Analysis of exhaust waste heat recovery from a dual fuel low temperature combustion engine using an Organic Rankine Cycle

This paper examines the exhaust waste heat recovery potential of a high-efficiency, low-emissions dual fuel low temperature combustion engine using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). Potential improvements in fuel conversion efficiency (FCE) and specific emissions (NOx and CO2) with hot exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and ORC turbocompounding were quantified over a range of injection timings and engine loads. With hot EGR and ORC turbocompounding, FCE improved by an average of 7 percentage points for all injection timings and loads while NOx and CO2 emissions recorded an 18 percent (average) decrease. From pinch-point analysis of the ORC evaporator, ORC heat exchanger effectiveness (ɛ), percent EGR, and exhaust manifold pressure were identified as important design parameters. Higher pinch point temperature differences (PPTD) uniformly yielded greater exergy destruction in the ORC evaporator, irrespective of engine operating conditions. Increasing percent EGR yielded higher FCEs and stable engine operation but also increased exergy destruction in the ORC evaporator. It was observed that hot EGR can prevent water condensation in the ORC evaporator, thereby reducing corrosion potential in the exhaust piping. Higher ɛ values yielded lower PPTD and higher exergy efficiencies while lower ɛ values decreased post-evaporator exhaust temperatures below water condensation temperatures and reduced exergy efficiencies.