Thermal Electricity Generation Research Articles

Biomimetic Superwetting Fabric for Evaporation-Induced Body Sweat and Heat Management and Electricity Generation.

Solar optothermal evaporation of water possesses the potential for thermal regulation and electricity generation, which are desirable for regulating body perspiration and heat as well as improving electrical output and strain sensing. However, ordinary fabrics exhibit poor evaporation capacity and antifouling performance due to limited adsorption capacity and internal hydrophilicity. Moreover, conventional evaporation-driven generators show a low power supply without widely practical use due to limited and fluctuating evaporation rates. Herein, an antifouling cooling fabric with an evaporation-driven electricity performance is obtained by constructing Janus channels on the superomniphobic fabric. Sweat can be easily eliminated from inside to outside through Janus channels by efficient evaporation, and the green liquid metal ink (CGM/LMP-rGO@PPy) cotton fabric shows a thermal conductivity of 0.18 W m-1 K-1, suggesting a comfortable dry and cooling sense. Meanwhile, the fabric can stably output a potential of 302.20 mV when seawater flows through the ionic channels at an evaporation rate of 1.58 mL h-1 with one sun power density. In addition, the multifunctional fabric demonstrates strain sensing at high electrical conductivity for body motion monitoring. This work would offer a prospect for intelligent textile construction and energy harvesting by water evaporation.

Ultrastrong and Reusable Solar‒Thermal‒Electric Generators by Economical Starch Vitrimers.

In frigid regions, it is imperative to possess functionality materials that are ultrastrong, reusable, and economical, providing self-generated heat and electricity. One promising solution is a solar‒thermal‒electric (STE) generator, composed of solar‒thermal conversion phase change composites (PCCs) and temperature-difference power-generation-sheets. However, the existing PCCs face challenges with conflicting requirements for solar‒thermal conversion efficiency and mechanical robustness, mainly due to monotonous functionalized aerogel framework. Herein, a novel starch vitrimer aerogel is proposed that incorporates orientational distributed carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CCNT) to create PCC. This innovative design integrates large through-holes, mechanical robustness, and superior solar‒thermal conversion. Remarkably, PCC with only 0.8 wt.% CCNT loading achieves 85.8MPa compressive strength, 102.4°C at 200mW cm-2 irradiation with an impressive 92.9% solar-thermal conversion efficiency. Noteworthy, the STE generator assembled with PCC harvests 99.1W m-2 output power density, surpassing other reported STE generators. Strikingly, even under harsh conditions of -10°C and 10mW cm‒2 irradiation, the STE generator maintains 20°C for PCC with 325mV output voltage and 45mA current, showcasing enhanced electricity generation in colder environments. This study introduces a groundbreaking STE generator, paving the way for self-sufficient heat and electricity supply in cold regions.

Microbial community dynamics and functional potentials in the conversion of oil palm wastes into biomethane.

Oil palm processing generates substantial waste materials rich in organic content, posing various environmental challenges. Anaerobic digestion (AD), particularly for palm oil mill effluent (POME), offers a sustainable solution, by converting waste into valuable biomethane for thermal energy or electricity generation. The synergistic activities of the AD microbiota directly affect the biomethane production, and the microbial community involved in biomethane production in POME anaerobic digestion has been reported. The composition of bacterial and archaeal communities varies under different substrate and physicochemical conditions. This review discusses the characteristics of POME, explores the microbial members engaged in each stage of AD, and elucidates the impacts of substrate and physicochemical conditions on the microbial community dynamics, with a specific focus on POME. Finally, the review outlines current research needs and provides future perspectives on optimizing the microbial communities for enhanced biomethane production from oil palm wastes.

Wood waste-derived dual-mode materials paving the way for year-round energy saving in buildings.

In the face of the challenges posed by global warming, traditional methods of building heating and cooling contribute significantly to electricity and coal consumption, thereby emitting considerable amounts of greenhouse gases. Here, a dual-mode thermal management structural material is created by processing sustainable cellulose and lignin derived from wood waste into gels, followed by lamination. The cellulose surface of the material exhibits the ability to scatter solar radiation backward while emitting strongly in the mid-infrared wavelengths, whereas the lignin surface absorbs visible and near-infrared light, primarily releasing energy through non-radiative transitions. Consequently, the material can achieve sub-ambient radiative cooling of 6 °C and solar heating of 27.5 °C during the daytime by simply flipping its orientation. This pioneering material showcases the potential to significantly reduce cooling energy consumption by an average of 18% and heating energy consumption by 42%. Moreover, the integration of a thermal-electric generator within the dual-layer structure optimally utilizes the temperature differential between the two layers, converting it into electrical power. Notably, the dual-mode thermal management structural material exhibits impressive mechanical strength, boasting a flexural strength of 102 MPa, surpassing that of natural wood by over 4.8 times. With its dual-mode functionality and embedded thermal-electric generator, this material represents a crucial step towards achieving both thermal comfort and energy autonomy in sustainable building practices, thereby contributing to a more environmentally friendly and efficient future.

A comprehensive analysis of time-dependent performance of a solar chimney power plant equipped with a thermal energy storage system

Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPP) are among the promising solar thermal electricity generation technologies. Equipped with a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, such technologies can overcome variations in the main driving factors such as solar radiation and ambient air temperature. This article presents a comprehensive semi-analytical model of a TES to predict the time-dependent performance of an SCPP. By introducing a Quality Factor of power generation (QF) that includes energy conversion efficiency and capacity factor, the effects of 15 TES materials have been studied on the plant performance. Results indicate no significant difference between water TES and clay or soil type, and water-filled bags or tubes are relatively ineffective in improving performance compared to them. Among the various TES materials analyzed, a type of wet soil, i.e., the specific wet mixture of clay, sand, and silt in closed and dark-colored bags, show excellent performance in both QF enhancement and having low Heat Penetration Depth (HPD) simultaneously. The QF and HPD are directly affected by thermal effusivity and thermal diffusivity, respectively. Implementing wet soil TES for the studied power plant (Manzanares) enhances the QF from 7.46 % (for limestone soil) to 10.95 %. Water-filled bags demonstrate a heat penetration depth of 0.4 m, while wet soil exhibits a slightly greater depth of 0.5 m. Furthermore, water-filled bags experience a broader temperature range of 40 °C, whereas wet soil undergoes a comparatively smaller temperature variation of 26 °C. Furthermore, the capacity factor raises from 41.18 % to 61.07 % when utilizing wet soil TES compared to water-filled bags.

Development of a spherical solar collector with a cylindrical receiver

Solar energy can be used for substitution of the depleting fossil fuels in thermal applications and electricity generation through thermal route. For medium and high temperature applications, a system for collecting solar energy at high temperatures was developed and built in this research work. The system, built at the center of development of renewable energy of the Algiers, consists of a 2=60°C included angle, R0=0.90 m diameter spherical reflector with a cylindrical receiver filled with water, tracking reflector which moves into the focus following the sun's movement. The system is capable of heating water or other fluids to temperatures above 350 °C, thus making it possible to obtain process heat for domestic use and to store solar energy in a compact and economical way. An analysis of the system's optical characteristics was performed to aid in the design of the spherical reflector and cylindrical receiver. The thermal performance of the system was analyzed. The effects of mirror reflection, concentration ratio, heat transfer to the fluid (water), incidence angle, size and form of the cylindrical receiver, environmental conditions (wind, ambient temperature), have been studied by means of thermal model. The performance of the spherical reflector was tested by the temperature of the water. Total efficiencies (solar to thermal) of = 60% - 70% were obtained for a wide range of temperatures up to 350 °C. The results of the present study show that it is possible to use the spherical reflector for systems requiring process heat and make possible substantial utilization of solar energy and considerable savings relative to fossil energy in the sunny countries of the world.

Causality between residential electricity consumption and explanatory factors

This research adds to the assessment of the causal relationships between residential electricity consumption and its explanatory factors. Johansen cointegration, autoregressive distributed lag model, the vector error correction model, and Wald causality tests are used. In both the short and long run, a unidirectional causality towards electricity consumption is identified. The sustainable development of the electricity sector in Cameroon, as defined by the national development strategy for 2030 and the long-term electricity sector development plan for 2030, requires an increase in GDP per capita, the adoption of a compact less energy-intensive urban model, the strengthening of control over the evolution of the number of subscribers on the distribution networks, and the reduction of CO2 emissions from thermal electricity generation.

Implementation of active and passive control strategies for power generation in a solar chimney power plant: A technical evaluation of Manzanares prototype

Nowadays, it is necessary to develop sustainable energy suppliers according to the concerning environmental issues. Solar energy is one of the appropriate solutions. Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) represents a viable form of solar thermal electricity generation technology. Temporal variations in the driving factors of the plant, especially solar radiation, cause significant fluctuations in output power. This study evaluates active and passive control strategies for achieving more stable power generation in SCPP using Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems. The governing equations for performance modeling have been solved by a developed MATLAB code and validated with experimental data from the Manzanares prototype. Using TES reduced output power fluctuations and showed daily electrical energy generation of 331.9, 314.3, and 308.7 kWh for sand, limestone soil, and water-filled bags, respectively. Implementing an active control strategy with the FLC system alone provided a 25 and 30-kW baseload generation in the mid-hours of the day. Finally, integrating the FLC and TES systems in a hybrid control strategy continued a base load power generation of 12 and 16 kW up to 4 h after sunset, utilizing limestone soil and water-filled bags, respectively.

The biomethane generation potential of wastes and wastewaters from the sericulture, fisheries, and agro-industrial sectors in India

The global problem of climate change and difficulties related to energy access, air pollution, and water pollution in India (and other developing countries) necessitate the need to look for alternative clean, local, and low-carbon energy sources for displacing fossil fuels. This paper analyses the existing waste-to-biomethane potential of the sericulture, fisheries, and agro-industrial sectors in India, which have mostly been neglected previously in India's waste-to-energy assessments. In the process, the volume of wastewaters generated from India's agro-industries are also estimated, data on which are scarce in the academic and grey literature. India's annual biomethane potentials (for 2018–19) were found to be 88 million m3, 207 million m3, and 3514 million m3 from the three sectors, respectively. To assess the energy generation potential of these wastes, a comprehensive literature review was conducted and data on residue-to-product ratios, results of proximate analyses, and specific biomethane yields were either compiled or calculated. The gross thermal energy and electricity generation potentials are 132 PJ and 22 TWh respectively; between 19 and 95 million people can benefit from such waste-to-energy production, depending on the end use of the biomethane for electricity generation or as a domestic cooking fuel. The corresponding mean removal of organic pollution from India's surface waters can be between 5.5 and 9.3 million tonnes of chemical oxygen demand. For the end uses of biomethane in electricity generation and cooking, the cumulative GHG abatements attributable to these industries are 11.4 million tonnes and 6.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent respectively. Besides the numeric results reported, this paper also contains a comprehensive compilation of data on waste characteristics and biomethane productions. The present status of biogas generation and related policy implementation in India are reviewed and discussed. Overall, our findings indicate that biomethane from these wastes and wastewaters can generate substantial energy for India, is in line with recent government policies, and can aid India in achieving six Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Low-grade thermal energy utilization through using organic Rankine cycle system and R1233zd(E) at different heat source temperatures

The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising thermal-electric conversion technology for low-grade thermal energy utilization, however, its performance is significantly varied by the heat source condition. In this study, a compact ORC system using R1233zd(E) was built in Harbin, China for low-grade thermal energy utilization, and the thermal performances of the system at different heat source temperatures (HST, 80, 100, and 120 °C) and heat-source mass flow rates (mhs, 0.011 ∼ 0.346 kg/s) were investigated and presented. The results showed that the heat source conditions (HST and mhs) primarily influenced the ideal bubble point temerature difference (BPTD), outlet pressure, and super-heating degree (SHD) of the evaporator. With the increases in HSTs and mhs, the net output power, thermal efficiency, electricity generation and electricity generation efficiency varied in the ranges of 0.04 ∼ 0.77 kW and 0.9 % ∼ 7.1 %, 0.02 ∼ 0.51 kW and 0.5 % ∼ 4.7 %, respectively. The biggest thermal efficiency (7.1 %) and electricity generation efficiency (4.7 %) of the ORC were obtained at the HST of 120 °C, mhs of 0.09 kg/s. The results also showed that the disadvantages of low-temperature thermal energy could be compensated by improving the mhs, providing more possibilities for the efficient utilization of ORC systems driven by low-grade thermal energies.

Bioinspired Intelligent Solar‐Responsive Thermally Conductive Pyramidal Phase Change Composites with Radially Oriented Layered Structures toward Efficient Solar–Thermal–Electric Energy Conversion

AbstractTo remedy the drawbacks of weak solar‐thermal conversion capability, low thermal conductivity, and poor structural stability of phase change materials, pyramidal graphitized chitosan/graphene aerogels (G‐CGAs) with numerous radially oriented layers are constructed, in which the long‐range radial alignment of graphene sheets is achieved by a novel directional‐freezing strategy. A G‐CGA/polyethylene glycol phase change composite exhibits a thermal conductivity of 2.90 W m−1 K−1 with a latent heat of 178.8 J g−1, and achieves a superior solar‐thermal energy conversion and storage efficiency of 90.4% and an attractive maximum temperature of 99.7 °C under a light intensity of 200 mW cm−2. Inspired by waterlilies, solar‐responsive phase change composites (SPCCs) are designed for the first time by assembling the G‐CGA/polyethylene glycol phase change composites with solar‐driven bilayer films, which bloom by day and close by night. The heat preservation effect of the solar‐driven films leads to a higher temperature of SPCC for a longer period at night. The SPCC‐based solar–thermal–electric generator achieves output voltages of 499.2 and 1034.9 mV under light intensities of 200 and 500 mW cm−2, respectively. Even after stopping the solar irradiation, the voltage output still occurs because of the latent heat release and the heat preservation of the films.

A comparison between the nonhomogeneous Poisson and α-series processes for estimating the machines’ fault time of thermal electricity generation

This study aims to compare the stochastic process model designed as a nonhomogeneous Poisson process and α-series process, to obtain a better process for using monotonous trend data. The α-series process is a stochastic process with a monotone trend, while the NHPP is a general process of the ordinary Poisson process and it is used as a model for a series of events that occur randomly over a variable period of time. Data on the daily fault time of machines in Bahrri Thermal Station in Sudan was analyzed during the interval from first January 2021, to July 31, 2021, to acquire the best stochastic process model used to analyze monotone trend data. The results revealed that the NHPP model could be the most suitable process model for the description of the daily fault time of machines in Bahrri Thermal Station according to lowest MSE, RMSE, Bias, MPE, and highest. The current study concluded through the NHPP the fault time of machines and repair rate occurs in an inconsistent way. The further value of this study is that it compared NHPP and α-series to obtain a better process for using monotone trend data and prediction, meanwhile, the other studies in this field focused on comparing methods of estimation parameters of NHPP and α-series process. The distinctive scientific addition of this study stems from displaying the precision of the NHPP better than the α-series process in the case of monotone trend data.

Effect of geometric variation and solar flux distribution on performance enhancement of absorber tube thermal characteristics for compound parabolic collectors

A compound parabolic collector (CPC) is a concentrated solar thermal technology widely used for thermal energy storage and electricity generation. Usage of proficient absorber tube configuration improves its thermal efficiency and the present study is an attempt to numerically evaluate the feasibility of employing elliptical absorber tube design in CPCs. Initially, the thermal characteristics of the conventional circular and proposed elliptical absorber tube configurations were evaluated for an ideal condition, taking into account the solar radiation effect from Monte-Carlo ray-tracing analysis. The effect of governing factors that include fluid flow rate (0.015–0.05 kg/min), heat flux (1175–1200 W/m2), and inclination angle (3°) were analyzed for optimum condition identification delivering maximum efficiency. Further analysis was focused on evaluating the thermal loss influence with face-split and top-wall insulation conditions. Results indicated that the elliptical configuration outperformed the circular tube with an increment in the maximum temperature rise by 42.2%, 33.4%, and 27.7% for simple, face-split, and face-split top-wall insulated conditions along with better stability over the local hydrodynamic changes. Face-split analysis contributed to better realistic results over constant heat flux and it was inferred that the inclined face-split elliptical configuration exhibited maximum thermal efficiency with higher temperature rise and nominal pressure drop characteristics.

Interplay of multiple factors behind decarbonisation of thermal electricity generation: A novel decomposition model

Achieving carbon neutrality is crucial for the global economy to ensure sustainable development. Quantitative approaches are needed to track the emissions and determinants thereof. The Generalized Divisia Index (GDI) has received wide attention to quantify major factors driving CO2 emissions. However, there has been no research on the application of GDI to decompose the relative variables, such as Aggregate Carbon Intensity (ACI). What is more, GDI has not been applied for spatial decomposition. To address these gaps, the present study constructs temporal-spatial GDI models to decompose the dynamics in ACI of thermal electricity generation. The case of China during 2000–2019 is considered. The results suggest that East, Central, and Northwest regions contributed to the mitigation of national ACI, whereas North and Northeast lagged behind. The temporal decomposition results imply that CO2 emissions is the major factor causing ACI increase, whereas energy-mix promotes reduction in ACI. Energy consumption can be decoupled from ACI, but it is cumbersome to decouple CO2 emission and electricity production from ACI. The spatial decomposition results indicate that CO2 emission and energy consumption induce spatial differences to the highest extent.

Thermo-enviro-economic analysis of solar photovoltaic/thermal system incorporated with u-shaped grid copper pipe, thermal electric generators and nanofluids: An experimental investigation

In this experimental investigation, a thermo-enviro-economic analysis is presented for a hybrid photovoltaic (PVT)/thermoelectric generator (TEGs) system. A comparative investigation between a reference PV, PVT with water, and PVT with TEG/nanofluid was performed. The key findings from the comparative study revealed that compared to the reference PV panel, the temperature drop of the PVT/Water, and PVT/TEG/nanofluid configurations are found to be 25.1 %, and 41.2 %, respectively. The electrical efficiencies of the PVT/Water, and PVT/TEG/nanofluid panels also improved by 5.8 %, and 8.5 %, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), energy payback time (EPBT), and the environmental impact (net CO2 mitigation, and carbon credit) achieved for the PVT/TEG/nanofluid system, are 0.051–0.178 $/kWh, 3.36 years, 2.07 ton/year, 51.94 $/year, respectively. The LCOE and EPBT were found to be relatively high for the PVT/TEG/nanofluid system, compared to that of the PVT/Water, and reference PV module due to the extra cost incurred in its construction materials.

A visibility-based estimation of PM2.5 concentrations in Pyongyang, North Korea: Current status and long-term trends

In the absence of direct measurements of fine particles (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ ∼2.5 μm; PM2.5), visibility can be a useful alternative indicator of particulate air quality. This study estimated the current status and long-term trends of PM2.5 in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, using an empirical visibility–relative humidity (RH)–PM2.5 relationship obtained from the South Korean capital, Seoul. The visibility–RH–PM2.5 relationship was derived from PM2.5 and meteorological variables for the period of 2003–2018 in Seoul, excluding days affected by hydrometeor conditions; it was applied to long-term meteorological data for the period of 1983–2018 in both Seoul and Pyongyang. In recent years (2016–2018), the average estimated PM2.5 concentration in Seoul was ∼23 μg m−3, which was close to the measured concentration of ∼25 μg m−3. The average estimated PM2.5 concentration in Pyongyang for the same period was ∼35 μg m−3. The estimated PM2.5 concentration in Seoul was generally high before 2000 (∼34 μg m−3); it decreased beginning in the 2000s (−5.2 μg m−3 per 10 years) because of the emission control policy and meteorological phenomena. The estimated PM2.5 concentration in Pyongyang significantly decreased until 1998 (−5.9 μg m−3 per 10 years), then increased from 1999 to 2018 (+8.5 μg m−3 per 10 years). The growth in gross national income, total primary energy supply, and coal-fired thermal electricity generation implied that the long-term changes in the estimated PM2.5 concentration in Pyongyang were closely related to the economic contraction and recovery of North Korea. This study provides estimates of North Korean air quality, along with information that can be used to validate chemical transport models.

Metamaterial and metasurface based emitters for solar thermal photovoltaic applications: analytical review

The motivation behind this paper stemmed from the fact that the world consumes the fast-depleting fossil fuel energy. Before the fossil fuel runs out, new technologies to harvest energy from alternative sources are needed. Sunlight is clean, free and abundant. The market for solar thermal and photovoltaic electricity generation is expanding rapidly. Therefore, an analytical review on the types of emitter for solar thermal photovoltaic (STPV) applications utilizing metamaterials and metasurfaces is presented in this research study. STPV is still important in the development of an emitter technology. STPV classifications based on the types of materials, compositions, dimensions, geometries, and long-term temperature stability are considered. The ability to engineer STPV by controlling one or more of the foregoing physical parameters are useful for researchers. Different types of design and simulation tools are considered. The near future plans are to optimize the efficiency of the emitter and investigate how various layers and different combinations of metamaterials affect such an efficiency by employing a simulation tool such as finite-difference time-domain (FDTD, Lumerical).

Performance Evaluation of a Photovoltaic-Thermal Collector Coupled Stepped Solar Still for Indian Climatic Conditions

Freshwater scarcity is increasing across many parts of the globe; to meet this demand, seawater desalination is the best choice, and the electrical energy consumption is escalating due to urbanization and industrialization. Sustainable production of electricity and freshwater can be met by an integrating photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module with stepped solar still (SSS). The present study focuses on the theoretical modeling of the PVT-SSS desalination system for evaluating thermal efficiency, energy efficiency, freshwater productivity, and electrical power generation. The solar still productivity will be influenced by the depth of water, insulation thickness, glass cover material, thickness and inclination, and operational factors like preheating the input water supply and water salinity. A comparative analysis has been made of summer, winter, and rainy climatic conditions of Vellore town (12.9165° N, 79.1325° E), Tamil Nadu. In the present work, a thermodynamic model based on mass and energy balance is developed for the PVT-SSS system, and it is solved by a numerical method. A Runge-Kutta technique of 4th order is employed using a Python program for solving the thermodynamic simulation model. The results from the model depict that for summer, winter, and rainy climatic seasons, the freshwater productivity of PV/T-SSS was determined to be 12.18 kg/m2day, 6.67 kg/m2day, and 2.77 kg/m2day. Also, it is found that electrical efficiency for summer, winter, and rainy seasons is 8.91%, 9.135%, and 9.53%, respectively. A maximum and minimum freshwater production of 1668 kg/m2 and 1218 kg/m2 are observed for a depth of 2 cm and 5 cm, respectively.

Energy, exergy and ecology performance prediction of a novel SOFC-AMTEC-TEG power system

• A novel triple-cycle power system is proposed. • Energy, exergy and ecology performance are analyzed. • Effectiveness and generic performance characteristics are demonstrated. • There is an optimum thermoelectric element number to optimize performance. In order to realize the cascade utilization of the waste heat for the solid oxide fuel cell, a novel triple-cycle system including a solid oxide fuel cell, an alkali metal thermal electric converter and a thermoelectric generator is proposed. In this system, the alkali metal thermal electric converter powered by the waste heat of the solid oxide fuel cell can drive the thermoelectric generator. The proposed system can efficiently generate electricity in a green and noiseless way, and Thomson effect is considered in the thermoelectric generator model. The results show that improving the number of the thermoelectric generator stages is not conducive to the improvement of the system performance. The maximum power density and ecology function density can result in 42.0% and 53.5% improvement over those of the sole solid oxide fuel cell system, respectively. Further sensitivity analysis confirms that there is an optimum element number of the thermoelectric generator to optimize the performance of the triple-cycle system. This work proves the feasibility of the triple-cycle system, and hints the broad prospect of high-grade heat recovery through an alkali metal thermal electric converter-thermoelectric generator unit.

Solar organic Rankine cycle—Parametric analysis based on exergy vs energy approaches

Solar thermal electricity generation is one of the encouraging technologies for reducing scarcity of electricity worldwide in a renewable and sustainable manner. Solar organic Rankine cycles (SORCs) are sustainable and an eco-friendly means of power production at low- and medium-heat source temperatures. The proposed system includes a parabolic trough collector based solar system, which operates with Therminol VP-1 oil, a two-tank direct thermal energy storage unit, and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operates with a working fluid Toluene. Improvement in efficiencies of components has a cascading benefit in the performance of SORC, operating costs, and payback period. A comparative energy and exergy analysis study is performed to assess the thermodynamic performance of subcritical non-recuperative solar organic Rankine cycle on the basis of heat source temperatures and ORC operating parameters. Iterative procedure is adapted in the analysis to find optimal operating parameters to maximize efficiency. Maximum energetic and exergetic efficiencies of SORC are calculated at various optimal T5 and pevp. Variations of optimal mass flow rate values with respect to time and ηI, ηII with respect to heat source temperatures are plotted. In all, the energy efficiency of the overall system remained almost the same, when the proposed system is operated at the exergy-based vs energy-based optimal operating conditions. However, significant enhancement of 6.61% and 12.42% in exergetic efficiency of ORC and overall system, respectively, are observed when SORC operates at exergy-based optimal operating conditions.