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Recent Advances in Organic Rankine Cycle

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "J: Thermal Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2023) | Viewed by 7594

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: thermodynamics; thermophysical properties of fluids; organic Rankine cycle (ORC); utilization of low-grade thermal energy; zeotropic mixtures; machine learning algorithms
Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: organic Rankine cycle (ORC); thermodynamic cycle improvement; multi-objective optimization; design of integrated energy system (IES); off-design performance analysis; enhanced heat transfer methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a power technology for renewable energy and waste heat of medium-to-low temperature, with the advantages of being simple, flexible, stable, and reliable, as well as having a low requirement of heat source temperature, strong applicability to heat source types, and a wide installed capacity range. The ORC technology has been successfully applied to geothermal energy, solar energy, biomass energy, various waste heat sources, seawater desalination, poly-generation systems, etc. Fundamental research and commercial projects have been increasing rapidly in recent years. Considering the wide range of application scenarios and great performance superiority, it is foreseeable that the ORC technology will play an important role in future energy systems. However, this also raises a lot of issues that are worth studying.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the most recent advances in the organic Rankine cycle. We invite researchers to submit their high-quality articles or reviews on this issue. The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Low-GWP Working Fluids and Zeotropic Mixtures;
  • Cycle Structure Improvement and Comparison;
  • Novel Components and Enhanced Heat Transfer Methods;
  • Parameter Optimization and Performance Evaluation;
  • Off-design Performance and Operation Strategy;
  • Multi-objective Optimization and Machine Learning Algorithms;
  • Simulation and Design Tools/Methods;
  • Applications in Integrated Energy System (IES);
  • Applications in Renewable Energy Development and Waste Heat Recovery;
  • Novel Application Scenarios and Case Study;
  • Experimental Activities and Engineering Applications.

Prof. Dr. Yuanyuan Duan
Dr. Jian Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • low-GWP working fluids and zeotropic mixtures
  • cycle structure improvement and comparison
  • novel components and enhanced heat transfer methods
  • parameter optimization and performance evaluation
  • off-design performance and operation strategy
  • multi-objective optimization and machine learning algorithms
  • simulation and design tools/methods
  • applications in integrated energy system (IES)
  • applications in renewable energy development and waste heat recovery
  • novel application scenarios and case study
  • experimental activities and engineering applications

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 12490 KiB  
Article
Thermodynamic Analyses of Sub- and Supercritical ORCs Using R1234yf, R236ea and Their Mixtures as Working Fluids for Geothermal Power Generation
by Qiang Liu, Ran Chen, Xinliu Yang and Xiao Xiao
Energies 2023, 16(15), 5676; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155676 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1060
Abstract
Organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) have been widely used to convert medium-low-temperature geothermal energy to electricity. Proper cycle layout is generally determined by considering both the thermo-physical properties of the working fluid and the geothermal brine temperature. This work investigates saturated, superheated and supercritical [...] Read more.
Organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) have been widely used to convert medium-low-temperature geothermal energy to electricity. Proper cycle layout is generally determined by considering both the thermo-physical properties of the working fluid and the geothermal brine temperature. This work investigates saturated, superheated and supercritical ORCs using R1234yf/R236ea for brine temperatures of 383.15 K, 403.15 K and 423.15 K. The evaporation and condensation pressures were optimized to maximize the net power outputs. The thermodynamic characteristics of the cycles at the optimal conditions were analyzed. The saturated ORCs produced slightly more net power than superheated cycles for the R1234yf mole fraction less than 0.2 due to lower exergy losses in the evaporator and condenser; however, the limited evaporation pressure by the turning point at the higher R1234yf mole fraction led to excessive exergy losses in the evaporator. Two R1234yf mole fractions maximized the net power and exergy efficiency in a superheated cycle, with the maximum net power output occurring at the R1234yf mole fraction of 0.8 for brine temperatures of 383.15 K and 403.15 K. The exergy losses for evaporation were reduced by 6–12.7% due to the use of an IHE, while those for condensation were reduced up to 42% in a superheated cycle for a brine temperature of 423.15 K, resulting in a 1–17.8% increase in the exergy efficiency. A supercritical cycle with an IHE using R1234yf/R236ea (0.85/0.15) generated the maximum net power output for a brine temperature of 423.15 K, 8.2–17.5% higher than a superheated cycle with an IHE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Organic Rankine Cycle)
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22 pages, 13886 KiB  
Article
Performance Prediction and Working Fluid Active Design of Organic Rankine Cycle Based on Molecular Structure
by Yachao Pan, Fubin Yang, Hongguang Zhang, Yinlian Yan, Anren Yang, Jia Liang and Mingzhe Yu
Energies 2022, 15(21), 8160; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218160 - 1 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1241
Abstract
Working fluid selection is crucial for organic Rankine cycles (ORC). In this study, the relationship between molecular structure and ORC performance was established based on the quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) and working fluid parameterized model (WFPM), from which an ORC working fluid was [...] Read more.
Working fluid selection is crucial for organic Rankine cycles (ORC). In this study, the relationship between molecular structure and ORC performance was established based on the quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) and working fluid parameterized model (WFPM), from which an ORC working fluid was actively designed. First, the QSPR model with four properties, namely, critical temperature (Tc), boiling point (Tb), critical pressure (pc), and isobaric heat capacity (cp0), was built. Second, the evaporation enthalpy (hvap), evaporation entropy (svap), and thermal efficiency (η) were estimated by WFPM, and the results were compared with those using REFPROP to verify the calculation accuracy of the “QSPR+WFPM” coupling model. The average absolute relative deviations of evaporation enthalpy and entropy are below 8.44%. The maximum relative error of thermal efficiency is 6%. Then, the thermodynamic performance limit of ORC and corresponding thermophysical properties of the ideal working fluid were calculated at typical geothermal source conditions. Finally, the active design of the working fluid was conducted with the ideal working fluid Tc and pc as the target. The research shows that C3H4F2 and C4H3F5 are optimal working fluids at 473.15 and 523.15 K heat sources, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Organic Rankine Cycle)
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19 pages, 2880 KiB  
Article
Thermo-Economic Performance Analysis of a Novel Organic Flash Rankine Cycle Using R600/R245fa Mixtures
by Guangbiao Fu, Songyuan Zhang, Zhong Ge, Jian Li, Jian Xu, Jianbin Xie, Zhiyong Xie, Dong Yao, Tao Zhao, Zhijie Wang, Shuaikun Yue, Siyu Zhao, Fanhan Liu and Qiuping Jiang
Energies 2022, 15(21), 8055; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218055 - 29 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
The organic flash cycle (OFC) is a novel power cycle with small exergy loss in the endothermic process. However, the low-pressure throttle valve in the cycle has a large throttling loss. Aiming to reduce the cycle exergy loss and improve the system performance, [...] Read more.
The organic flash cycle (OFC) is a novel power cycle with small exergy loss in the endothermic process. However, the low-pressure throttle valve in the cycle has a large throttling loss. Aiming to reduce the cycle exergy loss and improve the system performance, this study constructs a new configuration named the organic flash Rankine cycle (OFRC). Using the R600/R245fa mixture as the circulating working fluid and 200 °C geothermal water as the heat source, the effects of the change in working fluid composition on the thermal properties of the OFRC were studied based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Then, the economic performance of the proposed OFRC was investigated and then compared with that of the conventional OFC. The results show that the OFRC system has a significant improvement in thermal performance and economy compared with the OFC system. When the mole composition of the R600/R245fa mixture is 0.5/0.5, the net output work, thermal efficiency, and exergy efficiency of the OFRC system can reach a maximum at 146.39 kW, 21.51%, and 80.94%, respectively, which are 98.2 kW, 14.43%, and 54.3% higher than those of the OFC system. The dual heaters in the OFRC system can effectively reduce loss in the endothermic process. When the R600 mole composition is 0.5 in the OFRC system, the exergy loss of the heater is only 7.42%, and the power generation cost (0.3267 $·kW−1·h−1 only) is lower than that in the OFC system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Organic Rankine Cycle)
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Review

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34 pages, 6942 KiB  
Review
Design and Optimization of Organic Rankine Cycle Based on Heat Transfer Enhancement and Novel Heat Exchanger: A Review
by Pei Lu, Zheng Liang, Xianglong Luo, Yangkai Xia, Jin Wang, Kaihuang Chen, Yingzong Liang, Jianyong Chen, Zhi Yang, Jiacheng He and Ying Chen
Energies 2023, 16(3), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031380 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3497
Abstract
The effective exploitation of renewable energy and the recovery of waste heat are two crucial strategies in achieving carbon neutrality. As an efficient and reliable heat–to–power conversion technology, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) has been recognized and accepted by academia and industry for [...] Read more.
The effective exploitation of renewable energy and the recovery of waste heat are two crucial strategies in achieving carbon neutrality. As an efficient and reliable heat–to–power conversion technology, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) has been recognized and accepted by academia and industry for use in solar energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy, and waste heat applications. However, there remain unsolved technical challenges related to the design and operation of the components and system. As the exergy destruction and investment cost of heat exchangers exert significant influence on the performance of ORC, investigations on the performance improvement of heat exchangers are of great significance. The aim of this paper was to provide a review on the performance improvement of ORC in relation to heat transfer enhancement, heat exchanger design optimization, and cycle construction based on a novel heat exchanger. The performance of ORC using different types of heat exchangers was discussed and the importance of revealing the influence of heat exchanger structural parameters on ORC performance was assessed. The heat transfer enhancement, novel heat exchanger investigation, and the ORC configuration development based on a novel heat exchanger were emphasized. Finally, developments and current challenges were summarized and future research trends were also identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Organic Rankine Cycle)
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