What is an Organic Rankine Cycle?
It is very similar to a steam cycle like the kind used in producing electricity by heating water. Water boils at 212 degrees and the resulting steam comes out of the boiler at high pressure which then drives a turbine. When the steam exits the turbine it is cooled and condenses back into water. A pump then sends the water back to the boiler to make a continuous cycle. An Organic Rankine Cycle uses an organic compound instead of water and the organic working fluid boils furiously at low temperatures, about 140 degrees. The cycle is the same as a steam cycle but it requires much less heat so low temperature solar water panels can be used along with low temperture geothermal wells or waste heat from industrial processes.
