Experimental research on energy recovery efficiency and the leakage characteristic of rotary pressure exchanger

To research the energy recovery efficiency and the leakage characteristic of rotary pressure exchanger (RPE), two different kinds of experimental programs were performed in the experimental apparatus designed independently according to national standard. Firstly, the pressure of experiment system was constant, while the volume flow rate of cycle system was set from 7 to 11 m³/h. Secondly, the volume flow rate of cycle system was constant, while the pressure of experiment system was set from 1.5 to 5.5 MPa. Under the above two conditions, the volume flow rate, pressure of high-pressure cycle and low-pressure cycle were captured, and then the curves of energy recovery efficiency and flow rate, energy recovery efficiency and pressure, leakage volume rate and flow rate, leakage volume rate and pressure, rotary speed and flow rate, rotary speed and pressure were mapped. Eventually, the relations of energy recovery efficiency, rotary speed and the leakage characteristic with pressure and flow rate were presented, which could be used to improve energy recovery efficiency of rotary pressure exchanger.