Vaporization at Supercritical Pressures and Counterflow Condensing of Pure and Mixed-Hydrocarbon Working Fluids for Geothermal Power Plants

摘要

The Heat Cycle Research Program has as its objective the development of the technology for effecting improved utilization of moderate temperature geothermal resources. Current testing involves supercritical vaporization and counterflow in-tube condensing in an organic Rankine cycle. Results of the experiments are given for both pure and mixed-hydrocarbon working fluids. The heater and condenser behavior predicted by the Heat Transfer Research, Inc. computer codes used for correlation of the data was in excellent agreement with experimental results. A special series of tests, conducted with propane and up to approximately 40% isopentane concentration indicated that a close approach to ''integral'' condensation was occurring in the vertically-oriented condenser. (ERA citation 11:040269)