Energetic Analysis and Working Fluids Selection for a New Power and Refrigeration Combined Ecological System

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the performance of a new system that combines organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and vapor compression refrigeration cycle (VCRC) for refrigeration and cogeneration. This system uses low-temperature heat sources such as solar energy, geothermal, industrial waste heat and biomass. The novelty of the proposed system manifests itself essentially in: the development of new ORC-VCRC combination architecture, lowering the ORC condensing temperature, the possibility of refrigeration production by the ORC upstream of the pumping phase, preheating of ORC using VCRC fluid and new configurations based on the integration of heat recovery systems to improve the overall system performance. The first part of this study presents the energetic analysis for the basic system using different working fluids and investigation of the operating parameters effect on the system performance (The system performance is described by the ORC thermal efficiency, the VCRC coefficient of performance and the system overall efficiency). Ten working fluids have been selected in order to provide the most adequate candidates for the proposed system. The results showed that the heating temperature and the cooling temperature have a significant effect on the system performance. The choice of fluid was also mentioned; the obtained results confirmed that the best combination for the basic system is R236fa-acetone. Four system configurations are developed and analyzed in the second part of the study. Also in the same part of the study, we will compare these configurations in terms of the performance rate retained. In the last part, we will make a comparison of this new system with another system.