Session: 30-11 Testing 1

Paper Number: 129457

129457 - Commissioning and Operation of an Inventory Management System 

The DOE STEP 10 MWe Pilot Scale sCO2 Power Plant encompasses several pieces of turbomachinery that utilize dry gas seals to contain the process fluid. The system also has a large piping loop and multiple heat exchangers making it a large volume to fill with CO2. The plant requires an inventory management system (IMS) in order to supply the dry gas seal systems, fill the process volume, and allow for the system to change load while operating. The size of this system is important to have the ability to support the operation of the plant. In order to allow the plant to change load quickly, the pressure of the system needs to stay between the low pressure of the compressor suction and the high pressure of the compressor discharge. This allows the natural pressure differential to drive flow in and out of the IMS as the plant changes load. The major factor in changing load is the mass flow through the system. With CO2 near the critical point, the temperature of the tanks will be an important part of the design selection of the IMS volume required. In order to supply the dry gas seal systems when the machinery is stopped, there also needs to be a system to increase the pressure and drive flow to the dry gas seals. This paper will discuss the commissioning and operation of the IMS system in the STEP power plant. 

Presenting Author: George Khawly Southwest Research Institute

Presenting Author Biography: Mr. Khawly is an Engineer in the Power Cycle Machinery Section at Southwest Research Institute. He performs evaluations and analyzes propulsion and energy machinery with its associate sub-systems. He has experience in modeling thermal cycles utilizing the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation framework (NPSS) for design, off design, and transient operations. Mr. Khawly utilizes and has avid interest in learning and utilizing Python in conjunction with other tools such as Pandas for data analysis in conjunction with Microsoft Excel. Having graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Mechanical Engineering major (Chemistry minor), Mr. Khawly gained experience from various research projects which include working on material testing and automation and controls, developing ways to mechanically test various specimens, automating chemical and mechanical processes which batched and quantified specified analytes. Through these experiences, he became adept in additive manufacturing techniques and ASTM testing standards. Additionally, Mr. Khawly has also gained experience in chemical analytical techniques such as: chromatography techniques (HPLC, UHPLC and Paper Chromatography) and spectrometry (Infrared and UV-Vis). During his time at SwRI, Mr. Khawly provided support in the simulation aspect of several projects including but not limited to a pumped-heat energy storage project; assisting in the development of tools and elements for NPSS and python that facilitated simulations and subsequently perform data analysis.

Authors:

Joshua Warren Southwest Research Institute
George Khawly Southwest Research Institute