2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Allenhouse Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208008, India
Abstract
The primary focus of this review article is to examine the power cycles employed for generating electricity from steam-dominated resources. It discusses the phenomenon of Transcritical CO2 (T-CO2) power cycles and the Rankine Cycle, which have been extensively studied by numerous academics. The article also briefly explores fuel-cell-based power plants using binary cycles, geothermal power plants, and solar-assisted power plants. The article presents information on power generation, thermal efficiency, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency of these plants. The investigation reveals that geothermal power plants have thermal efficiencies ranging from 6.5% to 16.63% and exergy efficiencies ranging from 7.95% to 82%, producing power in the range of 199.1 kW to 19,448 kW. Solar power plants produce power ranging from 550.9 kW to 4500 kW, with energy efficiency between 21.93% and 57% and exergy efficiency between 50.5% and 64.92%. Fuel cell power plants using NH3+H2O as the working fluid generate power from 1015 kW to 20125 kW, with thermal efficiency between 25.4% and 70.3% and exergy efficiency between 12.1% and 36%. The article highlights the use of the Kalina cycle in these scenarios.