Theoretical analysis of a transcritical power cycle for power generation from waste energy at low temperature heat source

The present paper reports the results obtained on a carbon dioxide transcritical power cycle using an energy and exergy analysis. The procedure consisted of modifying the inlet pressure to the turbine from 66 bar, by means of the software HYSYS (R), maintaining constant each evaluated turbine inlet temperature (60, 90, 120 and 150 degrees C) until the net work was approximately zero. As a result, an increase up to 25% for the exergy efficiency, and up to 300% for the energy efficiency are obtained when the inlet temperature to the turbine is risen from 60 to 150 degrees C. Consequently, the analysis shows the viability of implementing this process as alternative energy, because of the possibility to recovery energy from waste heat from industrial processes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.