Optimization of power generation from a set of low-temperature abandoned gas wells, using organic Rankine cycle

Abstract

This research article deals with the employment of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to generate electricity from a set of low-temperature abandoned gas wells in Iran. At first, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to select an appropriate power cycle; consequently organic Rankine cycle was chosen. Then, a comprehensive investigation was carried out to find a typical low-temperature abandoned gas reservoir, so an abandoned gas reservoir in the central part of Iran was considered. The next step was selecting the working fluid; in this regard, a vast range of common organic fluids were studied and R125 was chosen. Finally, the gas well and the power plant were simulated, and then a parametric optimization of the ORC plant was performed in order to achieve optimum power generation, and also to compute generated power at different operational parameters of gas wells and power cycle. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.