Maglev Vortex Rotor Organic Rankine Cycle System: Net Power Generation from Low-Temperature Waste Heat

This study aims to investigate the performance of a Maglev Vortex Rotor Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system for low-temperature waste heat recovery. The primary objective is to evaluate the net power generation and efficiency of the system under actual operating conditions. This study designed and constructed a novel magnetic levitation ORC system, which directly measures the net power generation under actual operating conditions. The system uses R245fa as the working fluid and was tested over a 20-day period. Linear regression analysis was employed to model the net power generation as a function of system operating time. The experimental results indicate that the net power generation of the ORC system increased from −186.9 to 70,290 kW·h over the 20-day period. The slope value obtained from linear regression analysis is 0.5962, with R-squared and adjusted R-squared values both at 0.9999, indicating a strong linear relationship. The net power generation can be approximated by a linear function, starting with a negative initial value and increasing stably with the increase in system operating time. The efficiency of waste heat power generation reached 10.03%. The Maglev Vortex Rotor ORC system demonstrates a significant improvement in net power generation and efficiency compared to traditional ORC systems. The system’s performance is highly stable and reliable, making it a promising technology for low-temperature waste heat recovery.