Investigation of low-GWP working fluids as substitutes for R245fa in organic Rankine cycle application

This study presents a thermo-economic assessment of three low-global-warming-potential (GWP) substitutes, R1233zd(E), R1234ze(Z) and R1234ze(E), for R245fa used in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems, considering two models with different heat sources. The exhaust heat from a diesel generator is served as heat source of Model I, while the waste heat of exhaust and jacket cooling water are used as heat source of Model II. It is noted that the working pressure of R1234ze(E) is much higher than that of R1233zd(E), R1234ze(Z) and R245fa in a fixed evaporation-temperature range. Furthermore, the system using R1234ze(E) has the minimum net power output for Model I, while it turns into the maximum net power output for Model II. In addition, both R1234ze(Z) and R1233zd(E) can be used as good alternative working fluids for R245fa because R1234ze(Z), R1233zd(E) and R245fa have close working pressures, maximum net power outputs, and minimum levelized energy costs. Compared to Model I, LEC _min of R1233ed(E) and R1234ze(Z) are reduced by 10.8 % and 9.9 % and PB _min of R1233ed(E) and R1234ze(Z) are reduced by 11.5 % and 10.1 %, respectively, in Model II. However, R1233zd(E) has the highest minimum payback period for both Model I and Model II among the four working fluids investigated.