The Internal Condensation Engine for power generation from low temperature waste heat
Gerald Muller (Water and Environmental Engineering)
In the UK, there is a potential of low temperature waste heat and waste steam with temperatures of 80 to 150 C of 7 TWh per year, this corresponds to 40% of the total waste heat production. This energy resource is mostly unused, since there is no cost-effective heat engine for this temperature range. Existing technology, mostly the Organic Rankine Cycle systems, are complex and they use refrigerants as working fluids which can have greenhouse warming potential.
The Newcomen engine is the oldest steam engine. It is an atmospheric engine where the steam is condensed and the arising vacuum, or rather the atmospheric pressure acting from the outside, drives the engine. Its operating temperature is 100C, which makes it suitable for waste heat recovery. However, its efficiency is very low so that is considered of historic interest only. Recent theoretical work at Southampton University has however shown that a new geometry, combined with the use of plastic as material for cylinder and piston, can increase the efficiency significantly. This opens up the possibility to develop a very simple and cost-effective heat engine for low temperature waste heat.
In this 3.5 year fully-funded PhD project you will investigate and develop the Internal Condensation Engine as a simple and cost effective heat engine for low temperature waste heat. Theoretical numerical and experimental methods will be used to analyse and improve the cycle. New components such as rotary valves will be developed to allow for a further increase in efficiency. A bench scale technology demonstrator will be built and tested to assess the actual performance, and to compare it with the theoretical predictions.
We are looking for a driven applicant with a strong Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Physics or Engineering, and expertise and interest in thermodynamics and in renewable energy, and who is also motivated to widen their knowledge to understand the complex engine development which involves theory as well as components design and testing.
Waste steam emission, 1 m3/second of steam has a thermal energy of 1.7 MJ
Key skills: Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Experimental work
Eligibility: UK rates (subject to fund availability)
Start date: October 2023 (subject to fund availability)
Application deadline: August 2023
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
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Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
Explore our website:
Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department