Industrial Process Steam

If polywell fusion is developed, in what ways will the world change for better or worse? Discuss.

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BenTC
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Industrial Process Steam

Post by BenTC »

As much as the ultimate aim is for a pB11 Direct Conversion Polywell, if that doesn't make it, then a thermal conversion would still be entirely useful for industrial processes. I got some steam figures from an Aluminium Refinery. Can anyone help me work back to sizing a Polywell?

Steam 740 t/hr
+ 490 t/hr @ 1300 degrees C
+ 250 t/hr @ 450 degrees C

That is just for process requirements, exclusive of onsite electrical generation.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.

WizWom
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Post by WizWom »

OK, you need the enthalpy of steam at these temperatures.

Honestly, 1300C is insanely hot for steam. Are you sure about these numbers?

Then, convert from whatever you get to Joules, divide by your 3600 seconds, and you have Watts.
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Giorgio
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Post by Giorgio »

That's more probably 1300F supercritical steam.

BenTC
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Post by BenTC »

This is Australia. We don't do that non-SI temperature scale.
For reference here is a similar process.
2.3.7 Calcination
Product hydrate or aluminimum hydroxide is passed through oil-fired calciners where temperatures up to 1100 degreesC drive off the chemically bound water to form alumina.
and here is another.

Edit: Note that is 1100 degreesC at point of use, not at point of generation of the steam.

I've had a hunt around and can't find appropriate enthalpy of steam info. Anyone have tables handy?
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.

Giorgio
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Post by Giorgio »

I understand what you mean, that is recovered steam from calcination. Here are the info you need:

State Superheated Steam 1300 C
Pressure (P) 1.0000 bar
Temperature (T) 1300.0 C
Density () 0.13773 kg/m3
Specific Volume (v) 7.2604 m3/kg
Enthalpy (h) 5413.2 kJ/kg
Entropy (s) 10.523 kJ/kg-K (mayer)



State Superheated Steam 1100 C
Pressure (P) 1.0000 bar
Temperature (T) 1100.0 C
Density () 0.15780 kg/m3
Specific Volume (v) 6.3371 m3/kg
Enthalpy (h) 4893.5 kJ/kg
Entropy (s) 10.170 kJ/kg-K (mayer)



State Superheated Steam 450 C
Pressure (P) 1.0000 bar
Temperature (T) 450.00 C
Density () 0.29992 kg/m3
Specific Volume (v) 3.3342 m3/kg
Enthalpy (h) 3382.8 kJ/kg
Entropy (s) 8.6946 kJ/kg-K (mayer)

BenTC
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Post by BenTC »

Thanks Giorgio. I guess I really should find the exact return temperature to the generation plant, however for now I'll take it to be 1100C.

From http://www.criticalprocesses.com/Use%20 ... needed.htm
Heat Required = (5413 - 4893) = 520 kJ/kg.
Power = 520E3 * 490E3 / 3600 = 7.08E7 = 70MW.
This article CFD Modelling of Alumina Calciner Furnaces puts it at 25MW.

Perhaps a nice application for a thermal Polywell before the intracacies of direct conversion are sorted out.
Anyone got a one they can loan on trial?
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.

Nik
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Microwaves, too ?

Post by Nik »

Would you have any use for the microwave output, too ?

BenTC
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Re: Microwaves, too ?

Post by BenTC »

Nik wrote:Would you have any use for the microwave output, too ?
Sorry, I don't know.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.

Giorgio
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Post by Giorgio »

BenTC wrote:Thanks Giorgio. I guess I really should find the exact return temperature to the generation plant, however for now I'll take it to be 1100C.

From http://www.criticalprocesses.com/Use%20 ... needed.htm
Heat Required = (5413 - 4893) = 520 kJ/kg.
Power = 520E3 * 490E3 / 3600 = 7.08E7 = 70MW.
This article CFD Modelling of Alumina Calciner Furnaces puts it at 25MW.

Perhaps a nice application for a thermal Polywell before the intracacies of direct conversion are sorted out.
Anyone got a one they can loan on trial?
I'll go by memory here, as it is more than 10 years that I am not involved anymore in Alumina Industry.

Energy requirement in one of the last Fluid Bed Calciner was in the range of 3GJ/Ton Alumina produced, with temperatures in the fluid bed around 1000C.
The system was quite well optimized, with the use of multistage preheating system to recover the waste gas heat as well as the heat of the cooling step of the alumina.

Overall the alumina and aluminum manufacture are the two industries that might get the biggest economy improvement from a cheap source of heat and power.

Edited to fix some typo.

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