A high-efficiency solar Rankine engine with isothermal expansion

Opubo N. Igobo and Philip A. Davies

International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 2013, vol. 8, issue suppl_1, i27-i33

Abstract: Though the principle of the solar Rankine cycle is well known, with several examples reported in the literature, there is yet a scarcity of engines that could be efficiently applied in small-scale (<100 KW) applications. Hence, this paper presents a variant of the engine that uses an isothermal expansion to achieve a theoretical efficiency close to the Carnot limit. Generation of steam inside the power cylinder obviates the need for an external boiler. The device is suitable for slow-moving applications and is of particular interest for driving a batch-desalination process. Preliminary experiments have shown cycle efficiency of 16%, and a high work ratio of 0.997. Copyright , Oxford University Press.

Date: 2013
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