An introduction to the Kalina cycle

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:550006

Micak, H A

This paper is intended as a primer on the Kalina cycle--a novel, efficient power cycle that uses an ammonia-water mixture as the working fluid. The reader needs no more than a basic understanding of conventional water based Rankine cycle power plants to comprehend the basic thermodynamics, principles and arrangements of Kalina cycle power plants presented in this paper. The Kalina cycle is principally a modified Rankine cycle. The transformation starts with an important process change to the Rankine cycle--changing the working fluid in the cycle from a pure component (typically water) to a mixture of ammonia and water. The modifications that complete the transformation of the cycle from Rankine to Kalina consist of proprietary system designs that specifically exploit the virtues of the ammonia-water working fluid. These special designs, either applied individually or integrated together in a number of different combinations, comprise a family of unique Kalina cycle systems. This is somewhat analogous to the Rankine cycle which, in fact, has many design options such as reheat, regenerative heating, supercritical pressure, dual pressure, etc. all of which can be applied in a number of different combinations in a particular plant.

• OSTI ID: 550006
• Report Number(s): CONF-961006--; ISBN 0-7918-1796-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
BOTTOMING CYCLES
COMBINED CYCLES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
RANKINE CYCLE
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
THERMODYNAMICS