Overview of Kalina Cycle | Report

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Title: Kalina Cycle

Abstract:
A Kalina cycle is designed to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy which turns the
turbine. The turbine could be coupled to coils which turn in a magnetic field to produce
electricity. It is a very efficient cycle since it is a nonisothermal cycle, hence, it does not
experience isothermal losses. This paper aims at discussing the basic operation of the kalian
cycle, its operational model as a bottoming cycle, challenges facing it and the proposed
modifications.
Introduction
Dr. alexander Kalina developed Kalina Cycle as a method of producing electricity using low
temperatures by changing thermal energy into mechanical energy (Zare & Moalemian, 2017,
p.1688). The cycle is made up of a recuperator,a separator, a condenser, a turbine and a boiler
(shown in figure 1 below)
Figure 1: Kalina Cycle
Here, the working fluid is basically a mixture of two different fluids, commonly water, and
ammonia (Dawo et al., 2019, p.630). The vapourization is non-isothermal hence no heat is lost
isothermally. Water has a higher boiling point than ammonia (Lolos & Rogdakis, 2009, p. 460)
When the mixture begins to boil at 549 kPa (state 3) the water and ammonia are 70% and 30%
by concentration respectively. As the boiling continues, the temperature rises. On state 4 the
concentration of the fluid remaining is due to states 6 and 5 respectively. At state 7, the mixture
has further boiled to saturated vapor, whose concentration is the same as that of the liquid at the
beginning of the vapourization process (Bahrampoury & Behbahaninia, 2017, p.115). High-