STATUS: The emission free Green Revolution Energy Converter LAB-Model
Tip: Click on the underlined links in the text to get more info!
4/4 2024 A GREC LabModel v3 breakthrough was achived by a candidate group, Erik Widström,
Simon Eriksson and Richard Zetterman,
at
Linköping University.
- The RPi3 configuration with two Arduinos and sensors on I2C bus is able to logg data
- The stepper motor is mounted on Lab-Model v3 which is reasonably tight
- The speed of the WGV in the Revolving-Shutter is controlled via the Internet with the HTML User Interface at the IP address
Today they are able to revolve the motorised WGV for experiments in speeds up to
3Hz with logging of pressure.
Their success rests on earlier research in well-documented
GREC Sustainable projects delivered by motivated, succesfull Technologist groups with
dedicated supervisors at Linköping University, Sweden, world leaders in Sustainable
Revolving Carnot Technology.
Putting it all together at Linköping University Sweden, the steps includes:
• The 2022 spring project (done)
- Theoretical proof of concept with:
• Calculations in MATLAB
• Material analysis
• Thermal simulations.
Autumn project groups 2022 (done)
• Internal heat transfer research
• External heat transfer research
Spring project 2023 (done)
• The new Lab Model v.3 was constructed
Spring project 2024 (running)
• Preparing Lab Model v3 for "sharp" test series
• Revolve it's WGV at different speeds while logging of parameters
• Present their results with reliable extrapolations for different prototype cases.
NEXT STEP
• Study prototype case scenarios
• Study prototype case scenarios with end users
• Study prototype case scenarios with manufacturers in appropriate markets
The old GREC Lab Model v2 is put on hold and will be exhibited at a
very approriate Swedish museum.
HISTORY
The list below contains some links to explaining texts and images. Just
click on the link to get more information.
On top of each explaining link there is a small navigator that allows you
to jump in the list between the explaining texts and images. By clicking
on the Home icon (the house symbol) you will come back to this page.
18/1 2024 A candidate group with Erik Widström, Simon Eriksson and Richard
Zetterman will use the
Linköping University GREC Lab-Model v.3 for experiments. Their goal is to obtain
a tight enough LabModel with a motorised revolving "Work Generating Volume" (WGV) and
to be able to revolve this WGV at different speeds while logging pressure and average
temperatures from the hot and the cold side and present their results with reliable
extrapolations for much larger volumes.
17/7 2023 Heat and Pressure test of LabModel v3 with revolving WGV
At nilsinside AB in Motala a heat and pressure
test of the LabModel v3 was done with a temperature gradient of 55°C at 99 940 Pa
ambient pressure. Revolutions at approximately 1Hz (60RPM) resulted in a maximum
pressure of 100 751 Pa and a minimum pressure at 99 490 Pa delivering an average
pressure difference ΔP at 1 249 Pa.
11-12/7 2023 Pressure test of the GREC LabModel v3 with revolving WGV
After adjusting and sealing the Green Revolution Energy Converter LabModel v3,
constructed at Linköping University during spring 2023, it was
pressure
tested using lungs and a plastic tubing.
The LabModel v3 was operated using the Mechatronics group software "Kombinerad_kod.ino"
with WGV revolution at 2 Hz (120 RPM) and first test was without any temperature
difference between the heat conducting sides.
Lab Model v3 finally appears
to be without disturbing friction and also fairly tight.
6/6 2023 Sustainable Revolution Part 3 project at Linköping University (Li.U) - Assembly
The Green Revolution Energy Converter (GREC) Sustainable Research Project Part 3 at Linköping University
assembled their physical model, the GREC Lab Model v.3 with the aim of obtaining real data from the GREC Work
Generating Volume (WGV) and relating its performance to the Linköping documented theory of the GREC.
The project goal was to, within the specified time frame, build a simple and
completely tight model to deliver real physical data.
Unfortunately the GREC Lab Model v3 was not fully assembled at the project presentation,
but efforts were made after the presentation to make a tight assembly and to confirm with some test spins.
In this writing moment, leaks are still present to the extent that it is impossible to get any pressure
differences during test running.
We trust that this new Lab Model Version 3 will get tight and perform in future test runs
to deliver real world data for extrapolation to much larger volumes.
24/5 2023 Sustainable Revolution Part 3 at Linköping University (Li.U) - Project Presentation
All nine members of the three new GREC groups CONSTRUCTION, THERMODYNAMICS and
MECHATRONICS held a joint introduction to their common
project presentation
of the Green Revolution Energy Converter "GREC". A talented and well-read
opposition group also showed up for the presentation.
As flagged by the University Workshop, the construction time was
very tight so their GREC construction was not fully assembled and no
tests had been done. A half assembly of the GREC with its counterweighted
Work Generating Volume "WGV" was on display on the podium.
We trust that this new Lab Model Version 3 will perform in future test runs
and deliver measurement results for extrapolation to much larger volumes.
27/3 2023 Sustainable Revolution Part 3 at Linköping University (Li.U) - Started
During spring 2023 a
new group of nine candidates plan to build Lab-Model v.3
of the Green Revolution Energy Converter (GREC). This research will probably
answer several unknown crucial questions.
The work is divided into three parallel sub-projects/subject areas:
• CONSTRUCTION, Ida, Andrei and Simon
• THERMODYNAMIC Vidar, Jakob and Johan
• MECHATRONIC Oskar, Lisa and Max
17/10 2022 Sustainable Revolution Part 2 at Linköping University (Li.U) - Half Time Presentation
Members of the two GREC groups started with a joint introduction of their half time presentation overview.
This included a
brief presentation of the Revolving Work Generating
Volume technology, its scalability, some application examples even with
small temperature gradients.
The GREC Internal Heat Transfer Group (IHT: Johan Hagströmmer, Mattias Reijm,
Oscar Torsteinsrud and Vendela Stenholm) continued the presentation explaining their exiting
challenges and their findings so far.
The GREC External Heat Transfer group (EHT: Emma Gustafsson, Maja Abrahamsson Bolstad,
Matilda Eriksson, Wilma Fager, Emma Andersson) followed with their presentation
explaining their challenges interfacing external energy storages to the
GREC Work Generating Volume.
6/9 2022 Sustainable Revolution Part 2 at Linköping University (Li.U) - Succesful Take Off
The GREC Lab Model 2.0 does a second arrival at Linköping University by car from Brassac.
Nine (9!) technologists at Linköping University are dedicated to follow up
on the GREC project with a second part where they will do research in two important
unexplored areas:
1) the external heat transfer and
2) the Revolving-Shutter
WGV dynamics
Goal of part2 includes designs and drawings that can be used for future research
and prototypes. This will allow for fundamental cost analysis and key application
evaluations for the GREC in a span of future market sectors where the GREC will
deliver scalable, controllable, emission free power.
Research in our aim to advance the GREC project on the "Technology
Readiness Level" scale as a component in many future "Climate-Positive Energy Systems".
19/4 2022 Publication at Linköpings Universitet - Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet
- Theoretical Proof Of Concept For The Green Revolution Energy Converter
Authors of the publication are
Gustav Edholm, John Malmdal, Lukas Haglund,
Markus Eriksson and Oscar Magnusson.
Student thesis, 12 HE credits
Abstract [en]
The GREC is a new type of renewable heat engine that challenges the current
dominating combustion engines. By using renewable energy the GREC offer a
theoretical high efficiency, possibilities for large scalability and a high
power output. The GREC could therefore be a step into a better future regarding
energy production without consumption of fossil fuel. The report has the aim
to further develop the fundamental technology and present a theoretical proof
of concept of the GREC engine. This was performed by establishing a mathematical
model in order to produce realistic results in terms of performance. As well as
material analyses and construction improvements of crucial parts for future
physical models. The mathematical model was constructed with the help of the
fundamental principals of the Carnot-engine. With this in mind the development
of the mathematical model was formed by stating necessary thermodynamic
assumptions, equations and simplifications that focused on the heat transfer
within the engine. The material analysis focused on performing thermal and
stress simulations on selected parts with sought out material properties that
would benefit the efficiency for the GREC. With the use of a scaled Six Sigma
quality approach future construction improvements could be pinpointed and
thereby give guidance to future work. Results show that the GREC theoretically
benefits performance-wise by being constructed in larger scales and with higher
temperature differences between two heat reservoirs. Change of construction
materials also show increased performance, for example using bakelite for
isolation. The found construction improvements using Six Sigma across the
physical model show that a path to a solution of the problem could be pinpointed.
This will also contribute to GRECs development when solved.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022.
National Category
Energy Engineering
Identifiers:
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-184199
OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-184199
DiVA, id: diva2:1650332
External cooperation: nilsinside AB, Karlberg, Nils
Examiners: Renner, Johan
Available from: 2022-04-19 Created: 2022-04-06
Bibliographically approved
For future research in our goal to advance the project on the "Technology
Readiness Level" scale, we are on our way to prove the "Climate-Positive
Green Revolution Energy Converter".
11/2 2022 The GREC Lab Model 2.0 arrives at LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY
-HW SET-UP AT LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY
The complete GREC Lab Model
version2 set-up arrives at Linköping University
(Li.U) by car from Brassac. Li.U has provided a project space where the five
in the GREC group at Li.U have a large meeting table with chairs, a whiteboard
and a perfect lab table. Assembly starts immediately and the GREC group
loads the lab table with the GREC lab model, screen with keyboard and the
chineese document portfolio with the bird's nest of electronics and wiring.
-STARTING THE DYNAMIC LINK SW
A brief overview of how and where to start the DynymicLink software is held.
At startup the logging results are of the bizarre kind and the stepper motor
makes awkward, creepy noises. The GREC group now becomes the GREC team (Wow!)
and starts an active and intensive troubleshooting that identifies bad connections
and a broken stepper motor driver (drv8825). It does not take long before
the lab model is performing as expected again. Applause for the GREC team!
-CALCULATIONS AND SIMULATIONS
The Li.U GREC team has already prepared and built a 3D CAD model (Creo)
and is well advanced in setting up a MATLAB model. Both very impressive
foundations for future research in our goal to advance the project from the
"Valley of Death" situation on the "Technology Readiness Level" scale. We
are on our way to prove the "No CO2 Revolution Energy Converter".
27/8 2021 Releasing a technical presentation of the GREC Lab Model 2.0
Using a Lab-Model version 2 schematic
Carnot diagram like the one you find on Wikipedia, we explain
the GREC Lab Model 2.0 in a setup between a hot and a cool storage. The GREC
is a closed system with a moving boundary that converts a temperature difference
to mechanical work and kinetic energy.
An electric motor revolves a disk containing a pizza sliced "Work Generating
Volume" of gas.
The revolving gas generates pressure pulses by repetitively
- heating up, turning red, and
- cooling down, turning blue.
In future optimised application prototypes these pressure variations will
produce significantly more power than the electric motor consumes.
The aim of the GREC Lab Model design is to study the impact of variations
of the variables the concept. Figuring out why simulations and reality
differs. The GREC would, of course, have looked totally different if we
would have built a power production prototype, but there are still many
variables to study before starting building adapted application prototypes.
8/6 2021 A turning Revolving
Shutter Contolled by the Revolution Dynamic Link Soft Ware.
The DynamicLink software with stepper motor is now able to move the Revolving
Shutter again. There are still zones with friction that we have to find and
grind down, but now it is at least revolving in slow speeds with tight steps
and high torque.
We loaded our car with the full set-up and travelled north on a tour to
present and also to continue our development. We will show:
A.) The physical GREC
Lab-Model version 2
with its Dynamic Link SW, how it is built and why it is built the way it is.
B.) The computer
3D model geometry
(available in different file formats)
that facilitates future computer aided simulations like Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and others.
22/3 2021 New Revolving Shutter
Optimism with new polyuretane(?) Revolving Shutter in place. The measures
along the shaft are still not right so we still have friction. Fitted with
plastic reinforcement at both ends that keeps the two disks together with
4 bolts.
6/9 2020 Two Tests
Test 1: Verifying thermistor chain and conducting hot fin heat
transport.
Using candles at heat source in an open Green Revolution Energy Converter with
a locked Revolving Shutter we confirmed our heat transfer expectations.
Click this link to dive into the
set up and conclusions of this experiment.
The two disk Revolving Shutter is parked in a position with the Work
Generating Volume opening standing still in a "Nil-position".
Test 2: Verifying thermistor chain logging dynamic heat transfer.
Still using candles as a heat source and
now turning the Revolving Shutter with an electric screwdriver we
confirmed our heat transfer expectations.
10/8 2020 Testing the complete
GREC LAB-Model v.2 system in an
experimental solar setup
just outside FabLab. Solar
vacuum tubes as heat source and a fresh running stream as cold sink.
Unfortunately the collected data logs did not make any sense at all. We
later found out that this was due to humidity leaking into the work generating
volume upsetting the thermistor slings.
There will be more sunny days...
8/8 2020 Successful mounting of the thermistor Sensors in the mid-layer fins.
11/6 2020 Cutting counterweight holes at FabLab.
26/5 2020 Recalculation of the whole model. Higher accuracy needed?
30/4 2020 Recalculation dead volume percentage of the actual LabModel
30/3 2020 Trimming of the Revolving Shutters with all layers assembled. Counterweights needed.
10/3 2020 Debugging DynamicLink in Sweden and rushed back to Brassac just in time before the Corona closing of borders..
21/2 2020 Salisbury, England, programming and soldering the DynamicLink card to replace some of the spaghetti in th "Briefcase" setup
15/2 2020 Adjusting the distance between the middle fins and the Revolving Shutter. Quite a lot of friction as indicated by the sketch and the photos.
5/2 2020 Adjusting the distance between the upper endplate and the Revolving Shutter. Revolving Shutter distance is quite OK to the upper end plate side. Minor adjustments are needed
1/2 2020 Adjusting the distance between the lower end-plate and the Revolving Shutter. Revolving Shutter is in friction with the conducting fins of the lower end plate at their peripheral surfaces
16/11 2019 High precision glueing of the shell layers on to the end plates to prevent gas leakage. This was not easy. We had to try several times with soft silicon for the nil-parts and a home made thermal paste with graphite for the conducting alu parts
28/10 2019 Glueing of the second Revolving Shutter disk. The GREC end plate on the granite table guaranties higher precision.
19/10 2019 Pairing of the mid layer fins that will hold the electronic sensors . Each of the two separate pairs consists of one conducting and one insulating nil fin bridged together with glue.
9/10 2019 "BriefcaseSetup15" containing the complete DynamicLink HardWare and SoftWare is updated. As the name indicates, it's all contained in a briefcase
26/9 2019 Badly glued parts successfully separated including guiding pins
29/8 2019 A precision totally
flat polished granite plates"glue-table" is ready
First 2 attempts were failures due to wrong choice of glue and bad
distance. Learning experience. But the two plate high precision glue
table is a hit!
3/8 2019 First Revolving Shutter
is glued. The balsa "Revolving Shutter" mid layer was sanded down to 1,7mm
thickness .
Maybe we will need to add thickness when gluing the boundary shells to allow
for a frictionless Revolving Shutter spin while turning its "Work Generating
Volume".
No balancing of the Revolving Shutter was done. We were not
able to slim down the counter weights in Motala. By that we are, unfortunately,
limited to do low temperature slow speed testing with these type of Revolving
Shutters.
The glueing seem successful, but the screw-tightening of the "sandwich"
Revolving Shutter has to be done later hoping that the assembled layers
Alu-Balsa-Alu will form a Revolving Shutter less than 6mm thick.
27/7 2019 Second integrated endplate is successfully glued. Started to grind the Revolving Shutter mid layer.
3/7 2019 First integrated endplate is successfully glued. The program "thermist_Pt500" is updated to v.15 with higher accuracy and double MCP3208 A/D over SPI that will report 10 planned thermistors.
21/6 2019 All mechanical parts are built (31/5 2019) and transported to Motala together with the DynamicLink electronics in its briefcase.
1/8 2017 Planned
presentation tour in Sweden is cancelled. The Lab Model version 1 is totally stuck.
Impossible to turn. Do we need to build a new one?
11/5 2017 The Lab Model
version 1 is tight and revolving. The DynamicLink electronics controls the stepper
motor. Still hear some friction but it turns.
First experiments
are very promising.
Click this link to see parts and to download CAD files in .dxf format.
Click this link to go to the nilsinside PROJECT page.