Izvestiâ Akademii nauk SSSR. Ènergetika

In mathematical models of analytical thermal physics, the problems of non-stationary heat conductivity with a boundary condition of the form (∂T / ∂n)_Г = h (t) [T|_Г – T_c (t)], t > 0 have a special place and relate to complex heat transfer due to the dependence of the relative heat transfer coefficient h = α / λ* on time: h = α (t) / λ* = h (t) (α – heat transfer coefficient, λ* – thermal conductivity coefficient) [1]. It is believed that α is determined only by the temperature difference. However, experiments show [2–4] that in non-stationary processes α is a nonequilibrium value and depends much more significantly on time than on temperature. Considering that its practical definition is very difficult, in all criterial heat transfer equations it is taken as a constant value α = const (h = α / λ* = const). In this case, it becomes possible to obtain accurate analytical solutions to the corresponding heat conductivity problems in the form of Fourier–Hankel integrals for partially bounded regions or in the form of Fourier–Hankel series for bounded regions of canonical type. For these purposes, special tables have been developed, which have entered thermal physics as Kartashov tables No. (1–2), allowing in a matter of minutes, using a special technique in No. 1, to write out an exact analytical solution to a heat problem [5–6] in Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems and then improve the solution in the form of a series using technique in No. 2 to absolute and uniform convergence up to the boundary of the domain of definition of the differential heat conductivity equation. In the case of a dependence of the coefficient h on time (h = h (t)) the situation with finding an analytical solution to the problem changes dramatically: it is not possible to obtain an exact solution. The difficulty lies in the fact that remaining within the framework of classical methods of mathematical physics [7–9] it is not possible to reconcile the solution of the heat conduction equation with the boundary condition of heat exchange at variable h (t) and to this day this problem remains open despite the attempts of a huge number of researchers on this problem of analytical thermal physics.

In this article, a method of splitting the generalized integral Fourier transform is developed, which made it possible to ultimately obtain an exact analytical solution to the heat problem for an arbitrary dependence, first in cylindrical coordinates (radial heat flow in an infinite region limited from the inside by a cylindrical cavity), and then in Cartesian coordinates (half-space limited by a flat surface). The obtained results constitute the scientific novelty of the work.

Thermal power plants with back-pressure turbines have been widely used for the combined production of electricity and industrial steam. Due to the decline in industrial production by more than 50% between 1990 and 1998, the demand for industrial steam decreased, as a result of which some of the pressure turbine units lost their load and were decommissioned. In order to resume the operation of thermal power plants with back-pressure turbines, it is possible to modernize existing power units. This article presents the results of a comparative thermodynamic analysis of various ways to modernize thermal power plants with P-type turbines: a superstructure of a condensing turbine and a superstructure of a heat exchanger heating carbon dioxide used as a working fluid of a closed Rankine or Brayton cycle. Calculated estimates of the influence of ambient temperature on the energy efficiency of the proposed circuit solutions have been obtained. It has been established that the use of a circuit with a carbon dioxide working fluid proves to be a thermodynamically effective solution at outdoor temperatures below 7°C. In turn, the payback period for modernization by adding the carbon dioxide cycle is 13.5 years.

The development of the best technologies for waste disposal and neutralization, their implementation and improvement is an urgent task. One of the promising technologies based on thermal effects, namely high-temperature plasma gasification, is considered in this paper from the energy efficiency point of view. Among the wide variety of waste, the emphasis is placed on waste from the municipal sector and solid fuels produced from them. Based on parametric calculations, it is shown that due to the high degree of dispersion of waste characteristics, it is not possible to obtain a stable plasma gasification process with a positive energy balance without special waste treatment that stabilizes their characteristics. At the same time, when solid fuels from household waste of grades 1–3 (according to GOST 33516-2015 classification) are used as raw materials, the plasma gasification process will take place with positive energy efficiency parameters.