A New Dual-Level Heat Exchanger and TES-Assisted ORC for Generating Energy at Home in Very Bad Weather
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31663/utjes.15.2.722Keywords:
Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Thermal Energy Storage (TES), Geothermal, Solar Collector, Hybrid System, Residential Energy, Harsh Climates, Dynamic ControlAbstract
The supply of reliable household electricity in the hot and dry region is difficult because of huge diurnal temperature differences as well as varying grid power. This study proposes a new type of hybrid thermal–electric system combining the dual-level heat exchanger, TES, and ORC for residential power generation in cold areas. The design features a ground-source branch and an exposed seasonal branch that alternates between a solar thermal collector (summer) and an air source heat exchanger (winter). A racetrack dynamic pressure control system ensures driving-a constant evaporation and condensation, regardless of external conditions. Thermodynamic analysis supported by the climatic data of Nasiriyah city, Iraq, indicates that continuous operation is guaranteed with such a system. The results show that the system keeps running all year by switching between solar-ground coupling in the summer and geothermal-air coupling in the winter. The ORC produces 1.95 kW of net electrical power during the busiest summer hours, with a thermal efficiency of 8.7%. The TES, on the other hand, allows the system to run for 4 to 6 hours after sunset. In the winter, performance ranges from 0.25 to 1.0 kW. This is because the temperature differences are smaller, but dynamic pressure regulation keeps the performance stable. A comparison with recent hybrid ORC–TES studies shows that seasonal efficiency changes in the same way, which supports the modeling method. The data provide a clear indication that TES and pressure control are essential for maintaining consistent performance throughout the year. The solution offers a sustainable path for decentralized on-site residential energy generation even in harsh environments.
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