RANKINE-CYCLE SYSTEMS FOR HARNESSING POWER FROM LOW-GRADE ENERGY-SOURCES

Rankine-cycle systems, each employing a single organic compound as the working medium, are the most commonly used units for converting low-temperature heat into mechanical work. The performances of these systems have been analysed and simulated. The composed interactive computer programs (in BASIC) for predicting the properties of the candidate organic fluids, and for evaluating the behaviour of the simple and regenerative Rankine-cycle units, are listed. The accuracies of the estimated values of the thermodynamic properties have been assessed. Samples of the performance characteristics predicted, employing the routine developed, are given. The programs should help facilitate (i) choosing the most appropriate working fluid from amongst those considered, as well as (ii) predicting the optimal design and operating conditions of a proposed system for a particular application. © 1990.