Symmetry and Thermal Engineering

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 1073

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca 36787, Mexico
Interests: thermal radiation; convective heat transfer; thermal engineering

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Guest Editor
Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
Interests: energy efficiency; combustion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We welcome original research contributions exploring symmetry and asymmetry in the field of thermal science and engineering, paying special attention to power systems and heat transfer engineering. Submissions may employ theoretical, experimental, or numerical approaches and may cover topics including the following: thermal energy systems for marine, aerospace, and submarine environments; thermal management of large and small-scale systems; all forms of energy, from conventional to alternative and from fission to fusion; high-performance power systems; methods for improving heat transfer efficiency; fundamental mechanisms of conduction, convection, radiation, and multi-phase flow; sustainability; thermal environmental control; carbon emission reduction; advanced materials; and pioneering technological solutions for optimizing thermal systems. We are eager to receive your work for this Special Issue.

Dr. Yanan Camaraza-Medina
Dr. Leonardo Peña Pupo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energies
  • thermal radiation
  • thermal power systems
  • thermal science
  • thermal engineering
  • thermal management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 1757 KB  
Article
Energy and Exergy Assessment of a 250 MW Steam Boiler Under Partial Load Conditions: Comparative Analysis of Fuel Oil and Enhanced Crude Oil
by Yoalbys Retirado-Mediaceja, William Quitiaquez, Yanan Camaraza-Medina, Héctor Luis Laurencio-Alfonso, Carlos Zalazar, Hugo Javier Angulo Palma, Benigno Leyva De la cruz, M. Hernández-Wolpez and Liomnis Osorio
Symmetry 2026, 18(4), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18040647 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 745
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive thermo-energetic and exergetic assessment of a 250 MW steam boiler in a Cuban thermal power plant, operating under partial load conditions (plant: 62–66%; boiler: 58–61%). An integrated diagnostic methodology was developed and implemented in Mathcad 15 to evaluate [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive thermo-energetic and exergetic assessment of a 250 MW steam boiler in a Cuban thermal power plant, operating under partial load conditions (plant: 62–66%; boiler: 58–61%). An integrated diagnostic methodology was developed and implemented in Mathcad 15 to evaluate key performance indicators, including thermal efficiency (ηtGV); exergetic efficiency (ηExGV); exergy destruction ratio (γExGV); steam generation index (IGv); and specific fuel consumption (BEsp). The methodology was applied to two fuels with contrasting thermophysical and chemical properties: fuel oil and Enhanced Crude Oil 650. The results indicate superior performance with fuel oil due to its higher heating value; however, efficiency losses were mainly attributed to operational factors such as excessive air supply (22.7–26.4%), heat transfer surface fouling, and inadequate maintenance. The analysis revealed significant deviations from design values—thermal efficiency (90.27–90.59%) and exergetic efficiency (<60%)—highlighting an untapped potential for energy savings. Quantitative estimates indicate potential annual fuel cost savings of approximately 1.2 million USD through optimized combustion and maintenance practices. The proposed framework enables accurate diagnostics of complex boiler systems and provides actionable indicators to support combustion optimization and energy efficiency strategies in conventional thermal power plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry and Thermal Engineering)
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