Small-scale Solar Organic Rankine Cycle Power Plant: A Simplified Formula to Estimate the Power Output of Six Areas in Thailand

Abstract

In this study, the concept of a small-scale Solar Organic Rankine Cycle (SORC) system for power generation with temperature below 100 ??C is proposed. The system is analyzed by using three different capacities (20, 40, and 60 kW_e) of the ORC system with R245fa in combination with solar water heating system (SWHW), using four different models (SORC-I, SORC-II, SORC-III, and SORC-IV). Each type of flat-plate (FP), evacuated-tube (ET), and compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) solar collectors was connected in parallel between 100 and 1200 units. These systems were mathematically modeled and simulated to evaluate the maximum power output, the CO₂ emission, and the economic analysis in terms of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The six areas consisting of Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chonburi represented as the north, central, west, south, north-east and east part of Thailand were taken as the weather data of the simulations. The results found that, without initial investment of the collectors, Chon Buri represent the east part of Thailand, the LCOE of the SORC power plant was the lowest of 0.187 USD/kWh, power output of 123.21 MWh/Year, and reduce CO₂ emission of 61.24 Ton CO₂ eq./Year, when 1000 units of ET collectors combined with one unit of a 60 kW_e ORC. With initial investment of the collectors, Bangkok represent the central part of Thailand, power output of 117.69 MWh/Year, and reduce CO₂ emission of 58.49 Ton CO₂ eq./Year, when 900 units of ET collectors combined with one unit of a 60 kW_e ORC.