Analysis on optimal working fluid flowrate and unstable power generation for miniaturized ORC systems

Abstract

For efficient utilization of a limited geothermal resource in practical projects, the cycle parameters were comprehensively analyzed by combining with the heat transfer performance of the plate heat exchanger, with a variation of flowrate of R245fa. The influence of working fluid flowrate on a 500W ORC system was investigated. Adjusting the working fluid flowrate to an optimal value results in the most efficient heat transfer and hence the optimal heat transfer parameters of the plate heat exchanger can be determined. Therefore, for the ORC systems, optimal working fluid flowrate should be controlled. Using different temperature hot water as the heat source, it is found that the optimal flowrate increases by 6-10 L/h with 5 °C increment of hot water inlet temperature. During experiment, lower degree of superheat of the working fluid at the outlet the plate heat exchanger may lead to unstable power generation. It is considered that the plate heat exchanger has a compact construction which makes its bulk so small that liquid mixture causes the unstable power generation. To avoid this phenomenon, the flow area of plate heat exchanger should be larger than the designed one. Alternatively, installing a small shell and tube heat exchanger between the outlet of plate heat exchanger and the inlet of expander can be another solution.

Keywords

organic Rankine cycle (ORC) / plate heat exchanger / optimal working fluid flowrate / unstable power generation

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