Dynamic Behavior and Off-Design Performance Analysis of Solar Driven ORC Using Scroll Expanders
Abstract Solar driven ORC system is a possible solution for small-scale power generation. A scroll expander is considered due to its better suitability among other positive displacement expanders for small-scale power outputs. This work conducted a test of an ORC system with an expansion valve by varying the working fluid mass flow rate in two scenarios. A dynamic system-level model of ORC was developed and validated with experimental data. The validated model was used to predict the ORC performance considering off-design conditions of expander and solar insolation. The experimental data showed that pressures and temperatures exhibited the same trend as that of the working fluid mass flow rate, of which the evaporation pressure was the most sensitive to this variation. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Results from the dynamic model showed that the ORC power output was underestimated by up to 54.7%, when off-design performance of expander was not considered. Considering the expander off-design performance and solar insolation, a highest thermal efficiency of 7.6% and an expander isentropic efficiency of 80.6% were achieved.