The thermodynamic limit of extractable kinetic energy buoyancy engine

In this work, consideration is given to the thermodynamic limit of the kinetic energy extractable from the ascending or descending motion of a buoyancy engine for use in the contraction or expansion of its own chamber. From the laws of thermodynamics, a simple expression for thermodynamic efficiency...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Arias Montenegro, Francisco Javier|||0000-0002-0779-9754
Format: article
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/393156
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/393156
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121741
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Energy conversion
Autonomous underwater vehicles
Thermodynamics
Buoyancy engine
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Thermodynamic laws
Conversió d'energia
Vehicles submergibles autònoms
Termodinàmica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física::Termodinàmica
Description
Summary:In this work, consideration is given to the thermodynamic limit of the kinetic energy extractable from the ascending or descending motion of a buoyancy engine for use in the contraction or expansion of its own chamber. From the laws of thermodynamics, a simple expression for thermodynamic efficiency was derived. It is shown that contrary to what might be expected, the efficiency is not dependent on the drag coefficient and then on the specific shape of the body but rather only on the normalized Reynolds number Re/Ret, where Ret is the terminal Reynolds number. The maximum efficiency was found to be ˜40%when the contraction or expansion takes placeat ˜85% of the terminal velocity