Techno-economic optimization of a geothermal ORC with novel “Emeritus” heat rejection units in hot climates

M. Astolfi, L. Noto La Diega, M.C. Romano, U. Merlo, S. Filippini and E. Macchi

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 147, issue P3, 2810-2821

Abstract: The present work aims to investigate the potential advantages in using a novel wet and dry configuration for heat rejection units in ORC power plants. The reference case is a geothermal power plant that exploits a low temperature brine and uses a closed loop of cooling water to release the condensation heat to the ambient. In the calculations, the off-design operation of the whole plant is optimized from a techno-economic point of view with a realistic part-load behavior of the ORC and the use of experimentally validated correlations for the heat rejection section. The performance attainable with the novel LU-VE Emeritus® unit equipped with a water spray system and adiabatic panels is compared with those achievable with the same unit in dry operation. Final results show a marked increase of electricity production as well as of revenues with Emeritus® units with respect to a dry unit.

Keywords: ORC; Heat rejection; System optimization; Condenser; Geothermal energy; Economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:147:y:2020:i:p3:p:2810-2821

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.01.065

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