Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão dos ciclos teóricos estudados por outros autores sobre o funcionamento de uma máquina a vapor funcionando como máquina de expansão e propõe um ciclo generalizado para o estudo. Esse ciclo generalizado é equacionado e seus pontos operacionais de otimização são determinados. Ao estudar os ciclos teóricos, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor pode atingir a eficiência isentrópica igual de 100%. Um estudo experimental foi conduzido em uma máquina a vapor, a fim de verificar os fenômenos que ocorrem e que influenciam na sua eficiência, fazendo o funcionamento real se afastar do ciclo teórico. Ao fazer o estudo experimental, verificou-se que a máquina a vapor real utilizada possui baixa eficiência, atingindo um máximo de 10% de eficiência isentrópica. Essa eficiência não é do ciclo e sim do conjunto todo, e é devido a diversos fatores, como, por exemplo, atritos, problemas de lubrificação, imperfeições físicas que provocam o vazamento do fluido de trabalho. Uma simulação computacional é realizada, visando prever o comportamento real da máquina a vapor e comparar com os dados obtidos experimentalmente. Verificando assim se a simulação consegue prever os fenômenos físicos e auxiliar no projeto de uma máquina a vapor. Após analisar os dados simulados, verificou-se que as válvulas possuem grande influência na eficiência isentrópica do ciclo da máquina a vapor. Válvulas de acionamento rápido preveem uma eficiência que pode chegar a 96%, enquanto as válvulas reais provocam uma eficiência de aproximadamente 60% para as mesmas condições de simulação. Uma das principais diferenças entre a simulação e os dados reais é a restrição ao fluxo provocada pelas válvulas, e que exigem coeficientes de descarga específicos para esse tipo de válvula. / This work reviews the theoretical cycles studied by other authors on the operation of a steam engine as an expansion machine and chooses a generalized cycle for the study. This generalized cycle is modeled and the points of optimization are determined. By studying the theoretical cycles, it was found that the steam engine can reach the isentropic efficiency equal to 100%. An experimental study carried out in a steam engine in order to verify the phenomena occurring that influence their effectiveness, moving the actual operation away from the theoretical cycle. By making the experimental study, it was found that the actual steam engine has a low efficiency, reaching a maximum 10% isentropic efficiency. This efficiency is not of the cycle, but of the whole set, and is due to several factors, such as friction problems, lubrication problems, physical imperfections causing leakage of the working fluid. A computer simulation was performed in order to predict the actual behavior of the steam engine and compare with the experimental data. After analyzing the simulated data, it was found that the valves have a great influence on the isentropic efficiency of the steam cycle. Valves operating instantly can reach 96% of isentropic efficiency, while real valves cause an efficiency of approximately 60% for the same simulation conditions. A major difference between the simulation and the actual data is the flow restriction caused by valves, which requires specific discharge coefficients for this type of valve.

In this study, the feasibility of using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in trigeneration plants is examined through thermodynamic modeling and thermoeconomic optimization. Three novel trigeneration systems are considered. Each one of these systems consists of an ORC, a heating-process heat exchanger, and a single-effect absorption chiller. The three systems are distinguished by the source of the heat input to the ORC. The systems considered are SOFC-trigeneration, biomass- trigeneration, and solar-trigeneration systems. For each system four cases are considered: electrical-power, cooling-cogeneration, heating-cogeneration, and trigeneration cases. Comprehensive thermodynamic analysis on each system is carried out. Furthermore, thermoeconomic optimization is conducted. The objective of the thermoeconomic optimization is to minimize the cost per exergy unit of the trigeneration product. The results of the thermoeconomic optimization are used to compare the three systems through thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analyses. This study illustrates key output parameters to assess the trigeneration systems considered. These parameters are energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, net electrical power, electrical to cooling ratio, and electrical to heating ratio. Moreover, exergy destruction modeling is conducted to identify and quantify the major sources of exergy destruction in the systems considered. In addition, an environmental impact assessment is conducted to quantify the amount of CO2 emissions in the systems considered. Furthermore, this study examines both the cost rate and cost per exergy unit of the electrical power and other trigeneration products. This study reveals that there is a considerable efficiency improvement when trigeneration is used, as compared to only electrical power production. In addition, the emissions of CO2 per MWh of trigeneration are significantly lower than that of electrical power. It was shown that the exergy destruction rates of the ORC evaporators for the three systems are quite high. Therefore, it is important to consider using more efficient ORC evaporators in trigeneration plants. In addition, this study reveals that the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest electrical energy efficiency while the biomass-trigeneration system and the solar mode of the solar trigeneration system have the highest trigeneration energy efficiencies. In contrast, the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest exergy efficiency for both electrical and trigeneration cases. Furthermore, the thermoeconomic optimization shows that the solar-trigeneration system has the lowest cost per exergy unit. Meanwhile the solar-trigeneration system has zero CO2 emissions and depends on a free renewable energy source. Therefore, it can be concluded that the solar-trigeneration system has the best thermoeconomic performance among the three systems considered.

Water and energy crises have forced researchers to seek alternative water and energy sources. Seawater desalination can contribute towards meeting the increasing demand for fresh water using alternative energy sources like low-grade heat. Industrial waste heat, geothermal, solar thermal, could help to ease the energy crisis. Unfortunately, the efficiency of the conventional power cycle becomes uneconomically low with low-grade heat sources, while, at the same time, seawater desalination requires more energy than a conventional water treatment process. However, heat discarded from low-grade heat power cycles could be used as part of desalination energy sources with seawater being used as coolant for the power cycles. Therefore a study of desalination using low-grade heat is of great significance. This research has comprehensively reviewed the current literature and proposes two systems that use low-grade heat for desalination applications or even desalination/power cogeneration. The proposed two cogeneration systems are a supercritical Rankine cycle-type coupled with a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane desalination process, and a power cycle with an ejector coupled with a multi-effect distillation desalination system. The first configuration provides the advantages of making full use of heat sources and is suitable for hybrid systems. The second system has several advantages, such as handling highly concentrated brine without external electricity input as well as the potential of water/power cogeneration when it is not used to treat concentrated brine. Compared to different stand-alone power cycles, the proposed systems could use seawater as coolant to reject low-grade heat from the power cycle to reduce thermal pollution.

In this study, the feasibility of using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in trigeneration plants is examined through thermodynamic modeling and thermoeconomic optimization. Three novel trigeneration systems are considered. Each one of these systems consists of an ORC, a heating-process heat exchanger, and a single-effect absorption chiller. The three systems are distinguished by the source of the heat input to the ORC. The systems considered are SOFC-trigeneration, biomass- trigeneration, and solar-trigeneration systems. For each system four cases are considered: electrical-power, cooling-cogeneration, heating-cogeneration, and trigeneration cases. Comprehensive thermodynamic analysis on each system is carried out. Furthermore, thermoeconomic optimization is conducted. The objective of the thermoeconomic optimization is to minimize the cost per exergy unit of the trigeneration product. The results of the thermoeconomic optimization are used to compare the three systems through thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analyses. This study illustrates key output parameters to assess the trigeneration systems considered. These parameters are energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, net electrical power, electrical to cooling ratio, and electrical to heating ratio. Moreover, exergy destruction modeling is conducted to identify and quantify the major sources of exergy destruction in the systems considered. In addition, an environmental impact assessment is conducted to quantify the amount of CO2 emissions in the systems considered. Furthermore, this study examines both the cost rate and cost per exergy unit of the electrical power and other trigeneration products. This study reveals that there is a considerable efficiency improvement when trigeneration is used, as compared to only electrical power production. In addition, the emissions of CO2 per MWh of trigeneration are significantly lower than that of electrical power. It was shown that the exergy destruction rates of the ORC evaporators for the three systems are quite high. Therefore, it is important to consider using more efficient ORC evaporators in trigeneration plants. In addition, this study reveals that the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest electrical energy efficiency while the biomass-trigeneration system and the solar mode of the solar trigeneration system have the highest trigeneration energy efficiencies. In contrast, the SOFC-trigeneration system has the highest exergy efficiency for both electrical and trigeneration cases. Furthermore, the thermoeconomic optimization shows that the solar-trigeneration system has the lowest cost per exergy unit. Meanwhile the solar-trigeneration system has zero CO2 emissions and depends on a free renewable energy source. Therefore, it can be concluded that the solar-trigeneration system has the best thermoeconomic performance among the three systems considered.

A turbine was investigated by various methods of calculating its efficiency. The project was based on an existing impulse turbine, a one-stage turbine set in an organic Rankine cycle with the working fluid being R245fa. Various methods of loss calculation were explored in the search for a method sufficiently accurate to make valid assumptions regarding the turbine performance, while simple enough to be time efficient for use in industrial research and development.  The calculations were primarily made in an isentropic manner, only taking into account losses due to the residual velocity present in the exit flow. Later, an incidence loss was incorporated in the isentropic calculations, resulting in additional losses at off-design conditions. Leaving the isentropic calculations, the work by Tournier, “Axial flow, multi-stage turbine and compressor models” was used. The work presents a method of calculating turbine losses separated into four components: profile, trailing edge, tip clearance and secondary losses. The losses applicable to the case were implemented into the model. Since the flow conditions of the present turbine are extreme, the results were not expected to coincide with the results of Tournier. In order to remedy this problem, the results were compared to results obtained through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the turbine. The equations purposed by Tournier were correlated in order to better match the present case. Despite that the equations by Tournier were correlated in order to adjust to the current conditions, the results of the losses calculated through the equations did not obtain results comparable to the ones of the available CFD simulations. More research within the subject is necessary, preferably using other software tools.

[pt] A presente dissertação trata do estudo de sistemas de potência baseados em ciclos Rankine orgânicos (ORC – Organic Rankine Cycle) acionados por energia térmica de rejeito. O objetivo é descrever mediante a simulação numérica um ciclo Rankine orgânico, dimensionar os trocadores de calor para o ciclo proposto e aplicar o conceito para sistemas de trigeração. Um modelo termodinâmico simples é apresentado, relacionando as características termodinâmicas do ciclo Rankine orgânico àquelas da corrente com rejeito térmico (como, por exemplo, vazão mássica, capacidade térmica e temperaturas de operação). A seguir, o método de multi-zonas, ou de fronteira móvel, é aplicado aos trocadores de calor do ciclo, condensador e caldeira, para dimensioná-los às condições do efluente de rejeito térmico. Na escolha do tipo de trocador de calor para a caldeira, é feita a distinção quanto à natureza do efluente, se gasoso ou líquido. No primeiro caso empregam-se trocadores de tubo e aleta e, no segundo, trocadores de placas. A solução numérica do sistema de equações algebraicas e obtida através de um programa computacional escrito em FORTRAN. São também estudados novos fluidos de trabalho de menor impacto ambiental e os resultados apresentados fazem uma comparação com fluidos de uso tradicional. As propriedades termodinâmicas e de transporte dos fluidos considerados foram obtidas usando o programa REFPROP 9.0 do NIST. Finalmente, o conceito do ciclo Rankine orgânico é aplicado a sistemas de trigeração, caracterizados pela produção simultânea de eletricidade, aquecimento e refrigeração. / [en] The present dissertation addresses the study of power generation systems based on organic Rankine cycles (ORC) driven by waste thermal energy (heat). A simple thermodynamic model is presented, relating the thermodynamic characteristics of the organic Rankine cycle to those of the waste heat flow (for instance: mass flow, thermal capacity and operation temperatures). Furthermore, the multi-zone, or movable boundary method is applied to the heat exchangers of the cycle, boiler and condenser, in order to size them for the waste heat flow conditions. In choosing the type of heat exchanger for the boiler, the distinction is made on the nature of the waste heat, either gaseous or liquid. New working fluids for the cycle, of less environmental impact, are studied. For the first case, tube and fin heat exchangers are considered, and in the second, plate heat exchangers. Finally, the concept of the organic Rankine cycle is applied to trigeneration systems, characterized by the simultaneous production of electricity, heating and cooling.

Ce travail traite la modélisation et l'optimisation des centrales solaires thermodynamiques à concentration produisant de l'électricité pour l'électrification des zones rurales isolées et mal raccordées au réseau électrique. D’abord, un modèle optique et thermique détaillé des concentrateurs solaires cylindro-paraboliques est présenté permettant l'identification de capteurs existants et la création de corrélations qui peuvent être injectées dans un modèle plus global. Dans un second temps, un modèle original d'un stock de chaleur stratifié de type « lit de roche » est développé. Le nouveau modèle proposé permet de déterminer analytiquement le profil de température dans le stock à n'importe quel instant dans le cas d'une température d'entrée régulée. Ensuite, deux alternatives de bloc moteur sont modélisées : le moteur Stirling et le Cycle Organique de Rankine (ORC acronyme anglais pour Organic Rankine Cycle). Concernant le moteur Stirling, une revue critique des modèles existants a été effectuée. Certains de ces modèles ont été implémentés et complétés par des modèles originaux des pertes par fuite de matière et par effet navette. Le cycle organique de Rankine, lui, est modélisé par un modèle orientée vers l'optimisation. Enfin, une optimisation mono et multicritère d’une centrale solaire est effectuée. La configuration étudiée est équipée d’un stock de chaleur et d’une chaudière d’appoint. Elle est optimisée selon trois critères : le coût moyen actualisé de l'électricité (LCOE acronyme anglais pour Levelized Cost Of Electricity), le rendement énergétique de la centrale et la quantité de CO2 émise par Kilowatt heure d'électricité produite / This work deals with the modelling and the optimization of thermodynamic solar power plants intended to supply electricity to isolated locations. Firstly, a state of the art of solar collectors is achieved and a model for parabolic trough collectors is proposed. This model is used for actual collectors identification. It is used also to propose correlations to be introduced in the whole system model. In a second time, a state of the art of energy storage technologies is conducted and an original model of a packed bed storage tank is proposed. This model gives an explicit solution of the temperature inside the tank without using a time step based numerical resolution. Two alternatives for the power block are given: Stirling engines and Organic Rankine Cycles. For Stirling engines, a critical review of existing models is performed. Some losses occurring in Stirling engines are not well documented in the literature as leakage losses at the power piston and displacer gap losses. Therefore, original models are proposed to estimate these losses. When compared to former models in the literature, the new model of the displacer gap losses demonstrates clearly that it is very important to use decoupled models with caution. Concerning the ORC, an optimization-oriented model is proposed. Finally, a mono and multi-objective optimization of a solar power plant is performed. The optimized system is composed of a solar field, a packed bed heat storage, a power block and an auxiliary fired heater. Objective functions used in this study are: the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), the energetic efficiency of the power plant and CO2 emission per kilowatt hour of electricity

Dans le contexte économique et énergétique actuel, la mise en œuvre de technologies à l'aide de l'énergie renouvelable comme source de chauffage offre un double avantage: la réduction de la pollution et des coûts de carburant. Il y a un besoin de promouvoir les sources renouvelables d'énergie comme les sources significatives de production d'énergie pour les systèmes décentralisés. Une première étude bibliographique a été fait sur les technologies existantes pour la production d'énergie électrique à partir du solaire. Cette étude consiste dans la recherche d’une nouvelle solution de conversion de l’énergie solaire pour la production d’électricité de faible puissance. L'un des objectifs de cette thèse a été la construction d'un moteur Stirling de type gamma fonctionnant à basse différence de température, adapté à un circuit solaire (capteur plan). Le moteur Stirling a été testé en vue de comparer les résultats expérimentales avec les résultats d’un model Schmidt, fait dans le logiciel, Matlab. Un autre cycle thermodynamique étais étudie dans cette travail, le Cycle Organique Rankine (ORC). Un modèle mathématique a été développé et vérifie dans les logiciels, Thermoptim et EES (Engineering Equation Solver) avec les résultats expérimentaux pour étudier les performances d'installation avec des différentes températures de fonctionnement. La méthode exergétique et la méthode du Pincement sont utilisée pour évaluer les performances du système comme irréversibilité, destruction d’exergie et phénomènes qui se produisent dans toutes les composantes du système ORC pour améliorer son fonctionnement. / In the current economic and energy context, implementation of technologies using renewable energy as heat source has two advantages: reducing pollution and fuel costs. There is a need to promote renewable energy sources such as significant sources of power generation for decentralized systems. In the first part, it was made a literature review on existing technologies for the production of electricity with solar energy. One of the objectives of this thesis was to build a Stirling engine gamma type suitable to use solar energy (flat plate collator). The Stirling engine was tested to compare the experimental results with the results of Schmidt model, realized in the software, Matlab. Another thermodynamic cycle was studied in this work, the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). A mathematical model was developed and verified in software, Thermoptim and EES (Engineering Equation Solver) with experimental results to study the installation performance function of different operating temperatures. The entire system and each subsystem are analyzed according to the first and the second law of thermodynamics. The exergy method and Pinch analysis are used to evaluate the performance of the system like irreversibility and exergy destruction, phenomenon that occurs in all components of the ORC system. This analysis is to improve the operation.

Master thesis deals with the utilization of waste heat from Nova Mosilana company. Theoretical part of this work is focused on the waste heat description (heat, heat quantity, heat temperature/quality, composition of waste stream) in which a considerable energy potential is hidden. The other parts describe waste heat technology, especially heat pumps, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and system absorption cooling. Some of the technologies described in the theoretical part are used in the design of the more efficient existing waste heat utilization, especifically power and cold production.

The aim of this diploma work is the study and the modeling of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). Organic Rankine Cycle is used for heat recovery from low-potential heat sources. Their working fluid is a refrigerant or a hydrocarbon whose properties are adapted to the conditions in which the heat recovery is performed. The other chapters include the technical resolution of exhaust-heat exchanger of cogeneration unit for application ORC and partially economic study use in Czech Republic.