Conceptual modeling of nano fluid ORC for solar thermal polygeneration

摘要

A model has been developed for thermodynamic cycle of the solar thermal production of power, heating and cooling utilizing nano fluid as a working fluid in Organic Rankine Cycle. The proposed working fluid provides enhancement in power, heating, and cooling as useful outputs. Initial studies were performed with silver-nano pentane as a working fluid in the cycle. This work extends the application of the cycle to working fluids consisting of organic fluid mixtures. Nano Organic fluid could be used successfully in solar thermal power plants, as working fluids in Rankine cycles. An advantage of using nano fluid as a working fluid is that there are mature experiences with building components for these fluids. A commercially available modeling program has been used to model and investigate the performance of the system. The potential and advantages of using nano fluid are discussed. It is found that the thermodynamic efficiencies achievable with nano organic fluid, under optimum conditions, are higher than those obtained from the base fluid. Further, the size of heat exchangers, evaporator, and condenser are lower than those using the base fluid.