Experimental and numerical characterization of a positive displacement vane expander with an auxiliary injection port for an ORC-based power unit

In the present work a novel technology based on a dual injection vane expander has been introduced. The component works on a power unit fed by the exhaust gases of 3L turbocharged diesel engine. The new device was tested in a wide range of operating conditions and its numerical model was validated on the experimental data. The performances of the new machine were compared to those of the original one. The results showed that the dual injection expander provided an increase of the indicated and mechanical power up to 50% and 30%. Mass flow rate can be increased by 30% and this widens the performances of the power unit; this aspect is particularly suitable for a recovery unit fed by the widely changing exhaust gases flow rates in ICEs.