Abstract
The first experiment of a pumpless Rankine-type cycle (PRC) with a practical expander was demonstrated. The PRC mainly consists of a scroll expander, two heat exchangers, and switching valves for the expander and heat exchangers. Instead of using a working fluid pump, the switching valves method (SVM) is employed to establish the cycle. In this arrangement, the working fluid flows back and forth between the two heat exchangers without a working fluid pump. Therefore, the PRC does not involve problems caused by a pump. The SVM makes each heat exchanger switch between functioning as an evaporator and functioning as a condenser. The experimental results confirm that the PRC produces actual power through scroll expander. Dynamic characteristics of the PRC are reported and discussed.
