MODELING OF WASTE HEAT-RECOVERY BY LOOPED WATER-IN-STEEL HEAT PIPES

Modeling and simulation of a water-in-steel heat pipe heat recovery system is undertaken in this paper. The heat recovery system consists of a looped two-phase thermosyphon that receives heat from the stack of a gas turbine engine and delivers it to the generator of an NH3-H2O absorption chiller. Variations in the operating temperature as well as evaporator geometry are investigated, and the consequences on system effectiveness are studied. It is concluded that the model for the water-in-steel looped thermosyphon overcomes drawbacks of the water-in-copper thermosyphon, and that the steel system is simpler in design, lower in cost, and more competent in performance.