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Entropy Generation/Availability Energy Loss Analysis Inside MIT Gas Spring and "Two Space" Test RigsThe results of the entropy generation and availability energy loss analysis under conditions of oscillating pressure and oscillating helium gas flow in two Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) test rigs piston-cylinder and piston-cylinder-heat exchanger are presented. Two solution domains, the gas spring (single-space) in the piston-cylinder test rig and the gas spring + heat exchanger (two-space) in the piston-cylinder-heat exchanger test rig are of interest. Sage and CFD-ACE+ commercial numerical codes are used to obtain 1-D and 2-D computer models, respectively, of each of the two solution domains and to simulate the oscillating gas flow and heat transfer effects in these domains. Second law analysis is used to characterize the entropy generation and availability energy losses inside the two solution domains. Internal and external entropy generation and availability energy loss results predicted by Sage and CFD-ACE+ are compared. Thermodynamic loss analysis of simple systems such as the MIT test rigs are often useful to understand some important features of complex pattern forming processes in more complex systems like the Stirling engine. This study is aimed at improving numerical codes for the prediction of thermodynamic losses via the development of a loss post-processor. The incorporation of loss post-processors in Stirling engine numerical codes will facilitate Stirling engine performance optimization. Loss analysis using entropy-generation rates due to heat and fluid flow is a relatively new technique for assessing component performance. It offers a deep insight into the flow phenomena, allows a more exact calculation of losses than is possible with traditional means involving the application of loss correlations and provides an effective tool for improving component and overall system performance.
Document ID
20060023345
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Ebiana, Asuquo B.
(Cleveland State Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Savadekar, Rupesh T.
(Cleveland State Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Patel, Kaushal V.
(Cleveland State Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2006
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Report/Patent Number
NASA/CR-2006-214339
AIAA Paper 2005-5675
E-15575
Meeting Information
Meeting: Third International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECES)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 15, 2005
End Date: August 18, 2005
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 494-04-01-01
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG3-2819
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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