Parametric Optimization, Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) as a Technological Option for Sustainable Waste Heat Recovery from Process Industries

Abstract

This paper presents parametric optimization, modelling and performance evaluation of Organic Rankine Cycle for sustainable waste heat recovery from process industry. Three different working fluids R134a, R152a and R245fa have been used for evaluation of ORC system performance. Organic Rankine Cycle model has been developed in MATLAB Simulink to carry out parametric optimization for selected working fluids. The inlet turbine pressure optimization has been carried out for maximum output work and system efficiencies considering saturated vapours at turbine inlet and constant pressure superheating at various pressures for chosen working fluids. The waste heat data of flue gas stream from selected process industry has been utilized for comparative analysis of the cycle performance using optimized parameters for three different working fluids under consideration. The results are examined for the waste heat flue gas at 177^oC as heat source. The results demonstrate that among all selected working fluids, R245fa shows better performance and produces highest output work with maximum system efficiencies as compared to R134a and R152a. The power generated was 340.18 kW with system efficiency of 20.17% and second law efficiency of 58.15% having pinch point of 6.42^oC with heat source flue gas. Thus, Organic Rankine Cycle using working fluid as R245fa seems to be a sensible approach for sustainable waste heat recovery and power generation from selected process industry.