ORC Waste heat power generation

Organic Rankine Cycle: ORC Organic Rankine Cycle

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) waste heat power generation is a technology that utilizes waste heat from ship engines or other equipment to generate electricity. ORC technology can convert low-temperature heat sources (such as ship engine exhaust, cooling water, etc.) into electrical energy, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency of ships, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing environmental pollution. This technology is particularly valuable in the shipping industry, as ship engines and other equipment generate large amounts of waste heat that is often underutilized.

Waste heat recovery: 5-15% reduction in engine load and maintenance costs

working principle

1. Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)

-Rankine cycle: The traditional Rankine cycle works at high temperatures using steam as the working fluid to drive a turbine for power generation. The organic Rankine cycle uses low boiling organic working fluids (such as R245fa, isobutane, propane, etc.) instead of steam to generate electricity using lower temperature heat sources.

-Loop process:

1. Heating and evaporation: Waste heat from the host or auxiliary equipment (such as exhaust gas, cooling water, or lubricating oil waste heat) is heated through a heat exchanger to evaporate the ORC working fluid.

2. Expansion work: After evaporation, high-pressure organic working fluid expands through a turbine, driving the turbine to work and generating mechanical energy.

3. Power generation: The turbine is connected to the generator, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.

4. Cooling and Condensation: The expanded low-pressure organic working fluid is cooled by a condenser and transformed back into a liquid.

5. Working fluid circulation: The liquid working fluid is pumped back to the evaporator and enters the circulation again.

Energy saving effect

1. Energy efficiency improvement

-Improved utilization rate of waste heat: The waste heat generated by ship engines usually accounts for 50% -60% of the total fuel energy, and most of it is discharged into the atmosphere or water. The ORC system can convert this waste heat into electrical energy, typically recovering 5% to 15% of the waste heat.

2. Fuel savings

-Reduce generator load: By using ORC waste heat power generation, the workload of ship generators is reduced, thereby saving fuel. Normally, ORC systems can reduce fuel consumption by 5% to 10%.

3. Reduce emissions

-Emission reduction effect: The reduction in fuel consumption directly leads to a decrease in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO ₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx).

4. Improve economic efficiency

-Reduce maintenance of power generation equipment: The ORC system reduces the working time of ship generator sets, thereby extending their service life and reducing maintenance costs.

-Improving overall efficiency: Utilizing waste heat to generate electricity can increase the overall utilization rate of ship fuel, minimize energy waste, and thereby improve the economy of ships.

ORC waste heat power generation significantly improves energy utilization efficiency, reduces fuel consumption and emissions, and provides an efficient solution for ship energy conservation and emission reduction by effectively utilizing ship waste heat.