Experimental study of an ultra-high-speed ORC turbogenerator

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out on a 1-kilowatt microturbogenerator prototype with a maximum rotational speed of 120,000 rpm. The microturbogenerator prototype has a hermetic structure and was built using oil-free technology involving the use of gas bearings. The bearings are supplied with the vapour of the low-boiling liquid HFE7100. The work presents the results of the tests performed on the microturbogenerator at a heat source power of 14 kWt and 20 kWt. The tests were carried out at a fixed flow rate of the working fluid and a varying electric load of the generator. One of the main objectives of the study was to check in which ranges of the thermodynamic parameters the microturbogenerator can operate correctly. The electrical power measured at the outlet of the ORC system was found to increase with the power of the heat source and the flow rate of the working fluid. It was also found that the maximum electrical power produced by the ORC system strongly depends on the load of the microturbine generator. A maximum electrical output power of 639 We of the ORC system was obtained with a thermal power of the heat source of 20 kWt and a flow rate of HFE7100 of 60 g/s. A maximum isentropic efficiency of about 72% was achieved by the microturbogenerator at a HFE7100 flow rate of 30 g/s and a heat source power of 14 kWt.     «

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out on a 1-kilowatt microturbogenerator prototype with a maximum rotational speed of 120,000 rpm. The microturbogenerator prototype has a hermetic structure and was built using oil-free technology involving the use of gas bearings. The bearings are supplied with the vapour of the low-boiling liquid HFE7100. The work presents the results of the tests performed on the microturbogenerator at a heat source power of 14 kWt and 20 kWt. T...     »