Researches at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, in collaboration with Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) and Reliant Energy Inc. (REI) of the US have developed an innovative, more efficient generator for power stations. The generator helps preserve the environment.
Prof. Ezra Bar-Ziv of Ben Gurion University headed a team of six researchers and engineers, and Dr. Boris Chudnovsky headed a team of IEC engineers and designers.
Bar-Ziv said the method used PCs to simulate the complex processes within the generators’ burn chambers, without the need for supercomputers. Commercial software, some of its specially designed for this purpose, was used to carry out the simulations.
One program was specially designed for electrical generators. REI uses the program to provide services for generators in the US and elsewhere in the world.
Bar-Ziv said, “The possibility of obtaining an accurate picture of the processes inside the power station’s burn chamber in advance can be an important and inexpensive tool for the IEC to make strategic and operational decisions.”
IEC is now testing and applying the project. The Ministry of National Infrastructures, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, Ben Gurion University and IEC provided the project’s financing.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on May 29, 2003