LEARNING OUTCOMES

Basics of the design and / or construction and / or operation of energy plants are discussed. Starting from the thermodynamics and fluid dynamics applied to energy systems, the following topics are covered: internal combustion engines, steam turbine systems, turbine and gas plants, combined heat and power plants, renewable energy plants.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will be able to:
- understand plant layouts of energy systems
- analyze the performance of energy systems and related turbomachinery
- critically interpret the measurements coming from energy plants
- research the main features of technologies for electricity production
- simulate the performance of a simple internal combustion engine

PREREQUISITES

Technical Physics

TEACHING METHODS

Class lectures and laboratory exercises.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is divided into five modules, which are summarized below.

A) ELEMENTS OF APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS AND FLUID DYNAMICS

Energy requirements, energy sources. Types of machines. Units of measurement. Main thermodynamic diagrams. Open and closed systems; technical meaning of the first and the second law of thermodynamics. Ideal transformations and efficiencies. Thermodynamic cycles. Energy equation in thermodynamic and mechanical forms.

B) RECIPROCATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

Mechanical scheme and reference thermodynamic cycles. Four stroke and two stroke engines. Internal combustion engines with compression ignition and spark ignition. Ideal cycle and quasi-ideal cycle. Real cycle. Combustion reaction and dissociation. Carburation and fuel injection. Ideal and real distribution. Elements of supercharging systems.

C) STEAM PLANT

Steam cycles and related plants: expression of efficiency; methods to improve the efficiency of the steam cycle; regeneration; the heat balance; general aspects of the circuit; circuits backpressure and cogeneration. How to regulate the power output of steam plants. Components of steam cycles: turbine and channel expansion; the condenser; the degasser; the regenerative heat exchangers; construction types.

D) PLANTS AND GAS TURBINE COMBINED CYCLES

Gas turbine cycles: simple cycle ideal, quasi-ideal and real; performance of the ideal cycle; conditions of maximum useful work; performance of the quai-ideal cycle and the real cycle. The diagram and efficiency and specific work; Main components of the gas turbine; the recuperated cycle; the intercooled cycle; the re-heated cycle. Combined cycles and plant schemes.

E) A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Hydroelectric plants and pumping systems. Geothermal systems. Solar energy plants. Wind energy plants. Biogas plants, biomass plants, district heating and high efficiency cogeneration.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACTON O., CAPUTO C. - (1) Introduzione allo studio delle macchine; (2)  Impianti  motori; (4) Turbomacchine - UTET

BENSON S. - The Thermodynamics and Gas Dynamics of ICE - Clarendon Pres

CLUP A. - Principles of energy conversion - McGraw-Hill

DIXON S.L. - Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery - Pergamon

LOZZA G. - Turbine a gas e cicli combinati - Progetto Leonardo

MORAN, SHAPIRO - Fundamentals of Thermodynamics - J.Wiley

SANDROLINI S, NALDI G. - Macchine - Pitagora

STECCO S. - Impianti di conversione energetica - Ed. Pitagora

TAYLOR C. - The Internal Combustion Engine - MIT 

VAN WYLEN, SONNTAG - Fundamentals of Thermodynamics - Wiley

VARDY A. - Fluid Principles - McGraw-Hill