Journal
APPLIED ENERGY
Volume 247, Issue -, Pages 403-416Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.028
Keywords
Organic Rankine cycle; Reciprocating piston expander; Variable valve timing; Dynamic modelling; Pentane; Waste heat recovery
Categories
Funding
- IPU
- European Union [751947]
- Marie Curie Actions (MSCA) [751947] Funding Source: Marie Curie Actions (MSCA)
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This paper presents a reciprocating expander concept for organic Rankine cycle applications using a novel rotating variable timing admission valve system, enabling the adjustment of the expansion ratio in real time while the expander is running. An organic Rankine cycle experimental test rig with n-pentane as the working fluid and a single-cylinder reciprocating piston expander was developed. Experiments were conducted for evaporation temperatures ranging from 125 degrees C to 150 degrees C and condensation temperatures ranging from 20 degrees C to 40 degrees C. The performance of the reciprocating piston expander was investigated in terms of the torque of the expander, pressure inside the cylinder, isentropic efficiency of the expander, and net power produced by the expander. Based on the experimental data, a dynamic model of the system was formulated in the object-oriented language, Modelica. The model was validated using the experimental results and then used to predict the performance of the expander. Special attention was paid to the robust modelling of the valve actuation to avoid computational inefficiencies caused by singularities of state variables or their derivatives. The results indicate that the expander produces up to 2.5 kW of electricity from a low-temperature heat source while operating at pressure ratios ranging from 10 to 16.5 with an isentropic efficiency of approximately 70%. The relative differences between the model and the measurements of the isentropic efficiency and power output of the expander per revolution were +/- 10% and +/- 30%, respectively.
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