Energy Research Group Department of Engineering University of Waikato

1. The Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Achieving Energy Reductions in New Zealand’s Industrial Energy Consumption Energy Research Group Department of Engineering University of Waikato Martin Atkins

2. Presentation Overview • Industrial Energy Usage in NZ • What is CFD? • How can CFD Save Energy? • Industrial Air Heater Example • Pulp Screening Example • Obstacles to Uptake

3. NZ Energy Usage by Sector PJ Total NZ Energy Use = 490 PJ Energy Overview, Ministry of Economic Development, 2002.

4. % NZ Industrial Energy Use Energy Overview, Ministry of Economic Development, 2002.

5. What is CFD? • Computational Fluid Dynamics involves; • Numerical simulation of complex • Fluid flow • Heat transfer • Mass transfer • Chemical reactions/processes

6. The Basic CFD Process Define & Simplify Problem Experimental & Plant Data Create Geometry & Mesh Define Boundary Conditions & Model Parameters Solving Verification & Validation Post Processing

7. How can CFD help reduce energy use? • Increase Process Insight & Understanding • Fundamental understanding is vital for optimisation • Move away from a black box approach • Optimise Process Settings • Can see effects of changes without altering the process • Evaluate Possible Alterations • Extend Experimental Work • Can gain data that is difficult to measure experimentally

8. Air Heater Example 1 – Industrial Spray Dryer

9. Industrial Air Heater

10. Industrial Air Heater • Diffuser • Used to slow & spread high velocity air from the fan • Centrifugal Supply Fan • Sizing ≈ 5kW to 300kW Flow Contraction Hot air leaves to drier • Air Inlet • May have pre-filter • Air flow rates between ≈ 5 T/hr and 350 T/hr depending on unit size • Heat Exchanger • Typically between 300 kW and 25MW in rating, thermal energy is transferred through three main mediums • Condensing steam • Heated oil • Flue gas heating - Direct Gas Fired

11. 2D – Diffuser Flow Regimes

12. Flow Distribution Problems • Flow distribution problems • High fan power required • Low heat exchanger efficiency • Potential increase in maintenance costs

13. Improved Flow Distribution • Potential savings; • Fan power • Increased thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger • Tube maintenance

14. Benefits – Specific Energy Reduction • Reduction in condensate temperature • Increased efficiency of the steam use • Increased production ~ 3 – 4 % • Reduced specific energy • Reduced possible tube failure

15. Example 2 – Pulp Pressure Screen • Used to screen pulp • Complex flow fields due to screen rotor

16. Rotor Pressure Pulse • Pressure pulse • Forward & reverse flow occurs through the screen during each pressure pulse

17. 11 10 9 Maximum capacity, t/d 8 7 6 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 Negative pressure peak, Cp Capacity & Pulse Magnitude Data from Luukonen et al, 2007

18. Optimise Rotor Element

19. Low Energy Rotor

20. Increasing tip speed Increases pressure pulse magnitude Increases capacity Increases power Capacity & Power Consumption Data from Luukonen et al, 2007

21. Rotor Power & Rotor Speed Data from Luukonen et al, 2007

22. Canfor-Northwood SW Kraft Trial 52% Energy Savings Data from Luukonen et al, 2007

23. Obstacles to Uptake in NZ • Cost $$$ • Single Commercial license US$20K+ per year • Computational Costs • Relatively low R&D spend • Lack of expertise • Lack of understanding of potential benefits • Turn around time • Unsure of CFD capabilities & applications

24. Important Considerations • What are you trying to achieve? • Model Verification & Validation • Verification - Is the model correctly implemented? Independent? • Validation - Is it realistic? Real world?

25. Conclusions • CFD can be a powerful engineering tool for use in energy reduction • Can increase understanding of the process and important variables • Validation & Verification is important for good results

26. Acknowledgements • Waikato Energy Research Group • Prof. Peter Kamp • Dr Michael Walmsley • Jonas Hoffmann - Vocke • University of Waikato

27. QUESTIONS ??