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CFD analysis and design optimization of an air manifold for a biomass boiler

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Listed:
  • Bianco, Vincenzo
  • Szubel, Mateusz
  • Matras, Beata
  • Filipowicz, Mariusz
  • Papis, Karolina
  • Podlasek, Szymon

Abstract

The present paper reports the results of the design optimization of an air manifold utilized for delivering the air necessary for the combustion process in a biomass-fired batch boiler. A CFD model is built and validated by using experimental data. The numerical model is used to improve the device performances by reducing the entropy generation, considered as a measure of the effectiveness of the design. Other parameters, namely outlet velocities, are also monitored in order to guarantee an efficient combustion process. Four different designs of the manifold, characterized by a progressive reduction in entropy generation, are proposed and then compared with the base case. In each design step possible sources of irreversibility, such as corners, sharp variation of the flow direction, etc. are smoothed, for example by rounding the corners or by accompanying the flow in its directional changes. For all the cases, entropy generation is monitored and a reduction in its value of ∼10 times is observed if the first and last designs are compared. Values of velocities and pressure drops are monitored to confirm the acceptability of the improved designs. Finally, entropy generation and pressure drops are analysed for varied air flow controlled by the fan power.

Suggested Citation

  • Bianco, Vincenzo & Szubel, Mateusz & Matras, Beata & Filipowicz, Mariusz & Papis, Karolina & Podlasek, Szymon, 2021. "CFD analysis and design optimization of an air manifold for a biomass boiler," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 2018-2028.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:163:y:2021:i:c:p:2018-2028
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saidur, R. & Abdelaziz, E.A. & Demirbas, A. & Hossain, M.S. & Mekhilef, S., 2011. "A review on biomass as a fuel for boilers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 2262-2289, June.
    2. Khodaei, Hassan & Guzzomi, Ferdinando & Yeoh, Guan H. & Regueiro, Araceli & Patiño, David, 2017. "An experimental study into the effect of air staging distribution and position on emissions in a laboratory scale biomass combustor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 1243-1255.
    3. Chapela, Sergio & Cid, Natalia & Porteiro, Jacobo & Míguez, José Luis, 2020. "Numerical transient modelling of the fouling phenomena and its influence on thermal performance in a low-scale biomass shell boiler," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 309-318.
    4. Ahn, Joon & Kim, Hyouck Ju, 2020. "Combustion process of a Korean wood pellet at a low temperature," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 391-398.
    5. Rohan R. Pande & Milind P. Kshirsagar & Vilas R. Kalamkar, 2020. "Experimental and CFD analysis to study the effect of inlet area ratio in a natural draft biomass cookstove," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1897-1911, March.
    6. Szubel, Mateusz & Filipowicz, Mariusz & Matras, Beata & Podlasek, Szymon, 2018. "Air manifolds for straw-fired batch boilers – Experimental and numerical methods for improvement of selected operation parameters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1003-1015.
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    1. Krzysztof Lalik & Mateusz Kozek & Szymon Podlasek & Rafał Figaj & Paweł Gut, 2021. "Q-Learning Neural Controller for Steam Generator Station in Micro Cogeneration Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Zadravec, Tomas & Rajh, Boštjan & Kokalj, Filip & Samec, Niko, 2021. "Influence of air staging strategies on flue gas sensible heat losses and gaseous emissions of a wood pellet boiler: An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 532-548.

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