Discussion of the internal heat exchanger's effect on the Organic Rankine Cycle

Abstract

This paper explores the performances of IHE (Internal Heat Exchanger) in ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) systems. Although previous studies hold multitudinous opinions, this study gives clear statements of IHE in both subcritical and supercritical ORC systems by setting a new model taking pressure drop in loops and acid dew point into consideration. Commonly used working fluids R123 and R600 are chosen for subcritical and supercritical cases separately. The temperature of the heat source applied is 200 °C and the mass flow rate of it is 1 kg/s. The analysis is accomplished by program Engineering Equation Solver. A modified method of calculating maximum heat exchange in IHE is given when modeling a supercritical cycle, because of the momentously changing specific heat near the critical point. Besides, a new approach is put forward to calculate the outlet temperature of the heat source and find the location of pinch point in supercritical cases. The results provide that IHE is beneficial to a subcritical case, but it improves system performance only in part of the low pressure stage in a supercritical case. Moreover, after the acid dew point Tad is taken into account, it is found that IHE is able to enlarge euphemistically the maximum system net output in a subcritical case. And in a supercritical case, the original evaporation pressure which does not conform to the rule Th,out > Tad is available now. It is revealed that the utilization of IHE will strengthen the applicability of the system.