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.

The Organic Rankine Cycle's principle is based on a turbogenerator working as a conventional steam turbine to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy and finally into electric energy through an electrical generator.

Some of the wasted heat may be recovered using the Rankine cycle, where an intermediate heat transfer loop is added that contains a working fluid whose properties allow it to pass through an expander to capture some of the exergy of the waste heat sources.

The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation system is a unique approach to heat recovery which substitutes an organic fluid with a low boiling point for water. To improve its lower thermal efficiency and maximum power generation, an Internal Heat Exchanger (IHE) is proposed after the expansion scroll expander.