This work is an extension and modification of the novel thermal cycle reported in the study “Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Novel Thermal Cycle for Electricity Generation and Fresh Water Production From Solar Ponds.” For low temperature power generation, such as the case of solar ponds or a field of solar flat plate collectors (60–90 °C), it is a common practice to use an organic Rankine cycle. The novel cycle uses water vapor as a working medium under pressure values lower than atmospheric. This is achieved by a turbovapor generating unit, a conventional low-pressure steam turbine, and a condenser working in an open cycle. Such a plant has a low thermal efficiency which approaches 12%, because of the small temperature range between evaporator and condenser (80–30 °C). The ratio of fresh water to electric power is also fixed for a certain temperature range (e.g., 14 tons/MW h for temperatures of 80 °C evaporator and 30 °C condenser). To increase the thermal utilization of the available heat flux and to achieve a variable fresh water production, a conventional multistage flash evaporation plant (MSF plant) is incorporated between the evaporator and condenser. The thermodynamic analysis of the plant shows that the thermal utilization of the available energy may reach 90%, while the amount of fresh water could be raised from 14 tons/MW h to 300 tons/MW h, for the same temperature range. This system has the advantage of being self-sufficient, yielding a net electric power after having supplied its own needs of pumping power.
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February 2015
Technical Briefs
A Novel Combined Low Temperature Cycle for Electricity and Fresh Water Production
Amin Mobarak
Amin Mobarak
Professor
ASME Life Member
Mechanical Power Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering,
e-mail: amobarak@alwatania-egy.com
ASME Life Member
Mechanical Power Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering,
Cairo University
,Giza 12613
, Egypt
e-mail: amobarak@alwatania-egy.com
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Amin Mobarak
Professor
ASME Life Member
Mechanical Power Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering,
e-mail: amobarak@alwatania-egy.com
ASME Life Member
Mechanical Power Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering,
Cairo University
,Giza 12613
, Egypt
e-mail: amobarak@alwatania-egy.com
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: Including Wind Energy and Building Energy Conservation. Manuscript received July 11, 2012; final manuscript received June 15, 2014; published online July 29, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Markus Eck.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2015, 137(1): 014501 (2 pages)
Published Online: July 29, 2014
Article history
Received:
July 11, 2012
Revision Received:
June 15, 2014
Citation
Mobarak, A. (July 29, 2014). "A Novel Combined Low Temperature Cycle for Electricity and Fresh Water Production." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2015; 137(1): 014501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4027930
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