Multi-vane expanders possess many advantages, over turbines and other positive-displacement machines, as prime movers for low-grade energy engines of small power outputs. It has been found that the performances of such expanders can be improved considerably by optimizing their design and operating variables. For an organic Rankine-cycle engine, utilizing low-temperature heat as the input, a multi-vane expander with isentropic efficiencies exceeding 73 per cent at rotational speeds up to 3000 r/min was designed, built and demonstrated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SternlichtB.Waste-energy recovery, an excellent investment opportunity. Energy Conversion and Management, 1982, 22(4), 361–373.
2.
BarberR. E.Potential of Rankine engines to produce power from waste-heat streams. Proc. ninth IECEC, 1974, paper 749018, pp 508–514.
3.
BarberR. E.Current costs of solar-powered organic Rankine-cycle engines. Solar Energy, 1978, 20(1), 1–6.
4.
HusseinM. A.Low-grade energy engine. PhD thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Cranfield Institute of Technology, 1981.
5.
BadrO.O'CallaghanP. W.HusseinM.ProbertS. D.Multi-vane expanders as prime movers for low-grade energy organic Rankine-cycle engines. Applied Energy, 1984, 16(2), 129–146.
6.
RobertsonG. F.WolgemuthC. H.Analysis and test apparatus for a vane expander using steam. Proc. tenth IECEC, 1975, paper 759205, pp 1399–1410.
7.
RobertsonG. F.WolgemuthC. H.Experimental and analytical study of friction, leakage and heat transfer in a vane expander. Proc. 13th IECEC, 1978, paper 789521, pp 1430–1441.
CurranH. M.Use of organic working fluids in Rankine engines. J. Energy, 1981, 5(4), 218–223.
10.
BadrO.O'CallaghanP. W.ProbertS. D.Thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of organic working fluids for Rankine-cycle engines. Applied Energy, 1985, 19(1), 1–40.
BadrO.ProbertS. D.O'CallaghanP. W.Selecting a working fluid for a Rankine-cycle engine. Applied Energy, 1985, 21(1), 1–42.
15.
BadrO.HusseinM.ProbertD.O'CallaghanP. W.Thermal stabilities of mixtures of trichlorofluoroethane and lubricating fluids contained in copper sealed tubes. Applied Energy, 1984, 16(1), 41–52.
BadrO.Development of a low-grade energy engine with a multivane expander as the prime mover. PhD thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Cranfield Institute of Technology, 1985.
18.
BadrO.ProbertD.O'CallaghanP. W.Selection of operating conditions and optimisation of design parameters for multivane expanders. Applied Energy, 1986, in press.
19.
BadrO.ProbertS. D.O'CallaghanP. W.Influences of vane design and lubricant on a multi-vane expander's performance. Applied Energy, 1986, in press.
20.
BadrO.ProbertS. D.O'CallaghanP. W.Optimal design and operating conditions for a multi-vane expander. Applied Energy, 1986, in press.
21.
BadrO.O'CallaghanP. W.ProbertS. D.Performance of Rankine-cycle engines as functions of their expanders' efficiencies. Applied Energy, 1984, 18(1), 15–27.
