Session: 30-12 Testing 2

Paper Number: 129128

129128 - Numerical and Experimental Comparison of a Single Stage Axial sCO2 Compressor 

The transition towards renewable energy sources has increased the demand for large-scale, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly energy storage solutions. One such solution offering a promising avenue for advanced energy conversion is a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (S-CO2) power cycle, in which a highly efficient compressor is an integral part.  A multistage axial compressor has been designed using an optimization-based methodology. The first stage of this design has been built and tested experimentally. This paper compares rigorous computational simulations with detailed experimental data including the readings from total pressure rakes, total temperature rakes, mass flow measurements, and static pressure (both steady and unsteady) measurements.  In addition, average measured tip clearance values are used in the simulations along with the detailed prescription of the experimental boundary conditions.  The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations do show a very good comparison with the data. Additionally, the study serves as a robust validation of the design and optimization process, as the experimental results closely mirror the CFD predictions. 

Furthermore, computational simulations offer a deeper understanding of the associated flow physics within the compressor. The real gas effects of S-CO2 are also studied and described in how they affected the design and testing, especially considering running to the right corrected flow and corrected speed.  Reynolds number effects are also studied and described. 

Presenting Author: Saugat Ghimire University of Cincinnati

Presenting Author Biography: Saugat Ghimire is a PhD Candidate at the University of Cincinnati, where he has been actively engaged in research at the Gas Turbine Simulation Laboratory since 2018. His primary areas of interest include Turbomachinery Design, Aerodynamics and propulsion, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Machine Learning. Saugat has worked on several projects related to propulsion system design and analysis for air and underwater vehicles; and turbomachinery design for energy storage and gas turbine applications. He has a track record of several peer-reviewed publications in these fields, showcasing his dedication to advancing this field.

Authors:

Saugat Ghimire University of Cincinnati
Justin Holder University of Cincinnati
Matthew Ha University of Cincinnati
Mark Turner University of Cincinnati
Jeongseek Kang University of Notre Dame
Scott C. Morris University of Notre Dame
Kyle Sedlacko Echogen Power Systems
Timothy J. Held Echogen Power Systems