Exergo-Economic Optimization of Organic Rankine Cycle for Saving of Thermal Energy in a Sample Power Plant by Using of Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm II

Abstract

Waste heat recovery plays an important role in energy source management. Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) can be used to recover low-temperature waste heat. In the present work a sample power plant waste heat was used to operate an ORC. First, two pure working fluids were selected based on their merits. Four possible thermodynamic models were considered in the analysis. They were defined based on where the condenser and evaporator temperatures are located. Four main thermal parameters, evaporator temperature, condenser temperature, degree of superheat and pinch point temperature difference were taken as key parameters. Levelized energy cost values and exergy efficiency were calculated as the optimization criteria. To optimize exergy and economic aspects of the system, Strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm II (SPEA II) was implemented. The Pareto frontier solutions were ordered and chose by TOPSIS. Model 3 outperformed all other models. After evaluating exergy efficiency by mixture mass fraction, R245fa [0.6]/Pentane [0.4] selected as the most efficient working fluid. Finally, every component’s role in determining the levelized energy cost and the exergy efficiency and were discussed. The turbine, condenser and evaporator were found as the costliest components.