Performance Analysis of a Solar-Assisted Organic Rankine Cycle

The objective of this paper is the thermodynamic analysis of a solar powered Organic Rankine Cycle (O.R.C.) and the investigation of potential working fluids in order to select the optimum one. A dynamic model for a solar O.R.C. with a storage tank, which produces electricity is developed. The mathematical model includes all the equations that describe the operation of the solar collectors, the storage tank, the Rankine Cycle and the feedback between them. The model runs for representative days throughout the year, calculating the net produced energy as a function of the selected evaporation temperature for every suitable working fluid. Above that, the temporal variation of the systems' temperatures, collectors' efficiency and net produced power, for the optimum organic fluid and evaporation temperature are presented.