Guidelines for Optimal Selection of Subcritical Low-Temperature Geothermal Organic Rankine Cycle Configuration Considering Reinjection Temperature Limits

General guidelines are proposed to select the optimal subcritical organic Rankine cycle configuration considering reinjection temperature limits for a low-temperature geothermal brine power plant. Saturated/superheated, non-regenerative/regenerative cycles are investigated. Evaporating temperature and overheating degree at the turbine inlet are selected as design variables, and highest plant exergy efficiency is pursued for current optimizations. Through theoretical analysis of mathematical modelling and typical case studies, a simple optimization approach is presented. The new approach consists of up to three judgements on reinjection temperature and evaporating temperature in comparison two optimization calculations along the saturated line and along the given reinjection temperature line. The potential optimal cycle configurations are saturated non-regenerative cycle, saturated regenerative cycle and superheated regenerative cycle. Then, this new optimization approach is applied to obtain optimal cycle configuration and relevant working condition. The working fluids investigated are R245fa, R1234ze(Z), isopentane, and isobutane. The saturated non-regenerative cycle is the optimal cycle when the reinjection temperature limit is equal or less than the optimal reinjection temperature with no reinjection constraint. Otherwise, the reinjection temperature limit influences not only the optimal cycle configuration but also the optimal working condition. Working fluid isobutane always achieves highest plant exergy efficiency for optimal cycles with either reinjection temperature limit