scholarly journals Absorption Power and Cooling Combined Cycle with an Aqueous Salt Solution as a Working Fluid and a Technically Feasible Configuration

Author(s):  
Vaclav Novotny ◽  
David J. Szucs ◽  
Jan Spale ◽  
Hung-Yin Tsai ◽  
Michal Kolovratnik

Combined systems for power production and thermally activated cooling have a high potential for improving the efficiency and utilisation of thermal systems. In this regard, various configurations have been proposed and are comprehensively reviewed. They are primarily based on absorption systems and the implementation of multiple levels of complexity and flexibility. The configuration of the absorption power and cooling combined cycle proposed herein has wide commercial applicability owing to its simplicity. The configuration of the components is not new. However, the utilisation of aqueous salt solutions, the comparison with ammonia chiller and with absorption power cycles, the focus on parameters that are important for real-life applications, and the comparison of the performances for constant heat input and waste heat recovery are novel. The proposed cycle is also compared with a system based on the organic Rankine cycle and vapour compression cycle. An investigation of its performance proves that the system is suitable for a given range of boundary conditions from a thermodynamic standpoint, as well as in terms of system complexity and technical feasibility. New possibilities with regard to added power production have the potential to improve the economics and promote the use of absorption chiller systems.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3715
Author(s):  
Vaclav Novotny ◽  
David J. Szucs ◽  
Jan Špale ◽  
Hung-Yin Tsai ◽  
Michal Kolovratnik

Combined systems for power production and thermally activated cooling have a high potential for improving the efficiency and utilisation of thermal systems. In this regard, various configurations have been proposed and are comprehensively reviewed. They are primarily based on absorption systems and the implementation of multiple levels of complexity and flexibility. The configuration of the absorption power and cooling combined cycle proposed herein has wide commercial applicability owing to its simplicity. The configuration of the components is not new. However, the utilisation of aqueous salt solutions, the comparison with ammonia chiller and with absorption power cycles, the focus on parameters that are important for real-life applications, and the comparison of the performances for constant heat input and waste heat recovery are novel. The proposed cycle is also compared with a system based on the organic Rankine cycle and vapour compression cycle. An investigation of its performance proves that the system is suitable for a given range of boundary conditions from a thermodynamic standpoint, as well as in terms of system complexity and technical feasibility. New possibilities with regard to added power production have the potential to improve the economics and promote the use of absorption chiller systems.


Author(s):  
Aristide Massardd ◽  
Gian Marid Arnulfi

In this paper three Closed Combined Cycle (C3) systems for underwater power generation are analyzed. In the first, the waste heat rejected by a Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) is utilized to heat the working fluid of a bottoming Rankine Cycle; in the second, the heat of a primary energy loop fluid is used to heat both CBC and Rankine cycle working fluids; the third solution involves a Metal Rankine Cycle (MRC) combined with an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The significant benefits of the Closed Combined Cycle concepts, compared to the simple CBC system, such as efficiency increase and specific mass reduction, are presented and discussed. A comparison between the three C3 power plants is presented taking into account the technological maturity of all the plant components.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Ansab Ali ◽  
Tariq Saeed Khan ◽  
Ebrahim Al Hajri ◽  
Zahid H. Ayub

Fossil fuels are continuously depleting while the global energy demand is growing at a fast rate. Additionally, fossil fuels based power plants contribute to environmental pollution. Search for alternate energy resources and use of industrial waste heat for power production are attractive topics of interest these days. One way of enhancing power production and decreasing the environmental impact is by recuperating and utilizing low grade thermal energy. In recent years, research on use of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) has gained popularity as a promising technology for conversion of heat into useful work or electricity. Due to simple structure of ORC system, it can be easily integrated with any energy source like geothermal energy, solar energy and waste heat. A computer program has been developed in engineering equation solver (EES) environment that analyzes and selects appropriate working fluid for organic Rankine cycle design based on available heat sources. For a given heat source, the program compares energy and exergy performance of various working fluids. The program also includes recuperator performance analysis and compares its effectiveness on the overall thermal performance of the Rankine cycle. This program can assist in preliminary design of ORC with respect to best performing refrigerant fluid selection for the given low temperature heat source.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 024-045
Author(s):  
Iniobong Gregory Frank ◽  
B. Nkoi ◽  
I. E. Douglas

In this research, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is used to recover heat from exhaust gas of a four-stroke diesel engine. After retrofitting ORC to the engine, Brake power increased from 10473.91 kW to combined – cycle Brake power of 10736.00kW, thermal efficiency increased from 36.01% to combined – cycle thermal efficiency of 51.32% and Exhaust gas temperature decrease from 358oC to 120oC at the exit of the turbocharger. ORC with R12, R22, R134a and R290 as working fluids at saturation and superheated temperatures, pressures and condenser pressures at different ranges were used to compare refrigerants performance in converting low grade exhaust gas waste heat into useful work. This research presents theoretical analysis on four different refrigerants. Applying the above-mentioned refrigerants as working fluid superheated vapour temperature for R12 is 131.72oC, R134a is 129.37oC, R22 is 113.40oC and R290 is 116.95oC. ORC Power generated by turbine gives 94.98kW, 95.56kW. 130.32kW. 262.64kW respectively, ORC Thermal efficiency gives 36%, 29%, 37% and 38% for R12, R22, R134a, and R290 respectively. Combined – cycle power for each of the refrigerant gives 10568.89kW, 10604.23kW, 10569.47kW and 10736.00kW respectively, combined – cycle thermal efficiency for each refrigerant gives 51.14%, 51.18%, 51.14% and 51.32% for R12, R134a, R22 and R290 respectively. R290 offers optimal performance compared to other refrigerants used in this research. The retrofitting of the ORC has saved some supposedly waste exhaust heat energy and has increased both combined cycle power output and thermal efficiency of the engine cycle.


Author(s):  
Karsten Kusterer ◽  
René Braun ◽  
Dieter Bohn

The selection of suitable working fluids for use in Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) is strongly addicted to the intended application of the ORC system. The design of the ORC, the kind of heat source and the ambient condition has an influence on the performance of the Organic Rankine Cycle and on the selection of the working fluid. It can come to a discrepancy between the best candidate from the thermodynamic point of view and the transformation into a real machine design. If an axial turbine design is considered for expansion and energy conversion within the ORC, the vapor volume flow ratios within the expansion path, the pressure ratio and of course the number of stages have to be considered within the fluid selection process and for the design parameters. Furthermore, environmental aspects have to be taken into account, e.g. the global warming potential (GWP) and the flammability of the selected fluid. This paper shows the results of the design and fluid selection process for an Organic Rankine Cycle for application in a combined operation with a 2MW class industrial gas turbine. The gas turbine contains two radial compressor stages with an integrated intercooler. To further increase the thermal cycle efficiency, a recuperator has been implemented to the gas turbine cycle, which uses the exhaust gas waste heat to preheat the compressed air after the second compressor, before it enters the combustion chamber. The shaft power is generated by a three stage axial turbine, whereby the first stage is a convection cooled stage, due to a turbine inlet temperature of 1100°C. To further increase the electrical efficiency and the power output of the energy conversion cycle, a combined operation with an organic Rankine cycle is intended. Therefore the waste heat from the GT compressor intercooler is used as first heat source and the waste heat of the exhaust gas after the recuperator as second heat source for the Organic Rankine Cycle. It is intended that the ORC fluid acts as heat absorption fluid within the compressor intercooler. Due to these specifications for the ORC, a detailed thermodynamic analysis has been performed to determine the optimal design parameter and the best working fluid for the ORC, in order to obtain a maximum power output of the combined cycle. Due to the twice coupling of the ORC to the GT cycle, the heat exchange between the two cycles is bounded by each other and a detailed analysis of the coupled cycles is necessary. E.g. the ambient temperature has an enormous influence on the transferred heat from the intercooler to the ORC cycle, which itself affects the heat transfer and temperatures of the transferable heat from the second heat source. Thus, a detailed analysis by considering the ambient operation conditions has been performed, in order to provide a most efficient energy conversion system over a wide operation range. The performance analysis has shown that by application of an ORC for a combined operation with the intercooled and recuperated gas turbine, the combined cycle efficiency can be increased, for a wide ambient conditions range, by more than 3 %pts. and the electrical power output by more than 10 %, in comparison to the stand alone intercooled and recuperated gas turbine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984
Author(s):  
Ramin Moradi ◽  
Emanuele Habib ◽  
Enrico Bocci ◽  
Luca Cioccolanti

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are some of the most suitable technologies to produce electricity from low-temperature waste heat. In this study, a non-regenerative, micro-scale ORC system was tested in off-design conditions using R134a as the working fluid. The experimental data were then used to tune the semi-empirical models of the main components of the system. Eventually, the models were used in a component-oriented system solver to map the system electric performance at varying operating conditions. The analysis highlighted the non-negligible impact of the plunger pump on the system performance Indeed, the experimental results showed that the low pump efficiency in the investigated operating range can lead to negative net electric power in some working conditions. For most data points, the expander and the pump isentropic efficiencies are found in the approximate ranges of 35% to 55% and 17% to 34%, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum net electric power was about 200 W with a net electric efficiency of about 1.2%, thus also stressing the importance of a proper selection of the pump for waste heat recovery applications.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
G.E. Pateropoulos ◽  
T.G. Efstathiadis ◽  
A.I. Kalfas

ABSTRACT The potential to recover waste heat from the exhaust gases of a turboprop engine and produce useful work through an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is investigated. A thermodynamic analysis of the engine’s Brayton cycle is derived to determine the heat source available for exploitation. The aim is to use the aircraft engine fuel as the working fluid of the organic Rankine cycle in order to reduce the extra weight of the waste heat recovery system and keep the thrust-to-weight ratio as high as possible. A surrogate fuel with thermophysical properties similar to aviation gas turbine fuel is used for the ORC simulation. The evaporator design as well as the weight minimisation and safety of the suggested application are the most crucial aspects determining the feasibility of the proposed concept. The results show that there is potential in the exhaust gases to produce up to 50kW of power, corresponding to a 10.1% improvement of the overall thermal efficiency of the engine.


Author(s):  
W Gu ◽  
Y Weng ◽  
Y Wang ◽  
B Zheng

This article describes and evaluates an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for a waste heat recovery system by both theoretical and experimental studies. Theoretical analysis of several working fluids shows that cycle efficiency is very sensitive to evaporating pressure, but insensitive to expander inlet temperature. Second law analysis was carried out using R600a as a working fluid and a flow of hot air as a heat source, which is not isothermal, along the evaporator. The result discloses that the evaporator's internal and external entropy generation is the main source of total entropy generation. The effect of the heat source temperature, evaporating pressure, and evaporator size on the entropy generation rate is also presented. The obtained useful power is directly linked to the total entropy generation rate according to the Gouy—Stodola theorem. The ORC testing system was established and operated using R600a as a working fluid and hot water as a heat source. The maximum cycle efficiency of the testing system is 5.2 per cent, and the testing result also proves that cycle efficiency is insensitive to heat source temperature, but sensitive to evaporating pressure. The entropy result also shows that internal and external entropy of the evaporator is the main source of total entropy generation.


Author(s):  
Fredrik Ahlgren ◽  
Maria E. Mondejar ◽  
Magnus Genrup ◽  
Marcus Thern

Maritime transportation is a significant contributor to SOx, NOx and particle matter emissions, even though it has a quite low CO2 impact. New regulations are being enforced in special areas that limit the amount of emissions from the ships. This fact, together with the high fuel prices, is driving the marine industry towards the improvement of the energy efficiency of current ship engines and the reduction of their energy demand. Although more sophisticated and complex engine designs can improve significantly the efficiency of the energy systems in ships, waste heat recovery arises as the most influent technique for the reduction of the energy consumption. In this sense, it is estimated that around 50% of the total energy from the fuel consumed in a ship is wasted and rejected in fluid and exhaust gas streams. The primary heat sources for waste heat recovery are the engine exhaust and the engine coolant. In this work, we present a study on the integration of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in an existing ship, for the recovery of the main and auxiliary engines exhaust heat. Experimental data from the operating conditions of the engines on the M/S Birka Stockholm cruise ship were logged during a port-to-port cruise from Stockholm to Mariehamn over a period of time close to one month. The ship has four main engines Wärtsilä 5850 kW for propulsion, and four auxiliary engines 2760 kW used for electrical consumers. A number of six load conditions were identified depending on the vessel speed. The speed range from 12–14 knots was considered as the design condition, as it was present during more than 34% of the time. In this study, the average values of the engines exhaust temperatures and mass flow rates, for each load case, were used as inputs for a model of an ORC. The main parameters of the ORC, including working fluid and turbine configuration, were optimized based on the criteria of maximum net power output and compactness of the installation components. Results from the study showed that an ORC with internal regeneration using benzene would yield the greatest average net power output over the operating time. For this situation, the power production of the ORC would represent about 22% of the total electricity consumption on board. These data confirmed the ORC as a feasible and promising technology for the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of existing ships.


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