Abstract
The utilisation of low- and medium-temperature energy allows to reduce the energy shortage and environmental pollution problems because low-grade energy is plentiful in nature and renewable as well. In the past two decades, thanks to its feasibility and reliability, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) has received great attention. The present work is focused on a small-scale (7.5 kW nominal electric power) combined cooling, heating and power ORC system powered by the combustion of olive pomace obtained as a by-product in the olive oil production process from an olive farm situated in the central part of Italy. The analysis of the employment of this energy system is based on experimental data and Aspen Plus simulation, including biomass and combustion tests, biomass availability and energy production analysis, Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) system sizing and assessment. Different low environmental impact working fluids and various operative process parameters were investigated. Olive pomace has been demonstrated to be suitable for the energy application and, in this case, to be able to satisfy the energy consumption of the same olive farm with the option of responding to further energy users. Global electrical efficiency varied from 12.7% to 19.4%, depending on the organic fluid used and the working pressure at the steam generator.
Highlights
Using fossil fuels has negative environmental impacts due to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution problems
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the potential of olive pomace produced in a mill located in Central Italy as an energy resource, which represents the considered case study, whose combustion feeds an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) unit combined with an absorption chiller
5000 h of operation per year have been considered with a biomass flow rate consumption of 40 kg/h
Summary
Using fossil fuels has negative environmental impacts due to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution problems. For this reason, in order to satisfy the continuous increase in energy demands and to reduce the environmental impact, the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable and sustainable resources is necessary. Environmental analysis demonstrated that the biomass conversion processes can give a good performance [3,4]. A wide variety of biomass exists, e.g., food crops, energy crops, municipal solid wastes, green wastes and agricultural residues [5,6]. The use of biomass wastes avoids the “biomass vs food” contrast [7] and solves the problem of waste disposal
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