Abstract
A small-scale solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising renewable energy-driven power generation technology that can be used in the rural areas of developing countries. A prototype was developed and tested for its performance characteristics under a range of solar source temperatures. The solar ORC system power output was calculated based on the thermal and solar collector efficiency. The maximum solar power output was observed in April. The solar ORC unit power output ranged from 0.4 kW to 1.38 kW during the year. The highest power output was obtained when the expander inlet pressure was 13 bar and the solar source temperature was 120 °C. The area of the collector for the investigation was calculated based on the meteorological conditions of Busan City (South Korea). In the second part, economic and thermoeconomic analyses were carried out to determine the cost of energy per kWh from the solar ORC. The selling price of electricity generation was found to be $0.68/kWh and $0.39/kWh for the prototype and low cost solar ORC, respectively. The sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to find the influencing economic parameters for the change in NPV. Finally, the sustainability index was calculated to assess the sustainable development of the solar ORC system.
Highlights
Power obtained from solar energy in developing countries plays an important role in changing the living standards of people residing in remote areas
In order to determine the size of collector, the required heat input value was calculated based on the experiment performed in small-scale organic Rankine cycle (ORC) unit
The ORC unit was operated at 3600 RPM, which is the maximum rotational speed of the expander
Summary
Power obtained from solar energy in developing countries plays an important role in changing the living standards of people residing in remote areas. Through the proper utilization of this solar energy, the isolated rural areas of developing countries can be electrified. One of the promising technologies for powering rural areas is the solar organic Rankine (SORC) cycle system. A small-scale SORC can be used to electrify the homes in rural communities and run small businesses. An off-grid SORC provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to un-eco-friendly and expensive diesel generators for electricity generation. This small-scale technology helps to replace kerosene based lamps and traditional biomass, in which 2.7 billion people around the globe depend on it for their energy requirements [1]. An off-grid power supply can provide power for domestic uses, such as lighting, running televisions, radios, refrigerators, communications, and water pumping
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