Experimental investigation and optimal performance assessment of four volumetric expanders (scroll, screw, piston and roots) tested in a small-scale organic Rankine cycle system

Olivier Dumont, Antoine Parthoens, Rémi Dickes and Vincent Lemort

Energy, 2018, vol. 165, issue PA, 1119-1127

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to facilitate the selection of the expander for a small-scale organic Rankine cycle based on an experimental comparison of a piston, a screw, a scroll and a roots expander. First, based on a literature review, a comparison between these four technologies of volumetric expansion machines is performed. Afterward, four displacement expanders [2–4 kW] are tested on two similar small-scale ORC unit with fluid R245fa. The maximum effective isentropic efficiencies measured are 53% for the piston expander and the screw expander, 76% for the variable-speed scroll and 48% for the roots machine. However, these performances do not reflect the highest efficiencies achievable by each expander: the test-rig presents experimental limitations in terms of mass flow rate and pressure drop (among others) that restricts the achievable operating conditions. The calibration of semi-empirical models based on the measurements allows to overcome this issue and to predict the isentropic efficiency in optimal conditions despite the limitations of the test-rigs. Based on experimental results, extrapolated prediction of the semi-empirical model and practical considerations, some guidelines are drawn to help the reader to select properly a volumetric expander.

Keywords: Modeling; Experimental; Scroll; Screw; Piston; Roots; Volumetric; Expander; ORC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:165:y:2018:i:pa:p:1119-1127

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.06.182

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