Design and Implementation of a Control Strategy for a Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle‐Based Power System in the Context of Industrial Waste Heat Recovery

Abstract

Transient thermal waste heat sources, such as solar energy, industrial waste heat, and ship exhaust heat, pose significant challenges in terms of their reuse in other processes. Therefore, ensuring the safe and efficient design and operation of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for these heat sources is imperative. Comprehending the ORC system's dynamic characteristics is necessary to formulate suitable control strategies. This article undertakes a comprehensive review of previous studies on dynamic modeling and control of the ORC system and discusses the prevalent dynamic modeling methodologies, the challenges frequently encountered in dynamic simulations, and a range of control strategies. This article comprehensively analyzes the overall control strategies used by ORC systems. Additionally, the energy conversion systems utilized in ORC are depicted in detail. Furthermore, using model predictive control in a simulation study allows for investigating various components’ disturbance and dynamic characteristics within the ORC system. These components include the expander, pump, condenser, and evaporator using setpoint tracking. Ultimately, this analysis aims to optimize the performance of the ORC cycle. The findings indicate that the utilization of superheating in the working fluid is the most effective method for achieving maximum power generation in an ORC system.