In experimenting reuse of waste heat/exhaust fumes, can I use waste heat from electric generating set for heating in refrigerating cycle, Is it practicable?
Rankine and Vapour Absorption cycles Which is more practical and why?
Absolutely. You can capture waste heat from flue-gas stack and use it as a source of energy for heat-driven refrigeration systems such as absorption, ejector and adsorption. Since you are talking about power plant exhausts, be aware that you cannot lower the exhaust temperature as low as 200 °C in order to avoid any condensation and acid formation. Good luck!
Of course it is practicable.
Rankine Cycle and Absorption refrigeration use heat as energy source. Currently the use of Organic Rankine Cycle is more common since the working temperature is relatively low depends on working fluids.
It is possible but you need to know what you're doing. I worked on one project that was such a disaster the Three Stooges would be ashamed of it. The engines and recovery system sit on top of a building and supply power, heating, and cooling to a nearby hospital. This mechanical atrocity is located near a very prestigious university, which will remain anonymous out of respect for the graduates that have distinguished themselves with good work. The ridiculous design was conjured up by a professor, who has probably never worked a day at a real job and not likely ever set foot in an operating power plant. While it is important and worthy to utilize what is often considered "waste heat", know that it will not be economical to do so, or someone would already be doing it. Still, it may be admirable and worthy, even if it doesn't make good financial sense. "Green" projects don't pay for themselves, else they wouldn't need government subsidies.
I agree with M. Benton. Materializing waste heat recovery projects is far from being just a technology plug and play. It is rather a challanging integration process. On the other hand, the economics are not necessarly attractive unless you're doing it in locations where electricity rates or LCOE are very high such as in remote areas where cooling is required (eg. off-grid underground mining sites in Australia and Africa). Keep in mind that heat-driven refrigeration technologies are not efficient and may require higher CAPEX compared to vapor compression refrigeration systems.
However, if your intent is to achieve a graduate degree by performing an academic study there is no harm but it is worth working on a relevent and realistic project that can be beneficial for both academia and industry.
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