Thermal Efficiency Analysis of a 1 kW ORC System with a Solar Collection Stage and R-245fa Working Fluid: A Case Study

A thermal efficiency analysis of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system enables its performance to be evaluated; for this purpose, critical system components, including the turbine and the boiler, must be scrutinized. ORC plants can operate under various regimes, such as simple, regeneration, and reheat work modes. Organic fluids such as R-245fa integrate low-temperature sources such as solar radiation. However, a literature review revealed limited research on the impact of a solar collection system on the overall thermal efficiency of an ORC system during the regeneration stage. In this study, we examined the thermal efficiency behavior of an ORC plant with a 1 kW generator operating in simple and regeneration modes with a solar collection stage. The results show that the thermal efficiency in simple mode was 35.27%, while in regeneration mode with solar collection it reached 51.30%. Improving the thermal efficiency of a thermodynamic cycle system can reduce CO2 emissions. The operating temperature ranges facilitate the development of a methodology for industries to implement ORC systems in their manufacturing processes, thereby utilizing waste heat from industrial operations.