Abstract
This study explores the potentials of employing an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system with variable inlet guide vanes (VIV) turbine geometry designed on a GT-Suite platform for effective exhaust heat recovery (EHR) application onboard passenger vehicles. The ORC model simulation was based on vehicle speed mode using R245fa as working fluid to assess the thermal performance of the ORC system when utilizing modified turbine geometry. Interestingly, the model achieved a very improved performance in contrast to the model without a modified turbine configuration. The results revealed the average 2.32 kW ORC net output, 4.93% thermal efficiency, 6.1% mechanical efficiency, and 5.0% improved brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for the developed model. As determined by the performance indicators, these promising results from the model study show the prospect of EHR technology application in the transportation sector for reduction in exhaust emissions and fuel savings.
Highlights
This study explores the potentials of employing an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system with variable inlet guide vanes (VIV) turbine geometry designed on a GT-Suite platform for effective exhaust heat recovery (EHR) application onboard passenger vehicles
The simulation was done at a cycle time of 1000 sec in each case, and the corresponding exhaust conditions are used as input variables to the ORC loop, which investigates the ORC EHR potentials
An ORC module with a turbine utilizing VIV configuration was designed for EHR application onboard passenger vehicle with SI engine, and the results compared with that of the ORC unit without a modified guide vanes configuration
Summary
These environmental issues are caused by exhaust gas release during fuel combustion in internal combustion engines (ICEs), which still thrives in most vehicle propulsions. Recapturing some portion of the exergy in this waste heat stream, which otherwise is exhausted to the environment, mitigate exhaust emissions and their adverse effects but as well lead to thermal efficiency improvement of the model through the generation of additional power to augment the existing one without extra-fuel consumption by the IC engine [2]. The exhausts released from ICEs of automobile vehicles comprise Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), which causes air pollution, Particulate Matter (PM), which causes breathing challenges in people with pre-existing conditions; and CO2, that is the major contributor to global warming threats. ORC systems effectively achieve this heat recapturing by absorbing the exergy in the exhaust of these engines to evaporate the organic working fluid, that further expands to generate mechanical power, which is converted to electricity employing an electric generator to supply power to the electrical appliances on board the vehicle or store in batteries for future use
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