Design, optimisation and evaluation of the S-CO2 Brayton cycle for marine low-speed engine flue gas

Abstract

Five configurations of the S-CO2 Brayton cycle (SCBC) were constructed for flue gas waste heat recovery (WHR) of the marine low-speed engine HHM-6EX340EF on the EBSILON platform using the bench test data to save energy, reduce emissions and the efficient operation of ocean-going vessels. Experimental data from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was utilised to validate the accuracy of the model and the effect of Brayton cycle parameters on flue gas WHR for different configurations was analysed. The parameters of the SCRBC (S-CO2 recompression Brayton cycle) were optimised by combining the Neural Network Fitting (NNF) model, Multi-objective optimisation algorithms, and multi-criteria decision-making methods. Finally, the thermodynamic analysis of the low-speed engine was comprehensively evaluated by comparing five configurations of SCSBC (S-CO2 simple Brayton cycle), SCCBC (S-CO2 recuperative Brayton cycle), SCHBC (S-CO2 reheating Brayton cycle), SCIBC (S-CO2 intercooling Brayton cycle), and SCRBC. The optimised SCIBC configuration had the highest net recuperated work of 195.76 kW and the highest Brayton cycle efficiency of 20.13 %. The engine efficiency was improved by 0.82 %, 1.45 %, 1.78 %, 1.86 % and 1.68 %, the BSFC was decreased by 3.20 g/kW·h, 5.56 g/kW·h, 6.82 g/kW·h, 7.04 g/kW·h, and 6.43 g/kW·h, and the output power increased by 86.90 kW, 153.33 kW, 195.76 kW, 189.36 kW, and 178.14 kW, respectively. The maximum exergy loss of the cooler was 162.67 kW with an exergy loss efficiency of 14.54 % in the SCSBC configuration. Optimising the flue gas heat exchanger and cooler will further enhance the efficiency and reduce emissions. Research on the parameter and configuration optimisation of the SCBC for marine low-speed diesel engines can be extended to other low-speed engines.