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Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

Chapter · March 2015

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-15560-9_11

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Chapter 11
Modelica Programming a New Approach
in Modeling of CHP

The goal of this chapter is to provide the reader on how to design a structure and to
implement using Modelica Programming known as Modelica. A version of a model
library as well as to develop basic models for the transient simulation of Combined
Heat and Power plants (CHP). As the CHP plant consists of many different com-
ponents, modular approach and top-down design has been implemented in the
model library development. Solid base for the project is defined which are including
project rules for modeling the components (e.g. robustness and reusability), default
library structure arrangement and model documentation. Later development is
obliged to strictly follow the rules and concepts introduced during this stage in
order to minimize the mistakes in modeling, easier understanding of the project and
models as well as to provide an organized environment for CHP plant modeling. By
taking advantage of the modular design of this CHP library, planning and analysis
of CHP plant can be simulated easily by using drag-and-drop method while
parameters in models should be defined according to the target CHP plant.

11.1 Introduction

In recent stages of computers both at level of macro and mini and computing power
that they present, a different world of simulation and modeling are opened to end
users of such computing platforms.
Initially, modelers were obligated to convert their models into systems of
Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) and Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
and then writing codes to integrate a solver to integrate those differential equations
in order to run simulation and for complex problems one had to create pre and post-
processors in order as preparation of proper input and then out-put files in order to
deal with nature of such complexity. These types computer languages are called
Equation Oriented Languages and they were base on original approach of block
diagram programming. Then most difficult aspect of these types problems were
coming to deal with when the problem was taking from steady-state to transient
stage, where time was playing as a part of state equations and as result mass and

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 213

B. Zohuri, Combined Cycle Driven Efficiency for Next Generation
Nuclear Power Plants, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15560-9_11
214 11 Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

energy conservation equations from thermal hydraulics point of view are now
function of this variable (i.e. time).
Therefore modeler were always in quest of better simulation and modeling
language and eventually, a wide range of integrators were developed as indepen-
dent software units and modelers were able to focus on the formulation of differ-
ential and partial-differential equations and use “off-the-shell” integrators for
simulation. This trend of thoughts, allowed modelers to focus more on the
behavioral description of their problems and less on the solution methods has
continued since then [1].
Many tools were developed in past three decades were developed to address
above issues and some these multi-purposed tools that can be named are ACSL,1
Easy5,2 SystemBuild,3 and Simulink4 are among them. One of the recent engi-
neering tools that has been developed and are attracted by nuclear engineers to
handle the combined cycle simulation for new generation of nuclear power plants is
the object-oriented physical modeling known as Modelica by Modelica Association
which is a European based company. These types of simulation were just in time for
demand on dynamical system integration rather than static mode.

11.2 What Is Modelica

Modelica is an object-oriented, declarative, multi-domain modeling language for

component-oriented modeling of complex systems, e.g., systems containing
mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric power or
process-oriented subcomponents. The free Modelica language is developed by the
non-profit Modelica Association. The Modelica Association also develops the free
Modelica Standard Library that contains about 1360 generic model components and
1280 functions in various domains, as of recent version.5
The Modelica modeling language and technology is being warmly received by the
world community in modeling and simulation with major applications in virtual
prototyping. It is bringing about a revolution in this area, based on its ease of use,
visual design of models with combination of Lego-like predefined model building
blocks, its ability to define model libraries with reusable components, its support for
modeling and simulation of complex applications involving parts from several
application domains, and many more useful facilities. To draw an analogy—Modelica
is currently in a similar phase as Java early on, before the language became well
known, but for virtual prototyping instead of Internet programming.

1
ACSL is a trademark of the Aegis Technologies Group, Inc.
2
Easy5 is a trademark of the Boeing Company.
3
SystemBuild is a trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.
4
Simulink is a trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.
5
Home Page of the Modelica Association.
11.2 What Is Modelica 215

In presently available language the connections between sub-models are done

with variables. There are no concepts, which correspond to the much more complex
connection mechanisms that occur in physical system like shafts, pipes, electrical
wires, etc. The connections of sub-models would be much simplified if such
mechanisms were available. Modelica users and fans are claiming such opportu-
nities are provided by community of Modelica users that have provided different
libraries as part of Modelica Standard of recent version of it that will handles such
needs and simulations, in particular dealing with CHP and Combined Cycles.
Modelica library structure design and modeling for transient simulation of
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, supposedly through these standard forms
libraries, illustrates the various aspects of modeling and simulation in particularly
among the Europeans community of Nuclear Engineers working on new generation
of nuclear power plants research and developments. In United States and effort is
taken by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Fall, Idaho to implement
Modelica as part dynamic analysis and transient modeling that they are developing
around energy conversion using combined cycles to derive the efficiency of new
nuclear power plants to higher number over the traditional LWR and PWR plants.
Unfortunately, the person in charge of this effort by pushing Modelica as modeling
language is not an expert in the field of nuclear engineering, nor educationally has
been trained in combined cycle approaches.
Although he has taken burden of such effort to push Modelica which deserves an
appreciation, certainly from this author opinion he has no qualification nor has
traditional educated to be considered as expert in this field and related combined
cycles. This opinion was established based on few visits that this author had to INL
and conversation that took place with him as well as few conferences that this
author among other experts from other national laboratories and university pro-
fessors that they were participating and listing to this individual from INL was
convincing enough to come to such conclusion. The hope is that other experts at
INL who are defiantly knowledgeable, will take the lead and be able to do the right
justice to usage of Modelica modeling language efforts, if that is going to be an
standard industry and university language of choice in the United States.
Users of Modelica are claiming that effort of using such Unified Object Oriented
Modeling techniques can provide the following options such as that:
• Examines basic concepts such as systems, models, and simulations
• Guides readers of the manuals through the Modelica language with the aid of
several step-by-step examples
• Introduces the Modelica class concept and its use in graphical and textual
modeling
• Explores modeling methodology for continuous, discrete, and hybrid systems
• Presents an overview of the Modelica Standard Library and key Modelica model
libraries
It also suggest that using Modelica as a simulation and modeling language
provides a computer aided design to do the technical and natural systems modeling
and simulation building on basic concepts for the readers who want to learn
216 11 Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

modeling, simulation, and object oriented language that is built from classes, that is
also called models where from a class definition, it is possible to create any number
of objects that are known as instances of that class.

11.3 Energy Efficiency in Combined Heat and Power

(CHP) Production

CHP systems consist of a number of individual components—prime mover (heat

engine), generator, heat recovery, and electrical interconnection—configured into
an integrated whole. Every CHP application involves the recovery of otherwise-
wasted thermal energy to produce useful thermal energy or electricity.
CHP systems can be configured either as a topping or a bottoming cycle, as
explained in Fig. 11.1.
In a typical topping cycle system, fuel is burned in a prime mover such as a gas
turbine or reciprocating engine to generate electricity. Energy normally lost in the
prime mover’s hot exhaust and cooling systems is instead recovered to provide heat
for industrial processes (such as petroleum refining or food processing); hot water
(e.g., for laundry or dishwashing); or for space heating, cooling, and dehumidifi-
cation. In a bottoming cycle system, also referred to as “waste heat to power,” fuel
is burned to provide thermal input to a furnace or other industrial process, and heat
rejected from the process is then used to produce electricity.
CHP systems are considered a type of distributed generation (also referred to as
distributed energy and distributed energy resources), because they involve non-
centralized, often small-scale projects. Distributed generation offers significant
benefits, such as reduced risk of energy supply disruption, lower transmission and
distribution losses, and reduced peak electricity demand on the grid. CHP systems
produce the same benefits as those provided by typical distributed generation pro-
jects, but have the added benefit of increased energy efficiency (U.S. EPA 2008b).

Fig. 11.1 Configuration of a typical topping cycle gas turbine CHP

11.3 Energy Efficiency in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Production 217

11.3.1 Energy Efficiency in Combined Heat and Power

(CHP) Production

A CHP system appropriately sized to meet a facility’s thermal energy needs

achieves higher system efficiencies than conventional Separate Heat and Power
(SHP) systems that obtain their power and heat from different sources, such as
central coal-fired power plants and onsite natural gas heating systems. Fossil-fueled
power plants, for example, generally achieve a total system efficiency of approxi-
mately 33 %, meaning 67 % of the energy used to generate electricity is lost, often
vented as heat. If a facility were to obtain its electricity through the grid from a
fossil-fueled power plant and its thermal energy from an on-site boiler, the overall
efficiency would be approximately 51 %.6
By using thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted in the power generation
process, CHP systems can achieve total system efficiencies of approximately 60 to
80 % [2]. The higher efficiency of CHP systems compared with SHP systems can
help local governments and their communities to:
• Reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts.
Because CHP systems require less fuel to produce the same energy output as
SHP systems, CHP systems can reduce emissions of GHGs and air pollutants,
such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). For example, a 5 MW
CHP system with a natural gas turbine typically produces 20,870 metric tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, while an SHP system designed to
achieve the same output would produce 44,450 metric tons. The GHG emissions
prevented by a CHP system of this size are equivalent to the annual GHG
emissions of more than 5400 passenger vehicles (U.S. EPA 2013f).
• Support economic growth through job creation and market development.
Investing in CHP systems can help stimulate local, state, and regional econo-
mies. Demand for raw materials and for construction, installation, and mainte-
nance services can create jobs and develop markets for CHP technologies
(NECHP 2006). Facilities that reduce their energy costs can spend those savings
elsewhere, often contributing to the local economy (Lawrence Berkeley Labo-
ratory 2010).
• Hedge against financial risks. The higher efficiencies of CHP systems relative to
SHP systems translate into significant energy cost savings. Depending on total
system efficiencies, a CHP system can consume up to one-third less energy than
an SHP system [2].

6
For more information on how local governments can demonstrate leadership by selling or
purchasing renewable energy certificates and other forms of green power, see EPA’s On-site
Renewable Energy Generation and Green Power Procurement guides in the Local Government
Climate and Energy Strategy Series.
218 11 Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

11.4 Application of Modelica in Combined Cycle Power

Plant (CCPP)

Using Unified Object Oriented Modeling technique and utilization of Modelica as

an application to produce a dynamic approach to the problem of Combined Heat
and Power Plant (CHP) as well as recent study at University of New Mexico
(Nuclear Engineering) by Zohuri and McDaniel [3–6] on their static approach to
their research in Brayton and Rankine Cycle as Combined Cycle Power Plant
(CCPP) in order to increase the net plant thermal efficiency close to 60 %. We have
presently developed an internal computer code using FORTRAN language with
static approach that allows us such analysis to be performed and continuously
getting enhanced by the authors. New Steam Table has been also, developed for
correction of values that we have encountered as an error in most common ther-
modynamics books in the market.
As part of collaboration between universities and Idaho National Laboratory
(INL) under Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program (NUCP) efforts and based on
the need of INL that has taken an effort toward energy conversion and a require-
ment for a dynamics approach to this problem using Modelica as an standard
software based on Unified Object Oriented Modeling, we at UNM propose to
provide such library in Modelica that deals with this issue and new open source
Modelica library that will be provided to INL. Further investigation will be needed
to develop a library within Modelica that may match the ITEA 2 EUROSYSLIB
project.
Overview (see Fig. 11.2) of initial effort will be an approach that is depicted;
Continuation of such effort can be expanded further with proper and separate
funding at UNM that will require separate proposal as well.
Modeling and simulation play a key role in the design phase and performance
optimization of complex energy processes. It is also expected that they will play a
significant role in the future for power plant maintenance and operation. Regarding
for instance plant maintenance, a new method has been developed to assess the
performance degradation of steam generators because of tube support plate clog-
ging, without having to wait for the yearly plant outage to open the steam

Fig. 11.2 Overview of effort for NUCP

11.4 Application of Modelica in Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) 219

generators for visual inspection [7]. The potential of Modelica as a means to effi-
ciently describe thermodynamic models has been recognized for quite a while [8, 9]
and lead to the initiative of developing a library for power plant modeling within the
ITEA 2 EUROSYSLIB project.
The most common form of energy recycling system is Combined Heat and
Power (CHP) plants. Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) or also known as
cogeneration plant generates electricity (and/or mechanical energy) and thermal
energy by accessing the respective energy flows from a prime mover. One main
objective of cogeneration is to maximize the fuel utilization of the system and to
save primary energy in comparison to separated generation of secondary energy. To
achieve this, a good plant topology with suitable components must be designed
which require a thorough evaluation of the demand structure and location of the
plant among others. For this purpose, quite a number of CHP plant variations can be
seen nowadays as a result from the intensive applied research activities in the field
of CHP.
The CHP plant is a complex system and still under intensive development by
many researchers. The system needs to be developed in quick and efficient manners
with low resources based on modeling and simulation method. With the develop-
ment of CHP library in open source Modelica language, it could be used as a base
for further advancement of CHP technology. The aim of this work is to design a
structure of initial version of a model library for the dynamic simulation of Com-
bined Heat and Power plants (CHP). Modular approach and top-down design is
going to be implemented in the model library development. A solid base for this
work is defined which includes rules in modeling the components (e.g. robustness
and reusability), default library structure arrangement and model documentation.
By strictly follow the rules and concepts introduced in this work, the mistakes in
modeling is minimized. The designed library in Modelica language will provide an
organized environment in modeling a CHP plant.
As part of energy conversion effort in recent years by experts in the field,
researches are looking at combined-cycle systems utilizing the Brayton Cycle gas
turbine and the Rankine Cycle steam system with air and water as working fluids
achieve efficient, reliable, and economic power generation. Flexibility provided by
these systems satisfies both utility-power generation and industrial-cogeneration
applications.
Current commercially available power-generation combined-cycle plants
achieve net plant thermal efficiency typically in the 50–55 % LHV (Lower Heating
Volume) range. Further development of gas turbine, high-temperature materials and
hot gas path, metal surface cooling technology show promise for near-term future
power generation combined- cycle systems capable of reaching 60 % or greater
plant thermal efficiency. Additional gas turbine technological development, as well
as increases in steam-cycle pressure and temperature and steam-turbine stage-
design enhancement, is expected to achieve further combined-cycle efficiency
improvement.
220 11 Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

11.4.1 Organization of the Library in Modelica

First we are showing very top level schematic view of reactor in respect to a
Combined Cycle Power Plan (CCPP) using Brayton (Gas or Air) and Rankine
(Steam) Cycle and Recuperated Brayton System as follows. See Fig. 11.3.
Secondly a schematic view of a Combined Cycle Power Plan (CCPP) using
Brayton (Gas or Air) and Rankine (Steam) Cycle is presented here as follows (see
Figs. 11.4 and 11.5).
The General principles of the library at first will be featuring on first physical
principles: mass, energy, and momentum conservation equations, up-to-date pres-
sure losses and heat exchange correlations, and validated fluid properties functions.
The correlations account for the non-linear behavior of the phenomena of
interest. They cover all water/steam phases and all flue gas compositions. Some
components such as the multifunctional heater contains correlations that were
obtained from experimental results or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes
that also will be developed by UNM team on this proposal.
A Modelica implementation of the standard will be used for the computation of
the properties of water and steam. The level of modeling detail may be freely
chosen. Default correlations are given corresponding to the most frequent use-cases,
but they can be freely modified by the user.
This includes the choice of the pressure drop or heat transfer correlations.
Special attention is given to the handling of two-phase flow, as two-phase flow is a
common phenomenon in power plants. The physics of two-phase flow is complex

Fig. 11.3 Schematic of combined cycle system using four turbines combination
11.4 Application of Modelica in Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) 221

Fig. 11.4 Schematic of Brayton cycle with recuperator using three turbines combination

Fig. 11.5 Schematic view modeling for the proposed library in Modelica

because of the mass and energy transfer between the two phases and the different
flow regimes (bubbles churn or stratified flow…) [10].
We propose two models to be used: one to simulate the power generator step
reduction load, the other to simulate the full GT (Gas Turbine) trip. In the model
used to simulate the GT trip, the gas turbine is replaced by a boundary condition.
The model contains two main parts: the water/steam cycle and the flue gases
subsystem. Only one train is modeled, so identical behavior is assumed for each
HRSG (Heat Recovery Steam Generator) and for each gas turbine.
222 11 Modelica Programming a New Approach in Modeling of CHP

From the model developer’s point of view the following issues were taken under
considerations:
• The library should be easy to read, understand, extend, modify and validate.
• The library should be sharable at the INL level, and more.
• The library should be truly tool independent.
• The library should be stable across language and tools versions.
• The library should be validated against significant real applications.
• The library should be fully documented. In particular, all modeling choices
should be clearly justified.
The library is subdivided into application domains. Each application domain
corresponds to a connector type. Each application domain is divided into packages
corresponding to broad component types: boundary conditions, connectors, heat
exchangers, machines, pressure losses, sensors, volumes, etc. Components may be
written in plain Modelica text, or constructed by connecting other components from
the library, as shown in Fig. 11.6.
The components will separated into multi-groups components for static mod-
eling only, and dynamic modeling. All components are compatible with each other,
but many components do not withstand zero flows, so they cannot be used to model
transients that involve flow reversal for instance. The components group is com-
posed of singular pressure losses in the approximation of zero-volume, so that the

Fig. 11.6 Model components

of a gas turbine
 11.4 Application of Modelica in Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) 223

coefficients of the derivative terms of the balance equations are equal to zero.
Hence, one should only use assigned group of components for static modeling only.
The library components are written in such a way that there are no hidden or
unphysical equations, that components are independent from each other and to
ensure as much as possible upward and downward compatibility across tools and
library versions. This is particularly important in order to control the impact of
component, library or tool modifications on the existing models. To that end, only
the strictly needed constructs of the Modelica language will be used.
The structure of the fluid connectors is of particular importance as it reflects the
overall structure of the library. The fluid connectors do not bear any physical
meaning. They are only considered as a way to pass information between com-
ponents, and should therefore be eliminated from the physical equations system
after compilation of the model.
However, as connectors are sensitive to the components graph orientation rules,
they define the convention for the sign of the flows, or in other words, which
direction in the graph is assigned for positive flows, and which direction is assigned
for negative flows.

References

1. Tiller M (2001) Introduction to Physical Modeling with Modelica. Kluwer Academic

Publisher, London
2. U.S. EPA (2013) Based on a 5 MW natural gas-fired combustion turbine CHP system
3. Zohuri B, McDaniel PJ, de Olivera C (2014) A comparison of a recuperated open cycle (Air)
Brayton power conversion system with the traditional steam rankine cycle for the next
generation nuclear power plant. ANS transactions, Reno, Nevada, June 2014
4. McDaniel PJ, Zohuri B, de Olivera C (2014) A combined cycle power conversion system for
small modular LMFBRs. ANS transactions, Anaheim, California, Nov 2014
5. McDaniel PJ, Zohuri B, de Oliveira C, Cole J (2012) A combined cycle power conversion
system for the next generation nuclear power plant. ANS transactions, San Diego, California,
Nov 2012
6. Zohuri B (2014) Innovative combined Brayton open cycle systems for the next generation
nuclear power plants. Ph.D. dissertation, Nuclear Engineering Department, University of New
Mexico
7. Bouskela D, Chip V, El Hefni B, Favennec JM, Midou M, Ninet J (2010) New method to
assess tube support plate clogging phenomena in steam generators of nuclear power plants.
Math Comput Model Dyn Syst 16(3):257–267
8. El Hefni B, Bouskela D (2006) Modelling of a water/steam cycle of the combined cycle power
plant “Rio Bravo 2” with Modelica. Modelica 2006 conference proceedings
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2006 conference proceedings
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