Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A thermodynamic study of waste heat recovery from GT-MHR using organic Rankine cycles

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Heat and Mass Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation on the utilization of waste heat from a gas turbine-modular helium reactor (GT-MHR) using different arrangements of organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) for power production. The considered organic Rankine cycles were: simple organic Rankine cycle (SORC), ORC with internal heat exchanger (HORC) and regenerative organic Rankine cycle (RORC). The performances of the combined cycles were studied from the point of view of first and second-laws of thermodynamics. Individual models were developed for each component and the effects of some important parameters such as compressor pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature, and evaporator and environment temperatures on the efficiencies and on the exergy destruction rate were studied. Finally the combined cycles were optimized thermodynamically using the EES (Engineering Equation Solver) software. Based on the identical operating conditions for the GT-MHR cycle, a comparison between the three combined cycles and a simple GT-MHR cycle is also were made. This comparison was also carried out from the point of view of economics. The GT-MHR/SORC combined cycle proved to be the best among all the cycles from the point of view of both thermodynamics and economics. The efficiency of this cycle was about 10% higher than that of GT-MHR alone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Abbreviations

cond:

Condenser

c:

Compressor

C:

Fluid capacity (kJ/kg K)

CoE:

Cost of electricity ($/MWh)

\( {\dot{\text E}} \) :

Exergy rate (kW)

GT:

Gas turbine

h:

Specific enthalpy (kJ/kg)

Hp:

High pressure

HORC:

Organic Rankine cycle with internal heat exchanger

i:

Discant rate, –

IC:

Intercooler

IHE:

Internal heat exchanger

Lp:

Low pressure

MED:

Multiple effect distillation

MHR:

Modular helium cooled reactor

\( {\dot{\text m}} \) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

N:

Life time (year)

OFOH:

Open feed-organic fluid

ORC:

Organic Rankine cycle

P:

Pressure (kPa)

PEC:

Purchased-equipment cost

PBMR:

Pellet bed modular reactor

q:

Specific heat rate (kJ/kg)

\( {\dot{\text Q}} \) :

Heat transfer rate (kW)

R:

Ideal gas constant (kJ/kg K)

RORC:

Regenerative organic Rankine cycle

s:

Specific entropy (kJ/kg k)

SORC:

Simple organic Rankine cycle

T:

Temperature (°C)

TCI:

Total capital investment ($)

Te:

Evaporative temperature (°C)

Teq :

Operating hours (h)

\( {\bar{\text T}} \) :

Thermodynamic mean temperature (K)

uvar :

Variable O&M cost ($/MWh)

Ufixed :

Fixed O&M cost ($)

v:

Specific volume (m3/kg)

\( {\dot{\text w}} \) :

Power generation (kW)

x:

Quality (%)

Y:

Exergy destruction ratio

YF :

Fuel cost ($/MWh)

ηI :

First-law efficiency (%)

ηII :

Second-law efficiency (%)

ηP :

Polytropic efficiency (%)

ɛ:

Effectiveness (%)

ΔPcore :

P7 − P1 (kPa)

ΔPE :

P3 − P4 (kPa)

ΔPPre :

P4 − P5 (kPa)

ΔPrec,HP :

P6 − P7 (kPa)

ΔPrec,LP :

P2 − P3 (kPa)

ΔTE :

Minimum temperature difference in evaporator (Tpp = Te + ΔTE) (K)

ΔTsup :

Superheat degree in ORC turbine inlet (T10 = Te + ΔTsup) (K)

0:

Dead state

1, 2, 3, …..:

Cycle locations

c:

Condenser

CW:

Cooling water

D:

Destruction

E:

Evaporator

H:

High

I:

First law

II:

Second law

L:

Low

p:

Pump

pc:

Pre-cooler

pp:

Pinch point

rec:

Recuperator

s:

Isentropic

sup:

Superheating

T:

Turbine

th:

Thermal

References

  1. El-Genk MS, Tournier J-M (2008) On the use of noble gases and binary mixtures as reactor coolants and CBC working fluids. Energy Convers Manage 49:1882–1891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. El-Genk MS, Tournier J-M (2008) Noble gas binary mixtures for gas-cooled reactor power plants. Nucl Eng Des/Fusion 238:1353–1372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tournier J-M, El-Genk MS (2008) Properties of noble gases and binary mixtures for closed Brayton Cycle applications. Energy Convers Manage 49:469–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dardoura S, Nisan S, Charbit F (2007) Utilization of waste heat from GT-MHR and PBMR reactors for nuclear desalination. Desalination 205:254–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yari M, Mahmoudi SMS (2010) Utilization of waste heat from GT-MHR for power generation in organic Rankine cycles. Appl Therm Eng 30:366–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yari M (2009) Waste heat recovery from closed Brayton cycle using organic Rankine cycle: thermodynamic analysis. In: Proceedings of ASME turbo expo 2009 power for land, sea and air, World Marriott Resort, Orlando, FL USA, 8–12 June 2009

  7. Bruno JC, Lo′pez-Villad J, Letelier E, Romera S, Coronas A (2008) Modeling and optimization of solar organic rankine cycle engines for reverse osmosis desalination. Appl Therm Eng 28:2212–2226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Drescher U, Bruggemann D (2007) Fluid selection for the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in biomass power and heat plants. Appl Therm Eng 27:223–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kanoglu M, Bolatturk A (2008) Performance and parametric investigation of a binary geothermal power plant by exergy. Renew Energy 33:2366–2374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yari M, Zarin A, Shaker H (2008) Exergetic performance comparison of various type geothermal power plants. In: Proceedings of global conference on global warming, GCGW08, Istanbul, Turkey, 6–10 July 2008

  11. Invernizzi C, Iora P, Silva P (2007) Bottoming micro-Rankine cycles for micro-gas turbines. Appl Therm Eng 27:100–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yari M (2008) Thermodynamic study of the micro-turbine/regenerative Rankine cycle. In: Proceedings of 21st international conference on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy systems, ECOS 2008, Krakow, Poland, 24–27 June 2008

  13. Srinivasan KK, Mago PJ, Zdaniuk GJ, Chamra LM, Midkiff KC (2008) Improving the efficiency of the advanced injection low pilot ignited natural gas engine using organic Rankine cycles. J Energy Resour Technol 130:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Verda V (2008) Solid oxide fuel cell system configurations for distributed generation. J Fuel Cell Sci Technol 5:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Schuster A, Karellas S, Kakaras E, Spliethoff H (2009) Energetic and economic investigation of organic Rankine cycle applications. Appl Therm Eng 29:1809–1817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Vaja I, Gambarotta A (2010) Internal combustion engine (ICE) bottoming with organic Rankine cycles (ORCs). Energy 35:1084–1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bombarda P, Invernizzi CM, Pietra C (2010) Heat recovery from diesel engines: a thermodynamic comparison between Kalina and ORC cycles. Appl Therm Eng 30:212–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kosmadakis G, Manolakos D, Papadakis G (2010) Parametric theoretical study of a two-stage solar organic Rankine cycle for RO desalination. Renew Energy 35:989–996

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Al-Sulaiman FA, Dincer I, Hamdullahpur F (2010) Exergy analysis of an integrated solid oxide fuel cell and organic Rankine cycle for cooling, heating and power production. J Power Sources 195:2346–2354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang XD, Zhao L, Wang JL, Zhang WZ, Zhao XZ, Wu W (2010) Performance evaluation of a low-temperature solar Rankine cycle system utilizing R245fa. Sol Energy 84:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yari M (2009) Performance analysis of the different organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) using dry fluids. Int J Exergy 6(3):323–342

    Google Scholar 

  22. Yari M (2010) Exergetic analysis of various types of geothermal power plants. Renew Energy 35:112–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mago PJ, Chamra LM, Somayaji C (2007) Performance analysis of different working fluids for use in organic Rankine cycles. Proc Imeche A J Power Energy 221:255–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Saleh B, Koglbauer G, Wendland M, Fischer J (2007) Working fluids for low-temperature organic Rankine cycles. Energy 32:1210–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Dai Y, Wang J, Gao L (2009) Parametric optimization and comparative study of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for low grade waste heat recovery. Energy Convers Manage 50:576–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Tchanche BF, Lambrinos G, Frangoudakis A, Papadakis G (2010) Exergy analysis of micro-organic Rankine power cycles for a small scale solar driven reverse osmosis desalination system. Appl Energy 87:1295–1306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mago PJ, Chamra LM, Srinivasan K, Somayaji C (2008) An examination of regenerative organic Rankine cycles using dry fluids. Appl Therm Eng 28:998–1007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Mohanraj M, Jayaraj S, Muraleedharan C (2009) Environment friendly alternatives to halogenated refrigerants—a review. Int J Greenhouse Gas Control 3:108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Klein S, Alvarda F (2007) Engineering Equation Solver (EES). F-chart software, Middleton

    Google Scholar 

  30. Dincer I, Rosen MA (2007) Exergy: energy. environment and sustainable development, Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  31. Sayyaadi H, Sabzaligol T (2009) Various approaches in optimization of a typical pressurized water reactor power plant. Appl Energy 86:1301–1310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Sayyaadi H, Sabzaligol T (2009) Exergoeconomic optimization of a 1000 MW light water reactor power generation system. Int J Energy Res 33:378–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. El-Genk MS, Tournier J-M (2009) Performance analyses of VHTR plants with direct and indirect closed Brayton cycles and different working fluids. Prog Nucl Energy 51:556–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Baxi CB, Shenoy A, Kostin VI, Kodochigov NG, Vasyaev AV, Belov SE, Golovko VF (2008) Evaluation of alternate power conversion unit designs for the GT-MHR. Nucl Eng Des/Fusion 238:2995–3001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Chen F, Dong Y, Zhang Z, Zheng Y, Shi L, Hu S (2009) Post-test analysis of helium circulator trip without scram at 3 MW power level on the HTR-10. Nucl Eng Des/Fusion 239:1010–1018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Herranz LE, Linares JI, Moratilla BY (2009) Power cycle assessment of nuclear high temperature gas-cooled reactors. Appl Therm Eng 29:1759–1765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Kehlhofer R, Bachmann R, Nielsen H, Warner J (1999) Combined-cycle gas and steam turbine power plants, Second edition. PennEwll Publishing Company, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  38. Horlock JH (2003) Advanced gas turbine cycles. Elsevier Science, New York

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bejan A, Tsatsaronis G, Moran M (1996) Thermal design and optimization. Wiley, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  40. Jonsson M (2003) Advanced power cycles with mixtures as the working fluid, Stockholm, Sweden: Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Division of Energy Processes, Royal Institute of Technology. Doctoral Thesis. ISRN KTH/KET/R–173–SE

  41. Bartlett M (2002) Developing humidified gas turbine cycles. Doctoral Thesis, Dept. Chem. Eng. Tech., Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. ISSN 1104-3466

  42. Nisan S, Dardoura S (2007) Economic evaluation of nuclear desalination systems. Desalination 205:231–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Darwish MA, Al Awadhi FM, Bin Amer AO (2010) Combining the nuclear power plant steam cycle with gas turbines. Energy. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2010.04.031

  44. Ishiyama S, Muto Y, Kato Y, Nishio S, Hayashi T, Nomoto Y (2008) Study of steam, helium and supercritical CO2 turbine power generations in prototype fusion power reactor. Prog Nucl Energy 50:325–332

    Google Scholar 

  45. Chacartegui R, Sunchez D, Muoz JM, Sunchez T (2009) Alternative ORC bottoming cycles FOR combined cycle power plants. Appl Energy 86:2162–2170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Hance CN (2005) Factors affecting costs of geothermal power development. Geothermal Energy Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, 179, Ardabil, Iran

    Mortaza Yari

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    S. M. S. Mahmoudi

Authors
  1. Mortaza Yari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. M. S. Mahmoudi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mortaza Yari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yari, M., Mahmoudi, S.M.S. A thermodynamic study of waste heat recovery from GT-MHR using organic Rankine cycles. Heat Mass Transfer 47, 181–196 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-010-0698-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-010-0698-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation