Off-Design Analysis of a Small-Scale Axial Turbine in Organic Rankine Cycle

Zeyu Lou, Weifeng He (), Zhaohui Yao, Chen Wang, Pengfei Su () and Dong Han
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Zeyu Lou: Advanced Energy Conservation Research Group (AECRG), College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Weifeng He: Advanced Energy Conservation Research Group (AECRG), College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Zhaohui Yao: Advanced Energy Conservation Research Group (AECRG), College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Chen Wang: Advanced Energy Conservation Research Group (AECRG), College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Pengfei Su: State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Dongfang Electric Corporation Dongfang Turbine Co., Ltd., Deyang 618000, China
Dong Han: Advanced Energy Conservation Research Group (AECRG), College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Amidst the global energy crisis and progress in clean energy, this study aims to reduce design costs and improve the adaptability of turbines in small ORC systems. It seeks to offer enhanced renewable energy utilization methods for sustainable development. This paper focuses on the performance of an impulse single-stage turbine with partial admission and analyzes it through numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The study investigates critical parameters under design and off-design conditions by varying inlet total pressure and rotor speed. The results indicate that the turbine’s isentropic efficiency and power output at design conditions are 64% and 4.78 kW, respectively. The power output ranges from 4.65 kW to 6.81 kW, and the isentropic efficiency ranges from 57% to 62% under off-design conditions. Both experimental and simulation results show good agreement. Furthermore, the velocity triangles under these conditions conform to those of a pure impulse turbine. These findings demonstrate that the turbine could adapt to different conditions and facilitate the design of ORC systems.

Keywords: organic Rankine cycle; axial turbine; CFD; off-design analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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