Power Generation Equipment

Documentation for power generation equipment in NeqSim, including gas turbines, fuel cells, wind turbines, and solar panels.

Table of Contents

Overview

Location: neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration

The power generation package provides equipment models for converting chemical and renewable energy sources into electrical power:

Equipment Energy Source Output
GasTurbine Fuel gas combustion Electricity + heat
FuelCell Hydrogen + oxygen Electricity + water
WindTurbine Wind Electricity
SolarPanel Solar radiation Electricity
BatteryStorage Stored electricity Electricity

Gas Turbine

The GasTurbine class models a simple cycle gas turbine with integrated air compression, combustion, and expansion.

Class Hierarchy

TwoPortEquipment
└── GasTurbine

Constructor

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.GasTurbine;
import neqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream;

// Basic constructor
GasTurbine turbine = new GasTurbine("GT-101");

// Constructor with fuel stream
GasTurbine turbine = new GasTurbine("GT-101", fuelGasStream);

Key Properties

Property Description Unit
combustionPressure Combustor pressure bara
airGasRatio Air to fuel ratio -
power Net electrical power output W
heat Heat output W
compressorPower Air compressor power W
expanderPower Expander power W

Example Usage

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.GasTurbine;
import neqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream;
import neqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos;

// Create fuel gas
SystemInterface fuelGas = new SystemSrkEos(288.15, 25.0);
fuelGas.addComponent("methane", 0.90);
fuelGas.addComponent("ethane", 0.05);
fuelGas.addComponent("propane", 0.03);
fuelGas.addComponent("nitrogen", 0.02);
fuelGas.setMixingRule("classic");

Stream fuelStream = new Stream("Fuel Gas", fuelGas);
fuelStream.setFlowRate(1000.0, "kg/hr");

// Create gas turbine
GasTurbine turbine = new GasTurbine("Power Turbine", fuelStream);
turbine.setCombustionPressure(15.0);  // bara
turbine.setAirGasRatio(3.0);

// Run simulation
turbine.run();

// Results
System.out.println("Net power: " + turbine.getPower() / 1e6 + " MW");
System.out.println("Heat output: " + turbine.getHeat() / 1e6 + " MW");
System.out.println("Thermal efficiency: " + turbine.getEfficiency() * 100 + "%");

Fuel Cell

The FuelCell class models a hydrogen fuel cell that converts hydrogen and oxygen to electricity and water.

Class Hierarchy

TwoPortEquipment
└── FuelCell

Constructor

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.FuelCell;

// Basic constructor
FuelCell cell = new FuelCell("FC-101");

// Constructor with fuel and oxidant streams
FuelCell cell = new FuelCell("FC-101", hydrogenStream, airStream);

Key Properties

Property Description Unit
efficiency Electrical efficiency 0-1
power Electrical power output W
heatLoss Heat loss to environment W

Example Usage

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.FuelCell;
import neqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream;
import neqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos;

// Create hydrogen fuel stream
SystemInterface h2Fluid = new SystemSrkEos(298.15, 5.0);
h2Fluid.addComponent("hydrogen", 1.0);
h2Fluid.setMixingRule("classic");

Stream hydrogenFeed = new Stream("Hydrogen", h2Fluid);
hydrogenFeed.setFlowRate(10.0, "kg/hr");

// Create air stream
SystemInterface airFluid = new SystemSrkEos(298.15, 1.01325);
airFluid.addComponent("nitrogen", 0.79);
airFluid.addComponent("oxygen", 0.21);
airFluid.setMixingRule("classic");

Stream airFeed = new Stream("Air", airFluid);
airFeed.setFlowRate(100.0, "kg/hr");

// Create fuel cell
FuelCell fuelCell = new FuelCell("SOFC", hydrogenFeed, airFeed);
fuelCell.setEfficiency(0.55);

// Run simulation
fuelCell.run();

// Results
System.out.println("Electrical power: " + fuelCell.getPower() / 1000 + " kW");
System.out.println("Heat loss: " + fuelCell.getHeatLoss() / 1000 + " kW");

Wind Turbine

The WindTurbine class models wind power generation based on wind speed and turbine characteristics.

Constructor

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.WindTurbine;

WindTurbine turbine = new WindTurbine("WT-01");
turbine.setWindSpeed(12.0);        // m/s
turbine.setRotorDiameter(120.0);   // m
turbine.setEfficiency(0.45);

Key Properties

Property Description Unit
windSpeed Wind velocity m/s
rotorDiameter Rotor diameter m
efficiency Power coefficient 0-0.593 (Betz limit)
power Electrical power output W

Solar Panel

The SolarPanel class models photovoltaic power generation.

Constructor

import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.SolarPanel;

SolarPanel panel = new SolarPanel("PV-Array");
panel.setPanelArea(1000.0);        // m²
panel.setSolarIrradiance(800.0);   // W/m²
panel.setEfficiency(0.20);

Key Properties

Property Description Unit
panelArea Total panel area m²
solarIrradiance Solar radiation W/m²
efficiency Panel efficiency 0-1
power Electrical power output W

Battery Storage

Location: neqsim.process.equipment.battery

The BatteryStorage class models electrical energy storage systems.

Constructor

import neqsim.process.equipment.battery.BatteryStorage;

BatteryStorage battery = new BatteryStorage("BESS-01");
battery.setCapacity(100.0);          // MWh
battery.setMaxPower(25.0);           // MW
battery.setRoundTripEfficiency(0.90);

Key Properties

Property Description Unit
capacity Total energy capacity MWh
maxPower Maximum charge/discharge rate MW
roundTripEfficiency Charge-discharge efficiency 0-1
stateOfCharge Current energy level 0-1

Usage Examples

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System

import neqsim.process.processmodel.ProcessSystem;
import neqsim.process.equipment.powergeneration.GasTurbine;
import neqsim.process.equipment.heatexchanger.Heater;

ProcessSystem chpSystem = new ProcessSystem("CHP Plant");

// Create fuel gas stream
Stream fuelGas = new Stream("Fuel", fuelFluid);
fuelGas.setFlowRate(500.0, "kg/hr");
chpSystem.add(fuelGas);

// Gas turbine
GasTurbine turbine = new GasTurbine("GT", fuelGas);
turbine.setCombustionPressure(12.0);
chpSystem.add(turbine);

// Heat recovery steam generator (simplified)
Heater hrsg = new Heater("HRSG", turbine.getExhaustStream());
hrsg.setOutTemperature(150.0, "C");
chpSystem.add(hrsg);

// Run
chpSystem.run();

// Calculate efficiency
double electricalPower = turbine.getPower();
double thermalPower = hrsg.getDuty();
double fuelInput = fuelGas.getFlowRate("kg/hr") * 50e6 / 3600;  // LHV ~ 50 MJ/kg

double electricalEff = electricalPower / fuelInput;
double totalEff = (electricalPower + thermalPower) / fuelInput;

System.out.println("Electrical efficiency: " + electricalEff * 100 + "%");
System.out.println("Total CHP efficiency: " + totalEff * 100 + "%");

Hybrid Renewable System

// Solar + Wind + Battery system
SolarPanel solar = new SolarPanel("PV");
solar.setPanelArea(5000.0);
solar.setSolarIrradiance(600.0);
solar.setEfficiency(0.18);

WindTurbine wind = new WindTurbine("Wind");
wind.setWindSpeed(8.0);
wind.setRotorDiameter(80.0);

BatteryStorage battery = new BatteryStorage("Battery");
battery.setCapacity(10.0);  // MWh
battery.setMaxPower(5.0);   // MW

// Calculate total renewable generation
solar.run();
wind.run();

double totalGeneration = solar.getPower() + wind.getPower();
System.out.println("Total renewable power: " + totalGeneration / 1e6 + " MW");