Numerical simulation on effects of augmentation in temperature of inlet steam on wet steam flow in supersonic nozzle: energy and exergy analysis

Because of limited energy resources, the examination of losses in industrial systems is very imperative. The energy and exergy analysis is considered one of the methods to evaluate losses. In aerospace and power engineering, supersonic nozzles have many applications. Their performance can be enhanced by means of the energy and exergy analysis. In the supersonic nozzles, the non-equilibrium condensation occurred. It is an irreversible process that engenders thermodynamic losses. In this investigation, to estimate the performance of supersonic nozzles, an analysis on the energy and exergy is provided. The influences of augmentation in the temperature of the inlet steam on the performance of the nozzle are elucidated. Accordingly, a 2D numerical simulation of the nozzle is presented. After validation of numerical results, the effects of increment of the temperature are researched. It is observed that as the temperature of the inlet steam is enhanced, a condensation shock with a delay is occurred, the nucleation area becomes smaller, and the liquid mass fraction is abated in the nozzle. Moreover, the mass flow inlet rate, energy consumption, and exergy destruction are diminished. As the temperature of the inlet steam is augmented by 40 °C, the liquid mass fraction, mass flow inlet rate, energy consumption, and exergy destruction are reduced by 28%, 4.6%, 1.3%, and 32%, respectively.