Crew Parker Lab Report 3
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School
University of California, Irvine *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
107
Subject
Aerospace Engineering
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
5
Uploaded by DukeResolve213
MAE 107 Lab Report 2
Fall 2023
Crew Parker ID: 14186406
Instructor: Dr. Y. Wang
TA: Cody
Lab 3 Report
Summary
The tour covered a walkthrough of the central plant at UCI, on which we were able to get
a closeup view of many of the plant’s primary systems. We got to see both the high
temperature water production system, and the chilled water production system, followed by
boilers and the gas turbine. We were able to go outside and up to the outdoor cooling towers
with water falling into a stream to lose heat to the outside air. Next to this was the TES
(thermal energy storage) tank, which stores electricity in the form of temperature controlled
water. It was important for us as engineering students to see the central plant in person, as
we could better understand the scale and caliber of equipment that goes into effectively
manufacturing cycles like these. While the central plant may be a scaled down version of
some other larger energy plants, it still gives an accurate look into the mechanics of a power
plant. This tour also helps us better understand the benefit of having such plants, and
perhaps even start thinking about what we can do to improve upon these designs and work
to create a safer, and more eco-friendly iteration of the power cycles involved.
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MAE 107 Lab Report 2
Fall 2023
Questions
Q1.) Is the steam generated in the boiler drum saturated or super-heated? How can you tell
without instruments?
As long as there is liquid water present in the steam boiler drum, the steam is saturated.
The drum uses a liquid level gauge to check if there is liquid in the steam drum, which gives an
indication of possible overheating if the liquid level is low. Without instruments present, if there
is no liquid in the gauge, the steam is likely superheated.
Q2.) Describe the purpose of the cooling towers and list three mechanisms that enhance the
purpose. When are they efficiently used? How do they work?
The cooling tower’s purpose is to reject heat from this point in the cycle to the ambient
air through multiple methods. These include the fill, the draft eliminators, and the fan. The fill
cools water traveling downwards as cool air travels the opposite direction, and heat flows into
the surrounding air. The fan comes in at this point, as it increases the airflow through the system,
and higher air flow leads to more heat exchange from the water to the air. Finally, the draft
eliminator is used in the cooling tower. It captures tiny water particles that are swept up through
the system, and recycles them back into the system. This increases efficiency by reducing the
amount of water lost that would have to be introduced back into the system.
Q3.) What will happen if the nitrogen-blanket tank pressure is too low?
If the nitrogen blanket pressure is too low, then the HTW pipeline pressure might drop
below the specified design point causing vaporization to occur. This would lead to a two-phase
mixture instead of vapor in the pipeline, and cause damage to pumps and lead to hammering in
the pipes.
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MAE 107 Lab Report 2
Fall 2023
Q4.) Describe the purpose of the TES tank. Why does the CWR return from the top of the
TES tank?
The TES (thermal energy storage) tank is used to increase the efficiency and store energy
from lower cost points in the day. This overall reduces the cost of energy in the plant and school.
At night, it is cheaper to produce electricity with lower ambient temperatures, so the TES is able
to gather energy at that point to be used throughout the day. The CWR returns water to the top of
the tank, as, since heat rises in a specified volume due to density differences in the water, warmer
water will be up at the top of the tank. And, to prevent mixing with the cold water stored from
the previous night, the water is returned to the top of the TES.
Q5.) What is the purpose of a manifold? List three places in the Central Plant where a
manifold is used.
The purpose of a manifold is to bring together flow from multiple components into one
line to supply to other components in the system. Three p-laces in the central plant where
manifolds are used include the boilers, the BFW, and the pumps from the chillers to cooling
towers.
Q6.) Why is the HTW more efficient in thermal energy delivery than the CW?
The HTW is more efficient in thermal energy delivery than the CW as it operates at a
higher temperature difference from the ambient temperature than that of the CW.
Q7.) In Co-gen, what is the benefit of using a steam turbine in gas turbine power
generation?
The benefit of using a steam turbine in gas turbine power generation stems from the fact
that the combustion turbine can send its exhaust into a heat recovery steam generator that
produces steam that can be used to supply hot water or steam to the steam turbine. This
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MAE 107 Lab Report 2
Fall 2023
ultimately reduces energy loss that would otherwise have been caused by allowing the exhaust to
escape the system.
Q8.) Draw the schematic of the CP on one page with the major components properly
connected.
Q9.) In a chiller, what fluids are on the tube and shell sides of its condenser and
evaporator?
In a chiller, on the tube side of the condenser is a refrigerant that flows to and from the
chiller. On the shell side of the condenser is water that flows to and from the cooling tower.
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MAE 107 Lab Report 2
Fall 2023
Q11.) Describe the purpose of the pipeline system in the tunnel. Why are the CW pipes in
the tunnel of a greater diameter than the HTW pipes?
The purpose of the pipeline system in the tunnel is to transport hot and cold water
throughout campus for use in HVAC systems and for hot and cold water. More cold water is
required throughout campus to cool buildings while the hot water is generally used primarily for
temperature control, so the cold water pipes have a larger diameter to allow more flow. The hot
water pipes are also more efficient at thermal energy delivery than the cold water pipes, which
have a smaller difference in temperature to the ambient environment.
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