Thermodynamic and Exergetic Analyses of Power and Cooling Systems

Recovering useful work from heat that industrial processes would otherwise discard sits at the center of modern efforts to raise energy efficiency without adding new fuel consumption. Cycles such as the Organic Rankine Cycle and the supercritical CO₂ cycle make this possible by matching working fluid properties to low- and medium-grade heat sources—waste exhaust, geothermal brines, solar collectors—that conventional steam turbines cannot exploit economically. Thermodynamic and exergy analyses quantify not just how much energy moves through these systems, but where quality is irreversibly lost, giving engineers a precise map of where redesign pays off. Active research questions include identifying working fluids that balance thermodynamic performance with safety and environmental impact, and understanding how thermal energy storage can be integrated so that power output tracks demand rather than the intermittent availability of waste heat.

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40,239

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586,565

Keywords

Organic Rankine CycleWaste Heat RecoveryThermodynamic AnalysisWorking FluidsExergy AnalysisLow-Grade Heat