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Working Fluid Stability in Large-Scale Organic Rankine Cycle-Units Using Siloxanes—Long-Term Experiences and Fluid Recycling

Author

Listed:
  • Tobias G. Erhart

    (Centre for Sustainable Energy Technology Research (zafh.net), University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart, Schellingstrasse 24, Stuttgart 70174, Germany)

  • Jürgen Gölz

    (BIOP Biomasseoptimierungen GmbH, Parkstrasse 37, Remshalden 73630, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ursula Eicker

    (Centre for Sustainable Energy Technology Research (zafh.net), University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart, Schellingstrasse 24, Stuttgart 70174, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Martijn Van den Broek

    (Department of Industrial System and Product Design (TEI), Ghent University, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, Kortrijk 8500, Belgium
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The results in this work show the influence of long-term operation on the decomposition of working fluids in eight different organic rankine cycle (ORC) power plants (both heat-led and electricity-led) in a range of 900 kW el to 2 MW el . All case study plants are using octamethyltrisiloxane (MDM) as a working fluid; the facilities are between six to 12 years old. Detailed analyses, including the fluid distribution throughout the cycle, are conducted on one system. All presented fluid samples are analyzed via head space gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). Besides the siloxane composition, the influence of contaminants, such as mineral oil-based lubricants (and their components), is examined. In most cases, the original working fluid degrades to fractions of siloxanes with a lower boiling point (low boilers) and fractions with a higher boiling point (high boilers). As a consequence of the analyses, a new fluid recycling and management system was designed and tested in one case study plant (Case Study #8). Pre-post comparisons of fluid samples prove the effectiveness of the applied methods. The results show that the recovery of used working fluid offers an alternative to the purchase of fresh fluid, since operating costs can be significantly reduced. For large facilities, the prices for new fluid range from € 15 per liter (in 2006) to € 22 per liter (in 2013), which is a large reinvestment, especially in light of filling volumes of 4000 liters to 7000 liters per unit. Using the aforementioned method, a price of € 8 per liter of recovered MDM can be achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias G. Erhart & Jürgen Gölz & Ursula Eicker & Martijn Van den Broek, 2016. "Working Fluid Stability in Large-Scale Organic Rankine Cycle-Units Using Siloxanes—Long-Term Experiences and Fluid Recycling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:6:p:422-:d:71109
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mascuch, Jakub & Novotny, Vaclav & Spale, Jan & Vodicka, Vaclav & Zeleny, Zbynek, 2021. "Experience from set-up and pilot operation of an in-house developed biomass-fired ORC microcogeneration unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(P1), pages 251-260.
    2. Yu, Wei & Liu, Chao & Tan, Luxi & Li, Qibin & Xin, Liyong & Wang, Shukun, 2023. "Thermal stability and thermal decomposition mechanism of octamethyltrisiloxane (MDM): Combined experiment, ReaxFF-MD and DFT study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Lorenzo Tocci & Tamas Pal & Ioannis Pesmazoglou & Benjamin Franchetti, 2017. "Small Scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC): A Techno-Economic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Costante M. Invernizzi & Abubakr Ayub & Gioele Di Marcoberardino & Paolo Iora, 2019. "Pure and Hydrocarbon Binary Mixtures as Possible Alternatives Working Fluids to the Usual Organic Rankine Cycles Biomass Conversion Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Gioele Di Marcoberardino & Costante Mario Invernizzi & Paolo Iora & Luca Arosio & Marcello Canavese & Angelo Lunghi & Antonella Mazzei, 2022. "Thermal Stability and Thermodynamic Performances of Pure Siloxanes and Their Mixtures in Organic Rankine Cycles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Costante Mario Invernizzi & Nadeem Ahmed Sheikh, 2018. "High-Efficiency Small-Scale Combined Heat and Power Organic Binary Rankine Cycles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Gallarini, Simone & Spinelli, Andrea & Lietti, Luca & Guardone, Alberto, 2023. "Thermal stability of linear siloxanes and their mixtures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    8. Spale, Jan & Vodicka, Vaclav & Zeleny, Zbynek & Pavlicko, Jan & Mascuch, Jakub & Novotny, Vaclav, 2022. "Scaling up a woodchip-fired containerized CHP ORC unit toward commercialization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1226-1236.

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