Thermo-Economic Performance Analysis of a Regenerative Superheating Organic Rankine Cycle for Waste Heat Recovery

Zhonghe Han, Peng Li, Xu Han, Zhongkai Mei and Zhi Wang
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Zhonghe Han: Key Lab of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Baoding 071003, China
Peng Li: Key Lab of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Baoding 071003, China
Xu Han: Key Lab of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Baoding 071003, China
Zhongkai Mei: Key Lab of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Baoding 071003, China
Zhi Wang: Key Lab of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Baoding 071003, China

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a promising form of technology for recovering low-grade waste heat. In this study, a regenerative ORC system is established to recover the waste flue gas of 160 °C. Focusing on thermodynamic and economic performance while simultaneously considering the limitations of volume flow ratio (VFR) and the effect of superheat, working fluid selection and parameter optimization have been investigated. The optimization of the evaporation temperature is carried out by analyzing the variation of net power output and specific investment cost (SIC). Then, the net power output, specific net power output, total exergy destruction rate, VFR, total capital cost, and levelized electricity cost (LEC) are selected as criteria, and a fuzzy multi-criteria evaluation method is adopted to select a more suitable working fluid and determine the optimal degree of superheat. In addition, the preheating coefficient, latent heat coefficient, superheating coefficient, and internal heat coefficient were proposed to explore the effect of working fluid critical temperature on thermal efficiency. Research studies demonstrate that there is an optimal evaporation temperature, maximizing net power output and minimizing the SIC. Isohexane and butane have greater specific net power output due to greater latent heat. A suitable degree of superheat is not only conducive to improving the working capacity of working fluids, but also reduces the VFR, total capital cost, SIC, and LEC for different working fluids. Thus, the system’s thermodynamic and economic performance—as well as the operational stability—are improved. Among the six working fluids, butane exhibits the best comprehensive performance, and its optimal evaporation temperature and degree of superheat are 100 °C and 5 °C, respectively.

Keywords: Organic Rankine Cycle; volume flow ratio; degree of superheat; critical temperature; operational stability; comprehensive performance; fuzzy multi-criteria evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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