Low temperature power cycles
- Low temperature power cycles (text version)
Schematic of an organic Rankine cycle which uses a pump, heater, turbine and cooler to convert heat into electricity. Applications include waste heat recovery, solar thermal and geothermal.
The aim is to enhance the development of power cycles that can convert low-temperature heat from the sun, underground or from industrial processes into net-zero electricity.” Dr Martin White
Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
The use of a refrigerant in place of steam in the traditional Rankine cycle enables more efficient conversion of low-temperature heat into electricity. This technology, referred to as the organic Rankine cycle (ORC), is a suitable technology for the conversion of heat from renewable sources including solar-thermal and geothermal into clean, net-zero electricity. The technology is also suitable for recovering and converting waste heat from industrial processes into electricity, thus improving energy efficiency of energy-intensive industries.
Current research within the TFMRC is focussed on the optimisation of these systems, with a particular focus on system and component modelling and optimisation including the design and simulation of turbomachinery. This includes the exploration of novel cycle arrangements and multi-phase turbomachinery.