A procedure to select working fluids for Solar Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs)

The selection of working fluid and working conditions of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has a great effect on the system operation, and its energy efficiency and impact on the environment. The main purpose of this study is to develop a procedure to compare capabilities of working fluids when they are employed in solar Rankine cycles with similar working conditions. The Refprop 8.0 database with 117 organic fluids has been considered as the reference in this study. A procedure to compare ORC working fluids based on their molecular components, temperature–entropy diagram and fluid effects on the thermal efficiency, net power generated, vapor expansion ratio, and exergy efficiency of the Rankine cycle has been proposed. Fluids with the best cycle performance have been recognized in two different temperature levels within two different categories of fluids: refrigerants and non-refrigerants. Based on categories of solar collectors, 11 fluids have been suggested to be employed in solar ORCs that use low or medium temperature solar collectors. Collector efficiency improvement and use of the regenerative ORC instead of the basic cycle reduce irreversibility of a solar ORC. Calculation results show that for selected fluids, the theoretical limits for irreversibility reduction and exergy efficiency enhancement through collector efficiency improvement are 35% and 5% respectively, when the collector efficiency increases from 70% to 100%. The effect of regeneration on the exergy efficiency of the cycle is fluid dependent while the effect of collector efficiency improvement on the exergy efficiency of the cycle is nearly independent of fluid type. At the two temperature levels studied, higher molecular complexity results in more effective regenerative cycles except for Cyclohydrocarbons.     

Thermodynamic investigation of solar energy-based triple combined power cycle

The present work deals with the thermodynamic analysis of a solar-powered triple combined power cycle to generate emission-free power. The triple combined cycle comprises one topping cycle as Brayton cycle and two bottoming cycles, namely, steam Rankine cycle (SRC) and organic Rankine cycle (ORC). The Brayton cycle employs double-stage compression with intercooling. During intercooling, heat energy rejected by the compressed air was further utilized in the ORC. The energy carried away after the turbine exit was used in the SRC. The proposed cycle performance is investigated for three working fluids to use with the bottoming ORC. Results showed that the maximum overall thermal efficiency and work output of solar energy-based triple combined cycle are found 21.89% and 218.98 kJ/kg air, respectively, for organic fluid R245fa at the topping cycle pressure ratio of 31.     

Efficiency optimization potential in supercritical Organic Rankine Cycles

Nowadays, the use of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) in decentralised applications is linked with the fact that this process allows the use of low temperature heat sources and offers an advantageous efficiency in small-scale concepts. Many state-of-the-art and innovative applications can successfully use the ORC process. In this process, according to the heat source level, special attention must be drawn to the choice of the appropriate working fluid, which is a factor that affects the thermal and exergetic efficiency of the cycle. The investigation of supercritical parameters of various working fluids in ORC applications seems to bring promising results concerning the efficiency of the application.     

Effect of working fluids on organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery

This study presents an analysis of the performance of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) subjected to the influence of working fluids. The effects of various working fluids on the thermal efficiency and on the total heat-recovery efficiency have been investigated. It is found that the presence of hydrogen bond in certain molecules such as water, ammonia, and ethanol may result in wet fluid conditions due to larger vaporizing enthalpy, and is regarded as inappropriate for ORC systems. The calculated results reveal that the thermal efficiency for various working fluids is a weak function of the critical temperature. The maximum value of the total heat-recovery efficiency occurs at the appropriate evaporating temperature between the inlet temperature of waste heat and the condensing temperature. In addition, the maximum value of total heat-recovery efficiency increases with the increase of the inlet temperature of the waste heat source and decreases it by using working fluids having lower critical temperature. Analytical results using a constant waste heat temperature or based on thermal efficiency may result in considerable deviation of system design relative to the varying temperature conditions of the actual waste heat recovery and is regarded as inappropriate.     

Selection and Evaluation of Dry and Isentropic Organic Working Fluids Used in Organic Rankine Cycle Based on the Turning Point on Their Saturated Vapor Curves

The organic Rankine cycle(ORC) is a popular technique used in the utilization of low-grade thermal energy. Among wet, dry, and isentropic organic working fluids, the latter two types are more appropriate for ORC systems. In this paper, the definition of turning point on saturated vapor curve of dry fluid and isentropic fluid was given according to the shape of the saturated curve of working fluids in a T-s diagram. On this basis, the model of near-critical region triangle was established. Using this model, the thermodynamic performance of 57 kinds of dry and isentropic organic working fluids in ORC was evaluated. The performance includes the relation between turning point temperature and cycle thermal efficiency, the relation between near-critical region triangle area and cycle thermal efficiency, the relation between near-critical region triangle area and exergy at turning point temperature, the relation between near-critical region triangle area and reciprocal value of slope of saturated vapor curve. Moreover, working fluid selection was also conducted in terms of heat source type. It was found through theoretical analysis results that the popular R123 is an acceptable choice especially for the utilization of closed type heat source. Considering it will be phased out in near future, then cis-butene, butane, trans-butene, and isobutene are worth studying as its successor. Dodecane is worthy of attention and further research and it can be a good choice for utilization of open type heat source.     

低温地热发电有机朗肯循环的优化

采用(火用)分析方法及PR状态方程,建立了低温地热发电有机朗肯循环的工质优选及主要参数优化热力学方法.比较计算了以10种干流体有机工质为循环工质的低温地热发电有机朗肯循环的输出功率、(火用)效率及其余主要热力性能.结果表明,低温地热发电有机朗肯循环的性能极大地受工质的物性及蒸发温度的影响.总体来看,随着工质临界温度的升...     

有出口温度限制的热源亚临界有机朗肯循环最佳回热度定量准则的研究

我国的余热资源和可再生能源丰富,但部分余热资源和可再生能源分布比较分散,并存在温度和能量密度均较低的问题.基于传统能源转化技术,利用温度较低的余热资源和能量密度较低的可再生能源进行发电,会降低余热资源和可再生能源的热功转换效率.有机朗肯循环(ORC)系统可以有效利用低温热能进行发电.对于不同温度和形式的热源,采用合适的...     

基于热源耦合ORC ANN模型的循环性能预测及工质优选

基于已建立的有机朗肯循环(ORC) 人工神经网络(ANN)模型,将其与热源进行耦合,从而在不同烟气工况下对ORC进行循环性能预测及工质优选。为了分析与热源耦合的ORC ANN模型精度,基于初选的10种工质,比较了该模型与REFPROP软件对基本ORC和回热ORC的计算结果,比较结果表明：该ORC ANN模型对大部分循环参数的平均相对偏差都小于5%。在此基础上,针对不同烟气热源温度（523.15,488.15和453.15 K）,以最大净输出功为目标,分别优化循环的蒸发温度,优化结果显示：3种热源温度对应的最佳工质分别为R1336mzz(Z),R600a和R236fa。     

Comparison of a Basic Organic Rankine Cycle and a Parallel Double-Evaporator Organic Rankine Cycle

ABSTRACT

The applications of zeotropic mixtures and multi-evaporator systems are two viable options to improve the performance of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). This paper conducts the thermo-economic comparison of a basic ORC with R245fa/R600a and a parallel double-evaporator organic Rankine cycle (PDORC) with R245fa. Four indicators are used to evaluate the system performance: net power, cycle efficiency, area of heat exchangers, and area of heat exchangers per net power output. Submodels of condensers and evaporators are established specially for pure organic fluids and zeotropic mixtures. The performance optimization using genetic algorithm is conducted to compare the two systems quantitatively. The optimization indicates a zeotropic mixture is more profitable than a pure work fluid in a basic ORC with a worthy additional investment of heat exchanger. Though PDORC can increase net power obviously, it would decrease the thermo-economic performance of ORC.     

Review of the Working Fluid Thermal Stability for Organic Rankine Cycles

The organic Rankine cycle(ORC) is an efficient power generation technology and has been widely used for renewable energy utilization and industrial waste heat recovery. Thermal stability is a significant property of ORC working fluids and is the primary limitation for working fluid selection and system design. This paper presents a review of the working fluid thermal stability for ORCs, including an analysis of the main theoretical method for thermal stability, a summary of the main experimental method for thermal stability, a summary of the decomposition experimental results for working fluids, and a discussion of the decomposition influence on ORC systems. Further research trends of thermal stability are also discussed in this paper.     

换热器压降对ORC发电系统的影响

在考虑换热器压降及散热损失的情况下建立中低温地热驱动的有机朗肯循环(ORC)发电系统模型并通过500 kW示范工程进行验证。模型选取5种有机工质,研究换热器压降在不同热源温度、蒸发温度和冷凝温度下对系统性能的影响。研究结果表明随着热源温度以及蒸发温度的升高,压降对系统净发电量以及净发电效率的影响逐渐降低,但随着冷凝温度的升高,压降对系统净发电量的影响逐渐升高。其中,采用R227ea的系统受换热器压降影响最小,采用R123的系统受影响最大。     

A supercritical Rankine cycle using zeotropic mixture working fluids for the conversion of low-grade heat into power

A supercritical Rankine cycle using zeotropic mixture working fluids for the conversion of low-grade heat into power is proposed and analyzed in this paper. Unlike a conventional organic Rankine cycle, a supercritical Rankine cycle does not go through the two-phase region during the heating process. By adopting zeotropic mixtures as the working fluids, the condensation process also happens non-isothermally. Both of these features create a potential for reducing the irreversibilities and improving the system efficiency. A comparative study between an organic Rankine cycle and the proposed supercritical Rankine cycle shows that the proposed cycle can achieve thermal efficiencies of 10.8-13.4% with the cycle high temperature of 393 K-473 K as compared to 9.7-10.1% for the organic Rankine cycle, which is an improvement of 10-30% over the organic Rankine cycle. When including the heating and condensation processes in the system, the system exergy efficiency is 38.6% for the proposed supercritical Rankine cycle as compared to 24.1% for the organic Rankine cycle.     

Energy and exergy‐based working fluid selection for organic Rankine cycle recovering waste heat from high temperature solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine hybrid systems

This paper performed a comparative analysis of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) using different working fluids, in order to recover waste heat from a solid oxide fuel cell‐gas turbine hybrid power cycle. Depending on operating parameters, criteria for the choice of the working fluid were identified. Results reveal that due to a significant temperature glide of the exhaust gas, the actual ORC cycle thermal efficiency strongly depends on the turbine inlet temperature, exhaust gas temperature, and fluid's critical point temperature. When exhaust gas temperature varies in the range of 500 K to 600 K, R123 is preferred among the nine dry typical organic fluids because of the highest and most stabilized mean thermal efficiency under wide operating conditions and its reasonable condensing pressure and turbine outlet specific volume, which in turn results in a feasible ORC cycle for practical concerns. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of organic working fluids on system efficiency of an ORC using low-grade energy sources

Rankine cycles using organic fluids (as categorized into three groups: wet, dry, and isentropic fluids) as working fluids in converting low-grade energy are investigated in this study. The main purpose is to identify suitable working fluids which may yield high system efficiencies in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system. Efficiencies of ORC systems are calculated based on an assumption that the inlet condition of the working fluid entering turbine is in saturated vapor phase. Parameters under investigation are turbine inlet temperature, turbine inlet pressure, condenser exit temperature, turbine exit quality, overall irrversibility, and system efficiency. The low-grade energy source can be obtained from a solar pond or/and an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system. Results indicate that wet fluids with very steep saturated vapor curves in T-s diagram have a better overall performance in energy conversion efficiencies than that of dry fluids. It can also be shown that all the working fluids have a similar behavior of the efficiency-condenser exit temperature relationship. Furthermore, an appropriate combination of solar energy and an ORC system with a higher turbine inlet temperature and a lower condenser temperature (as operated deeply under sea level) would provide an economically feasible and environment-friendly renewable energy conversion system.     

Energetic and exergetic analysis of waste heat recovery from a microturbine using organic Rankine cycles

This article examines the exhaust waste heat recovery potential of a microturbine (MT) using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC). Possible improvements in electric and exergy efficiencies as well as specific emissions by recovering waste heat from the MT exhaust gases are determined. Different dry organic working fluids are considered during the evaluation (R113, R123, R245fa, and R236fa). In general, it has been found that the use of an ORC to recover waste heat from MTs improves the combined electric and exergy efficiencies for all the evaluated fluids, obtaining increases of an average of 27% when the ORC was operated using R113 as the working fluid. It has also been found that higher ORC evaporator effectiveness values correspond to lower pinch point temperature differences and higher exergy efficiencies. Three different MT sizes were evaluated, and the results indicate that the energetic and exergetic performance as well as the reduction of specific emissions of a combined MT‐ORC is better for small MT power outputs than for larger MTs. This article also shows how the electric efficiency can be used to ascertain under which circumstances the use of a combined MT‐ORC will result in better cost, primary energy consumption, or emission reduction when compared with buying electricity directly from electric utilities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同工质对太阳能有机朗肯循环系统性能的影响

循环工质的特性是影响有机朗肯循环系统性能的重要因素之一,在不同的蒸发温度条件下,选取R600、R600a、R245fa、R236fa、R236ea、R601、R601a、RC318及R227ea共9种有机工质,基于热力学第一定律和第二定律对其热力循环特性进行了计算分析,并对各有机工质的蒸发压力、热效率、功比和不可逆损失等进行了比较.结果表明：R245fa作为太阳能低温热发电朗肯循环系统的循环工质具有较高的热效率和效率,并且产生的系统总不可逆损失较小,是一种较理想的有机工质;其次,R236fa和R236ea作为系统循环工质也具有较为良好的性能.     

Thermo-economic analysis of using an organic Rankine cycle for heat recovery from both the cell stack and reformer in a PEMFC for power generation

Distributed power generation is gaining attention as a solution for the transmission loss and site selection in centralized power generation. Polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are suitable as a distributed power source for residential areas because of their high efficiency and low environmental impact. This study proposes a combined power generation system for recovering waste heat from both the cell stack and the reformer of a PEMFC by applying an organic Rankine cycle (ORC). The best working fluid with the highest ORC power output (i.e., the highest combined system efficiency) was identified through a parametric study of different working fluids. An economic analysis was also performed for different working fluids, waste heat sources, and types of system operation. The results show that the installation cost of the ORC can be recovered within the fuel cell's lifetime in all design cases. Greater cumulative profit can be generated by maintaining the same power output as the stand-alone PEMFC system for greater efficiency than when increasing the power output to sell surplus power. The results demonstrate that the optimal heat recovery from the PEMFC system is both thermodynamically and economically beneficial.     

有机工质余热发电技术的研究进展及其应用前景

工业余热、太阳能热、地热、生物质能、海洋温差等都是低品位热源,有机朗肯循环(ORC)可以有效提高低品位热源的利用效率。提高ORC效率的关键是根据应用对象的特点选择合适的有机工质,国内外学者对各种领域内应用的ORC工质进行了大量深入的工作,并且取得很多成果,我国低温余热资源十分丰富,而能源利用率却不高,采用ORC提高能源回收以及利用率,在我国各行各业在都有着广阔的应用前景。     

内燃机尾气余热驱动有机朗肯蒸汽压缩制冷循环的研究

设计了以内燃机尾气余热为热源驱动的有机朗肯蒸气压缩制冷循环系统。根据热力学定律,建立了循环系统的数学模型,提出了尾气换热夹点确定方法。以Matlab和Refprop软件为工具,研究了有机朗肯循环(organic Rankine cycle,ORC)各换热器负荷、做功量、热效率分别随蒸发压力、冷凝温度的变化关系,并确定了最优工质。研究了蒸汽压缩制冷循环(vapor compression refrigeration,VCR)各换热器负荷、制冷系数分别随蒸发温度、冷凝温度的变化关系。由于压缩比的限制,确定了多种制冷工质在不同冷凝温度下的最低蒸发温度,结合相关标准中所规定的各型冷藏车蒸发温度的范围,确定了各型冷藏车的可选制冷剂。研究了与可选工质对应的制冷系数随蒸发温度的变化关系,从而确定最优工质。计算了各型冷藏车在采用最优制冷剂时,在最严苛工况下的制冷量、制冷系数及综合系数。     

A novel cryogenic power cycle for LNG cold energy recovery

A novel cryogenic cycle by using a binary mixture as working fluids and combined with a vapor absorption process was proposed to improve the energy recovery efficiency of an LNG (liquefied natural gas) cold power generation. The cycle was simulated with seawater as the heat source and LNG as the heat sink, and the optimization of the power generated per unit LNG was performed. Tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) and propane (C₃H₈) were employed as the working fluids. The effects of the working fluid composition, the recirculation rate of the C₃H₈-rich solution and the turbine intermediate pressure were investigated. In the cryogenic absorber, the C₃H₈-rich liquid absorbs the CF₄-rich vapor so that the mixture exhausting from the turbine can be fully condensed at a reduced pressure. This reduction of turbine back pressure can considerably improve the cycle efficiency. The presented cycle was compared with the C₃H₈ ORC (organic Rankine cycle), to show such performance improvement. It is found that the novel cycle is considerably superior to the ORC. The efficiency is increased by 66.3% and the optimized LNG recovery temperature is around −60 °C.