Analysis and comparison of different modeling approaches for the simulation of a micro-scale organic Rankine cycle power plant

When simulating a system based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC), different modeling methods can be used to predict its performance. Each method is characterized by advantages, limitations and a level of complexity. This contribution aims to assess the impact of the modeling approach on the performance prediction of ORC systems. To this end, a 2.8 kWe ORC unit is investigated as case study. In this paper, the components of the test bench are modeled using different approaches of increasing complexity and each model is calibrated using experimental data from the test rig. The goodness of fit as well as the benefits and limitations of each modeling methods are analyzed and discussed.