Performance and Design optimization of a low-cost solar organic Rankine cycle for remote power generation

[en] Recent interest in small-scale solar thermal combined heat and power (CHP) power systems has coincided with demand growth for distributed electricity supplies in areas poorly served by centralized power stations. One potential technical approach to meeting this demand is the parabolic trough solar thermal collector coupled with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) heat engine. The paper describes the design of a solar organic Rankine cycle being installed in Lesotho for rural electrification purpose. The system consists of parabolic though collectors, a storages tank, and a small-scale ORC engine using scroll expanders. A model of each component is developed taking into account the main physical and mechanical phenomena occurring in the cycle and based on experimental data for the main key components. The model allows sizing the different components of the cycle and evaluates the performance of the system. Different working fluids are compared, and two different expansion machine configurations are simulated (single and double stage).

Disciplines :

Energy

Author, co-author :

Quoilin, Sylvain ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Systèmes énergétiques

Orosz, Matthew

Lemort, Vincent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Systèmes énergétiques

Language :

English

Title :

Performance and Design optimization of a low-cost solar organic Rankine cycle for remote power generation

Publication date :

2011

Journal title :

Solar Energy

ISSN :

0038-092X

eISSN :

1471-1257

Publisher :

Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 18 February 2011

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Scopus citations^®

333

Scopus citations^®
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316

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271

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