An innovative Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system with performance simulation and multi-objective optimization

Based on multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm, with considering levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and exergy efficiency as two different objective functions, an innovative Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) model based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is investigated for trade-off Pareto optimization. In the present study, six key parameters including evaporating temperature, condensing temperature, warm seawater temperature at the outlet of evaporator, cool seawater temperature at the outlet of condenser, degree of superheat, and depth of cool seawater have been selected as decision variables. R717, R152a, R134a, R227ea, R600a and R601 are chosen as working fluids. Meanwhile, Linear Programming Technique for Multi-dimensional Analysis of Preference (LINMAP) is introduced in order to make decision for Pareto frontier. The results indicate that LCOE and exergy efficiency are two conflicting objectives, which are impossible to both achieve their optimal values simultaneously. According to the non-dominated sorting of Pareto optimal solution (POS) for the six working fluids, R717 and R601 have the best performance with 0.34 $/kWh of LCOE, 28.17% of exergy efficiency and 0.52 $/kWh of LCOE, 28.47% of exergy efficiency, respectively, followed by R152a, R600a and R134a which have relatively poor performance, but better than R227ea.