Performance analysis in near-critical conditions of organic Rankine cycle

According to fluid critical temperature and heat source temperature, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is recognized in two categories: subcritical ORC and supercritical ORC. For a given heat source, some organic fluids not only can be used in subcritical ORC, but also can be used in supercritical ORC. For heat source with temperature of 90 °C, HFC125, HFC143a and HF218 can be used in both ORCs. Performance of the three substances in both cycles, especially in near-critical conditions is studied with expander inlet temperature of 85 °C and hot water mass flow rate of 1 kg/s. The results show that when fluids go in supercritical ORC from subcritical ORC, cycle thermal efficiency varies continuously, while mass flow rate and net power generation vary discontinuously. Maximum net power generation in near-critical conditions of subcritical ORC is higher than that of supercritical ORC. For HFC125 and HFC143a, outlet temperature of hot water decreases with the increase of heating pressure ratio. For HF218, outlet temperature of hot water increases firstly and decreases secondly with the increase of heating pressure ratio, which leads to an increase of net power generation with the increase of heating pressure ratio in high heating pressure ratio conditions.

► We analyze performances and their continuities in the process from subcritical ORC to supercritical ORC. ► Thermal efficiency is continuous while the other performances considered are discontinuous in near-critical conditions of ORC. ► There is a sudden enhancement of net power generation and the maximum compares favorably with that in supercritical conditions. ► We proposed that near-critical condition of subcritical ORC may obtain better performances than conventional subcritical ORC and supercritical ORC.