The in-depth analyses and the personal applications (third step)

These analyses and personal applications will give rise to the study of innovative cycles more complex than the ones of steps one and two. You should also think about the perspective of these technologies during mini-projects that you may lead personally or within a group. (The duration of this step is very dependent on the personal activities selected).

At the end of this stage, learners should have acquired the following skills:

• be able to set a relatively simple model in Thermoptim and calculate its performance
• know how to trace the cycle in the relevant diagrams and check its coherence
• know how to size a heat exchanger
• find out in the technical documentation the technological characteristics of the monofunctional components
• know how to recalculate the exergy balance of one of the examples for a different parameter setting from a predefined spreadsheet

Finally, they will have developed their analysis and synthesis capacities within the project, by applying all the acquired knowledge, to:

• know how to analyze a relatively simple industrial installation scheme and propose, on the basis of clearly explained hypotheses, a model to represent it (for example a Thermoptim diagram), if necessary by asking the teacher for advice
• find out what technological features to look for in the technical documentation available
• after elaborating and parameterizing a model, to be able to propose ways to improve its performances

Mechanism of external classes

• Introduction to the use and programming of external classes

  Introduction to the use and programming of external classes

Fuel cells

• Modeling an SOFC stack

  In Session S61_En, we study a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell, called SOFC, fed with pure hydrogen, using a very simple two-parameter model. We show how to establish the balance of the species and that of the energies involved

• Advanced modeling of an SOFC stack

  In session S62_En, the previous model is gradually refined, first by taking into account the polarization equation of the stack, then introducing a cooling of the stack. Finally, an exercise shows how to couple the cell to a gas turbine to form a high efficiency cogeneration plant

• SOFC stack with methane

  In session S63_En, we see how to modify the previously established models to replace hydrogen with a fuel such as methane.