Technology

The Kalina Cycle® is the most significant improvement in thermal power plant design since the advent of the Rankine Cycle in the mid 1800s. In a typical Rankine Cycle power plant, a pure working fluid, water or low molecular weight organic compounds, is heated in a boiler and converted into high-pressure, high temperature vapor which is then expanded through a turbine to generate electricity in a closed loop system. The Kalina Cycle® utilizes an ammonia-water mixture as a working fluid to improve system efficiency and provide more flexibility in various operating conditions. The Kalina Cycle® can improve power plant efficiency by 10% to 50% over the Rankine Cycle depending on the application. As plant operating temperatures are lowered, the relative gain of the Kalina Cycle® increases in comparison with the Rankine Cycle.

Download an introduction to the Kalina Cycle paper

Explore the thermodynamic Kalina Cycle components and fluid solutions through an interactive flow diagram

Request paper An introduction to the Kalina Cycle paper

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Performance and Reliability

Improved plant efficiency, more efficient use of fixed resource, less power production risk

• 20% to 50% more power than competing technology processes at lower temperatures
• 10% to 40% more efficient than steam Rankine at medium temperatures
• Better off-design performance - greater net electricity on hot and cold days by changes in ammonia-water composition
• Lower boiling point fluid, less sensitivity to decreases in brine or heat source inlet temperature
• Lower specific plant price (total construction cost divided by net kW generated)

A proven technology, composition changes in the power cycle similar to refrigeration plants

• Kalina Cycle® is a process technology with no new components
• Standard power plant design practice
• 100 years of steam turbine experience
• Standard heat transfer components
• No technological or component improvements required for implementation

Simpler power cycle for recovered energy generation projects

• A heat transfer oil cycle is not required for transferring energy due to flammability concerns of the cycle working fluid
• Simpler operation and control

Environmental and Safety

Ammonia-Water working fluid is evironmentally friendly and proven safe to operate

• Environmentally benign, ammonia is commonly found in nature
• Ammonia vents easily, and is self-alarming
• Ammonia is produced on a world scale for many industrial and domestic uses
• Proven safety record in ammonia synthesis, power plants and refrigeration plants