Abstract
Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is effective for heat-work conversion. However, the system performance should be improved due to the high irreversible loss. The pinch point temperature difference (PPTD) is a very important parameter for the ORC-based plant and is often fixed to be a constant value, especially for low- and medium-grade heat sources. In this paper, the influence of the PPTD on the system performance was analyzed base on the laws of thermodynamics. The net power output, the product of the total thermal conductance, the size parameter (SP), and the volumetric flow ratio (VFR), were calculated. The results show that the net power output and the total thermal conductance are opposite with the PPTD. The optimal PPTD is closely correlated with the heat source inlet temperature (HSIT), and there is a quadratic function between them, with the optimal PPTD from 2 to 21°C for the HSIT ranging from 80 to 180°C, which can be popularized in engineering applications.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
