Dynamic behaviour and performance evaluation of a biomass-fired organic Rankine cycle combined heat and power (ORC-CHP) system under different control strategies

Abstract

The dynamic behaviour and performance evaluation of a biomass-fired organic Rankine cycle combined heat and power (ORC-CHP) system under two different control strategies are investigated in this study. The dynamic model is established, while the dynamic characteristics of key operating parameters (superheat degree, evaporating pressure and mass flow rate) with the step change of heat source temperature are examined. The effects of controlled superheat degree and controlled expander shaft work on dynamic behaviours of thermodynamic, economic and environmental performance are discussed and compared under different control methods (feedforward active control, PID passive control and combined control). Results indicate that the superheat degree is significantly influenced by the heat source temperature under the without control strategy, with the variation reaching 8.4 K. The combined control method exhibits the best control performance with overshoot and control response times of 1.2 K and 12.3 s, respectively. Compared to without control, the expander shaft work and ORC thermal efficiency of the control strategy of superheat degree increase by 3.2 kW and 0.8 %, while that of the control strategy of expander shaft work increase by 1.0 kW and 0.3 %, respectively. The control strategy of superheat degree presents a significant improvement in the economic and environmental performance of the biomass-fired ORC-CHP system. This study is expected to provide better guidance for the practical operation and control of biomass-fired ORC-CHP systems.