Mathematical modelling of operation modes and performance evaluation of an innovative small-scale concentrated solar organic Rankine cycle plant

Cioccolanti, Luca; Tascioni, Roberto; Arteconi, Alessia

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.189

Cited by 54 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…According to the plant operation modes the high-mass flow rates (about 3 kg/s) occur when the TES is in operation (charging or discharging) depending on the solar radiation. For further details on the plant operation modes, interested readers are invited to see paper [15].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Manfrida et al [13], instead, numerically assessed the performance of parabolic-trough-collectors solar field coupled with an ORC unit and a phase-change-material thermal energy storage (TES) system, finding a weekly average overall efficiency of 3.9% (solar-to-electricity). In previous works [14,15] some of the authors of the present paper have investigated the performance of a microsolar organic Rankine cycle plant based on linear Fresnel reflectors (LFR) solar field and designed for residential applications. Among the obtained results, they found a significant amount of thermal loss in the pipelines connecting the different subsystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical Investigation of Pipelines Modeling in Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Combined Heat and Power Plants

et al. 2020

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In this paper four different detailed models of pipelines are proposed and compared to assess the thermal losses in small-scale concentrated solar combined heat and power plants. Indeed, previous numerical analyses carried out by some of the authors have revealed the high impact of pipelines on the performance of these plants because of their thermal inertia. Hence, in this work the proposed models are firstly compared to each other for varying temperature increase and mass flow rate. Such comparison shows that the one-dimensional (1D) longitudinal model is in good agreement with the results of the more detailed two-dimensional (2D) model at any temperature gradient for heat transfer fluid velocities higher than 0.1 m/s whilst the lumped model agrees only at velocities higher than 1 m/s. Then, the 1D longitudinal model is implemented in a quasi-steady-state Simulink model of an innovative microscale concentrated solar combined heat and power plant and its performances evaluated. Compared to the results obtained using the Simscape library model of the tube, the performances of the plant show appreciable discrepancies during the winter season. Indeed, whenever the longitudinal thermal gradient of the fluid inside the pipeline is high (as at part-load conditions in winter season), the lumped model becomes inaccurate with more than 20% of deviation of the thermal losses and 30% of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) electric energy output with respect to the 1D longitudinal model. Therefore, the analysis proves that an hybrid model able to switch from a 1D longitudinal model to a zero-dimensional (0D) model with delay based on the fluid flow rate is recommended to obtain results accurate enough whilst limiting the computational efforts.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Investigation of Pipelines Modeling in Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Combined Heat and Power Plants

et al. 2020

Self Cite

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“…There are several new articles that reported the technoeconomics of solar ORC systems and its configurations. Cioccolanti et al investigated an innovative small‐scale concentrated solar 2 kWe ORC plant coupled with a phase change material storage tank equipped with reversible heat pipes by simulation analysis and found that the plant was able to reach high conversion efficiency when the ORC plant was supplied by discharging the energy stored in the storage tank, for about 800 hours/year. Costa et al presented the design study of latent heat thermal storage system which was used as a part of micro‐solar ORC power plant with operating at temperature levels between 220°C and 230°C.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A study of effects on economic indicators for different heat source temperature on thermal storage‐based solar organic Rankine cycle system

Baral

2020

Engineering Reports

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The solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for power generation with thermal storage type may be one of the promising technologies for prolonging power generation. The thermal storage type of solar ORC system is feasible for investment due to higher power production. In addition, the heat source temperature of the ORC system plays an important role in the investment. The main aim of the study is to investigate the solar ORC with thermal storage systems from the thermoeconomic point of view. The paper provides recommendations for a suitable class of investment in which an ORC system can be economically feasible.Besides, the economics and thermoeconomic analysis is carried out in order to find the cost of electricity production from the solar ORC under various solar source temperatures. The cost of electricity generation is found to be in the range of $0.2/kWh to $0.6/kWh for 120 • C and 90 • C, respectively. For analysis, different financial scenarios are developed based on the total cost of the solar ORC units. The economic parameters, such as payback period, internal rate of return (IRR) and specific investment cost, are calculated. The payback period is found to be less than 6 years for the thermal storage type of solar ORC system with the IRR to be 15%. This shows that the investment is feasible for medium and large scale solar ORC with thermal storage systems.

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“…Shojaeizadeh et al also investigated the influence of applying Al 2 O 3 nanofluid on the exergetic performance of a flat plate solar collector and demonstrated that applying nanofluid had a positive effect on the exergetic performance of the collector while the flow rate and the inlet temperature were reduced. Cioccolanti et al presented a mathematical model to simulate the performance of a small‐scale concentrated solar power plant based on an organic Rankine cycle (ORC). Brandoni and Renzi designed a micro‐CHP unit coupled with a solar system (PV and concentrated solar system) for residential utilization and presented a sizing approach to obtain the optimal performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steady state operation exergy‐based optimization for solar thermal collectors

Grosu

Mathieu

Rochelle

et al. 2019

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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In this investigation, exergy-based optimization was carried out on two configurations of solar thermal collectors. A set of control sensors were utilized to control the performance of the system and monitor the design variables, that is, inlet and outlet temperature of the solar fluid, ambient temperature, incident solar flux, and required mechanical and electrical work in the system. The fluid temperature was considered to vary in the range of 120-180 C with respect to technical and economic considerations. The collector surface area was considered 606 m 2 in both configurations, and a medium solar incident was considered about 520 W/m 2 . The maximum acceptable temperature difference is obtained as function of the input temperature. The technical limitation is plotted for both configurations of solar collectors. It was noticed that the exergy flow of simple evacuated tubes can reach the maximum value when the input temperature is greater than 115 C for an incident solar flow, from 250 W/m 2 up to the limit of 950 W/m 2 . Exergy analysis demonstrated that more control is required on the temperature control to obtain the optimum performance of the solar collector. Thus, applying exergy optimization approach can be very useful to guide control system, the maximum outlet temperature being a key variable on the performance of the collectors.

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Mathematical modelling of operation modes and performance evaluation of an innovative small-scale concentrated solar organic Rankine cycle plant

Cited by 54 publications

References 29 publications

Numerical Investigation of Pipelines Modeling in Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Combined Heat and Power Plants

Numerical Investigation of Pipelines Modeling in Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Combined Heat and Power Plants

A study of effects on economic indicators for different heat source temperature on thermal storage‐based solar organic Rankine cycle system

Steady state operation exergy‐based optimization for solar thermal collectors

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