The Organic Rankine Cycle is a non-superheating thermodynamic cycle that
uses an organic working fluid to generate electricity. The working fluid is
heated to boiling, and the expanding vapor is used to drive a turbine. This
turbine can be used to drive a generator to convert the work into electricity.
The working-fluid vapor is condensed back into a liquid and fed back through
the system to do work again.
Today, ORC systems are being evaluated to improve the working efficiency of
distributed generation systems, to generate electricity from geothermal or
solar natural heat sources, or to recover waste heat from industrial processes
and convert that heat into usable power.
Among the working fluids than can be evaluated for use in these systems is
Genetron® 245fa, a high-boiling refrigerant now available in commercial
quantities from Honeywell.
The favorable performance of Genetron 245fa in Rankine cycles provides an
opportunity to realize greater electrical energy output from power generation
facilities that rely on steam-driven turbines. Likewise, large industrial
enterprises can now consider recovery of waste heat with the option to convert
the energy to useful electricity.
Equipment manufacturers and design engineers should contact Honeywell directly
for more information on the use of Genetron 245fa in these applications.
Working Fluids for Organic Rankine Cycle Systems