January 28, 2021

High-Tech Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints for Organic Rankine Cycle power generating units.

High-Tech Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints for Organic Rankine Cycle power generating units.
High-Tech Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints for Organic Rankine Cycle power generating units.

The Rankine Cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that converts heat into work. The heat is supplied to a closed loop, which typically uses water as working fluid. The Rankine Cycle based on water provides approximately 85% of worldwide electricity production.

An Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is simply a steam cycle in which the traditional steam is replaced by refrigerants or hydrocarbons. ORCs utilize clean energy resources: geothermal fluids, solar irradiation, ocean thermal gradient, heat from biomass combustion and waste heat from industrial thermal processes.

Instead of generating steam from water, the ORC system vaporizes an organic fluid, characterized by a molecular mass higher than that of water, which leads to a slower rotation of the turbine, lower pressures and no erosion of the metal parts and blades.

Mechanical design and constructive parameters of the Expansion Joints supplied:

  • Type: Pressure Balanced MPB-E Series
  • Sizes: DN400, DN300 and DN200
  • Medium: Hydrogen
  • Design Pressure: 30 barg (435 psi)
  • Design temperature: -80 °C (-112 °F)