Energy and exergy analysis of solar energy-integrated, geothermal energy-powered Organic Rankine Cycle

Abstract

In this study, the energy and exergy analysis of the solar- and geothermal energy-powered Organic Rankine Cycle was made for different system configurations and Simav geothermal field was taken into consideration for system designs. The solar collectors were integrated into the system with thermal energy storage tank. The R-600a, Therminol VP-1, and molten salt were used as a working fluid in Organic Rankine Cycle, solar field, and thermal energy storage, respectively. As a result of this study, the energy and exergy efficiencies of the geothermal-powered ORC were decreased with the integration of solar energy. But the net power output of the system was increased. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the solar energy-aided, geothermal-powered Organic Rankine Cycle increase by the decrease in the solar collector area. The energy generation of the proposed system was calculated up to 305,713.5kWh.