Kalina cycle


The Kalina cycle, developed by Dr. Alexander Kalina is a thermodynamic process for converting thermal energy into usable mechanical power.
It uses a solution of 2 fluids with different boiling points for its working fluid. Since the solution boils over a range of temperatures as in distillation, more of the heat can be extracted from the source than with a pure working fluid. The same applies on the exhaust end. This provides efficiency comparable to a Combined cycle, with less complexity.
By appropriate choice of the ratio between the components of the solution, the boiling point of the working solution can be adjusted to suit the heat input temperature. Water and ammonia is the most widely used combination, but other combinations are feasible.
Because of this ability to take full advantage of the temperature difference between the particular heat source and sink available, it finds applications in reuse of industrial process heat, geothermal energy, solar energy, and use of waste heat from power plants.

Kalina Cycle Power Plants

Recoverable heat from industrial processes
The Kalina cycle has been thought to increase thermal power output efficiencies by up to 50% in suitable installations, and is ideally suited for applications such as steel, coal, oil refineries and cement production plants.
Geothermal
A second generation of Kalina cycle systems was developed by Dr. Kalina and Kalex LLC. These systems are technically Kalina cycles but they do not use the "Kalina cycle" trademark.
Unlike first generation Kalina cycle systems, which are applicable only for relatively low-temperature heat sources, the second generation of Kalina cycle systems is applicable to both low and relatively high temperature heat sources.
For low temperature heat sources, second generation Kalina cycles are projected to attain thermal efficiencies higher than those possible with first generation cycles.

Licensing

The Kalina cycle trademark and all first generation global patents that are still in force are owned by Wasabi Energy plc. owner of Global Geothermal Ltd., parent company of Recurrent Engineering Inc.
Some of the original Kalina cycle patents have expired and have now entered the public domain.
Global Geothermal Ltd. owns all the worldwide entities licensed to deploy the first generation Kalina Cycle process.
As a result, GGL controls the Kalina cycle rights and over 200 international patents associated with this technology. The process is currently used via licensing deals with Siemens and Shanghai Shenge New Energy for all their Chinese applications. FLSmidth has the exclusive right in most countries to offer the first generation Kalina cycle technology to the cement and lime industries.
All second generation Kalina cycle patents are currently owned by Kalex LLC, a company founded by Dr. Kalina.