Experimental study on an open-drive scroll expander integrated into an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system with R245fa as working fluid

Sébastien Declaye, Sylvain Quoilin, Ludovic Guillaume and Vincent Lemort

Energy, 2013, vol. 55, issue C, 173-183

Abstract: The present paper focuses on the experimental characterization of an open-drive scroll expander integrated into an Organic Rankine cycle using R245fa as working fluid. The expander is a commercially available air compressor that was modified to operate in expander mode. The ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system is designed for a nominal heat input of 20 kW and a nominal net power output of 1.8 kW. A total of 74 steady-state operating points are measured to evaluate the expander performance over a wide range of conditions. The operating parameters that are varied include the inlet pressure (from 9 to 12 bar), outlet pressure (from 1.5 to 4 bar) and rotational speed (from 2000 to 3500 rpm). The maximum isentropic efficiency and shaft power are, respectively, 75.7% and 2.1 kW. A maximum cycle efficiency of 8.5% is reached for evaporating and condensing temperatures of 97.5 °C and 26.6 °C respectively. For most of the tests, hot water is produced in the condenser and the system therefore behaves as a CHP (combined heat and power). Depending on the water temperature requirement, a power to heat ratio varying between 1.9% and 11.8% is obtained. Water over 50 °C can be produced with a power to heat ratio higher than 8%.

Keywords: Organic Rankine Cycle; Scroll expander; Combined heat and power; Waste heat recovery; Oil-free expander (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (100)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:55:y:2013:i:c:p:173-183

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.04.003

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