Computational-experimental framework for realizing a novel apparatus for supercritical water by induction heating

Abstract

Supercritical fluid technologies are widely used in various applications ranging from pharmaceutical to food industry, from energy sector to petrochemistry and, recently, also in the internal combustion engine. The main issue associated with bringing water to supercritical conditions is related to irregular heat transfer regimes due to the continuous variations in thermodynamic properties, as the temperature increases. Induction heating systems can be used to achieve these conditions quickly and efficiently. In this study, a novel system designed to heat and pressurize a fluid above its critical condition is presented. The adopted pressurization system consists of common-rail automotive derivation devices, while the heat bringing temperature above the supercritical value is supplied through an induction heating system. For the choice of the proper power of the induction device, a numerical simulation has been carried out. The whole system has been tested with water to demonstrate the ability of the device to reach the supercritical target conditions.