Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamic model of supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle waste heat recovery system for internal combustion engine

  • Published:
International Journal of Automotive Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) for the Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) from Internal Combustion (IC) engines has been a growing research area in recent years, driven by the aim to enhance the thermal efficiency of the ORC and engine. Simulation of a supercritical ORC-WHR system before a real-time application is important as high pressure in the system may lead to concerns about safety and availability of components. In the ORC-WHR system, the evaporator is the main contributor to thermal inertia of the system and is considered to be the critical component since the heat transfer of this device influences the efficiency of the system. Since the thermo-physical properties of the fluid at supercritical pressures are dependent on temperature, it is necessary to consider the variations in properties of the working fluid. The wellknown Finite Volume (FV) discretization method is generally used to take those property changes into account. However, a FV model of the evaporator in steady state condition cannot be used to predict the thermal inertia of the cycle when it is subjected to transient heat sources. In this paper, a dynamic FV model of the evaporator has been developed and integrated with other components in the ORC-WHR system. The stability and transient responses along with the performance of the ORC-WHR system for the transient heat source are investigated and are also included in this paper.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A:

heat transfer area, m2

Cp :

specific heat capacity, kJ/kg.K

D:

hydraulic diameter, m

H:

specific enthalpy, kJ/kg

h:

heat transfer coefficient, kW/m2K

K:

thermal conductivity, kW/m.K

L:

plate length, m

m:

mass, kg

ṁ:

mass flow rate, kg/s

Np :

rotational speed, RPM

N:

number of segments

n:

number of plates

Nu:

Nusselt number

P:

pressure, kPa

Pr:

Prandtl number

Q:

heat transfer rate, kW

Re:

Reynolds number

T:

temperature, K

V:

volume, m3 or velocity, m/s

W:

power output, kW

w:

plate width, m or specific work, kW/kg

µ:

dynamic viscosity, Pa.s

ρ:

density, kg/m3

η:

efficiency

ν:

specific volume,m3/kg

ac:

accumulator

b:

bulk

cy:

cycle

con:

condenser

ev:

evaporator

exp:

expander

h:

heat source

hr:

heat recovery

i:

inlet

isen:

isentropic

j:

segments notation

l:

liquid

o:

outlet

p:

pump

pc:

pseudo-critical

r:

refrigerant

ref:

reference

w:

wall

FV:

finite volume

IC:

internal combustion

NIST:

national institute of standards and technology

ORC:

organic rankine cycle

PCM:

phase change material

RPM:

revolutions per minute

TEG:

thermoelectric generator

WHR:

waste heat recovery

References

  • Bamgbopa, M. O. and Uzgoren, E. (2013). Numerical analysis of an organic Rankine cycle under steady and variable heat input. Applied Energy, 107, 219–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boretti, A. (2012). Recovery of exhaust and coolant heat with R245fa organic Rankine cycles in a hybrid passenger car with a naturally aspirated gasoline engine. Applied Thermal Engineering, 36, 73–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C., Chang, F., Chao, T., Chen, H. and Lee, J. (2014). Heat-exchanger network synthesis involving organic rankine cycle for waste heat recovery. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 53, 44, 16924–16936.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Goswami, D. Y., Rahman, M. M. and Stefanakos, E. K. (2011). A supercritical Rankine cycle using zeotropic mixture working fluids for the conversion of low-grade heat into power. Energy 36, 1, 549–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Goswami, D. Y. and Stefanakos, E. K. (2010). A review of thermodynamic cycles and working fluids for the conversion of low-grade heat. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14, 9, 3059–3067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury, J. I., Nguyen, B. K. and Thornhill, D. (2015a). Modelling of evaporator in waste heat recovery system using finite volume method and fuzzy technique. Energies 8, 12, 14078–14097.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury, J. I., Nguyen, B. K. and Thornhill, D. (2015b). Modelling of organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery process in supercritical condition. Int. J. Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, Mechatronic and Manufacturing Engineering, 9, 453–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feru, E., Willems, F., de Jager, A. and Steinbuch, M. (2014). Modeling and control of a parallel waste heat recovery system for Euro-VI heavy-duty diesel engines. Energies 7, 10, 6571–6592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, H., Liu, C., He, C., Xu, X., Wu, S. and Li, Y. (2012). Performance analysis and working fluid selection of a supercritical organic rankine cycle for low grade waste heat recovery. Energies 2012, 5, 3233–3247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GEA Heat Exchangers (2014). http://www.gea-phe.com/usa

  • Glover, S., Douglas, R., Glover, L., McCullough, G. and McKenna, S. (2015a). Automotive waste heat recovery: Working fluid selection and related boundary conditions. Int. J. Automotive Technology 16, 3, 399–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glover, S., Douglas, R., De Rosa, M., Zhang, X. and Glover, L. (2015b). Simulation of a multiple heat source supercritical ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) for vehicle waste heat recovery. Energy 93, 2, 1568–1580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glover, S., Douglas, R., Glover, L. and McCullough, G. (2014). Preliminary analysis of organic Rankine cycles to improve vehicle efficiency. Proc. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: J. Automobile Engineering 228, 10, 1142–1153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, G., Sun, R., Hu, G. and Zhang, J. (2011). Supervisory predictive control of evaporator in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system for waste heat recovery. Int. Conf. Advanced Mechatronic Systems, 1, 306–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horst, T. A., Tegethoff, W., Eilts, P. and Koehler, J. (2014). Prediction of dynamic Rankine Cycle waste heat recovery performance and fuel saving potential in passenger car applications considering interactions with vehicles’ energy management. Energy Conversion and Management, 78, 438–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hydra-Cell Industrial Pumps (2015). Installation and Service Manual. Wanner Engineering, Inc. http://www.hydracell. com/product/D03-hydracell-pump.html

    Google Scholar 

  • Imran, M., Park, B., Kim, H., Lee, D. and Usman, M. (2015). Economic assessment of greenhouse gas reduction through low-grade waste heat recovery using organic Rankine cycle (ORC). J. Mechanical Science and Technology 29, 2, 835–843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Energy Statistics (2016). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=44&pid=44&aid=2

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. D. and Hall, W. B. (1979a). Forced convection heat transfer to fluids at supercritical pressure. Turbulent Forced Convection in Channels and Bundles, S. Kakac and D. B. Spalding, Eds. Hemisphere, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. D. and Hall, W. B. (1979b). Influences of buoyancy on heat transfer to fluids flowing in vertical tubes under turbulent conditions. Turbulent Forced Convection in Channels and Bundles, S. Kakac and D. B. Spalding, Eds. Hemisphere, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, M. T. and Söderström, M. (2014). Electricity generation from low-temperature industrial excess heat-An opportunity for the steel industry. Energy Efficiency 7, 2, 203–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karellas, S., Schuster, A. and Leontaritis, A. (2012). Influence of supercritical ORC parameters on plate heat exchanger design. Applied Thermal Engineering, 33-34, 70–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmon, E. W., Huber, M. L. and McLinden, M. O. (2010). NIST Standard Reference Database 23: Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties-REFPROP, Ver. 9.0. National Institute of Standards and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molina-Thierry, D. P. and Flores-Tlacuahuac, A. (2015). Simultaneous optimal design of organic mixtures and rankine cycles for low-temperature energy recovery. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 54, 13, 3367–3383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palma-Flores, O., Flores-Tlacuahuac, A. and Canseco-Melchor, G. (2015). Optimal molecular design of working fluids for sustainable low-temperature energy recovery. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 72, 334–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quoilin, S., Aumann, R., Grill, A., Schuster, A., Lemort, V. and Spliethoff, H. (2011). Dynamic modeling and optimal control strategy of waste heat recovery Organic Rankine Cycles. Applied Energy 88, 6, 2183–2190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quoilin, S., Lemort, V. and Lebrun, J. (2010). Experimental study and modeling of an Organic Rankine Cycle using scroll expander. Applied Energy 87, 4, 1260–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saleh, B., Koglbauer, G., Wendland, M. and Fischer, J. (2007). Working fluids for low-temperature organic Rankine cycles. Energy 32, 7, 1210–1221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster, A., Karellas, S. and Aumann, R. (2010). Efficiency optimization potential in supercritical Organic Rankine Cycles. Energy 35, 2, 1033–1039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharabi, M., Ambrosini, W., He, S. and Jackson, J. D. (2008). Prediction of turbulent convective heat transfer to a fluid at supercritical pressure in square and triangular channels. Annals of Nuclear Energy 35, 6, 993–1005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shu, G., Yu, G., Tian, H., Wei, H. and Liang, X. (2014). A Multi-Approach Evaluation System (MA-ES) of Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) used in waste heat utilization. Applied Energy, 132, 325–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J. and Li, W. (2011). Operation optimization of an organic rankine cycle (ORC) heat recovery power plant. Applied Thermal Engineering 31, 11-12, 2032–2041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thulukkanam, K. (2013). Heat Exchnager Design Handbook. 2nd edn. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian, H., Shu, G., Wei, H., Liang, X. and Liu, L. (2012). Fluids and parameters optimization for the organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) used in exhaust heat recovery of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Energy 47, 1, 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. Q., Zhou, N. J., Guo, J. and Wang, X. Y. (2012). Fluid selection and parametric optimization of organic Rankine cycle using low temperature waste heat. Energy 40, 1, 107–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. G., Wang, E. H. and Fan, B. Y. (2013). Heat transfer analysis of a finned-tube evaporator for engine exhaust heat recovery. Energy Conversion and Management, 65, 438–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., Zhang, W., Hou, G. and Fang, F. (2012). Dynamic modeling and multivariable control of organic Rankine cycles in waste heat utilizing processes. Computers & Mathematics with Applications 64, 5, 908–921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., Zhou, Y., Wang, R., Xu, J. and Fang, F. (2014). Modeling and constrained multivariable predictive control for ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) based waste heat energy conversion systems. Energy, 66, 128–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK

    Jahedul Islam Chowdhury, Bao Kha Nguyen & David Thornhill

Authors
  1. Jahedul Islam Chowdhury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bao Kha Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Thornhill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bao Kha Nguyen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chowdhury, J.I., Nguyen, B.K. & Thornhill, D. Dynamic model of supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle waste heat recovery system for internal combustion engine. Int.J Automot. Technol. 18, 589–601 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-017-0059-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-017-0059-8

Key words

Search

Navigation