EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIENCE FROM LONG-TERM OPERATION OF A ROTARY VANE EXPANDER

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21220%2F25%3A00385575" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21220/25:00385575 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68407700:21720/25:00385575

Result on the web

<a href="https://lutpub.lut.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/170511/ORC2025_proceedings_public.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y" target="_blank" >https://lutpub.lut.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/170511/ORC2025_proceedings_public.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIENCE FROM LONG-TERM OPERATION OF A ROTARY VANE EXPANDER

Original language description

A Rotary Vane Expander (RVE) is a promising solution for low-power applications up to around 10 kW, thanks to its favorable cost-to-performance ratio. A characteristic feature of these machines are the vanes that slide out of the rotor slots and are in sliding contact with the stator, thus defining the working chambers. These vanes are subject to high mechanical loads, and their reliability critically determines the overall service life of the expander. Maintaining permanent contact between the vanes and the stator is also crucial for ensuring good efficiency and to avoid excessive leakage of the working fluid between the working chambers. This article summarizes a series of experiments and design iterations that were gradually carried out on an in-house developed RVE for a woodchips-fired ORC Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit with a thermal output of 120 kW using the working fluid hexamethyldisiloxane (MM) with a 5% content of synthetic polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil. Based on the observation of the wear of the vanes, rotating end-faces and stator and the subsequent design modifications, a significant extension of the expander’s service life was achieved — diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating and optimization of the stator geometry played a crucial role. These findings were then validated under real operating conditions, with the resulting prototype of the expander successfully running for over 4000 hours. The article further discusses specific cases of operational issues, mostly wear, their potential causes, and the corrective measures taken. The presented results show that by carefully combining experimental and engineering approaches, reliable operation of the vane expander can be achieved even in demanding conditions of long-term ORC cycles operation.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

D - Article in proceedings

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

20704 - Energy and fuels

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Article name in the collection

Proceedings of the 8th International Seminar on ORC Power Systems

ISBN

978-952-412-288-7

ISSN

2243-3376

e-ISSN

2243-3376

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

31-40

Publisher name

LUT Scientific and Expertise Publications

Place of publication

—

Event location

Lappeenranta

Event date

Sep 9, 2025

Type of event by nationality

WRD - Celosvětová akce

UT code for WoS article

—