Part: 3

33

32
Steam
Generator and
Re-heater

31

High
Pressure
Turbine

Wout

Low
Pressure
Turbine

Qin

34

Condenser
Qout

Pump 6

36

35

Win

Figure: 3.1 Organic Rankine Cycle with Reheat

Part: 3-1 Solutions window

Part: 3-2 (Varied Parameter: p 32 and Optimized Variable: thermal )

p_31
[bar]
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

p_32 h_31
h_32
h_33
h_34
h_35
h_36
W_cycle Q_in
eta_thermal
[bar] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg] [kJ/kg]
[kJ/kg]
4.045 808.1 747.6 840.4 840.4 271.8 275.5
56.87 625.5
0.09092
5.818 808.1 761.4 837.3 821.7 271.8 275.5
58.68 608.6
0.09642
7.591 808.1 771.5 834.1 807.6 271.8 275.5
59.45 595.2
0.09987
9.363 808.1 779.5 830.8
796 271.8 275.5
59.68 583.9
0.1022
11.14 808.1 786.2 827.4 786.1 271.8 275.5
59.6 573.9
0.1038
12.91 808.1 791.8 823.8 777.2 271.8 275.5
59.3 564.7
0.105
14.68 808.1 796.6 820.1 769.1 271.8 275.5
58.85 556.2
0.1058
16.45 808.1 800.9 816.3 761.6 271.8 275.5
58.29 548.1
0.1063
18.23 808.1 804.7 812.3 754.5 271.8 275.5
57.62 540.3
0.1067
20 808.1 808.1 808.1 747.6 271.8 275.5
56.87 532.7
0.1068

Figure: 3.2a (Parametric Table)

In the above, table the values of pressure (p 32 ) at the exit of the high-pressure turbine are
varied from the pressure (p 35 ) at the exit of the condenser to the pressure (p 31 ) at the exit of the
steam generator. This is done as the pressure (p 31 ) at the exit of the steam generator is highest
pressure generated in the cycle and the pressure (p 32 ) at the exit of the high-pressure turbine is
the lowest pressure possible. On increasing the values of p 32 it is noticed that the values for
thermal efficiency also increase. This is can be explained analytically.
=

(31 32 ) + (33 34 ) + (35 36 )

(31 36 ) + (33 32 )
=

A quick view of figure: 3.2a shows that on varying p 32 only values of h 32 , h 33 and h 34 change.
Examining the above equation, it can be seen that the thermal efficiency is directly proportional
to the difference between h 31 and h 32 and also between h 33 and h 34 . However, it is inversely
proportional to the difference between h 33 and h 32 . The difference between all the other terms are
constant with changing values of p 32 . In, order to achieve maximum thermal efficiency the
denominator (Q in ) needs to be lowest and the numerator (W cycle ) has to be the highest.
Let us assume the denominator to be constant. On increasing the p 32 the difference
between h 31 and h 32 decreases, while the difference between the h 33 and h 34 increases. The
increase in difference between h 33 and h 34 outweighs the decreases in difference h 31 and h 32 .
Thus, the numerator increases until Run-5. However, after Run-5 the decreases in difference h 31
and h 32 outweighs the increase in difference between h 33 and h 34 . In other, words the numerator
increases until Run-5 and then starts decreasing. This trend can be seen in figure: 3.2b. Thus the
maximum numerator value is achieved at p 32 equal to 11.14 bar and has a value of 59.6 kJ/kg.
This values of numerator are displayed in the W cycle in figure 3.2b.
Figure: 3.2b

Now let us assume the denominator to be constant. On increasing the value of p 32 the
difference between h 33 and h 32 decreases, thus decreasing the value of denominator. This trend
can be seen in figure: 3.2c. Thus, the lowest value of denominator is achieved when this
difference equals zero and is equal to 532.7 kJ/kg. This takes place at Run-10 when p 32 is 20 bar.

Figure: 3.2c

Taking into account the trends of the numerator (W cycle ) and denominator (Q in ) with
increasing values of p 32 , it can be concluded that the decrease in the value of the denominator
outweighs the subsequent decrease in the value of the numerator and so the thermal efficiency
increases with increasing the value of p 32 . This can be visualized in figure: 3.2d
Figure: 3.2d

The above phenomenon can also be explained theoretically. It can be seen in figure: 3.2a
that as the value of pressure at the exit of the high-pressure increases the enthalpy at state-32
increases. This in-turn decreases the difference in enthalpies between state-31 and state-32 with

enthalpy at state-31 remaining constant. This difference becomes zero at p 32 equal to 20 bar. At
lower values of p 32 , enthalpy drop across the high pressure turbine is high. Thus, more heat
needs to be provided to the fluid exiting the high pressure turbine in order to raise its enthalpy
before entering the low pressure turbine. This is done so that the low pressure turbine can
contribute useful work. Since, large amount of heat is provided in the re-heater (h 33 -h 32 ) the
value of Q in increases thus decreasing the value of thermal efficiency. In figure: 3.2a it can be
seen that the lowest value heat provided by the re-heater is zero, which is achieved when
pressure at state-32 equals pressure at state-31 (20 bar). In this case no heat needs to be provided
by the re-heater to raise the enthalpy at state-32 as enthalpy drop across the first turbine is zero.
Thus, the heat provided by the steam generator is only required to raise the enthalpy of fluid
from state-36 to state-31.
One more factor to take into account while discussing the thermal efficiency is the work
produced by the turbines. At p 32 equal to 4.045 bar the low pressure turbine does no work as p 33
is equal to p 34 , but value of Q in is the highest in this case. Same amount of work is done by the
low pressure turbine at p 32 equal to 20 bar, as high pressure turbine does not work. However, in
this case the Q in is the lowest, thus thermal efficiency is the highest in this case. The solution
window for this case is shown in figure: 3.2e
Figure: 3.2e

The optimum condition for this case is at p 32 = 20 bar as efficiency is the highest. This
corresponds to the condition where, high pressure turbine does no work and there is no reheat.
Reheating helps only up to the point where the work done by the low pressure turbine is more
than the heat provided by the re-heater. This point is achieved at p 32 = 9.659 bar and for this
value of pressure, work done per unit mass by the cycle is maximum. After, this point the work
done per unit mass by the cycle decreases and the thermal efficiency increases. This trend can be
seen in figure: 3.2f and figure: 3.2b. Therefore, in order to achieve maximum amount of work
from the cycle for minimum amount of heat input to the re-heater the pressure at the exit of the
high-pressure turbine should be 9.659 bar.

Figure: 3.2f
p_31
[bar]

p_32
[bar]
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

W_cycle
[kJ/kg]
9.65
9.652
9.654
9.657
9.659
9.661
9.663
9.666
9.668
9.67

Q_in
[kJ/kg]
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471
59.68471

eta_thermal
582.2
582.2
582.2
582.2
582.2
582.2
582.1
582.1
582.1
582.1

0.102513
0.102515
0.102518
0.10252
0.102522
0.102525
0.102527
0.102529
0.102531
0.102534

Part: 3-3 (Varied Parameters: p 31 , p 32 , T 31 and T 33 ; Optimized Variable: thermal )

In this case, the boiler and re-heater conditions (T 31 and T 33 ) along with pressure at the
inlet (p 31 ) and exit (p 32 ) of the high pressure turbine are varied. This analysis is performed with
the assumption that the steam generator and re-heater are different components and their
temperatures can be varied independently. The purpose is to achieve maximum efficiency. The
following constraints were applied:
1. (4.045 bar p 31 20 bar);
2. (80C T 31 200 C);
3. (4.045 bar. p 32 20 bar);
4. p 32 p 31
5. (T 33 T 32 ).
Figure: 3.3a
p_31 T_31 p_32
[bar] [C]
[bar]
4.045 110 4.045
5.818 110 4.045
7.591 110 4.045
9.363 110 4.045
11.14 110 4.045
12.91 110 4.045
14.68 110 4.045
16.45 110 4.045
18.23 110 4.045
20 110 4.045

T_32
[C]
110
101.5
94.86
89.23
84.2
79.55
75.1
70.73
66.33
61.76

p_33 T_33 bwr

eta_thermal
[bar] [C]
4.045
80 0.02613
9.02E-06
4.045
80 0.02947
0.03105
4.045
80 0.03488
0.05108
4.045
80 0.04014
0.06521
4.045
80 0.04536
0.07565
4.045
80 0.05059
0.08358
4.045
80 0.0559
0.08964
4.045
80 0.06134
0.09423
4.045
80 0.06701
0.09761
4.045
80 0.07299
0.09988

Figure: 3.3b

In this analysis, all independent variables are varied until maximum efficiency for each
case is achieved. Firstly, we vary the pressure at the entry of the high pressure turbine, keeping
all other variables constant. It is observed that as p 31 increases the value of thermal efficiency
increases. This trend can be seen in figure: 3.3a and 3.3b. This trend made sense because
increasing p 31 increased enthalpy drop across the high pressure turbine thus maximizing work
done and thus the efficiency. Maximum, thermally efficiency is achieved for the p 31 = 20 bar. In
the next step this value is made constant.
Figure: 3.3c
p_31

T_31

p_32

T_32

p_33

T_33

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

bwr

eta_thermal

20

80

4.045

30

4.045

80

0.3743

0.01439

20

93.33

4.045

30

4.045

80

0.2524

0.02522

20

106.7

4.045

57.53

4.045

80

0.07453

0.09787

20

120

4.045

73.89

4.045

80

0.06904

0.1054

20

133.3

4.045

89.24

4.045

80

0.06479

0.112

20

146.7

4.045

104

4.045

80

0.06128

0.118

20

160

4.045

118.5

4.045

80

0.05829

0.1237

20

173.3

4.045

132.7

4.045

80

0.05568

0.1291

20

186.7

4.045

146.7

4.045

80

0.05336

0.1342

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

80

0.05128

0.1391

Figure: 3.3d

With value of p 31 set to 20 bar, the value of temperature (T 31 ) at the inlet of high pressure
is varied with all other variables constant. It was observed that on increasing values of T 31 the
thermal efficiency increased. This trend can be seen in figure: 3.3c and 3.3d. This variation is
intuitive as, increasing the T 31 increases the value of h 31 thus increasing the work done by the
turbine. This in-turn increases efficiency. Maximum, thermally efficiency is achieved for the T 31
= 200 C. In the next step this value is made constant.
Figure: 3.3e
p_31

T_31

p_32

T_32

p_33

T_33

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

bwr

eta_thermal

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

160.6

0.05128

0.1025

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

165

0.05128

0.101

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

169.4

0.05128

0.09943

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

173.7

0.05128

0.09794

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

178.1

0.05128

0.09648

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

182.5

0.05128

0.09506

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

186.9

0.05128

0.09366

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

191.2

0.05128

0.0923

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

195.6

0.05128

0.09097

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

200

0.05128

0.08966

Figure: 3.3f

The next variable to be varied is the temperature at the exit of the re-heater (T 33 ). It is
observed that with all other variables kept constant, the thermal efficiency decreases with
increasing T 31 . This trend can be seen in figure: 3.3e and 3.3f. It was also noticed that the lower
the difference between T 33 and T 32 higher was the efficiency. This was checked with different
value of p 32 . The trend repeated in all cases. This can be seen in figure 3.3g
Figure: 3.3g
p_31
[bar]

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

T_31
[C]

200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200

p_32
[bar]

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

T_32
p_33
[C]
[bar]
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2
165.2

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

T_33
bwr
eta_thermal
[C]
165.2
0.05113
0.1029
169.1
0.05106
0.1016
172.9
0.05099
0.1004
176.8
0.05092
0.09917
180.7
0.05086
0.09798
184.5
0.05079
0.09682
188.4
0.05072
0.09567
192.3
0.05066
0.09455
196.1
0.05059
0.09345
200
0.05053
0.09238

In the following analysis, T 33 was constrained to be equal to T 32 , as for any value of p 32

this particular case yielded the maximum efficiency. The next analysis involved varying the
value of p 32 keeping every other variable constant. It was observed that with increasing value of
p 32 the thermal efficiency initially increased, reached a maximum and started decreasing. This,
trend can be seen in figure: 3.3h and 3.3i. Subsequently, the interval of p 32 for which maximum
values were occurring was narrowed down. Lastly, for a value of p 32 equal to 8.958 bar the
efficiency was maximum. The solutions window for the optimized condition can be seen in
figure: 3.3j.

Figure 3.3h
p_31

T_31

p_32

T_32

p_33

T_33

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

bwr

eta_thermal

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

160.6

0.05128

0.1025

20

200

5.818

168.6

5.818

168.6

0.05104

0.103

20

200

7.591

174.8

7.591

174.8

0.05096

0.1032

20

200

9.363

179.8

9.363

179.8

0.05095

0.1032

20

200

11.14

184.1

11.14

184.1

0.05097

0.1032

20

200

12.91

187.9

12.91

187.9

0.05101

0.1031

20

200

14.68

191.3

14.68

191.3

0.05107

0.103

20

200

16.45

194.4

16.45

194.4

0.05114

0.1028

20

200

18.23

197.3

18.23

197.3

0.05121

0.1027

20

200

20

200

20

200

0.05128

0.1025

Figure: 3.3i

Figure: 3.3j

However, if the analysis of Part: 3-3 was done with the assumption that the steamgenerator and re-heater are the same component, then the results would have been different only
for the value of p 32 obtained. In this analysis, an extra constraint would be introduced which
would be defined as T 31 = T 33 . In that case p 32 would vary linearly, providing maximum
efficiency at p 32 = 20 bar. This trend can be seen in figure 3.3k and 3.3l. Thus as p 32 increased
the thermal efficiency increased.

Figure: 3.3k
p_31

T_31

p_32

T_32

p_33

T_33

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

[bar]

[C]

bwr

eta_thermal

20

200

4.045

160.6

4.045

200

0.05128

0.08966

20

200

5.818

168.6

5.818

200

0.05012

0.09416

20

200

7.591

174.8

7.591

200

0.04967

0.09694

20

200

9.363

179.8

9.363

200

0.04955

0.0988

20

200

11.14

184.1

11.14

200

0.04963

0.1001

20

200

12.91

187.9

12.91

200

0.04982

0.101

20

200

14.68

191.3

14.68

200

0.0501

0.1017

20

200

16.45

194.4

16.45

200

0.05045

0.1021

20

200

18.23

197.3

18.23

200

0.05084

0.1024

20

200

20

200

20

200

0.05128

0.1025

Figure: 3.3k

The solutions window for this analysis is displayed below.

The conclusion from both type of analysis was that, re-heating did not help in increasing the
thermal efficiency. The only difference was that, in the first analysis (T 33 T 31 ) predicted that a
second turbine is required to achieve maximum efficiency, however, the second analysis
predicted that (T 33 = T 31 ) that a second turbine was not required to achieve maximum efficiency.
Thermal Efficiency (T 33 T 31 ): 0.01032
Thermal Efficiency (T 33 = T 31 ): 0.01025

Conditions of Maximum efficiency for different modifications of the Organic Rankine Cycle.
Type of
Cycle

Fluid

Turbine inlet
temperature
(C)

R600a

Turbine
inlet
pressure
(bar)
19.84

w/o
regenerator
Regenerator
Re-heater
and two
turbines

BWR

Thermal
Efficiency

100

Condenser
exit
temperature
(C)
30

0.07746

0.1172

R600a
R600a

20
20

130.0
200

30
30

0.0646
0.05095

0.1401
0.1032

It can be inferred from the table that, as the complexity of the systems increase the thermal
efficiency. It is not worthwhile to reheat as instead of increasing efficiency it decreases it in the
case of the re-heater with two turbines. Moreover, as the efficiency of the whole cycle is the
product of the individual efficiencies of the turbines, the overall efficiency is always lower as
compared to the individual efficiencies of the turbines.