Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery from gas turbines

Carlo Carcasci, Riccardo Ferraro and Edoardo Miliotti

Energy, 2014, vol. 65, issue C, 91-100

Abstract: The use of an organic Rankine cycle is a promising choice for the recovery of waste heat at low/medium temperatures. In fact, the low temperature heat discharged in several industrial applications cannot be recovered with a traditional bottomer steam cycle but, using an organic Rankine cycle, this waste heat can be converted into electrical energy. The choice of the fluid is fundamental for a good cycle performance because the optimal thermophysical properties depend on the source temperature. This study illustrates the results of the simulations of an organic Rankine cycle combined with a gas turbine in order to convert the gas turbine waste heat into electrical power. A diathermic oil circuits interposed between these two plants for safety reasons. This paper presents a comparison between four different working fluids in order to identify the best choice. The selected fluids are: toluene, benzene, cyclopentane and cyclohexane. The design is performed by means of a sensitivity analysis of the main process parameters and the organic Rankine cycle is optimized by varying the main pressure of the fluid at different temperatures of the oil circuit; moreover, the possible use of a superheater is investigated for each fluid in order to increase electrical power.

Keywords: Organic Rankine cycle; Gas turbine; Combined cycle; Waste heat recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (31)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:65:y:2014:i:c:p:91-100

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.11.080

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