Thermodynamic Performance of Geothermal Energy Cascade Utilization for Combined Heating and Power Based on Organic Rankine Cycle and Vapor Compression Cycle

Abstract

A large population and rapid urbanization dramatically promote the heating supply demand, the combined heating and power (CHP) system for energy cascade utilization came into being. However, the research on the recovery and utilization of condensing heat, the exploration of the coupling law between power generation and heating supply, and the influence of heat source parameters on thermo-economic performance are still insufficient. To this end, two combined heating and power (CHP) systems coupled with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and vapor compression cycle (VCC) are proposed, and their thermodynamic and economic performances are optimized and analyzed by the laws of thermodynamics. Results show that the increase of the volume flow will increase the power generation and heating supply quantity of the system, and there is an optimal evaporation temperature range of 130–140 °C to optimize the performance of the system. The increase of heat source temperature will improve the economic performance of the system, but it will reduce the exergetic efficiency. Therefore, two factors should be comprehensively considered in practical engineering. There is mutual exclusivity between the net power output of the system and the heating supply quantity, it should be reasonably allocated according to the actual needs of users in engineering applications. In addition, the exergetic efficiency of the two systems can reach more than 60%, and the energy utilization rate is high, which indicates that the cascade utilization mode is reasonable.