a single moving part – a vertical piston – that relies on the phase change of a suitable working fluid to produce reciprocating displacement and sustained thermodynamic oscillations of pressure and flow-rate which can be converted to useful work.

An engine model is developed via lumped dynamic descriptions of each engine sub-component and via electrical analogies founded on previously developed thermoacoustic principles.This is extended here to include a description of phase change and non-linear descriptions of important engine subcomponents.

The predicted exergetic efficiency and power output from the UP-THERM model are compared to those of a sub-critical organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine model. Both systems are optimised for operation between the same heat sources and sinks. Three alkanes, the refrigerant R142b, and ammonia are considered as working fluids for both models.

Learn more about the project at: www.uptherm.net or contact the Project Coordinator, Eng. Caterina Dentoni Litta at: [e-mail].

Countries

Spain, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom