Optimization and Analyses of an Organic Rankine Cycle System Utilizing Cold Energy of Liquefied Argon

Abstract In order to study the feasibility of liquefied argon cold energy recovery by organic rankine cycle (ORC), an ORC system cooling by liquefied argon was proposed and the mathematical model was established in this paper. The thermophysical properties of several organic working substances were compared, and R218 demonstrates the best circulating performance under working condition. The operating characteristics of the ORC system under various parameters were analyzed and optimized. When the condensing pressure is 13.6kPa, the system output power reaches the peak value of 1.003kW. With the raising of the evaporation pressure, the net output power and the thermal efficiency of the ORC both increase. The raising of ambient temperature can effectively promote the circulating working substance in the evaporator to absorb heat from the air. The working substance at the exit of condenser under saturated state is propitious to the net output power of the system.