Experimental verification of the theoretical model of operation of the PVM-200 steam screw expander machine for power supply of forest terminals

The article presents the results of comprehensive experimental bench studies of the SSM-200 steam screw machine, considered as a key component of an autonomous power plant for remote forest terminals. The creation of such terminals, designed for deep processing of wood directly at its production sites, is an urgent task in the context of developing the resources of the northern and Arctic regions of the Russian Federation, characterized by poorly developed energy and transport infrastructure. The purpose of the work is to verify the theoretical linear model of power dependence on steam flow by establishing and analyzing the real power dependence on steam flow. The SSM-200 bench tests were conducted under conditions close to industrial operation, at five fixed modes, uniformly covering the working range of the incoming steam pressure. Based on the natural data array, a refined approximating dependence in the form of a power function was obtained using the least squares method. Statistical analysis of the agreement of the new empirical model with the original theoretical model was performed using Pearson's criterion (χ2). The analysis results showed a statistically significant discrepancy between the models: theoretical power values do not fall within the confidence intervals of the experimental data. This indicates insufficient accuracy of the initial linear model due to unaccounted for mechanical and thermal losses. The degree dependence established during the tests has a high degree of reliability with a determination coefficient of R2 = 0.98 and can be used in the future to develop an improved mathematical model of an independent energy system of a forest terminal, which will increase the accuracy of its energy supply calculations and overall efficiency.