Abstract
When the electricity from the grid is not available, the generation of electricity in remote areas is an essential challenge to satisfy important needs. In many developing countries the power generation from Diesel engines is the applied technical solution. However the cost and supply of fuel make a strong dependency of the communities on the external support. Alternatives to fuel combustion can be found in photovoltaic generators, and, with suitable conditions, small wind turbines or microhydroplants. The aim of the paper is to simulate the power generation of a generating unit using the Rankine Cycle and using refrigerant R245fa as a working fluid. The generation unit has thermal solar panels as heat source and photovoltaic modules for the needs of the auxiliary items (pumps, electronics, etc.). The paper illustrates the modeling of the system using TRNSYS platform, highlighting standard and “ad hoc” developed components as well as the global system efficiency. In the future the results of the simulation will be compared with the data collected from the 3 kW prototype under construction in the Tuscia University in Italy.
Highlights
Solar energy is available everywhere and completely renewable
Small-scale solar Organic Cycles are well adapted for remote off-grid areas
With little commercial experience to draw on, realistic costs estimates for solar thermal power plants are extremely difficult to make; it is expected that cost reduction will result from technical and commercial progress
Summary
The conversion of solar energy in electricity could be an important option to enhance the development of rural communities. The photovoltaic module is a commercial technology to convert solar energy directly in electricity, but the low efficiency conversion and above all the need of batteries for storage purpose limit the application in developing countries. The technological option analyzed in this paper is the conversion of solar energy through solar collectors and storage as hot water in an insulated tank. This tank is the hot source of an Organic Rankine Cycle system with electricity output. An efficient mathematical model that describes systems performances, environmental interaction, and development is needed 1. The aim of the present work is developing an important tool for guiding the assembling of a prototype of a solar energy/ORC compact electricity generator with 3 kW as power output
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