Analyzing Thermophysical Phenomena in a Thermopressor for Air Intercooling Systems

Employing interstage contact cooling techniques can enhance the efficiency of multistage air compression, which is critical for gas turbine performance. Traditionally, intercooling has relied on ambient cooling methods. The proposed solution utilizes a thermopressor in the intercooling system. To examine the complex thermophysical phenomena occurring within the thermopressor, a computational model based on the finite volume technique was developed. The discrete phase models enabled simulating the water evaporation. The simulation quantified key output parameters representing the primary two-phase flow (air-water) characteristics at the thermopressor outlet. The results showcase the thermopressor's effectiveness in realizing finely-dispersed water atomization, consequently enabling near-isothermal compression. Hence, applying the thermopressor could substitute traditional air cooling, decreasing compressor work and power by about 10%, while simultaneously increasing working fluid mass flowrate, ultimately translating to improved gas turbine performance. The consistent results validate the feasibility of substituting conventional inter-cooling via the designed thermopressor leading to improved gas turbine efficiency and operational economy.