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Thermo-economic evaluation and working fluid screening for supercritical ORCs driven by medium-temperature geothermal sources

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  • Liu, Qiang
  • Yang, Fufang
  • Liu, Xiong
  • Zhang, Xiaodong
  • Yang, Zuowei

Abstract

This study evaluates the thermodynamic and economic performance of supercritical organic Rankine cycle (SORC) and recuperative SORC (RSORC) systems using various working fluids for medium-temperature geothermal sources (150−180 °C) with a reinjection temperature of 70 °C. Turbine inlet temperature and pressure are optimized to maximize net power output. In SORC, wet and isentropic fluids outperform dry fluids due to lower cold source losses. R134a achieves the highest net power and lowest specific investment cost (SIC) at brine temperatures below 170 °C, while R152a performs better at higher temperatures owing to reduced parasitic load. Incorporating a recuperator in RSORC improves thermal matching and, coupled with increased specific heat near the pseudocritical point, shifts the pinch point toward the low-temperature end in the primary heat exchanger, thereby reducing optimal turbine inlet temperature and pressure. Compared to SORC, RSORC narrows thermal efficiency differences among fluids, lowers parasitic power fraction (especially at lower source temperatures), but slightly increases SIC. Dry fluids generate 5.8−17.8 % more net power in RSORC than in SORC. R1234ze(E) achieves comparable net power to R134a and up to 9 % lower SIC than dry fluids, making it a promising alternative for both SORC and RSORC with lower operating pressure and reduced environmental impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Qiang & Yang, Fufang & Liu, Xiong & Zhang, Xiaodong & Yang, Zuowei, 2026. "Thermo-economic evaluation and working fluid screening for supercritical ORCs driven by medium-temperature geothermal sources," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:257:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125024590
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124795
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