Experimental testing of a low-temperature organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine coupled with concentrating PV/thermal collectors: Laboratory and field tests

George Kosmadakis, Arnaud Landelle, Marija Lazova, Dimitris Manolakos, Alihan Kaya, Henk Huisseune, Christos-Spyridon Karavas, Nicolas Tauveron, Remi Revellin, Philippe Haberschill, Michel De Paepe and George Papadakis

Energy, 2016, vol. 117, issue P1, 222-236

Abstract: A detailed experimental investigation of a small-scale low-temperature organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with R-404A is presented. The tests are first conducted at laboratory conditions for detailed evaluation of the main components at both design and off-design conditions, for variable heat input up to 48 kWth and hot water temperature in the range of 65–100 °C. A scroll compressor in reverse operation is used as expansion machine and a dedicated helical coil heat exchanger is installed, suitable for high-pressure and temperature operation. The ORC pump is a diaphragm pump coupled with an induction motor. The rotational speeds of both the expander and pump are regulated with frequency inverters, in order to have the full control of the engine operation. The ORC has been then connected with concentrating PV/thermal collectors, which produce electricity and heat and provide it to the ORC. These field tests are also presented with the overall focus on the performance of the whole ORC unit and its power contribution to the solar field. The tests have revealed that such low-temperature ORC unit can have adequate efficiency and that its coupling with a solar field is feasible, increasing the power production of the whole system.

Keywords: Organic Rankine cycle; Concentrating PV/thermal; Low-temperature; Scroll expander; Evaporator; Diaphragm pump (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:117:y:2016:i:p1:p:222-236

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.047

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