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High efficiency decentralized electrical power generation utilizing diesel engines coupled with organic working fluid rankine-cycle engines operating on diesel reject heat

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7066745

A comprehensive study of high efficiency electrical power plants, consisting of diesel engines coupled with organic working fluid Rankine-cycle engines (ORCS) operating on the diesel exhaust heat is described. A combined cycle efficiency of 46.3 percent is attained with commercially available diesel engines with a potential for >50 percent using experimental engines. The estimated unit capital cost of a 50 Mwe diesel/ORCS power plant is $250/kwe. The use of small power plants is economically feasible, and is a way to reverse the current trend of centralization. Decentralization, coupled with high plant efficiency, would result in important advantages with respect to environmental effects, fuel conservation and effective land use. Conventional diesel and gas engines can be operated on distillate or residual fuel oil, natural gas, and products of coal gasification. (Color illustrations reproduced in black and white)

Research Organization:
Thermo Electron Corp., Waltham, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
7066745
Report Number(s):
PB-277188; TE-4186-27-75
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English