Applications of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Technologies for Waste Heat Recovery in Korea            

Choon Sik Kim

POSCO E & C, Seoul, Korea

Bobby Hobbs

Barber-Nichols, Inc. Arvada, CO, USA

                                                                                       Yong Nak Lee                                                                                     

Heat Transfer R & D, Ltd., Mt. Prospect, IL USA

Abstract:

The history of joint efforts between South Korea and USA to utilize the waste heat for generating electricity can be traced back to late 80's.  A significant milestone was a power recovery research project conducted by a research team of POSCO with the technical assistance of Barber-Nichols, Inc. during the period of 1990 - 2000, which demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing the waste heat for useful electric power. The first commercial project in Korea conducted with cooperative efforts between the two, however, was the 2.7 MW net power generator utilizing waste heat via the ORC technology for Asia Cement Co., in Jecheon, ChoongBuk  in 2004-2005..

The application of the ORC system to waste heat recovery is described along with special considerations such as the selection of the working fluid.  The major design features and operation of the plant is described.  The nearly fully automatic startup and shutdown features of the control system are described.  Operational history and plant performance is described.

The Jecheon project carried out by POSCO Engineering & Construction Co. with the technical assistance of Barber-Nichols is described in some detail to demonstrate that the ORC technology will benefit all of the none-oil producing as well as the oil-producing countries in the long run.