Vortex Engine Research Articles

Numerical Simulation of Performance Enhancement of Solar Vortex Engine

The solar vortex engine (SVE) has been investigated to generate power using renewable energy. The SVE was constructed from a vortex generation engine (VGE) and solar air collector (SAC). The SVE system primarily utilizes vertical air movement. However, the airflow entering the VGE experiences an obstruction. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new design for the VGE that creates a swirling updraft capable of overcoming air obstruction and reducing energy losses. A 3D numerical model of VGE was developed to visualize vortex generation. The modeling of the VGE is carried using SOLIDWORKS software and ANSYS-FLUENT 18. The improved VGE has six vertical twisted convergence blades connected to six guide vanes to direct updraft air in an anticlockwise swirl. All blades and vanes are housed in a VGE cylinder with a diameter of 20cm and a height of 30cm. The simulation results were validated by comparing with the results obtained from the present experimental model. The simulation results match with a mean difference of less than 5% with the experimental measurements. The results of the current CFD investigation indicate that there is a gradient in air temperature and pressure within the VGE, ranging from the highest values of 314 K and 3.85 Pa to the lowest values of 308 K and 2.42 Pa, respectively. The CFD visualization shows a threefold increase in axial velocity and a fivefold increase in tangential velocity within an artificial vortex. Therefore, it can be concluded that the new VGE construction is highly efficient in generating a vortex.

Experimental assessment of a solar vortex engine integrated with sensible TES at different collector configurations

This study presents an experimental investigation of the effect of different solar collector geometrical parameters on the solar vortex engine's (SVE) performance. The first parametric study is concerned with a solar vortex power generation system's diameter, inlet height, and thermal energy storage (TES) extension. The experimental results revealed that extending the TES by 1 m outside the canopy significantly increases thermal efficiency by 62 %. In addition, increasing the diameter of the solar collector from 8.8 m to 10.8 m, with an extra 1 m extended TES area, increased the air temperature rise by 57 %, while the outlet air velocity increased by 32 %. On the other hand, a reduction in the collector inlet height from 0.2 m to 0.15 increased the air temperature rise while decreasing the outlet air velocity and power output potential by mean values of 19 % and 48 %, respectively. The enhancement obtained from the extended area of TES is an important finding, as it increased the air temperature for a larger canopy size without extra cost. Therefore, increasing the absorption area or the TES outside the canopy is recommended. Also, further studies are essential to correlate the inlet height to the system's performance.

Performance of solar vortex engine integrated with the PV panel: Experimental assessment

Solar energy is one of the most important options for humanity to face the danger of energy depletion and to address the problem of environmental pollution resulting from the use of fossil fuels. The primary goal of the current article study is to present a new design of a Solar Vortex Engine system integrated with a photovoltaic panel. System implementation and analysis were approached and discussed. The system consists of a 3.0 m2 solar collector inclined with a 36° and a cylindrical vortex generator engine with an outer diameter of 40 cm and a height of 30 cm.The outcomes showed that the developed solar vortex engine could generate a circular updraft with the ratio of the tangent to the axial velocity of 2.83 m/s in the upper exit plane of the vortex generation engine. The electrical efficiency of the system containing a horizontal solar panel was higher than that of the system containing a vertical solar panel and reach its highest value of 14% at 10 a.m. Also, the highest thermal efficiency values were 45% for the system without a solar panel. The results confirmed that the presence of solar panels causes a clear decrease in the thermal efficiency of the system. The proposed solar vortex engine design presented and tested in this article is convenient for forming an artificial upward vortex.

Assessment of the design influence of the vortex generator on the performance of the solar vortex engine

• Three different design configurations of the solar vortex engine are evaluated. • CFD simulation approach is used for the evaluation of the three SVE designs. • Vortex generator with transparent cover operates as a heat trap and enhances vortex. • Cone structure increases the air vorticity, temperature and buoyancy forces in the vortex. • A hole in the engine’s base produces high velocity with the least vortex stability. The vortex generator is an essential segment in the solar vortex engine (SVE). Its design could be modified to strengthen the generated air vortex and enhance the system's performance. This work aims to investigate the vortex generator design's influence on the SVE's performance. Three different vortex generator designs are studied employing three-dimensional CFD simulations. Experimental investigations have been utilised to support the CFD simulation. The considered designs are Case-1: basic design, Case-2: with a cone structure inside the arena and Case-3: with a hole at the bottom of the vortex generator. The cone structure increases the heat transfer area, increasing the vortex generator's air temperature and producing higher buoyancy forces for the flow field. Cases 1 and 2 produced the best vortex stability as the air vortex shape, pressure and vorticity distributions are uniform. The highest static pressure drop is achieved with the basic design. The basic design, Case-1, produces 1.0% and 5.0% higher static pressure drop than Case-2 and Case-3, respectively. The lower hole affected the air vortex stability negatively.

A review of atmospheric vortex engines for power generation

A review has been conducted to understand buoyancy-induced vortex flow behaviour, establish control parameters, and to assess the possibility of harnessing kinetic energy in the flow for electricity production. To create and maintain a vortex, a buoyancy force generated by a relatively large heat flux over a large surface area is required, such that warmed air is concentrated at the centre and rise. This flow induces an inward swirl and large angular momentum. These two contributions need to overcome surface friction and ambient shear flow. A single-cell vortex possesses the highest energy flux to circulation strength ratio. Even though a two-cell vortex at the base corner possesses a higher incoming tangential velocity which would translate to a larger change in angular momentum for higher aerodynamic torque, it is less stable due to high shear between the core downdraft and peripheral updraft swirl. The atmospheric vortex engine should be designed and controlled such that the buoyancy vortex can be generated and anchored, the guide vanes and other vortex station features create minimal flow shear, and the vortex stability is minimally affected by the physical presence of the turbine, saturated steam, air influx and energy extraction.

Influence of single-point total pressure probe installation position on the flow field and measurement results of the inlet stage outlet of the compressor

The measurement accuracy of a single-point L-type total pressure probe in the inlet stage outlet flow path of a vortex engine compressor and the influence of the probe on the flow field were investigated via numerical simulation. The change pattern of probe measurement results with flow rate under three typical operating conditions of cruise, maximum continuous and takeoff were analyzed, as well as the influence of the installation position on the probe measurement results. The present results show that the measurement error of the probe gradually increases with the increasing of inlet flow rate. The relative measurement error of total probe pressure is the smallest and the measurement error is linear with the flow rate at a ratio(D/d) of 6.5. The relative measurement error of the total probe pressure is greatest when the installation position is located near the leaf basin compared to the leaf back. As the probe is installed closer to the back of the leaf, the total pressure loss coefficient downstream of the probe decreases more slowly and the probe has a greater range of influence on the flow field in the flow direction. When the installation position is located near the leaf basin and leaf back, the velocity uniformity between 5 mm and 24 mm downstream of the probe is smaller.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF SOLAR VORTEX POWER GENERATION SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH SENSIBLE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

Solar updraft power technologies suffer low efficiency and require a large collection area. Enhancement techniques are essential to overcome these setbacks. This paper investigates and discusses the effect of extended Sensible Thermal Energy Storage (STES) outside the canopy of the Solar Vortex Power Generation (SVPG) system. The extended sensible thermal energy storage integration is evaluated experimentally utilizing an SVPG model installed in the solar research site in Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. The system consists of an (8-m-Dia). solar collector and a vortex generator. The selected material of the STES is black-painted pebbles that covered the ground underneath the canopy of the solar collector and then extended by 1 m outside the canopy. The variables considered for the performance evaluation are ambient, air inlet and outlet of the collector temperatures, incident solar irradiance, and air outlet velocity. Two cases have been studied, one with black painted pebbles covering the ground up to the outer diameter of the canopy (8-m-Dia) and the second is 1.0 m extended coverage outside the canopy (10-m-Dia). The performance of the SVPG is proven to enhance by the extension of the STES beyond the collector area. The extension of STES increased the mean thermal efficiency value by 0.85% and increased the mass flow rate by 0.01 kg/s. The performance indicator is increased by around 19.3%. It could be concluded that the extension of pebbles outside the canopy increases the amount of solar photothermic conversion, leading to improved efficiency of the SVPG system.
 Keywords: natural convection, photothermic conversion, sensible thermal energy storage, solar vortex engine, solar updraft power

Humidity Effect on the Simulation Accuracy of Solar Vortex Engine Performance

In this study, a validated computational simulation is presented to investigate the effect of humidity on the performance prediction of the solar vortex engine system. Data from an experimental model are used to validate the CFD simulation. Three humidity cases are considered: dry air, 40% and 80% humid air. An expansion process with heat addition is taking place inside the vortex generator. When the vortex field continues outside the system, a compression process with heat rejection occurs, eventually bringing the air vortex to be thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere. The change in total energy and the heat transfer rate for both processes, inside the vortex generator and outside the vortex generator, increase with increased humidity in the working fluid. The humidity increases the energy required by the system to generate and maintain the air vortex. Compared to the dry air, the pressure drop at the center of the vortex field decreases by (2-5%) and (4-9%) for the 40% and 80% humid air, respectively. Reduced pressure drop decreases the stability of the air vortex when it is in contact with the atmosphere. The intensity of the air vortex is not affected by the increase in humidity.

Performance evaluation of solar vortex engine and optimization of number of air entry slots and turbine location

ABSTRACT Solar vortex engine (SVE) is one of the novel alternative energy concepts which uses solar energy for creating artificial vortices. The working principle of SVE is the same as the solar updraft tower (SUT) plant. In the present study, a 3D computational model of SVE was studied to evaluate the flow parameters and power potential. The effect of the number of air entry slots (AESs) which is varied from 6 to 12 and the location of the turbine were studied and optimized. A turbulent, renormalization group (RNG) k-ɛ model was used to solve the governing equations. The flow parameters such as velocity, temperature and dynamic pressure for the optimum SVE with 8 AESs were 1.42 ms−1, 311.1 K and 1.58 Pa, respectively. The optimum height for the turbine was 0.702 m from the base plate (0.1 m from the top plate) and so that the turbine can harness maximum energy. The theoretical and actual powers for the optimum case (AESs of 8 and the turbine at 0.702 m) were 3.45 and 2.3 W, respectively. The study proved that SVE is a potential choice to replace the chimney of a solar updraft tower (SUT) plant for electricity generation.

Estimation of flow parameters and power potential of solar vortex engine (SVE) by varying its geometrical configurations: A numerical study

Solar vortex engine (SVE) is a novel concept for creating artificial vortices and airflow using solar energy. The working principle of SVE is similar to the solar updraft tower (SUT) plant, but SVE replaces the chimney of SUT plant. SVE consists of air entry slots (AES), guide blades and top and base plates having an outlet and base holes, respectively. In the present study, a 3D model of SVE with an external bounding structure (EBS) was developed to evaluate the flow parameters and visualize the flow and vortex generation inside the domain. The flow parameters were estimated by varying the top-hole diameter (0.2–0.5 m) and increasing inlet velocity at AES (0.2–0.7 m/s). The increase in top hole diameter from 0.2 to 0.5 m, flow parameters enhanced significantly and reached a maximum at 0.3 m and after it decreased. Higher inlet air velocity at AES enhanced flow parameters significantly. The optimum height was 0.702 m from base plate (0.1 m from the top plate) as it had the maximum velocity of 4.4 m/s and vorticity of 73.9 s−1, so that a turbine can be fixed at this location to harness maximum energy. The average velocity, temperature, dynamic pressure, theoretical and actual powers of SVE with EBS for optimum case (top hole diameter of 0.3 m, inlet velocity at AES of 0.7 m/s) were 1.4 m/s, 311.1 K, 1.6 Pa, 3.5 and 2.3 W, respectively. The preliminary study results shown that, SVE is one of the potential options to replace the chimney of SUT plant for generating electric power.

Numerical Simulation on Combustor of Impinging Stream Vortex Engine (ISVE)

The impinging stream vortex engine (ISVE), with the advantages of strong thermal protection performance, low cost and simple structure, emerges as the times require. In this paper, the propellant mixing performance, atomization performance, combustion performance and thermal protection performance under different working conditions are calculated and analyzed by numerical simulation for the designed impinging swirl cooling thrust chamber, and the influence of thrust chamber structure on its flow and combustion performance is discussed. The results show that the wall temperature of the thrust chamber is lower than 400K, and the combustion efficiency reaches 93%. The double eddy current structure will strengthen the combustion reaction and make the top temperature of the thrust chamber too high, which will provide theoretical guidance for the next structural design of the thrust chamber.

Solar vortex engine: Experimental modelling and evaluation

Abstract This main objective of the present paper is to introduce a novel developed model of solar vortex engine (SVE). The system design, implementation, aero-thermo-dynamic measurements and analysis have been presented and discussed. The system consists of solar air collector, 8.0 m diameter and 8.8° inclined Perspex canopy, and vortex generation engine (VGE) has a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of 1.0 m and 1.0 m height. Air was guided from the collector to the arena of vortex generation engine through eight air entry slots with guide vanes which impose the air stream to move in rotational manner. The results of this study demonstrated that the developed SVE was capable to produce swirly updraft flow with tangent to axial velocity ratio of 7.5 at the top exit plane of the VGE. At mean solar radiation of 1040 W/m2 and ambient temperature 35.6 °C, air temperature in the vortex region was about 48–49 °C. The proposed design of the SVE, introduced and experimented in this work, is sufficient to generate the updraft vortex flow. It is recommended to carry out numerical analysis to extend the investigation for the geometrical effects on the system performance.

A review of convective and artificial vortices for power generation

Thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere occurs from a high temperature zone to a low one by means of convective vortices where mechanical energy is produced. There are two ways of driving vertical flow in the core of a vortex: (1) by the direct action of buoyancy acting on hot air and (2) by producing a vertical pressure gradient along the axis of a vortex because of core development involving the lateral spread of the vortex with height. In particular, it indicates that the intensity of convective vortices depends on the depth of the convective layer via thermodynamic efficiency, the enthalpy perturbation across them, and the existence of sources of vorticity. The atmospheric vortex engine (AVE) is a device for producing an artificial vortex. The operation of AVE is based on the fact that the atmosphere is heated from the bottom and cooled at the top. By artificial vortex generation, it is aimed to eliminate the physical solar updraft tower and reduce the capital cost of solar chimney power plants. This paper reviews natural convective vortices and vortex creation via physical principles of vortex generation. Vortex analysis and modelling are presented. Furthermore, a new model of a solar vortex engine (SVE) is proposed and discussed. An idea on utilizing the solar energy as the heat source for establishing the vortex and operating the SVE model is adopted. The SVE model is feasible and promising for electrical power generation.

Particle Dispersion Dependency on the Entrance Position in Bidirectional Flow

This article presents a process of numerically predicting and experimentally verifying the dispersion quality and penetration level of fuel particles entering and moving in various directions relative to vortex engine walls. If the length scale of particles considered in this study is not comparable to the chamber length and, furthermore, the density is ignored, the effect of the particle on the flow field can be neglected and a one-way solution will be viable for the problem. The solutions in each case are carried out to estimate the particle trajectory and parameters affecting it. The governing equations are converted to a set of nonlinear, coupled, ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of second order, and solved by a numerical scheme. The results indicate that a high centrifugal force pushes the particles toward the sidewall. This propelling force becomes more eminent when the particles approach the chamber center-position. Moreover, the results reveal that the best injection configuration in the vortex engine arrangement is simply not the head side arrangement; the sidewall, and end side composition arrangement of the injection demonstrates to provide the best desired outcomes.

Energy from Convective Vortices

An atmospheric vortex engine (AVE) uses an artificially created tornado like vortex to capture the mechanical energy produced during upward heat convection. The vortex is created by admitting warm or humid air tangentially into a circular arena with an open top. The heat source can be solar energy, warm sea water, warm humid air or waste heat. The AVE has the same thermodynamic basis as the solar chimney except that the physical chimney is replaced by centrifugal force in a vortex. The energy is produced in peripheral turbo-generators. The AVE has a large clean and sustainable energy production potential and a small footprint. The paper describes the proposed process and its thermodynamics basis. It then describes progress made to date and current development plans of AVEtec Energy Corporation including economics and plans for commercialization.

The Sky's the Limit

This article discusses building a prototype of an atmospheric vortex engine (AVE) to increase the thermodynamic efficiency of a thermal plant. An AVE would look like a natural draft cooling tower with a controlled vortex emerging from its open top. An AVE tower could have a diameter of 300 feet and stand 10 to 20 stories tall. To fully demonstrate the AVE concept, however, it is likely necessary to build and test a prototype at an existing thermal power plant. Building the prototypes at existing thermal power plants would be advantageous because of the availability of a controlled heat source of relatively high temperature. Possessing some 20% or 30% of the capacity of the existing cooling tower, the prototype would be able to accept a fraction of the waste heat from the plant. A small gas-fired power plant in a rural location with a dry cooling tower would be a good candidate site for an AVE prototype, since it could be developed without risk to existing plant operation.

Heat Transfer Phenomena in a Vortex Engine

The rates of total and radiative heat transfers are measured experimentally, and the convective cooling is calculated from the difference between the two above mentioned quantities. It was observed that the radiation heat transfer is the dominant mode of heat transfer in a vortex engine which causes a rise in the temperature of the chamber wall; however, convective cooling provided by an outer cooled vortex decreases the wall temperature

Numerical simulation of vortex engine flow field: One phase and two phases

Aiming at improving efficiency in combustion systems, the study on droplet behavior and its trajectory is of crucial importance. Vortex engine is a kind of internal combustion engine which uses swirl flow to achieve higher combustion efficiency. One of the important advantages of designing vortex engine is to reduce the temperature of walls by confining the combustion products in the inner vortex. The scopes of this investigation are to study vortex engine flow field as well as effective parameters on fuel droplet behavior such as droplet diameter, droplet initial velocity and inlet velocity of the flow field. The flow field is simulated using Reynolds Stress Transport Model (RSM). The Eulerian-Lagrangian method and the one-way coupling approach are employed to simulate two phase flow and dispersed phase in the chamber, respectively. A new method, based on computing pressure force exerted on the droplet surface, is introduced to determine the distinction between using one-way and two-way coupling approaches. The results showed that the droplets with smaller diameter are more likely to follow the flow stream lines than bigger droplets, thus evaporate completely in the chamber. Moreover, droplets with greater initial velocity have higher evaporation rate, yielding the existence of evaporation and combustion in the inner vortex. Additionally, the higher inlet velocity of continuous phase results in higher centrifugal force, leads droplets in question to deviate towards the wall faster.

The vortex liquid piston engine and some other vortex technologies

By exploiting three unique characteristics of confined swirling incompressible flows — centrifugal acceleration, internal separation or recirculation zones near the axis, andbistability (i.e. rarefied and condensed stable states) of multi-phase flows — we developed several innovativevortex machines which will revolutionize mechanical technologies in a variety of industries. The machines utilizing these features include:Vortex Engine, Vortex Thruster, Vortex Suction Device, Vortex Chemical Reactor, Bubbling Centrifuge andVortex Mill. As a specific example, we describe here in some detail the development of a liquid piston engine, including analysis of its hydrodynamic and thermodynamic features. We have designed a laboratory ‘cold’ model and performed detailed experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses to study the role of the controlling parameters and are now ready to test a ‘hot’ model. In addition, we mention a few other vortex technologies of interest to us.