Numerical Simulation of Direct Solar Vapor Generation of Acetone for an Organic Rankine Cycle Using an Evacuated Tube Collector

Abstract

This paper analyzes the direct solar vapor generation of acetone by solar radiation falling on the heat pipes of an evacuated tube collector (ETC) that can activate a domestic scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The irradiance from the sun determines the mass flow of acetone along the horizontal manifold of the ETC to produce vapor at the collector outlet. A Scilab code is developed to simulate the flow of acetone inside the manifold where subcooled acetone undergoes heating and evaporation process. Simulation is run from 60 °C to a saturation temperature of 120 °C at a pressure of 604 kPa, vapor qualities from 1 - 100 percent and solar radiation from 300 to 1100 W/m2. The Kattan-Thome-Favrat flow boiling model is used to obtain the two-phase local heat transfer coefficients along the horizontal manifold and it is validated with the numerical and experimental values of ammonia. The ORC system can generate 218 kWh/year of electrical energy, a thermal power capacity of 1616 kWh/year and achieve an ORC efficiency of 84.4%. The solar-ORC has a thermal efficiency of 3.25% and an exergy efficiency of 21.3% with a solar collector of 2.84 m2.

A bibliometric analysis of the application of solar energy to the organic Rankine cycle

“…Spoiled pipes can be simply substituted ( Dincer, 2018 ). Dami et al. (2021) have conducted a numerical analysis of the direct solar vapour generation of acetone on ETC that can activate a domestic scale ORC, and the result is the system, and can generate 218 kWh/year of electrical energy with the solar-ORC has a thermal efficiency of 3.25%.…”

Performance Evaluation and Working Fluid Screening of Direct Vapor Generation for Solar ORC Using Low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Working Fluids

“…K.E. Dami et al [25] simulated the performance of a DVG-ORC system with an evacuated tube collector using acetone as the working fluid under different heat flux densities, and the results showed that the system could generate 218 kWh of electricity per year. J. Li et al [18] proposed a DVG-ORC system with energy storage and investigated the influence of different working fluids on the system efficiency.…”

A novel direct steam generation system based on the high-vacuum insulated flat plate solar collector

“…Evacuated tube solar collector for high-temperature steam generation in the applications of steam cooking, boilers, laundry, etc are also studied [16]. In addition to steam generation, an evacuated tube collector is used for acetone vapor generation to drive an organic Rankine cycle [17].…”