Rankine Cycle Working Fluid Selection and Specification Rationale

Few practical applications of the organic Rankine cycle powerplant have been realized despite much interest expressed in the literature. One reason is high development cost for as yet unsubstantiated advantages; another is the technical problem of an ideal working fluid, which is crucial in this powerplant concept. As a preliminary, these authors attempt to define an “ideal” fluid, which can be then constructed by the chemical industry. To this end, the thermodynamic and aerodynamic characteristics of such a fluid are analyzed. Examples of specifications are then introduced. The conclusion is that “ideal” fluids can be specified as a function of application