The paper considers modeling the emergence and growth of possible fractal structures and defects on the inner surface of the chambers of thermal power units, which allow control and regulation of the development of such stochastic dynamic processes. We are talking about the use of modeling procedures for the given analysis, which are quite universal in the framework of certain approaches. A general qualitative consideration of the modeling of processes such as the deposition of materials on a solid surface of various complex configurations, and the occurrence of its fracturing and defects of fractal types, is given. In the first part, we consider an analogy between the processes of the emergence and growth of fractal structures and chamber defects with laser processes of controlled deposition of substances on the surface of a solid body and the growth of its fracturing. A number of models have been developed for the emergence and growth of fractal inhomogeneities of various types and configurations on a solid surface with identification of the possibility of their preliminary monitoring at the initial stage of their appearance. At the same time, both various surfaces in the form of coatings and the formation of fracturing and cluster zones of inhomogeneities and defects have been analyzed. The emphasis in the course of research has been made both on the analysis of their regulated structure, and also on the dynamics of the growth of fracturing and cluster zones of heterogeneities and defects in a certain direction. At the initial stage, the indicated process of formation of fractures and cluster zones of inhomogeneities and defects in space was monitored with different scaling: nano- and microscales. This study has been carried out within the framework of an analogy under the following conditions: firstly, given control over the cha-racteristics of similar objects in the corresponding laser experiment; secondly, the presence of a real possibility of ensuring their formation on the inner surfaces of the chambers in contact with the working substance; thirdly, the possibility of such structures influencing on the efficiency of various types of thermal power units in the context of achieving the desired direction and/or undesirability of changing the indicators and characteristics of units taking into account the laws of technical thermodynamics.

The energy system is a structure that is among the most complex artificial objects, the successful functioning and development of which is absolutely necessary to ensure the livelihoods of a modern state. In this regard, its continuous monitoring with obtaining reliable and objective performance indicators is undoubtedly in demand. Traditional key energy indicators (specific consumption of conventional fuel for electricity generation and heat release) do not give a complete picture of the operation of the power system for such complex structures and in some cases are calculated incorrectly. The present paper proposes to add a well-known, but practically unused exergetic efficiency coefficient to the range of traditional characteristics. Its application expands the monitoring capabilities and increases the objectivity of the evaluation. For the first time, the analysis of various periods (annual, heating and inter-heating) was carried out on the example of thermal power plants (CHP) of the Unified Energy System of Belarus. The relative power generation of the CHP before the commissioning of the Belarusian NPP was estimated at ≈45 %, and after commissioning it decreased to ≈39 %. More than half of the annual consumption of thermal energy in Belarus is accounted for by heat-generating sources, while thermal power plants provide up to 88 % of heat output. The installed electric capacity utilization factor, the extraction factor and the average annual specific generation of electricity on thermal consumption for each CHP separately have been determined. The results are presented graphically, which makes the content more informative and facilitates the perception. Solutions have been proposed to improve the efficiency of the CHP.

The energy system is one of the foundations of a modern state, so, the need for its successful development and functioning is beyond doubt. In this regard, an objective assessment based on a set of indicators (viz. economic, energy and thermodynamic) is relevant. However, the traditional assessment of the operation of the energy system is carried out on the basis of such characteristics as the specific consumption of conventional fuel for electricity generation and heat release, which does not provide a comprehensive picture and is not always applied correctly. In this article, for the first time on the basis of the exergetic method, the calculation of the exergetic efficiency is considered. The use of this indicator makes it possible to obtain an objective assessment of the thermodynamic efficiency of such a complex formation as the energy system of a modern country in the easiest way. As an example, the unified energy system of Belarus in general and condensing power plants in particular have been analyzed for a fairly long period (2000–2021) and in various characteristic time periods. The method of calculating the exergetic efficiency is described. The results obtained are presented graphically. Attention is paid to the issue of the acceptability of the error when generalizing data on the initial flows of primary energy resources and product flows of centralized generating sources of the energy system. The contribution of condensing power plants to the total volume of electricity generation is analyzed, the most advanced of them are determined from a thermodynamic point of view. The calculation of their energy and exergetic indicators was carried out; the changes associated with the commissioning of the Belarusian NPP were considered. The conclusion is made that further reconstruction of energy sources of the power system in order to reduce the relative weight of natural gas in the incoming part of the energy balance to 50 % is expedient. This can be achieved by increasing the thermodynamic efficiency.

The paper describes further development of model studies with the purpose to draw analogies of the occurrence  of possible inhomogeneities and defects of the fractal type on the surface of various objects under the action of laser radiation for different conditions and schemes of a laser simulation experiment in comparison with real processes in the chambers of thermal machines due to the contacts of the working substances with their surface. The subject of this consideration is related to the fact that in laser schemes one can relatively easily and in a controlled manner to study their topology in various modifications (in the range of 0D–3D structures formed on surfaces of various geometric shapes of the fractal type). This provides great opportunities for studying various frequently occurring undesirable random defects and inhomogeneities of  complex configuration with the development of unexpected processes in the dynamic modes of operation of various types of power units in their actual operation. This is determined by geometric analysis within the framework of the correspondding non-linear models with different  non-linear fractal images. In this aspect, we have used two models to consider the development of emerging fractal fractured structures: first, diffusion propagation/growth of cracks of different geometry with a set of local segments and fragments in different directions; secondly, with diffusely limited aggregation of their distribution (Diffusion-Limited Aggregation – DLA) using the formalism of cellular automata in percolation approximation for different algorithms for the formation of fractal structures. We present only the final results of calculations without details of their procedure, which is sufficient for a visual and qualitative determination of the process of growth of fracturing and defects. In this case, the final goal of consideration is to study the emergence of possible and controllable local areas / collectors, starting from surface structures, and their association with real objects on the surface of chambers with a working substance in power systems. The possible practical significance of such modeling and analysis is discussed to forecast their working conditions.