Preliminary experimental investigation of a natural gas-fired ORC-based micro-CHP system for residential buildings

Farrokhi, Mahmoud; Noie, S.H.; Akbarzadeh, Aliakbar

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.11.060

Cited by 52 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…There are several low temperature applications in which the ORC can be used, like: solar thermal [6], geothermal [7], oceanic [5], biomass [8], combined heat and power [9], waste heat from power plants [10], waste heat from industrial processes [11] or others [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance evaluation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for power applications from low grade heat sources

Peris

Navarro-Esbrí

Molés

et al. 2015

Applied Thermal Engineering

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In this paper the performance of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) module, which was designed and built for a specific power application, is experimentally characterized. The ORC tested satisfies the main specifications for an efficient power system, highlighting a volumetric expander with large built-in volume ratio. For tests development, a monitored test bench has been used and adapted to the planned test procedure, which consisted of varying the thermal power input for different condensing conditions. Thereby, 10 steady state points are achieved and analysed according to thermal power input, gross and net electrical powers, electrical cycle efficiencies and expander effectiveness. The results show that the ORC performances are improved for higher thermal oil temperatures, capturing more thermal power, producing more electricity and achieving better cycle efficiencies. The maximum gross electrical efficiency obtained is 12.32 %, for a heat source temperature about 155 ºC and a direct dissipation to the ambient. Moreover, the expander reaches an electrical isentropic effectiveness about 65 % for an optimum pressure ratio around 7, being a suitable system for power applications from low grade heat sources.Keywords: Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC); power applications; test bench; heat recovery; energy efficiency.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I ntroductionThe Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has been proven as an efficient way for power generation from low grade heat sources [1]. It is a similar power cycle to the steam Rankine cycle, but uses more volatile fluids instead of water to improve the efficiency in low temperature applications [2]. Its operating principle consists of capturing the thermal energy from the heat source through the evaporation of the working fluid and reducing the enthalpy in an expander to produce mechanical work, which is turned into electricity by an electric generator. This is a closed system, which condenses the vapor from the expander outlet and pressurizes the liquid to restart the cycle again. [19] reported that in the literature the usual expander effectiveness ranges between 60-65% with peaks of 68-70%, which is in compliance with their results. The researchers tested a small-size ORC prototype using the working fluid R245fa and a scroll expander, adapted from a commercial HVAC, achieving a net cycle electrical efficiency around 8%. Kane et al. [20] proposed to use two superposed ORCs, each one with an optimized working fluid and expander to overcome the limited pressure range and built-in volume ratio (Vi) of a scroll expander modified from a standard compressor. The working fluids selected were R123 for the topping ORC and R134a for the bottoming ORC. Thereby, the results showed that the superposed cycle achieved a net electrical efficiency upper 12% during tests.As can be seen, the main expansion technology investigated for ORCs, intended for applications in low grade heat sources, is the volumetric or positive displacement machine. The reason is...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance evaluation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for power applications from low grade heat sources

Peris

Navarro-Esbrí

Molés

et al. 2015

Applied Thermal Engineering

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“…The researchers pointed that the ORC encounters technical and economical obstacles, in comparison to medium and large-scale systems, requiring to reduce the specific investment cost and increment the electrical and CHP efficiencies. Experimental results obtained in a preliminary investigation were presented by Farrokhi et al [5] about a gas-fired ORC-based micro-CHP system for residential buildings. Thereby, using isopentane as working fluid and a vane type of expander, a maximum electrical power output of 0.774 kWe and a net cycle electrical efficiency of 1.66% were achieved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Experimental characterization of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for micro-scale CHP applications

Peris

Navarro-Esbrí

Molés

et al. 2015

Applied Thermal Engineering

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“…(17)- (27), the influence of aerodynamic forces, shear stress between the vapor and the condensate, separation effects and of tube bundles configuration were neglected. Further studies investigating the effects of condensate inundation established that the number of rows has a large influence in the condensation process [50].…”

Section: Condensermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tempesti et al [26] investigated a hybrid solar-geothermal ORC plant, using EES; the evacuated solar collectors produce heat at 150°C, whereas the geothermic fluid is available at 80-100°C; the ORC efficiency (7-11%) is higher using R245fa, reducing the solar field capital costs due to lower flow rate value. Farrokhi et al [27] developed and tested a natural gas-fired ORC-based micro-scale Combined Heat and Power system. Isopentane was used as the ORC working fluid.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and simulation of a prototype of a small-scale solar CHP system based on evacuated flat-plate solar collectors and Organic Rankine Cycle

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et al. 2015

Energy Conversion and Management

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Preliminary experimental investigation of a natural gas-fired ORC-based micro-CHP system for residential buildings

Cited by 52 publications

References 35 publications

Performance evaluation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for power applications from low grade heat sources

Performance evaluation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for power applications from low grade heat sources

Experimental characterization of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for micro-scale CHP applications

Design and simulation of a prototype of a small-scale solar CHP system based on evacuated flat-plate solar collectors and Organic Rankine Cycle

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