The Organic Rankine Cycle (abbreviation ORC) is a method of operating steam turbines with a working fluid other than steam. The name of the process goes back to William John Macquorn Rankine, a Scottish-British physicist and engineer. Organic liquids with a low evaporation temperature are used as the working fluid.
Functional diagram ORC system (Gammel Engineering)
The process is primarily used in highly efficient combined heat and power plants with an electrical output of up to approx. 2.5 MW or when the available temperature gradient between the heat source and sink is too low for the operation of a steam-driven turbine. This is particularly the case for electricity generation using geothermal energy, combined heat and power generation, solar power plants and marine thermal power plants. The expansion machines (turbine, screw expander) are typically operated with silicone oil, refrigerant or combustible gas.
Gammel Engineering has experience from more than 30 realized biomass cogeneration plants with ORC technology in power classes 300 to 2500 kWel. The engineering company is the market leader in German-speaking countries. As a result of many years of expertise, the Kombi Power System was developed with the aim of increasing electrical efficiency and reducing emissions when using natural biomass. Find out more at http://www.gammel.de/de/kombi-power-system
ORC turbine with recuperator (Gammel Engineering)
ORC turbine with silicone steam line (Gammel Engineering)
Recuperator with silicone oil preheaters and evaporator (Gammel Engineering)
Silicone oil preheater and evaporator (Gammel Engineering)
ORC 70 kW outdoor installation (Dürr Cyplan)
ORC 70 kW indoor installation (Dürr Cyplan)
Sources :
Wikipedia
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_Rankine_Cycle
Dürr Cyplan
http://www.durr-cleantechnology.com/de/umwelttechnik-produkte/orc-system/