Research Article

Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine

Volume: 14 Number: 4 December 31, 2025

Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is tightening energy-efficiency and greenhouse-gas emission regulations for ships, creating a strong incentive for technologies that recover and reuse waste heat. Most previous studies have concentrated on recovering high-temperature exhaust gas waste heat from MDO- and HFO-fueled engines, while the recovery potential of very-low-grade jacket cooling water in methanol-fueled dual-fuel engines has received little attention. This study investigates a waste heat recovery system based on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) that utilizes jacket cooling water from a methanol-fueled marine dual-fuel engine operating at different engine and cycle operating conditions. Energetic and exergetic analyses are conducted using a MATLAB-based code integrated with the REFPROP thermophysical data. Four working fluids – R245fa, R1233zd(E), R1234ze(Z), and R1336mzz(Z) – are assessed to identify lower-Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives to R245fa, a commonly used but environmentally intensive fluid. Energetic, exergetic, and environmental analyses are performed for each fluid to reveal system performance and environmental impact. The results show that the very low-GWP fluids R1233zd(E) and R1336mzz(Z) deliver the most favorable balance between efficiency and sustainability, thermal efficiency by more than 1% and reducing annual CO2 emissions by approximately 500 tons. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of integrating low-GWP working fluids into ORC waste heat recovery systems for marine applications, offering a practical pathway to enhanced energy efficiency and compliance with decarbonization targets.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Scientific Research Projects Department of İzmir Katip Çelebi University under grant number 2025-KDP-GİDF-0014.

Project Number

2025-KDP-GİDF-0014

Thanks

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Scientific Research Projects Department of İzmir Katip Çelebi University under grant number 2025-KDP-GİDF-0014.

References

  1. Akman, M. (2023). A techno-environmental and energy efficiency investigation of marine dual-fuel engines. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, 12(2), 128-141. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1247489
  2. Akman, M., & Ergin, S. (2016). Thermodynamic analysis of organic Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery system of a ship. Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on Ship and Marine Technology - Green Technologies, Turkey. pp. 717–728.
  3. Akman, M., & Ergin, S. (2022). Greener shipping: An investigation of an ORC-based waste heat recovery system for a methanol-fueled marine engine. Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting - Ship Design & Optimization and Energy Efficient Devices for Fuel Economy, Turkey. pp. 81-86.
  4. Akman, M., & Ergin, S. (2023). Thermo-economic optimization of an ORC system for a dual-fuel marine engine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment, 238(2), 293-305. https://doi.org/10.1177/14750902231207128
  5. Altosole, M., Campora, U., Mocerino, L., & Zaccone, R. (2023). An Innovative variable layout steam plant for waste heat recovery from marine dual-fuel engines. Ships and Offshore Structures, 18(3), 429-437. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445302.2022.2061769
  6. Ampah, J. D., Yusuf, A. A., Afrane, S., Jin, C., & Liu, H. (2021). Reviewing two decades of cleaner alternative marine fuels: Towards IMO’s decarbonization of the maritime transport sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, 128871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128871
  7. Andreasen, J. G., Meroni, A., & Haglind, F. (2017). A comparison of organic and steam Rankine cycle power systems for waste heat recovery on large ships. Energies, 10(4), 547. https://doi.org/10.3390/en10040547
  8. Babicz, J. (2015). Wärtsilä Encyclopedia of Ship Technology. Retrieved on July 5, 2025, from https://www.wartsila.com/encyclopedia

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Marine Technology , Marine Main and Auxiliaries , Naval Architecture , Ship Energy Efficiency

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

October 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 14 Number: 4

APA
Bulut, S., Dere, Ç., & Akman, M. (2025). Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, 14(4), 191-202. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1800302
AMA
1.Bulut S, Dere Ç, Akman M. Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2025;14(4):191-202. doi:10.33714/masteb.1800302
Chicago
Bulut, Sertaç, Çağlar Dere, and Mehmet Akman. 2025. “Thermodynamic Analysis of an Organic Rankine Cycle Utilizing Jacket Cooling Water Waste Heat from a Marine Dual-Fuel Engine”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 14 (4): 191-202. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1800302.
EndNote
Bulut S, Dere Ç, Akman M (December 1, 2025) Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 14 4 191–202.
IEEE
[1]S. Bulut, Ç. Dere, and M. Akman, “Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine”, Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull., vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 191–202, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.33714/masteb.1800302.
ISNAD
Bulut, Sertaç - Dere, Çağlar - Akman, Mehmet. “Thermodynamic Analysis of an Organic Rankine Cycle Utilizing Jacket Cooling Water Waste Heat from a Marine Dual-Fuel Engine”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 14/4 (December 1, 2025): 191-202. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1800302.
JAMA
1.Bulut S, Dere Ç, Akman M. Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2025;14:191–202.
MLA
Bulut, Sertaç, et al. “Thermodynamic Analysis of an Organic Rankine Cycle Utilizing Jacket Cooling Water Waste Heat from a Marine Dual-Fuel Engine”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 191-02, doi:10.33714/masteb.1800302.
Vancouver
1.Sertaç Bulut, Çağlar Dere, Mehmet Akman. Thermodynamic analysis of an organic Rankine cycle utilizing jacket cooling water waste heat from a marine dual-fuel engine. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2025 Dec. 1;14(4):191-202. doi:10.33714/masteb.1800302

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