Small Scale ORC Plant Modeling with the AMESim Simulation Tool: Analysis of Working Fluid and Thermodynamic Cycle Parameters Influence☆

Abstract ORC plant transient modeling is an actual issue for the correct assessment of the size of the various components of the system especially when unpredictable fluctuations of the inlet thermal flux are to be considered. This work shows the modeling procedure of a small scale (10-50 kW) Waste Heat Recovery ORC plant which uses an innovative expansion device derived from a Wankel engine. The numerical model here presented was developed with the simulation tools AMESim and simulates the transient behavior of such a small scale system in all its main components: preheater, evaporator, expansion device and condenser. The aims of this work were to evaluate the suitability of the Wankel-derived mechanism to ORC systems and to establish its optimal working conditions for the employment in a low-grade heat recovery system. The application of several working fluids as well as of various operating conditions are presented in this paper. The analysis of the transient response of the plant is also presented with a particular attention to start up operations.

[1]  Luigi Martorano,et al.  Analysis of a Low Concentration Solar Plant with Compound Parabolic Collectors and a Rotary Expander for Electricity Generation , 2014 .

[2]  Marco Antonelli,et al.  A study on the rotary steam engine for distributed generation in small size power plants , 2011 .

[3]  Lourdes García-Rodríguez,et al.  Preliminary assessment of solar organic Rankine cycles for driving a desalination system , 2007 .

[4]  Luigi Martorano,et al.  Development and validation of a numerical model of a rotary steam engine for electric power micro generation using biomass , 2007 .

[5]  Umberto Desideri,et al.  Operating maps of a rotary engine used as an expander for micro-generation with various working fluids , 2014 .

[6]  Luigi Martorano,et al.  Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Valve Timing Effects on the Performances of a Small Volumetric Rotary Expansion Device , 2014 .

[7]  Rambod Rayegan,et al.  A procedure to select working fluids for Solar Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) , 2011 .

[8]  Vincent Lemort,et al.  Dynamic modeling and optimal control strategy of waste heat recovery Organic Rankine Cycles , 2011 .

[9]  Vincent Lemort,et al.  Working fluid selection and operating maps for Organic Rankine Cycle expansion machines , 2012 .

[10]  Marco Badami,et al.  Preliminary design and controlling strategies of a small-scale wood waste Rankine Cycle (RC) with a reciprocating steam engine (SE) , 2009 .

[11]  Olav Bolland,et al.  Working fluids for low-temperature heat source , 2010 .