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Cycle and turbine optimisation for an ORC operating with two-phase expansion

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posted on 2023-06-10, 06:54 authored by Martin WhiteMartin White
Previous investigations suggest the power output from waste-heat recovery organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems could be enhanced by up to 30% by operating with two-phase expansion, which could reduce cost and aid in the more widespread deployment of ORC technology. However, there are limited expander technologies suitable for such operation. The aim of this research is to investigate a novel ORC system that operates with wet-to-dry expansion permitting the use of a radial-inflow turbine. Specifically, through the exploitation of molecularly complex fluids the wet-to-dry expansion could be achieved across a single turbine stage, whilst the two-phase region is confined to the stator vane. Thermodynamic system optimisation is completed for potential fluids in which the degree of reaction is used to differentiate between the stator and rotor expansion processes. The results reveal that siloxanes are optimal fluids, and that for heat-source temperatures of 150, 200 and 250 °C the two-phase systems could generate up to 28%, 14% and 3% more power than single-phase systems, respectively. Following this, existing mean-line turbine methods are extended to two-phase turbines under the assumption of a two-phase homogeneous fluid under thermal equilibrium, which is supported with numerical simulations of a two-phase stator vane. The mean-line turbine optimisation for the 200 °C heat source is then conducted, with the optimal system corresponding to a turbine inlet vapour quality of 0.1 and degree of reaction of 0.4, with lower reaction leading to lower turbine efficiencies. More generally, feasible rotor geometries can be obtained, and conditions with the rotor are expected to remain subsonic. Whilst stator outlet Mach numbers range between 1.5 and 2.1, and stator throat widths below 1 mm are required, the CFD simulations indicate that wet-to-dry expansion can be successfully realised within the stator. In summary, these results provide the first positive demonstration that a 30% improvement in power output could be achieved with a two-phase ORC system operating with molecularly complex working fluids and a radial-inflow turbine.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Applied Thermal Engineering

ISSN

1359-4311

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

192

Page range

a116852 1-18

Department affiliated with

  • Engineering and Design Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2023-04-26

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2023-04-26

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2023-04-25

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