Thermodynamic approaches for integrating power generation and thermochemical energy storage with a novel solar-ORC system

OpenAlex · English

In the present study, a solar-driven Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) integrated with thermochemical energy storage (TCES) is investigated for flexible heat and power generation. An evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) is employed to harness solar energy. Electricity generation is achieved through the ORC using R134a as the working fluid. The TCES system is used to store part of the gained solar energy to meet the peak heating demands. A novel heat recuperation method is applied in the system to recover the waste heat of TCES charging exhaust air to preheat the R134A prior to entering the evaporator. In the TCES system, CaCl 2 impregnated Pumice is used as the composite sorbent. The analysis of the integrated system is performed based on the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Accordingly, energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the ORC, TCES, and whole system are evaluated under different operating conditions. Within the analyses, the TCES performance is evaluated independently for the charging and discharging processes. The exergy efficiency of the TCES unit is calculated as 2.66% during the charging phase and 4.19% during the discharging phase. Additionally, the exergy efficiency of the ORC and the whole system are obtained as 7.16% and 5.67%, respectively.