System Integration
- Submitted by: melonie1
- Views: 647
- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 12/05/2011 09:24 PM
- Pages: 6
- Report this Essay
System integration is the act of combining multiple subsystems in order to make up one complete system where each subsystem complements the other. The common goal is for the system to be able to effectively perform its job (http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/resources/tech_docs). Vapor power plants operate off of vapor power systems. Vapor power systems are one example of system integration. The working fluid in these systems is typically water. The water alternatively vaporizes and condenses. Vapor power systems can include multiple parts. They may contain a turbine, condenser, pump, or boiler. Also, other components may be added to the system if the engineer believes it will make the system more efficient and improve system performance (http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jmcgrath/ln.ch8.notes1.pdf).
Vapor power systems can contain a turbine. A turbine is simply an engine that converts energy from a fluid into useful work. The simplest turbines contain one rotating rotor with a drum attached. The drum contains blades pick up certain amounts of the fluid that will be used for energy conversion. The blades also add rotational kinetic energy to the fluid. This energy is then converted to static pressure through the process of diffusion, thus producing work. The exact amount of work produced can be estimated by using the P-V diagram. This in turn provides a measure of power of produced. The diagram will show the pressure of steam versus the volume of steam in the system. The area under the curve will be equivalent to work (http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/dampfturbine.php3?v=2). Many vapor systems also contain compressors. Compressors work much like turbines; however, it operates in reverse. One compressor in particular, the axial compressor, continually produces a flow of compresses gas. These compressors allow large capacities of mass flow, which increase efficiency. The downside of the axial compressor is the fact that it is very complex, thus expensive....
Vapor power systems can contain a turbine. A turbine is simply an engine that converts energy from a fluid into useful work. The simplest turbines contain one rotating rotor with a drum attached. The drum contains blades pick up certain amounts of the fluid that will be used for energy conversion. The blades also add rotational kinetic energy to the fluid. This energy is then converted to static pressure through the process of diffusion, thus producing work. The exact amount of work produced can be estimated by using the P-V diagram. This in turn provides a measure of power of produced. The diagram will show the pressure of steam versus the volume of steam in the system. The area under the curve will be equivalent to work (http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/dampfturbine.php3?v=2). Many vapor systems also contain compressors. Compressors work much like turbines; however, it operates in reverse. One compressor in particular, the axial compressor, continually produces a flow of compresses gas. These compressors allow large capacities of mass flow, which increase efficiency. The downside of the axial compressor is the fact that it is very complex, thus expensive....