ORC Vs Kalina Cycle

The organic Rankine cycle and the Kalina cycle are two answers to the same question: how to generate power from heat too cool for steam. Both use a working fluid that boils at low temperature, but they differ in the fluid itself, an organic compound for ORC and an ammonia-water mixture for Kalina, and that difference shapes where each is chosen.

How the Cycles Differ

An ORC uses a single-component organic fluid, simple, well understood and proven across thousands of installations. The Kalina cycle uses an ammonia-water mixture whose boiling temperature varies, which can match a heat source more closely and, in theory, extract more power. That gain comes at the cost of a more complex and demanding system.

Where Each Is Chosen

ORC dominates low-grade heat recovery because it is simpler, proven and easier to operate, and its efficiency is close to the theoretical limit in most real conditions. Kalina appears where its closer temperature match offers a meaningful gain, typically on very low-temperature or highly variable sources, weighed against its added complexity and cost.

Learn More:

• Waste to Energy Facility
• Feasibility Studies

Choose the Cycle That Fits

Klean Industries selects the right low-grade heat recovery cycle for each source, favouring proven ORC where it delivers.

Contact Klean Industries about ORC vs Kalina cycles » GO.