Quasi Three-Dimensional Design for a Novel Turbo-Vapor Compressor and the Last Stage of a Low-Pressure Steam Turbine

Abstract

Turbo-vapor compressors (TVCs) are used to create a vacuum pressure in the evaporator of a novel combined cycle for electricity and freshwater production invented by Amin Mobarak. A novel design conceived of a TVC is introduced to increase the efficiency, allowable mass flow rate and reduce costs and losses. The system consists of a single axial compressor rotor followed by a single axial turbine rotor, which drives the upstream compressor, allowing high flow rates. A quasi-3D design is carried out for the TVC to calculate the flow velocity components and angles and ensure that the turbo-vapor turbine work is equal to the turbo-vapor compressor work. A preliminary design of the low-pressure power turbine (LPT) is done to examine the size and number of stages. The (LPT) size is twice the size of TVC at typical cycle operating conditions. A three-stage design is the most appropriate choice for the number of stages. It satisfies the accelerating relative flow condition at the last stage over a range of flow coefficients. A quasi-3D design is carried out for the LPT's last stage to ensure a multi-stage power turbine's safe design.