Novel design and energy analysis of hybrid system activated by low-grade thermal energy conversion.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Novel design and energy analysis of hybrid system activated by low-grade thermal energy conversion.
Authors:	Maalem, Youcef¹, Madani, Hakim² h.madani@univ-batna2.dz
Source:	Archives of Thermodynamics. 2026, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p237-253. 17p.
Subjects:	Rankine cycle, Working fluids, Waste heat, Refrigeration & refrigerating machinery, Trigeneration (Energy), Thermodynamics
Abstract:	A novel power-cooling system triggered by low-grade thermal energy is proposed and studied in this paper. The power-cooling unit combined the engine (organic Rankine cycle) and cooler (ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle employing a booster). Both cycles employ isobutene (R600a) as a working fluid and share a single condenser unit. The performance characteristics (overall coefficient of performance and working fluid mass flow rate per kW of cooling capacity) of the novel unit was investigated using thermodynamic analysis in comparison to the traditional unit that is commonly used. The latter combines the engine (organic Rankine cycle) with the cooler (vapour compression refrigeration cycle) in various operational conditions, including exit temperatures of a boiler unit (60−90°C), a condenser unit (30−55°C) and an evaporator unit (15−15°C). It was discovered that in comparison to the traditional unit, the novel unit exhibited lower working fluid mass flow rate per kW of cooling capacity and higher overall coefficient of performance. The overall coefficients of performance for both systems increase by 0.5385 and 0.4476, respectively, when the boiler unit’s temperature reaches 90°C and the other input specifications are set to typical values. On the other hand, the working fluid mass flow rate per kW cooling capacity of both systems drops by 0.0096 and 0.0064, respectively. Overall, the study demonstrates that the novel system triggered by low-grade thermal energy can be an alternative to the traditional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	A novel power-cooling system triggered by low-grade thermal energy is proposed and studied in this paper. The power-cooling unit combined the engine (organic Rankine cycle) and cooler (ejector-expansion refrigeration cycle employing a booster). Both cycles employ isobutene (R600a) as a working fluid and share a single condenser unit. The performance characteristics (overall coefficient of performance and working fluid mass flow rate per kW of cooling capacity) of the novel unit was investigated using thermodynamic analysis in comparison to the traditional unit that is commonly used. The latter combines the engine (organic Rankine cycle) with the cooler (vapour compression refrigeration cycle) in various operational conditions, including exit temperatures of a boiler unit (60−90°C), a condenser unit (30−55°C) and an evaporator unit (15−15°C). It was discovered that in comparison to the traditional unit, the novel unit exhibited lower working fluid mass flow rate per kW of cooling capacity and higher overall coefficient of performance. The overall coefficients of performance for both systems increase by 0.5385 and 0.4476, respectively, when the boiler unit’s temperature reaches 90°C and the other input specifications are set to typical values. On the other hand, the working fluid mass flow rate per kW cooling capacity of both systems drops by 0.0096 and 0.0064, respectively. Overall, the study demonstrates that the novel system triggered by low-grade thermal energy can be an alternative to the traditional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	12310956
DOI:	10.24425/ather.2026.158673