From vapor to liquid: Unlocking the potential of Tesla turbines in ORC power plants with variable steam qualities

Thongchai Kachawong and Atit Koonsrisuk

Energy, 2025, vol. 315, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates a subcritical Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant using a Tesla turbine with R236ea as the working fluid, driven by geothermal hot water at 120 °C and a flow rate of 1 kg/s. The research examines the impact of varying turbine inlet steam qualities, from 0 (saturated liquid) to 1 (saturated vapor), on power output and isentropic efficiency. A homogeneous two-phase flow model was developed and validated against experimental and numerical results, showing good agreement with differences of approximately 10 %. The findings reveal that the highest power output of 12.91 kW is achieved with saturated liquid at the turbine inlet, while the isentropic efficiency remains stable between 70.1 % and 74.8 %, peaking at saturated vapor conditions. Economic analysis using metrics such as Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PbP), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) shows that the saturated liquid configuration is most viable, with an LCOE of 64 €/MWh, NPV of 61 k€, PbP of 8.29 years, and IRR of 13.9 % at 5 % discount rate and 114 €/MWh electricity price, outperforming conventional systems.

Keywords: Subcritical ORC; Tesla turbine; Steam quality; Economic analysis; Geothermal energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:315:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040842

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134306

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