Comprehensive review on cogeneration systems for low and medium temperature heat recoveries

ABSTRACT

The cogeneration system receives more research potential for sustainable development in recent years. The combined output system has plenty of combinations in assessing its performance. Presently more focus on the utilization of waste heat recovery generating heat and power, heat and cooling, power and cooling is under investigation. This study aims to provide a literature review regarding the design and performance investigation of low temperature and medium temperature heat recovery based cogeneration systems. This study provides information regarding the decision variables, process models, and working fluids examined in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). The combined ORC-based power and cooling/refrigeration systems produce a maximum combined energy and exergy efficiencies of 47.3% and 59.16% respectively. Kalina cycle (KC)-based cogeneration system results in optimum energy and exergy efficiency values of 42% and 47%. The advanced exergy analysis for evaluating the losses in the components at the micro-level needs to be examined in combined power and cooling systems. This review details the progress in cogeneration systems suited for low temperature and medium temperature heat recovery applications. This review provides information about the cogeneration outputs and recommends examining combined power and desalination/hydrogen systems. Exergoenvironmental investigation on the cogeneration systems suitable for low temperature and medium temperature waste heat recoveries needs to be investigated.

KEYWORDS:

• Cogeneration
• ORC
• Kalina
• OFC
• nuclear
• refrigeration
• cooling

Acknowledgments

The authors thank All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) [grant Number No. 9-135/RIFD/MOD/Policy-1/2018-2019] for supporting this work. The authors acknowledge the patent work entitled “Combined Renewable Energy Based Heat, Power Generation and Cooling System and a Method Thereof, “ application No. 201941040473 A and “Combined Thermodynamic Cycle Based Power Generation System and a Method Thereof” application No. 201941009276 A.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the All India Council for Technical Education [Ref: No. 9-135/RIFD/MOD/Policy-1/2018-2019].

Notes on contributors

Narayanan Shankar Ganesh

Dr. N. Shankar Ganesh is working as Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kingston Engineering College, Vellore, India. Has published 50 research papers in various reputed International and National journals as well as conferences. His research area includes power generations system, cogeneration system, modeling of heat recovery systems, thermoeconomic analysis and exergo environmental studies. He has research association with power generation systems for more than 15 years. Has published five patents and published an International book in 2019 and national book in 2020. Received funds from TNSCST (Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology) & AICTE towards research activities.