Organic Rankine Cycle Applications Research Articles

To Get a Power Generation Using a Waste Heat Recovery from IC Engine

This Research paper aims to develop and design a low-temperature organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system, focusing on enhancing the performance of the expander and selecting optimal refrigerants and heat sources. The study begins with a comprehensive analysis of available expanders and refrigerants suitable for ORC applications. The research then progresses to the development and improvement of an expander utilizing a reverse scroll compressor configuration, a novel approach aimed at enhancing efficiency and performance. Dynamic tests are conducted to assess the performance of the scroll compressor in this new configuration, providing valuable data for further optimization. The same expander is then integrated into an ORC system to evaluate its performance within the overall setup. Various performance parameters of the scroll compressor and the ORC system are meticulously analyzed to gauge efficiency and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, the research paper includes a detailed process of selecting the most appropriate refrigerant and heat source from the available options. This selection is critical in optimizing the ORC system's effectiveness and sustainability. Overall, this research contributes to advancing low-temperature ORC technology by improving expander design, optimizing component performance, and selecting suitable operating parameters for enhanced energy conversion efficiency.

Solar photothermal utilization of coupled latent heat storage: A numerical and optimization study

The combination of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) is a novel approach for effectively utilizing solar energy. However, the influence of solar energy fluctuations on the heat transfer process of LHTES systems is not yet clear. In this study, a sinusoidal heat source is applied to a rotating triple-tube LHTES system, and numerical analysis and model verification are conducted. The parameters of the sinusoidal heat source are optimized using the response surface method. The effects of heat source amplitude, half period, and rotation speed on the heat release time and heat release rate of LHTES are investigated, and corresponding quadratic regression equations are fitted. The optimized structure (rotation speed = 0.5 rpm, amplitude = 7.5 K, half-cycle = 100) obtained through the response surface method reduced the solidification time by 12.45% compared to the initial structure (rotation speed = 0.3 rpm, amplitude = 7.5 K, half-cycle = 100). The average temperature response and heat release rate increased by 28.34% and 16.25%, respectively. The sensible heat and total heat release within one solidification cycle increased by 12.17% and 1.87%, respectively. This study lays the foundation for the optimization design of LHTES systems and the integrated application of Organic Rankine Cycle.

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Systems: A fundamental Overview of Small-scale Applications Fuelled by Low-grade Heat Sources

Environmental issues shift energy production from conventional methods to new and more efficient alternatives. One of these alternatives is the use of organic Rankine cycles (ORC) in low-grade heat sources to generate both heat and power at small scales. Among different technologies available for this purpose, ORC-based systems seem to be the most suitable and promising option due to their simplicity and versatility. Thus, such systems have been investigated intensively. However, current studies often focus on only one aspect of these systems due to the massive research scale in this field. Therefore, this study aims to provide a fundamental and holistic overview to evaluate ORC-based low-heat sourced and small-scale applications from multiple perspectives. As a result, the basic operating principles and application areas of ORCs, selection and design criteria of their working fluids and all other system components, methods of improving their performance, and other thermodynamic cycles that can be ORC alternatives are examined in detail. The results of this study show that ORC applications can enable small-scale combined heat and power generation, while geothermal and solar energy sources have the potential to scale the size of such applications up to kW capacities. The results also showed that dry & isentropic fluids and vane & scroll expanders are the most suitable refrigerant and expander types, respectively, for small-scale ORC applications. Furthermore, the implications of all findings are critically discussed.

Concept and Design of a Velocity Compounded Radial Four-Fold Re-Entry Turbine for Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Applications

The energy sector faces a pressing need for significant transformation to curb CO2 emissions. For instance, Czechia and Germany have taken steps to phase out fossil thermal power plants by 2038, opting instead for a greater reliance on variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Nonetheless, thermal power plants will still have roles, too. While the conventional multistage axial turbine design has been predominant in large-scale power plants for the past century, it is unsuitable for small-scale decentralized projects due to complexity and cost. To address this, the study investigates less common turbine types, which were discarded as they demonstrated lower efficiency. One design is the Elektra turbine, characterized by its velocity compounded radial re-entry configuration. The Elektra turbine combines the advantages of volumetric expanders (the low rotational speed requirement) with the advantages of a turbine (no rubbing seals, no lubrication in the working fluid, wear is almost completely avoided). Thus, the research goal of the authors is the implementation of a 10 kW-class ORC turbine driving a cost-effective off-the-shelf 3000 rpm generator. The paper introduces the concept of the Elektra turbine in comparison to other turbines and proposes this approach for an ORC working fluid. In the second part, the 1D design and 3D–CFD optimization of the 7 kW Elektra turbine working with Hexamethyldisiloxane (MM) is performed. Finally, CFD efficiency characteristics of various versions of the Elektra are presented and critically discussed regarding the originally defined design approach. The unsteady CFD calculation of the final Elektra version showed 46% total-to-static isentropic efficiency.

A newly application of Organic Rankine Cycle for building energy management with cooling heating power hydrogen liquefaction generation- South Korea

This research revolves around the modeling and optimization of an innovative geothermal system powered by geothermal energy. The system incorporates a modified Organic Rankine Cycle to efficiently produce electricity, hydrogen, cooling, and heating. The study is specifically tailored for South Korea, with a focus on the city of Ulsan. The primary objective of this geothermal system is to generate essential products for residential buildings without contributing to carbon emissions or environmental pollution. The modeling aspect of this research is conducted using EES software, while optimization efforts are aimed at enhancing performance by optimizing the exergy efficiency and reducing costs. The response surface method (RSM) and Design Expert optimization software are employed for this purpose. The optimal results demonstrate that, in its most efficient state, the system can achieve an impressive exergy efficiency of 45.382 % and operate at a cost rate of 50.414 $/h. The economic analysis underscores that the modified ORC unit bears the highest system cost, amounting to 49.47 $/h. The findings reveal that the suggested geothermal system performs exceptionally well in cities with weather conditions akin to Ulsan. In other regions across the globe, it has the potential to significantly enhance cost-effectiveness and exergy efficiency. The research concludes by evaluating the system's capacity to provide electricity, heating, and cooling for residential complexes within the study areas, highlighting its potential for addressing diverse energy needs in urban settings while prioritizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. The results showed that the study system can produce 3,982,413.6 kWh of heating, and 4,555,440 kWh of cooling during the year. The environmental results showed that by producing 4088.72 MWh of electricity annually in the city of Ulsan, South Korea, it is possible to help the expansion of 4 hectares of green space per year. Also, by reducing carbon dioxide emission by 834.09 tons of CO2, the proposed system avoids the cost of 20,018.3 $ on the environment. The proposed geothermal system can supply the electrical needs of 401 people in Ulsan city during the year.

Energy, Exergy and Environmental Analysis of ORC Waste Heat Recovery from Container Ship Exhaust Gases Based on Voyage Cycle

Recovering the waste heat of a marine main engine (M/E) to generate electricity was an environmental way to minimize the carbon dioxide emissions for ships, especially with organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology. The M/E had variable loads and operating times during voyage cycle, which directly affected the ORC thermodynamic potential. In this paper, a voyage cycle-based waste heat utilization from the M/E was introduced to provide reliable evaluation for proposing and designing ORC. The effect of various M/E loads and operating times on ORC performance among three dry-type substances was analyzed. The environmental impact was presented based on the data from one voyage cycle navigation of objective container ship. The results showed that Cyclohexane was capable of net power while Benzene was more suitable for thermal efficiency. The evaporator and condenser were the main irreversible components of the ORC system and required further optimization. Taking the operational profile into consideration, the evaporation pressures were 922–1248 kPa (Cyclohexane), 932–1235 kPa (Benzene) and 592–769 kPa (Toluene), respectively. During the voyage cycle, the carbon dioxide emissions were 99.68 tons (Cyclohexane), 96.32 tons (Benzene) and 60.99 tons (Toluene), respectively. This study provided certain reference for the design and investigation of ORC application to further improve the energy efficiency for container ship.

Deep Learning Based Prediction of axial turbine performance for Clean Organic Rankine Cycle system driven by low-temperature heat source

The big data performances of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system is widely used in avariety of industrial applications. In some processes, the axial flow turbine at the low temperature heatsource is crucial. The goal of this work is to increase the high efficiency of a tiny axial turbine poweredby an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) utilizing numerical studies and deep learning method. To providethe best performance for the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) application, various turbine stages aresuggested. Three-dimensional RANS computations are recommended for five different rotational speedsand four mass flow rates ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 kg/s with an inlet temperature of 365 K in order todescribe the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic capabilities and get a big data. The analysis show that thetwo-stage turbine with a fixed rotational speed delivers the highest power output value of 10000W, hasthe highest turbine efficiency of 86%.In a three-stage turbine arrangement operating at steady state, theefficiency of the turbine and its output are 89% and 12000 W, respectively. The maximum values forturbine efficiency and power production are 88% and 12000W, respectively, as a result of the transientcomputational procedure. These results demonstrate the potential for exchanging low temperature heatsources using micro-three-stage axial turbines in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems .

THERMODYNAMICS ANALYSIS OF SOLAR-EJECTOR PUMP OTEC (SEP-OTEC) RANKINE CYCLE USING AMMONIA AS REFRIGERANT

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) applications include ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), in which mechanical work is generated from heat energy to rotate generators and generate electricity. The OTEC system heated and cooled its refrigerant by taking advantage of the relatively small temperature difference between the warmer surface seawater and the colder deep seawater. The low-temperature difference between seawater and the rest of the system meant that the thermal efficiency of the system was relatively low; to address this problem, the OTEC cycles needed to be revised. To increase the basic OTEC cycle's thermal efficiency by 3.3–4.0%, various modifications have been developed. Two such cycles are the Solar Boosted OTEC (SOTEC) cycle and the Ejector Pump cycle (EP-OTEC). While the two improvements alter the rotating turbine parameters in different ways, they can be combined to create an improved OTEC cycle through the use of thermodynamics. In this study, an algorithm for revised OTEC was developed using MATLAB, and the performance of the system after the modifications was further quantified. This SEP-OTEC cycle thermal efficiency gives a 1.2-fold improvement when compared to the previous OTEC cycle thermal efficiency, which was 3.1%.

Effect of critical temperature and category of zeotropic mixture working fluids on the thermal performance in subcritical ORC

Several thermodynamic properties are crucial in selecting the optimal working fluids and significantly affect the performance of the Organic Rankine cycle (ORC); one of them is the liquid-vapor critical temperature. Four different thermodynamic models were used; they differed by the definition of maximal (TEva) and minimal (TCond) temperatures. Three different scenarios were investigated in all models by picking components from different working fluid classes to prepare zeotropic mixtures. The main focus of our study was on the investigation of the effect of the critical temperature (Tcr) of the mixture and the class of the components (wet/wet, wet/dry, and dry/dry) on thermal efficiency (ηth) and net-work output (Wnet). Results indicate that occasionally, the zeotropic mixtures with higher critical temperatures (but not always) outperform other mixtures under given conditions. Consequently, it cannot be asserted that the higher thermal efficiency and net- work output are monopolized by the highest critical temperature of all mixed working fluids. Selecting a certain mixing ratio and the appropriate model (evaporator and condenser temperatures set as on the bubble and dew points) that matches the ORC application can assist in obtaining the highest thermal efficiency and net-work output.

An alternative pathway from hot dry rock to green hydrogen by organic Rankine cycle applications

Some researchers have been focused on electricity generation using thermal energy extraction from HDRs via Organic Rankine cycles. This new research topic creates a new pathway to reach green hydrogen for countries that have geothermal power such as Turkey. In this study, a well in the Nevşehir region that does not has the potential to be used in direct geothermal energy applications due to the absence of water was examined. By using the heat obtained from HDR by injected water, the estimated amount of electricity that can be produced with a single shaft binary organic Rankine cycle was revealed by calculating the thermal energy that can be obtained from the wells which have a surface temperature of 183 °C at 2900 m 2900 m depth. In the next step, the hydrolysis of water with electricity obtained from renewable energy and the hydrogen potential that can be produced were revealed. This hydrogen, which is estimated to be produced, can be fed directly to the natural gas lines or subjected to processes such as storage or industrial usage.

Harnessing geothermal energy from produced water in the Neuquén basin through Organic Rankine Cycle application

The decarbonization of the energy sector is a major global challenge, requiring the transformation and improvement of energy production systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The hydrocarbon industry offers a potential pathway for transition, as many productive hydrocarbon deposits with a high water cut are increasing over time. The geothermal energy contained in the co-produced water, which is transported to the surface by pumping, can be harnessed for a wide range of applications, depending on the temperature of the extracted fluid.The use of the energy contained in produced water is considered one of the most promising proposals for extending the economic life of hydrocarbon reservoirs with low enthalpy geothermal resources, characterized by temperatures below 90 °C. This is facilitated by the existing infrastructure in the fields, which enables the installation of heat extraction equipment, thereby reducing the high costs associated with the drilling and completion stages of the wells and eliminating the related risks.This work aims to evaluate the potential for generating electrical energy using an “Organic Rankine Cycle” (ORC) system from the heat contained in the produced water of Bandurria Centro and Bajo del Toro Norte hydrocarbon reservoirs, situated on the Eastern Flank of the Neuquén Basin. According to the results, the produced water temperatures in the aforementioned areas are deemed suitable for the application of an ORC system, enabling the transfer of thermal energy to generate electricity and thus be used within the field. Maximum power outputs of up to 6.611 kW were observed for produced water temperature of 62.55 °C with an ambient temperature of 5.5 °C. However, the extreme ambient temperatures of 39 °C made it impossible for the ideal ORC system to remain operational. Therefore, the use of energy contained in the produced water through the implementation of an ORC system is a promising approach for extending the economic life of hydrocarbon deposits and contributing to decarbonization efforts.

A Review on the Preliminary Design of Axial and Radial Turbines for Small-Scale Organic Rankine Cycle

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is an effective technology to harness low-grade energy. Turbine, as a key component of ORC, takes advantages of its high efficiency and compact size compared with other expanders. Currently, developing suitable turbines with a high performance and a low cost is one of the bottlenecks for wide applications of various ORCs. In this context, technical progress on radial inflow turbines (RITs), axial turbines (ATs), and radial outflow turbines (ROTs) is introduced, and loss models used in the preliminary design are compared, especially for small-scale ORCs. RIT is recommended for medium and small ORCs with an expansion pressure ratio of <10. The power outs and rotational speeds of the designed RITs spanned the ranges of 9.3–684 kW and 3000–114,000 r/min with an efficiency of 56.1–91.75%. In comparison, the power outputs and speeds of ATs were 3–2446 kW and 3000–91,800 r/min with an efficiency of 63–89.1%. AT is suitable for large-scale ORCs with a power output of greater than hundreds of kW. However, AT with impulse stages is feasible for small-scale ORCs when the pressure ratio is high, and the mass flow rate is small. The power outputs of the designed ROTs were relatively small, at 10–400 kW with a speed of 7200–42,700 r/min and an efficiency of 68.7–85%. For organic working fluids with a large expansion pressure ratio, ROT might be employed. Conventional mean-line models may neglect the effects of supersonic flow, which will be encountered in many ORC turbines. Therefore, adequate models for supersonic expansion loss and shock loss need to be added. Meanwhile, a proper multivariable optimization algorithm such as a gradient-based or stochastic search method should be selected. Finally, the challenges and potential research directions are discussed. The outcomes can provide some insights for the development of ORC turbines and the optimization of ORC systems.

The influence of splitter blades and meridional profiles on the performance of small-scale turbopumps for ORC applications; analysis, neural network modeling and optimization

This work presents the influence of splitters on the performance of small-scale turbopumps for organic Rankine cycle applications numerically. Different design parameters, such as impeller diameter at the outlet, number of blades, blade angle at the trailing edge, and the length and location of the splitter blades, are studied for both shrouded and unshrouded impellers at tip clearance ratios of 0.05 and 0.10 (relative to blade height). The results suggest that splitter blades can increase impeller head coefficient and slip factors up to 10%–24% depending on the blade outlet angle. At the same time, the total efficiency is not influenced significantly. The CFD calculations predict that the placement of splitters in the middle of the blade channel leads to the maximum head coefficient for shrouded impellers. In contrast, for the tip clearance ratio of 0.10, a higher head coefficient is observed for placement closer to the suction side of the main blade. After that, different meridional profiles are studied to investigate their influence on the performance characteristics and mitigation of tip clearance effects. Profiles with a sharper change of cross-section area at the inlet rather than a linear change are found more advantageous, as higher head rise, total efficiency, and static efficiency are observed. In the end, the splitter blade profiles are optimized through techniques of design of experiments, leading to a 2.43% improvement in total efficiency. In contrast, the head rise remains constant, and static efficiency decreases by 0.49% for an impeller with a tip clearance ratio of 0.05.

Entropy production analysis of a radial inflow turbine with variable inlet guide vane for ORC application

The fluctuation of heat source conditions leads to the off-design operation and efficiency reduction of the radial inflow turbine (RIT). The adjustment of the outlet angle of inlet guide vane (IGV) is an important way to improve the turbine performance under off-design conditions. Since the energy dissipation caused by friction and flow separation is the main reason for the reduction of RIT efficiency, the entropy production analysis method is used to diagnose the location with high local energy loss in the RIT and evaluate its total energy loss under different working conditions in this paper. Firstly, an appropriate outlet angle of the IGV is determined according to the inlet pressure and outlet pressure of the RIT in organic Rankine cycle (ORC). Then, the effects of inlet pressure and outlet pressure on its energy loss are studied. The results indicate that the average entropy production rate (EPR) of the rotor in the RIT is the highest, which is mainly from the tip clearance and the inlet region. More than 70% of total entropy production of the turbine comes from the rotor, followed by the diffuser. The turbine can achieve lower total entropy production at higher outlet pressure or lower inlet pressure. Compared with a fixed IGV, the turbine with variable IGV can achieve higher turbine efficiency and output power under off-design conditions. The maximum increase in the efficiency and output power of the turbine with variable IGV under different inlet pressures is 3.8% and 12.9%, respectively.

Development of sustainable ORC applications in the tertiary sector: a case study in the Mediterranean climate

In recent decades, climate change strong advancement has led many countries, especially the most developed ones, to a greater sense of environmental responsibility. On a global, European and national level, adaptation/mitigation strategies and actions aimed at improving energy-environmental sustainability and resilience in the tertiary sectors have been increasingly intensified. In this sector, therefore, plays a fundamental role the integration/introduction of technologies able to operate an efficient conversion of energy, such as indeed Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plant, other than renewable energy sources, in order to reduce both energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Within this scenario, the aim of this work is to investigate the potential application of a cogeneration ORC system powered by solar collector and geothermal sources, by evaluating its energy, environmental and economic advantages and limitations. To this purpose a case study involving the coverage of the energy needs of a hotel located in Catania (Southern Italy) has been simulated and analyzed. The outcomes put in evidence the importance of the operative conditions in optimizing the productivity of an ORC plant, especially when associated with renewable energy sources, although at the moment investment and supply costs are still quite high.

Analysis and modeling of the tip leakage flow on the performance of small-scale turbopumps for ORC applications

• An automated design model is developed to generate impeller geometries suitable for organic Rankine cycles. • The influence of tip clearance is investigated and modeled. • At high blade outlet angles, the effects of tip clearance and flow rate on the slip factor diminish. • The head rise decreases with the tip clearance ratio. • Feedforward neural networks are trained to model the slip factor and head loss coefficient of unshrouded centrifugal pumps. In this paper, the influence of tip clearance on the performance of small-scale turbopumps is studied numerically on extensive parameter ranges suitable for organic Rankine cycle applications. A novel and fully parameterized design model is developed and used to generate a wide range of turbopumps and their fluid domains to carry out three-dimensional computations across the impeller stage. Impellers are investigated at different operating conditions, and the accomplished results are analyzed to characterize the performance at design and off-design conditions. The CFD calculations demonstrate that the slip factor is dependent not only on its geometrical parameters, as considered by most correlations, but also on its operating conditions. The slip factor decreased almost linearly as the flow rate increased. In addition, the tip clearance ratio influences the slip factor, and its influence is non-linear. The head rise decreases as the tip clearance ratios increase. However, for radial impellers, a higher head rise was observed for small tip clearance ratios (<0.10). The numerical data is employed to infer reduced-order models for considering the tip clearance effect in the early-phase design process of small-scale turbopumps. The models predict the CFD data with an average relative deviation of 3.6 % and 5.8 % for the slip factor and the head loss coefficient, respectively.

Experimental results of a low-pressure steam Rankine cycle with a novel water lubricated radial inflow turbine for the waste heat utilization of internal combustion engines

A large proportion of the energy converted in internal combustion engines is lost via the exhaust gas at high temperature levels and via the coolant at low temperature levels of about 80 to 120 °C. Subsequent low-pressure steam Rankine cycles can be used to engage both heat sources in a single cycle for converting waste heat into mechanical or electrical energy. Experimental proof can show that steam Rankine cycles offer low system complexity, competitive efficiencies and favourable part load behaviour compared to other waste heat recovery cylces such as organic Rankine cycles. For this purpose, a low-pressure SRC test rig optimized for laboratory operation is developed which emulates different load conditions of an internal combustion engine for combined heat and power production. Test data is obtained and validated for part load operation at 60, 70 and 80 % load. A measured electrical efficiency of the steam Rankine cycle of 4 % and an exergetic efficiency of 14 % highlights its potential to compete with organic Rankine cycle applications and serves as proof of concept for the employed radial inflow turbine with water lubricated bearings.

Waste Heat Source Profiles for Marine Application of Organic Rankine Cycle

The maritime industry will continue to see increasing regulatory requirements to reduce carbon emissions from ships’ operations. Improving the energy efficiency of ships with waste heat recovery systems based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is an attractive way to meet these tightening requirements. The operational profile of a ship has a huge influence on the feasibility of installing ORC onboard as it affects the waste heat source profile from the diesel engines. However, to date, scant attention has been paid to examining the effects that the operational profile has on the marine application of ORC as it is both difficult and expensive to obtain. The present paper aims to describe a methodology that can overcome this problem by developing a generic ship speed profile that defines the ship’s operational profile. This speed profile works together with a fit-for-purpose diesel engine waste heat model to derive a waste heat source profile that is used as the input to a thermoeconomic analysis that can justify the installation of ORC. The proposed methodology allows for an objective comparison of the feasibility of ORC subjected to variations in the operational profile. Furthermore, the optimum ORC design can be identified to meet payback time expectations of different shipowners.

Application of ORC to reduce the energy penalty of carbon capture in non-stationary ICE

The electrification of productive activities cannot be considered the only strategy for a low-carbon economy, and sectors such as road freight and passenger transport will have to continue using technologies based on combustion in the medium and long term. It is expected that sustainable synthetic fuels and CO2 capture and storage technologies (CCS) can help to reduce greenhouse emissions. However, the occupation of spaces and the energy penalty of the capture are handicapped in smaller facilities, such as conventional combustion engine vehicles, and determine its technical and economic viability. In this paper, AVL boost and Aspen + softwares simulations are performed to analyze the feasibility of using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to supply the power consumption of an on-board CCS system coupled to an internal combustion engine (ICE) operating at partial engine loads and over the whole rpm range. Two spark-ignition engines of different sizes, fueled with CH4, have been modelled, and temperature swing adsorption is selected as a viable method for the CCS system, assuming a carbon capture rate of 90 %. Results show that the ORC reduces between 3.9 and 13.9 % the penalization of the CCS system over the engine power, keeping it under 8.84 % in the small engine and 5.71 % in the large engine. It can be concluded that an ORC-CCS hybridized system is energy feasible for the operation of an ICE working at partial loads in the entire rpm.

Solar Energy-Based Future Perspective for Organic Rankine Cycle Applications.

This article explores the patents of solar energy technologies in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) applications. The conversion of low-quality thermal energy into electricity is one of the main characteristics of an ORC, making efficient and viable technologies available today. However, only a few and outdated articles that analyze patents that use solar energy technologies in ORC applications exist. This leads to a lack of updated information regarding the number of published patents, International Patent Classification (IPC) codes associated with them, technology life cycle status, and the most relevant patented developments. Thus, this article conducts a current investigation of patents published between January 2010 and May 2022 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology and keywords. One thousand two hundred ninety-nine patents were obtained as part of the study and classified in F and Y groups of the IPC. The time-lapse analyzed was between January 2010 and May 2022. In 2014 and 2015, a peak of published patents was observed. China (CN) was the country that published the most significant number of patents worldwide. However, the European Patent Office (EP), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WO), and the United States (US) publish the patents with the highest number of patent citations. Furthermore, the possible trend regarding the development of patents for each technology is presented. A high-performance theoretical ORC plant based on the patent information analyzed by this article is introduced. Finally, exploration of IPC revealed 17 codes related to solar energy technologies in ORC applications not indexed in the main search.