Thermodynamic analysis of a waste heat recovery power generation system in a cement plant in southern Perú

Romero D.S.; Carrillo J.T.; Gutiérrez J.A.; Canazas J.; Arapa C.A.D. · Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal (2026) · DOI: 10.12913/22998624/220528

Resumen

For developing nations like South America to achieve an energy transition, industrial plants must optimize their energy performance. The installation of a waste heat recovery system at a cement plant in southern Peru was examined. The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) was chosen using the VDI 2225 methodology. Toluene, decane, D5 (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane), and MD4M (tetradecamethylhexasiloxane) were the four working fluids taken into consideration for the analysis. The findings show that all fluids’ net specific power and cycle efficiency greatly increase with exhaust gas temperature, with toluene and decane performing the best. While higher condensation temperatures had a negative impact on efficiency, pre-turbine superheating proved to have a negligible effect on the parameters studied. Unlike hydrocarbon-based fluids, D5 and MD4M siloxanes present promising potential for future ORC applications due to their greater thermal stability, lower toxicity, and reduced environmental impact. A complementary CO2 capture and utilization system is also suggested to produce urea from kiln off gases, provid-ing a sustainable and integrated approach to fertilizer production and energy recovery. This work offers a window into the Peruvian cement industry’s use of ORC-based carbon utilization and waste heat recovery technologies.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa