The development of the renewable energies use requires technologies for the efficient employment of resources such as wind, sun and biomasses. Small size power plants may play a significant role in the use of renewable energies such as geothermal, solar and biomasses, where in this last case being primary matter stocking and transportation costs still a challenge. A small volumetric steam engine may be considered an interesting device for an efficient and flexible use the heat. In effects, this kind of engine may be operated with different kind of fluids, is quite insensitive to high degrees of humidity at the end of the expansion and is able to manage small volumetric flow rates with no losses in conversion efficiency. This paper shows the development of a rotary steam engine derived from a Wankel internal combustion engine. This engine was taken into account for this use due to its low bulk, vibration and noise running. Moreover, its use as an external combustion engine overrides its typical disadvantages that mainly belong to the combustion phase. The numerical modelling and the experimental tests using compressed air in a first prototype are shown in this paper. Furthermore a complete plant for the experimental tests using water saturated steam is also presented, as well as a new prototype, this last allowing the investigations on new issues, such as the use of new materials for sealings and their lubrication by means of a water film.
A Study on the Rotary Steam Engine for Distributed Generation in Small Size Power Plants
ANTONELLI, MARCO;LENSI, ROBERTO;MARTORANO, LUIGI
2011-01-01
Abstract
The development of the renewable energies use requires technologies for the efficient employment of resources such as wind, sun and biomasses. Small size power plants may play a significant role in the use of renewable energies such as geothermal, solar and biomasses, where in this last case being primary matter stocking and transportation costs still a challenge. A small volumetric steam engine may be considered an interesting device for an efficient and flexible use the heat. In effects, this kind of engine may be operated with different kind of fluids, is quite insensitive to high degrees of humidity at the end of the expansion and is able to manage small volumetric flow rates with no losses in conversion efficiency. This paper shows the development of a rotary steam engine derived from a Wankel internal combustion engine. This engine was taken into account for this use due to its low bulk, vibration and noise running. Moreover, its use as an external combustion engine overrides its typical disadvantages that mainly belong to the combustion phase. The numerical modelling and the experimental tests using compressed air in a first prototype are shown in this paper. Furthermore a complete plant for the experimental tests using water saturated steam is also presented, as well as a new prototype, this last allowing the investigations on new issues, such as the use of new materials for sealings and their lubrication by means of a water film.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
