JA
cIMOVI
c ET AL.
use the exhaust gases from the turbine as a heat source.
Vapor of working solution (stream 15) is then sent to six
consecutive turbines, T1-T6 (radial inflow type), where it
expands creating mechanical work (streams 16-21).
Vapor is expanded in the turbine, T6, at such a low pres-
sure that it cannot be condensed at a given ambient tem-
perature. Hot vapor at turbine, T6, exit (stream 21) is
cooled first in the heater, H4 (RQ) (resulting in stream
22), and then in the economizer, RQ2 (stream 23), thus
providing energy necessary for separation of the working
fluid. This working solution is mixed with the flash tank,
FD, liquid downstream of the economizer, RQ3 (stream
11), which is first throttled by means of valve, PV, to the
lower pressure (that of stream 23), resulting in once again
in “basic composition” fluid (stream 24). Finally, the fluid
is completely condensed by using cooling fluid in the
heat exchanger, H1 (HEC/HESC), resulting in “basic
composition” liquid (feed-stream 1) and the process is
repeated.
NBC, presented by Kalina in Reference 29, is some-
what different from the cycle shown in Figure 4. These
differences are only visual (ie, technologically both pro-
cesses are identical) and are as follows:
• in Reference 29, a single cooler of working fluid is
shown with two working fluid streams and one cooling
fluid stream (having a total of three streams in a single
heat exchanger), while Figure 4 shows two distinct
coolers, H1 and H2, with two streams each (one work-
ing fluid and one cooling fluid);
• in Reference 29, a single heat recuperator is shown
with a total of four working streams, while Figure 4
shows three recuperators (RQ2-RQ4) with two
streams each.
Cycle shown in Figure 4 is calculated based on the
assumption that stream number 2 is divided in DIV 1
equally among three streams: 201, 202, and 203. The
same cycle considers that the stream number 6 is divided
in DIV 2 among streams 7 and 9 in the ratio ˙m7 :
˙m9 = 0:131 : 0:869.
Benefit of using a binary fluid as working fluid (hav-
ing “basic composition”) is the possibility of adjusting the
“working composition” of the fluid by distillation. Richer
composition can be achieved by using the heat recovery
vapor generator while leaner composition can be
achieved in the low-pressure condenser. When discussing
ammonia-water binary mixture as a working fluid, since
the molecular weight of ammonia is close to that of
water, a standard back-pressure turbine designed for use
with steam can be used.
Major benefit of NBC is that it has been designed to
use low-grade thermal energy efficiently from
innovative sources. Besides exhaust gases, suggested as
heat source in Reference 29, other sources, such as bio-
mass waste heat or geothermal wells, can be used. In
comparison to the NBC, other systems, such as the
ORC, have been demonstrated to be less effective in
these particular applications. For example, as a conse-
quence to this fact, the National Energy Development
Organization (NEDO) in Japan has identified the
Kalina's NBC as one of the most suitable technologies
for further improving the energy efficiency of the Japa-
nese steel industry.31
6 | MODIFIED NBC ( MNBC)
Original NBC, presented by Kalina in Reference 29, can
be somewhat simplified using the cycle shown in
Figure 4. This modified cycle is simplified so that it con-
tains only two heat recuperators, while the original NBC
from Reference 29 contains a total of four heat rec-
uperators. This suggests lower capital expenditures and
simpler cycle management and regulation.
Cycle shown in Figure 5 is calculated based on the
assumption that stream number 7 is divided in DIV 1
equally among streams 8 and 11, while stream 4 is
divided in DIV2 equally among streams 5 and 7.
Overall efficiency of the thermal cycle is defined as
the ratio of the work produced by the turbine reduced by
the pumps work and the input energy (heat) of preheater,
boiler, and superheater. It is calculated using the follow-
ing equation:
N T −N P1 −N P2 N T −N P1 −N P2
ηTH = = ð2Þ
Q_ in Q_ PH + Q_ B + Q_ S
in which:
• NT, W, power generated by turbine (T);
• NP1, W, power consumption of pump 1 (P1);
• NP2, W, power consumption of pump 2 (P2);
• ˙Qin , W, input heat of preheater ˙QPH , boiler ˙QB and
superheater ˙QS .
In his original work,29 Kalina has neglected power
consumption of pumps. Data presented in References 12
and 29 suggest that the cycle thermal efficiency without
considering pump power consumption is ηTH = 0.304.
However, if power consumption of pumps is considered,
the thermal efficiency calculated according to (1) is
reduced to ηTH = 0.296, as given in Reference 12
(Table 16 of the indicated reference).
It is interesting to note that in Reference 29 the pres-
sure at the turbine outlet is lower than atmospheric