Performance and economic analyses of organic rankine cycle integrated with parabolic trough solar collector using multiple dry working fluids

Abstract An effective means of producing sustainable energy is the integration of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology with Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. In this study, the energy and economic performance assessments of the ORC system are carried out using five distinct organic working fluids, which are R218, R227ea, R236ea, R236fa, and RC318. The solar energy data for Jamshoro, Pakistan, was used as energy input for the operation of the ORC. The ORC system was simulated in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software; the study conducted an extensive examination to assess the viability and energy efficiency of these fluids under concentrated solar radiation. Among the studied fluids, RC318 emerged as one of the most promising fluids among those examined, surpassing the others in terms of thermal efficiency and payback period, with a thermal efficiency of 20.8% and a payback period of 4.7 years. The study further highlighted the importance of choosing organic working fluids that consider both practical constraints and thermodynamic qualities. With its attractive performance characteristics and little environmental effect, RC318 stands out as a sustainable and effective option for CSP–ORC systems as compared to other fluids. The results highlight RC318's potential as a preferred working fluid, supporting the development of renewable energy technologies and the shift to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.