Optimum mass flow rate of water in a flat plate solar collector coupled with a storage tank and an organic Rankine cycle power loop

Abstract The optimum flat plate solar collector operation for maximizing solar organic Rankine cycle work output is investigated. A mathematical model for the flat plate solar collector water system integrated with a solar storage tank and an organic Rankine cycle loop is developed. The mass flow rate of water is searched for to obtain the maximum net work output from the integrated system during 1 yr of operation. Curve fittings of thermodynamic properties of some chosen organic fluids (R-11, R-21 and R-113) are derived for computer use. The Hooke and Jeeves optimization technique is used to determine the optimum mass flow rate of water in the collector for different values of collector inner tube diameters and boiler heat transfer coefficient-area product.