Performance analysis of a bio-diesel fired engine bottoming with micro-ORC

Abstract The purpose of this work is to investigate the performance in terms electric power and efficiency a 11kW bio-diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) coupled with micro Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) both design off-design conditions. A zero dimensional (0D) thermodynamical model has been developed predict thermal 100% biodiesel fuel (B100). B100 selected for analysis integrated system due its lower environmental impact. For ORC system, subcritical thermodynamic used various working fluid (R245fa, R1233zd(E), R134a, R1234ze(E) R1234ze(Z)). plate heat exchanger (PHEX) adopted as evaporator organic cycle directly recover exhaust gas. Both models have validated using experimental data from literature. Two different expander configurations, dynamic volumetric, investigated. Model validations show good agreement literature data, respectively. Moreover, results highlight that micro-ORC could achieve maximum about 7% at full load R1234ze(Z). Although part better performance, volumetric real suitability small scale ORC. Combined enhancement 5%, results, compromise between operating range width, shown R1233zd(E). Furthermore, direct coupling PHEX gases allows exchange areas below 2 m all analysed fluids.