Operation characteristic of a R123-based organic Rankine cycle depending on working fluid mass flow rates and heat source temperatures

•The operation characteristic of an Organic Rankine Cycle using R123 and a scroll expander have been investigated.•The behaviors and detailed discussion for those four major components are examined.•The expander isentropic efficiency presents a slight decrease first and then a sharp increase with mass flow rate.•The maximum electrical power and system generation efficiency are 2.01kW and 3.25%, respectively. The test and operation characteristic of an organic Rankine cycle using R123 and a scroll expander have been investigated. The steady-state operation characteristic is addressed with the varying working fluid mass flow rates ranging of 0.124–0.222kg/s and heat source temperatures ranging of 383.15–413.15K. The behaviors and detailed discussion for those four major components (pump, evaporator, expander and condenser) are examined. The experimental results show that the environmental temperature presents a higher influence on the pump behaviors. The range of pump power consumption, isentropic efficiency and back work ratio are 0.21–0.32kW, 26.76–53.96%, and 14–32%, respectively. The expander isentropic efficiency presents a slight decrease first and then a sharp increase with mass flow rate, while a degree of superheating more than 3K is necessary to avoid expander cavitation. The expander isentropic and generator efficiencies are in range of 69.10–85.17% and 60–73%, respectively, while the respective heat transfer coefficients for evaporator and condenser are ranging of 200–400 and 450–2000W/m2K. The maximum expander shaft power and electrical power are 2.78kW and 2.01kW, respectively, while the maximum system generating efficiency is 3.25%. Moreover, the tested thermal efficiency presents a slight decrease trend with mass flow rate.