Simulation and Optimization of Waste Heat to Electricity through Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs): a Case Study in an Oil Refinery

Energy efficiency has become a global problem that is detrimental to the chemical industries technically, economically and to the environment. Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a promising technology that can solve this problem by recovering heat from low-grade waste heat sources by using organic working fluids. The heat source for the ORC system used in this article is air leaving air coolers in an oil refinery with a temperature of 140o C. The heat exchanger data for this refinery was used in the simulation of a basic cycle and a regenerative cycle using ASPEN HYSYS V.10. These ORC systems were simulated using hydrocarbons, refrigerants, and alternative refrigerants as the working fluids to compare their performance at three different condensation temperatures which are 15o C, 35o C, and 50o C. The system was optimized using the HYSYS optimizer to reach the optimum conditions for each working fluid. Results of this study have proven that the alternative working fluids R1234ze (Z) and R1224yd (Z) perform very well when compared to hydrocarbon working fluids and outperform the regular refrigerants. For the basic cycle which yielded the optimum results, R1234ze (Z) produced 1258.90 kW of turbine work and has a thermal efficiency of 11.31%. Hence, they are promising working fluids and are highly recommended to be used in the future since they perform highly economically in addition to being environmentally friendly

Cervical spondylosis with spinal cord encroachment: should preventive surgery be recommended?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been stated that individuals who have spondylotic encroachment on the cervical spinal cord without myelopathy are at increased risk of spinal cord injury if they experience minor trauma. Preventive decompression surgery has been recommended for these individuals. The purpose of this paper is to provide the non-surgical spine specialist with information upon which to base advice to patients. The evidence behind claims of increased risk is investigated as well as the evidence regarding the risk of decompression surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A literature search was conducted on the risk of spinal cord injury in individuals with asymptomatic cord encroachment and the risk and benefit of preventive decompression surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three studies on the risk of spinal cord injury in this population met the inclusion criteria. All reported increased risk. However, none were prospective cohort studies or case-control studies, so the designs did not allow firm conclusions to be drawn. A number of studies and reviews of the risks and benefits of decompression surgery in patients with cervical myelopathy were found, but no studies were found that addressed surgery in asymptomatic individuals thought to be at risk. The complications of decompression surgery range from transient hoarseness to spinal cord injury, with rates ranging from 0.3% to 60%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is insufficient evidence that individuals with spondylotic spinal cord encroachment are at increased risk of spinal cord injury from minor trauma. Prospective cohort or case-control studies are needed to assess this risk. There is no evidence that prophylactic decompression surgery is helpful in this patient population. Decompression surgery appears to be helpful in patients with cervical myelopathy, but the significant risks may outweigh the unknown benefit in asymptomatic individuals. Thus, broad recommendations for decompression surgery in suspected at-risk individuals cannot be made. Recommendations to individual patients must consider possible unique circumstances.</p