Assessment Of The Performance Of A Low-Temperature Organic Rankine Cycle Engine Coupled With A Concentrating Pv-Thermal System

The operation of an integrated CPVT/ORC unit is investigated to identify the possibility of combining efficiently an ORC engine with a CPVT collectors' field. The combined system is designed to operate so that the heat provided by the CPV field is at a temperature level in the range of 70-90 degrees C. The performance of the ORC engine is assessed towards comprehending its behavior under varying thermal loads and, as a result, maximizing the overall system electricity production. The analysis reveals that the electricity production from the ORC engine may be in the order of approximately 17 % of the total output of the combined system and that the implementation of the examined technological solution could increase the solar energy conversion efficiency of the CPV field, provided that the ORC engine operates at its maximum thermal efficiency. Finally, the preliminary economic analysis highlighted the potential of the integrated unit, which could be competitive even for small-scale systems. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.