Design and multi-objective optimization of organic Rankine turbine

• Fluid selection based on safety, efficiency and trubine design practices.
• Efficiency optimization for renewable power generation systems.
• Turbine design with wider operational range.
• Application of multi-objective optimization to turbomachinery field.
• Decrease of design time for organic rankine cycle turbines.

A numerical model is developed by evolving an efficiency prediction code for the pre-design of radial turbines with one sided and two sided that are used in Organic Rankine Cycles. The efficiency prediction code includes the mean-line calculations associated with an optimizer which is based on the multi-objective genetic algorithm embedded in MATLAB. The model is verified with the experimental data existing in the literature for a small size radial turbine using working fluid of Argon. The pre-design studies are extended for the working fluids at high temperature range; Dimethyl Carbonate and n-heptane, at intermediate temperature range; R113, cyclo-pentane and acetone, at low temperature range; R123, iso-pentane, R141b and n-pentane at revolutions of 3000, 6000 and 9000 rpm. The cycle calculations are performed for the organic fluids in the range of real gas condition using a fluid property database, CoolProp. Pareto Diagrams are used to determine the best design revealing the overall picture. Finally, impeller geometry is created using inverse design procedures.