Evaluation of Using Gas Turbine to Increase Efficiency of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)

Dominika Matuszewska and Piotr Olczak
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Dominika Matuszewska: AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
Piotr Olczak: Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 7A Wybickiego St., 31-261 Cracow, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Power conversion systems based on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) have been identified as a potential technology especially in converting low-grade renewable sources or waste heat. However, it is necessary to improve efficiency of ORC systems. This paper focuses on use of low geothermal resources (for temperature range of 80–128 °C and mass flow 100 kg/s) by using modified ORC. A modification of conventional binary power plant is conducted by combining gas turbines to increase quality of steam from a geothermal well. An analysis has been conducted for three different working fluids: R245fa, R1233zd(E) and R600. The paper discusses the impact of parameter changes not only on system efficiency but on other performance indicators. The results were compared with a conventional geothermal Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). Increasing of geothermal steam quality by supplying exhaust gas from a gas turbine to the installation has a positive effect on the system efficiency and power. The highest efficiency of the modified ORC system has been obtained for R1233zd(E) as a working fluid and it reaches values from 12.21% to 19.20% (depending on the temperature of the geothermal brine). In comparison, an ORC system without gas turbine support reaches values from 9.43% to 17.54%.

Keywords: Organic Rankine Cycle; ORC; gas turbine; efficiency; geothermal heat source; binary power plant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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