Novel Off-Design Operation Maps Showing Functionality Limitations of Organic Rankine Cycle Validated by Experiments

Ying Zhang (), Li Zhao, Shuai Deng, Ming Li, Yali Liu, Qiongfen Yu and Mengxing Li
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Ying Zhang: Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Li Zhao: Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy (Tianjin University), MOE, Tianjin 300072, China
Shuai Deng: Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy (Tianjin University), MOE, Tianjin 300072, China
Ming Li: Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Yali Liu: Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Qiongfen Yu: Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Mengxing Li: Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: In this study, we developed a new methodology to analyze the off-design performance of the organic Rankine cycle. The methodology enabled us to predict the performance based on four-dimensional decision variables and a set of constraints. A corresponding formulation and algorithm with general applicability were constructed. The reliability and feasibility of this methodology were validated by a test rig of the cycle with R245fa as the working fluid and three experimental schemes. Under specific working conditions, the theoretical results illustrated the operation maps, functionality limitations, and their variation laws, considering the interactive characteristics among the variables. The functionality limitations predicted a maximum thermal efficiency of 9.42%, corresponding to a net power output of 697.1 W, whereas the maximum net power output was 2251.5 W, corresponding to a thermal efficiency of 8.04%. The experimental results indicated that when the R245fa mass flow rate was 0.120 kg/s, the experimental efficiency and power output were 6.94% and 1873.4 W, respectively; when the R245fa mass flow rate was 0.049 kg/s, they were 3.54% and 274.1 W, respectively. These findings were in good agreement with the theoretical results, with relative errors below 7.64%. This work is expected to be applied in future dynamic control systems to update the setting points and manipulated variables in real time.

Keywords: functionality limitations; off-design; operation maps; organic Rankine cycle; solution domain (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: 2022
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