Prospects of Power Generation from Low Grade Heat Resources through Trilateral Flash Cycle (TFC) Using Impulse Turbine

This paper is an introductory prospect and experiment of generated force measuring of applying two-phase nozzle and an impulse turbine design for trilateral flash cycle heat engine. In this concept of trilateral flash cycle (TFC), pressurized working fluid (Isopentane) being heated by low temperature hot water and pumped through a two-phase nozzle to impact the impulse turbine blade. Then the generated force, measured by a load cell behind the turbine blade and isentropic efficiency of nozzle is discussed. Based on the investigations carried out so far, there is a high potential of power generation from low temperature heat recourses. Further the basic working principles of power generation system are presented followed by of the governing equations and the thermodynamics. The theory of this paper calculates isentropic efficiency of the nozzle based exit speed of the working fluid out of the nozzle and experimentally measured generated force from lab scale test rig. The initial results from experimental test shows, promising isentropic efficiency for the novel system is around 45%. Also it was observed that the trust generated force increased from 2.5N to 5N by increasing the working fluid temperature from 30°C to 70°C respectively.