Development of Test Plant for Small Output Organic Rankine Cycle using R245fa as Working Fluid

In this study, the test plant of a small output Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), that is employed R245fa as working fluid, operated by low grade heat source is actually manufactured; the performance is discussed based on its measurement value. The evaporator of the arbitrary heat pump is adapted as the condenser of the test plant; the mass-produced scroll compressor for the automobile-use air conditioner is diverted to the turbine, and the characteristic of the turbine alone was evaluated. To introduc e these devices for the ORC contributes for the progress of the feasibility on the own manufacturing. The test plant is designed based on the specification of the condenser. 67.1 W thermodynamic output was obtained in the produced test plant. The measured turbine efficiency at the operating point was about 14.9%. Under the design conditions of the flow rate 59.4 L/min and the turbine differential pressure 268.3 kPa, even if the power consumption of the cooling fan was subtracted, the ORC could generate 20.1 W output