Additionally, ORCs eliminate the need for full-time plant operators because they operate at lower pressures and do not need water chemistry maintenance. However, working fluid cost, decomposition, temperature limits are an organic Rankine cycle's primary disadvantages.

The working principle of the organic Rankine cycle is the same as that of the Rankine cycle: the working fluid is pumped to a boiler where it is evaporated, passed through an expansion device (turbine, screw, scroll, or other expander), and then through a condenser heat exchanger where it is finally re-condensed.

ORC's can recover heat from waste streams at lower temperatures than is possible with conventional steam Rankine systems, and because ORCs operate at relatively low pressure, they can operate unattended and fully automated in most locations.

The efficiency of current high temperature Organic Rankine Cycles does not exceed 24%. Typical steam Rankine cycles show a thermal efficiency higher than 30%, but with a more complex cycle design (in terms of number of components or size).