Optimal design and operation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system driven by solar energy with sensible thermal energy storage

• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114494
• Publication Date: 2021-07-10T05:28:23Z
• Authors: Haoshui Yu; Henrik Helland; Xingji Yu; Truls Gundersen; Gürkan Sin
• Keywords: Organic Rankine Cycle; Parabolic trough; Working fluid; Thermal energy; Rankine cycle; Exergy efficiency; Thermal efficiency

In this study, the optimal design and operation of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system driven by solar energy is investigated. A two-tank sensible thermal storage configured to overcome intermittency energy. circulating fluid, also termed as heat transfer fluid (HTF) that connects collector ORC plays a critical role in system. The mass flowrate HTF determines both temperature amount absorbed from collector. simulation-based optimization model developed work. Process simulation performed Aspen HYSYS, mathematical models parabolic trough are Matlab. including hot tank temperature, cold HTF, operating conditions determined simultaneously based on framework. control strategy can be well. efficiency maximized with proposed strategy. With framework, recuperative power plant toluene working increased 17.9% 24.8% compared previous study literature. performs much better than basic ORC. Toluene best among all investigated fluids ignoring problem vacuum condensation. cycle type (subcritical vs. supercritical) exerts great influence performance. supercritical improve 11.3% overall 10.8% subcritical n-pentane fluid.