EXHAUST FLOW DYNAMICS AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SYSTEMS: EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INSIGHTS

Natural gas distributed energy stations (NG-DES) are increasingly recognized as a vital component in modern energy planning due to their high efficiency, flexibility, and reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional centralized power generation [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7]. However, optimizing their operational efficiency and minimizing environmental impact necessitates a thorough understanding of their aerodynamic field, particularly at the exhaust end, which often includes heat rejection systems like cooling towers and exhaust stacks. This article presents a comprehensive research study combining experimental measurements and numerical simulations to investigate the aerodynamic field and its influence on the performance of the integrated exhaust end of an NG-DES. The study focuses on parameters such as crosswind conditions, exhaust stack height, and internal structural configurations, evaluating their effects on plume dispersion, air recirculation, and overall thermal efficiency. Experimental results, obtained through meticulous measurement techniques with uncertainty analysis, are used to validate detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. The findings provide critical insights into the complex flow interactions, offering practical recommendations for optimizing the design and layout of NG-DES exhaust systems to enhance performance and mitigate environmental concerns, thereby supporting the sustainable development of green technology in the energy sector.