Exergetic and economic analysis of a solar driven small scale ORC

Roumpedakis, Tryfon C.; Loumpardis, George; Monokrousou, Evropi; Braimakis, Konstantinos; Charalampidis, Antonios; Karellas, Sotiriοs

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.016

Cited by 67 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The correlations derived from the study by Ziviani et al [54] are used for the estimation of their efficiencies. More details on these equations are listed in a previous study conducted by the authors [55].…”

Section: Pumpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-Economic Optimization of Medium Temperature Solar-Driven Subcritical Organic Rankine Cycle

Roumpedakis

Fostieris

Braimakis

et al. 2021

Thermo

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present work focuses on the techno-economic assessment and multi-objective genetic algorithm optimization of small-scale (40 kWth input), solar Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems driven by medium-to-high temperature (up to 210 °C) parabolic dish (PDC) and trough (PTC) collectors. The ORCs are designed to maximize their nominal thermal efficiency for several natural hydrocarbon working fluids. The optimization variables are the solar field area and storage tank capacity, with the goal of minimizing the levelized cost of produced electricity (LCoE) and maximizing the annual solar conversion efficiency. The lowest LCOE (0.34 €/kWh) was obtained in Athens for a high solar field area and low storage tank capacity. Meanwhile, the maximum annual solar conversion efficiencies (10.5–11%) were obtained in northern cities (e.g., Brussels) at lower solar field locations. While PTCs and PDCs result in similar efficiencies, the use of PTCs is more cost-effective. Among the working fluids, Cyclopentane and Cyclohexane exhibited the best performance, owing to their high critical temperatures. Notably, the systems could be more profitable at higher system sizes, as indicated by the 6% LCoE decrease of the solar ORC in Athens when the nominal heat input was increased to 80 kWth.

show abstract

Section: Pumpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-Economic Optimization of Medium Temperature Solar-Driven Subcritical Organic Rankine Cycle

Roumpedakis

Fostieris

Braimakis

et al. 2021

Thermo

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…At present, low-medium temperature solar plants in real applications are often based on a Rankine cycle in combination with organic fluids to ensure high specific energy during the expansion phase even at reduced pressure levels. [4][5][6] However, such a solution also involves heat transfer between two fluids which can entail an exergetic destruction of the accessible thermal power. Moreover, solar thermal power plants based on organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) are also penalized by both poor thermodynamic performance at high temperatures and several problems concerning thermal instability, toxicity, and flammability of organic fluids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined use of volumetric expanders and Scheffler receivers to improve the efficiency of a novel direct steam solar power plant

Iodice

Amoresano

Langella

et al. 2021

Intl J of Energy Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This research proposes an innovative solar thermal plant able to generate mechanical power through an optimized system of heliostats with Scheffler-type solar receivers coupled with screw-type steam expanders. Scheffler receivers appear to perform better than parabolic trough collectors due to the high compactness of the focal receiver, which minimizes convective and radiative heat losses even at high vaporization temperatures. At the same time, steam screw expanders are volumetric machines that can be used to produce mechanical power with satisfactory efficiency also by admitting two-phase mixtures and with further advantages compared to steam turbines: low working fluid velocities, low operating pressures, and avoidance of overheating. This study establishes a mathematical model to assess the energetic advantages of the planned solar thermal power system by evaluating the solar-to-electricity efficiency for different off-

show abstract

“…The analyzed configurations are classified into sequential (cascaded PTC field, ORC, cooling, and heating cycles) and parallel (ORC, cooling, and heating cycles supplied by the PTC field), and the results demonstrate that the sequential configuration is more compact and presents better thermodynamic and economic performances. Roumpedakis et al [44] proposed a design optimization and performance assessment of small-scale solar-driven ORC plants in the southeast Mediterranean region (Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey), considering, in addition, different working fluids and solar thermal collectors (flat plate, evacuated tube, and PTC). A multi-objective optimization was developed using a genetic algorithm to maximize exergy efficiency and minimize the payback period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Analysis and Design of a Solar-Based Parabolic Trough–ORC Cogeneration Plant for a Commercial Center

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper performs technical, economic and environmental feasibility analyses of two different solar cogeneration plants, consisting of a solar system (a parabolic trough collector field coupled with thermal energy storage), an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and mechanical chillers, that should cover the electrical and cooling demands of a commercial center located in Zaragoza (Spain). System A is hybridized with an auxiliary biomass boiler that complements the solar system’s thermal production, providing a constant heat supply to the ORC, which operates at full load during the operating hours of the solar system. In contrast, system B is not hybridized with biomass, so the ORC is fully driven by the solar system, operating at partial load according to the solar resource availability. Both systems are connected to the electrical grid, allowing electricity purchases and sales when needed. The design procedure involves the sizing of the equipment as well as the modelling of the hourly behavior of each system throughout the year. The physical analysis is complemented by an economic assessment, which considers investment and variable costs, as well as an estimate of the significant environmental benefits of the proposed plants. The solar plants are compared to a conventional system in which all the electrical consumption is covered with electricity purchased from the grid. The costs of the electricity produced by systems A and B are estimated at 0.2030 EUR/kWh and 0.1458 EUR/kWh, which are about 49% and 7% higher than the electricity purchase price in Spain (0.1363 EUR/kWh). These results indicate that while none of the solar plants are presently competitive with the conventional system, system B (without biomass hybridization) is actually closer to economic feasibility in the short and medium term than system A (with biomass hybridization).

show abstract

Exergetic and economic analysis of a solar driven small scale ORC

Cited by 67 publications

References 54 publications

Techno-Economic Optimization of Medium Temperature Solar-Driven Subcritical Organic Rankine Cycle

Techno-Economic Optimization of Medium Temperature Solar-Driven Subcritical Organic Rankine Cycle

Combined use of volumetric expanders and Scheffler receivers to improve the efficiency of a novel direct steam solar power plant

Comparative Analysis and Design of a Solar-Based Parabolic Trough–ORC Cogeneration Plant for a Commercial Center

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About