Thermoeconomic Optimization with PSO Algorithm of Waste Heat Recovery Systems Based on Organic Rankine Cycle System for a Natural Gas Engine

Abstract

To contribute to the economic viability of waste heat recovery systems application based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) under real operation condition of natural gas engines, this article presents a thermoeconomic optimization results using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm of a simple ORC (SORC), regenerative ORC (RORC), and double-stage ORC (DORC) integrated to a GE Jenbacher engine type 6, which have not been reported in the literature. Thermoeconomic modeling was proposed for the studied configurations to integrate the exergetic analysis with economic considerations, allowing to reduce the thermoeconomic indicators that most influence the cash flow of the project. The greatest opportunities for improvement were obtained for the DORC, where the results for maximizing net power allowed the maximum value of 99.52 kW, with 85% and 80% efficiencies in the pump and turbine, respectively, while the pinch point temperatures of the evaporator and condenser must be 35 and 16 °C. This study serves as a guide for future research focused on the thermoeconomic performance optimization of an ORC integrated into a natural gas engine.

Exergy, Economic, and Life-Cycle Assessment of ORC System for Waste Heat Recovery in a Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine

“…On the other hand, Invernizzi et al [12] investigated the possible substitution of HFC-134a in ORC applications by two low GWP cooling fluids such as HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze, adopting the Peng Robinson model available in Aspen Plus v7. 3. The results showed a net power decrease of 13% and 1% for HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze, respectively.…”

“…This exchanger is used for applications with restrictions on the weight and volume of the elements. Thus, the distance between plates is one of the most influential variables in the design of the parallel plate heat exchanger (ITC2, ITC3) on the ORC system side [3]. For the power ranges obtained in this system, a centrifugal pump (P1 and P2) and a turbine that was a radial-inflow turbine were considered.…”

“…The sustainability goal as well as the environmental and energy analysis had been conducted by some researchers in waste heat recovery systems based on ORC to convert the energy from renewable sources such as biofuels, biomass, solar energy, and geothermal values to electric energy [2]. One way to improve energy efficiency and potentially reduce pollution is by applying ORC technology as waste heat recovery devices [3,4]. Organic Rankine cycles (ORC) are an effective way of converting medium-low temperature heat into electricity that cannot be used for conventional high-temperature Rankine cycles, even though many studies have been conducted in recent decades.…”

“…Many of the studies also focus on improving the exergetic and/or exergo-economic performance of the ORC system [3]. Mahmoudi and Ghavimi [18] conducted a thermo-economic analysis of an integrated carbon dioxide and the ORC energy system using liquefied natural gas as a heat sink.…”

A New Educational Thermodynamic Software to Promote Critical Thinking in Youth Engineering Students

“…To solve the proposed problems, MOLECULARDISORDER was focused on energy balance and the entropy change of substances equations [22,35]. The essential equations used in the problems discussed in this article are shown below and normally are used to conduct energy, exergy, and thermo-economic studies of a thermal process [36][37][38][39][40].…”