Eletricity generation with organic Rankine cycle in energy sources of low temperature: energetic and economical analysis and optimization

• Grant number: 17/04027-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2017
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Modesto da Silva
• Grantee: Marcelo Modesto da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Over the last 100 years, the continuous ever-increasing usage of fossil fuels in electricity generation has impacted the environment, especially due to the greenhouse effect which is caused for carbon emissions on atmosphere. The fulfillment concerns with environment have been increased and other ways to generate electricity have been studied in order to mitigate the pollutant emissions. In this context, the renewable energy sources such as solar and geothermal can be employed on power plants. Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems for large-scale waste heat recovery is a promising technology with a huge potential market, since ORCs are rarely fueled by fossil fuels, they usually work at relatively low temperatures and they are suitable for the exploitation of small available thermal powers. The main differential of ORC is the vast range of work fluids and different configurations available. This characteristic can be difficult the definition of a optimum design to specific energy source. The main objective of this project is study the potential of ORC to use in renewable sources energy (like as solar or biomass) and thermal waste in different industrial sectors (waste heat processes). The main idea is to create a general thermodynamic model capable to describe different configurations of CRO, and, through optimization methods and exergetic cost and economic analysis to seek maximization of efficiency or electricity generated. From the definition of energy source available, the thermodynamic model to seek the best configurations of ORC and the most adequate organic fluid to maximize the electricity generation or the efficiency of the ORC plants (AU)