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research-article

Performance Analysis and Working Fluid Optimization of a Cogenerative Organic Rankine Cycle Plant

[+] Author and Article Information
D. Micheli, R. Taccani

Department of Engineering and Architecture,
University of Trieste,
via Valerio 10,
34100 Trieste, Italy

P. Pinamonti

Department of Electrical and Mechanical
Engineering and Management,
University of Udine,
via delle Scienze 208,
33100 Udine, Italy
e-mail: piero.pinamonti@uniud.it

Contributed by the Advanced Energy Systems Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Energy Resources Technology. Manuscript received November 10, 2011; final manuscript received May 29, 2012; published online January 10, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Sarma V. Pisupati.

J. Energy Resour. Technol 135(2), 021601 (Jan 10, 2013) (11 pages) Paper No: JERT-11-1144; doi: 10.1115/1.4023098 History: Received November 10, 2011; Revised May 29, 2012

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a research regarding the application of cogeneration plants, based on organic rankine cycle (ORC), fed with wood residuals. In the first part of the paper an energy audit of the companies in a furniture industry district, located in the North-East of Italy, is presented. On the basis of these data a typical electricity/thermal demand profile dependent on the number of employees has been determined. In order to evaluate the potential savings achievable with an ORC cogeneration plant, a numerical simulation model has been developed to analyse the energy balances of the components as well as the whole ORC power plant performance. The effects on the system energy and exergy efficiencies of different binary and ternary mixtures of polisiloxane as working fluid and of different operating modes (cogeneration or pure electricity production) have been analysed, also in off-design conditions.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Different fuels utilized in the industrial district firms

Fig. 2

Installed thermal power as a function of employees number

Fig. 3

Installed electric power as a function of employees number

Fig. 4

Power to thermal ratio as a function of installed electric power

Fig. 5

Simplified scheme of a cogenerative ORC plant

Fig. 8

Heat transfer diagram for some of the considered working fluids

Fig. 7

ORC model flow sheet in Aspen Plus®

Fig. 6

T-S diagram of the ORC cycle with MDM

Fig. 10

Electric efficiency as a function of inlet thermal load, at various condensing pressures (kPa). Non-cogenerative operation.

Fig. 9

Electric efficiency as a function of inlet thermal load, at various condensing pressures (kPa). Cogenerative operation.

Fig. 11

Electricity to heat ratio as a function of inlet thermal load, at various condensing pressures (kPa). Cogenerative operation.

Fig. 12

Gross electric power as a function of inlet thermal load, at various condensing pressures (kPa). Non-cogenerative operation.

Fig. 13

Plant components allocation of exergy introduced with diathermic oil. Cogenerative operation, pCON = 14 kPa, Qin = 6000 kW.

Fig. 14

Plant components allocation of exergy introduced with diathermic oil. Non-cogenerative operation, pCON = 4 kPa, Qin = 6000 kW.

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