Exergy analysis and parameter study on a novel auto-cascade Rankine cycle

A novel auto-cascade Rankine cycle (ARC) is proposed to reduce thermodynamics irreversibility and improve energy utilization. Like the Kalina cycle, the working fluid for the ARC is zeotropic mixture, which can improve the system efficiency due to the temperature slip that zeotropic mixtures exhibit during phase change. Unlike the Kalina cycle, two expanders are included in the ARC rather than a expander and a throttling valve in the Kalina cycle, which means more work can be obtained. Using the exhaust gas as the heat source and water as the heat sink, a program is written by Matlab 2010a to carry out exergy analysis and parameter study on the ARC. Results show that the R245fa mass fraction in the primary circuit exists an optimum value with respect to the minimum total cycle irreversibility. The largest exergy loss occurs in evaporator, followed by the superheater, condenser, regenerator and IHE (Internal heat exchanger). As the R245fa mass fraction increases, the exergy losses of different components vary diversely. With the evaporation pressure rises, the total cycle irreversibility decreases and work output increases. Separator temperature has a greater influence on the system performance than superheating temperature. Compared with ORC (organic Rankine cycle) and Kalina cycle in the literature, the ARC has proven to be thermodynamically better.