Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source
The in-house development of a radial-flow expander is proposed which aims to investigate the performance under various working conditions. The radial-flow expander is installed into a micro-scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) test bench. An experimental investigation is also proposed in an attempt to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525002740 |
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| author | Tongchana Thongtip Wichean Singmai Suparat Jamsawang Natthawut Ruangtrakoon Kittiwoot Sutthivirode |
| author_facet | Tongchana Thongtip Wichean Singmai Suparat Jamsawang Natthawut Ruangtrakoon Kittiwoot Sutthivirode |
| author_sort | Tongchana Thongtip |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The in-house development of a radial-flow expander is proposed which aims to investigate the performance under various working conditions. The radial-flow expander is installed into a micro-scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) test bench. An experimental investigation is also proposed in an attempt to discuss the operating characteristics and the system performance. The mathematical model for designing the expander is proposed and the validations of the designed performance parameters with the tested parameters is also implemented to ensure that the radial-flow expander is developed correctly. The operating characteristics of the vapour-generator with variations in the working fluid flow rate which reflects the best heat transfer performance is also a main focus. This is significant for producing the thermodynamic state of the vapour at the outlet of the vapour-generator. The overall heat transfer coefficient (Uref) based on the flow boiling at the vapour-generator is determined. The maximum shaft power and maximum thermal efficiency are determined under various working conditions. This paper also provides evidence of the ORC system operating with a low temperature heat source (range 80–90 °C). The thermal efficiency is as high as 2.5–3.5 % depending on the the working conditions. The overall heat transfer coefficient for the flow boiling at the vapour generator is 280 to 700 W/m2.K. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2b30eea2f634557b3dd0a39fa546914 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2b30eea2f634557b3dd0a39fa5469142025-08-20T03:50:31ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-07-012710114210.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101142Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat sourceTongchana Thongtip0Wichean Singmai1Suparat Jamsawang2Natthawut Ruangtrakoon3Kittiwoot Sutthivirode4Thermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, ThailandThermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand; Corresponding authors.Thermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, ThailandDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandThermal and Fluid Laboratory (TFL), Department of Teacher Training in Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Phacharat 1 Rd., Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand; Corresponding authors.The in-house development of a radial-flow expander is proposed which aims to investigate the performance under various working conditions. The radial-flow expander is installed into a micro-scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) test bench. An experimental investigation is also proposed in an attempt to discuss the operating characteristics and the system performance. The mathematical model for designing the expander is proposed and the validations of the designed performance parameters with the tested parameters is also implemented to ensure that the radial-flow expander is developed correctly. The operating characteristics of the vapour-generator with variations in the working fluid flow rate which reflects the best heat transfer performance is also a main focus. This is significant for producing the thermodynamic state of the vapour at the outlet of the vapour-generator. The overall heat transfer coefficient (Uref) based on the flow boiling at the vapour-generator is determined. The maximum shaft power and maximum thermal efficiency are determined under various working conditions. This paper also provides evidence of the ORC system operating with a low temperature heat source (range 80–90 °C). The thermal efficiency is as high as 2.5–3.5 % depending on the the working conditions. The overall heat transfer coefficient for the flow boiling at the vapour generator is 280 to 700 W/m2.K.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525002740ORCRadial-flow expanderLow grade heat utilization |
| spellingShingle | Tongchana Thongtip Wichean Singmai Suparat Jamsawang Natthawut Ruangtrakoon Kittiwoot Sutthivirode Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source Energy Conversion and Management: X ORC Radial-flow expander Low grade heat utilization |
| title | Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| title_full | Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| title_fullStr | Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| title_short | Experimental investigation of small radial-flow expander in micro-scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| title_sort | experimental investigation of small radial flow expander in micro scale organic rankine cycle powered by low temperature heat source |
| topic | ORC Radial-flow expander Low grade heat utilization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525002740 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tongchanathongtip experimentalinvestigationofsmallradialflowexpanderinmicroscaleorganicrankinecyclepoweredbylowtemperatureheatsource AT wicheansingmai experimentalinvestigationofsmallradialflowexpanderinmicroscaleorganicrankinecyclepoweredbylowtemperatureheatsource AT suparatjamsawang experimentalinvestigationofsmallradialflowexpanderinmicroscaleorganicrankinecyclepoweredbylowtemperatureheatsource AT natthawutruangtrakoon experimentalinvestigationofsmallradialflowexpanderinmicroscaleorganicrankinecyclepoweredbylowtemperatureheatsource AT kittiwootsutthivirode experimentalinvestigationofsmallradialflowexpanderinmicroscaleorganicrankinecyclepoweredbylowtemperatureheatsource |