Development of a 1000 W organic Rankine cycle micro-turbine-generator using polymeric structural materials and its performance test with compressed air

Hernandez-Carrillo, Isaias; Wood, Christopher; Liu, Hao

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental advances on the implementation of structural polymeric materials in a micro-turbine-generator for an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and through testing provides an insight of its performance. The aim is to create awareness of the huge techno-economical potential that polymers represent as metal replacement in ORC applications. A micro-turbine-generator is developed considering R245fa as the working fluid. The unit is built using polymeric components; these components include an impeller made from polyether-ether-ketone and a nozzle body made from polyethylene. A program for the simulation of the micro-turbine performance is developed, a series of tests are conducted with compressed air and the performance with R245fa is predicted. The impeller was experimentally demonstrated to be able to withstand a rotational speed of 32,040 rpm whereas the predicted results showed the aerodynamic efficiency and the aerodynamic power to be around 0.65 and 1200 W respectively. The future of polymeric materials in ORC looks promising though a long-term test using the refrigerant as the working fluid is still needed to verify material-fluid compatibility, lifespan and resistance to fatigue.

Citation

Hernandez-Carrillo, I., Wood, C., & Liu, H. (2019). Development of a 1000 W organic Rankine cycle micro-turbine-generator using polymeric structural materials and its performance test with compressed air. Energy Conversion and Management, 190, 105-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.03.092

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 30, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 6, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 15, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 30, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 7, 2020
• Journal: Energy Conversion and Management
• Print ISSN: 0196-8904
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 190
• Pages: 105-120
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.03.092
• Keywords: Organic Rankine cycle; Micro-turbine performance; Waste heat recovery; CHP; Polymer materials
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1864758
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890419303978?via%3Dihub