Title: Greening the organic Rankine cycles: low-global warming potential working fluids for low-temperature waste heat recovery

Authors: Yuyan Liu; Wenqiang Sun; Xun Liu

Addresses: Department of Energy Engineering, School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang – 110819, Liaoning, China ' Department of Energy Engineering, School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang – 110819, Liaoning, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Eco-Industry (Northeastern University), Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenyang – 110819, Liaoning, China ' Department of Energy Engineering, School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang – 110819, Liaoning, China; Thermal Power Plant, Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Company, Zibo – 255400, Shandong, China

Abstract: This study establishes a thermodynamic model for comparing the performance of three low-global warming potential (GWP) working fluids against two traditional ones. The analysis reveals that the selection of an optimal evaporation temperature is pivotal for achieving maximum efficiency. Notably, the evaporator emerges as the primary contributor to system exergy losses. Low-GWP working fluids consistently outshine traditional fluids in terms of thermodynamic performance. Furthermore, the establishment of a three-section heat transfer model underscores the substantial heat transfer areas required for effective heat exchange in both the evaporator's preheating section and the condenser's condensation section.

Keywords: low-temperature waste heat; organic Rankine cycle; ORCs; low-GWP working fluid; exergy efficiency; heat transfer area.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.141686

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.45 No.1/2, pp.126 - 143

Received: 16 May 2024
Accepted: 20 Jul 2024
Published online: 30 Sep 2024 *

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