Experimental analysis of a pilot plant in Organic Rankine Cycle configuration with regenerator and thermal energy storage (TES-RORC)

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2024-11, Vol.308, p.132964, Article 132964
• Main Authors: Guerron, Gonzalo, Nicolalde, Juan Francisco, Martínez-Gómez, Javier, Dávila, Paúl, Velásquez, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: combustion; heat; Novec 649; Organic Rankine cycle; Phase change material; phase transition; power generation; prototypes; temperature; thermal energy; Thermal energy storage
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132964

Applying thermal energy storage in a Regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle system is a possible combination of energy storage for renewable and waste energy sources. This research presents an experimental analysis of a regenerative organic Rankine cycle pilot plant, incorporating a thermal energy storage chamber based on a phase change materials to obtain thermal inertia in the system. The primary heat source is the residual heat of combustion gases at a temperature of approximately 320 °C coming from a generating set that operates within a thermal power generation plant. The prototype uses a twin-screw expander modified to work as a turbine. Novec 649 was used as the working fluid which is an organic compound. The experimental evaluation of the regenerative organic Rankine cycle with thermal energy storage has been carried out through energy and exergetic efficiency analysis to verify the operation of the pilot plant. Values of 13.2 % were obtained for the exergetic efficiency and 2.67 % for the global efficiency of the cycle, with a maximum expander work of 11.8 kW. It was demonstrated that the thermal energy storage system provides energy in response to the plant's operating inertia for 17.5 min, sufficient time for the gradual shutdown of the plant equipment, maintaining the working power of the regenerative organic Rankine cycle. •Use of Waste heat recovery in a Thermal Energy Storage for thermal maintenance for operating inertia.•Phase Change Material 54 % KNO3 and 46 % NaNO3 applied in a heat storage chamber.•Design and experimental viability to implementation of a TES-RORC prototype.•Energy and exergetic analysis of a TES-RORC plant with experimental exploitation data.•A time of 17.5 min was experimentally obtained for an operating inertia with TES.