Similar to a simple Rankine cycle, a basic organic Rankine cycle (ORC) consists of four processes: increasing pressure of the working fluid through a pump, high temperature heat addition through an evaporator, expansion of the high temperature as well as high pressure fluid through a turbine, and low temperature heat ...

ORC is the Rankine process, where instead of the water some organic compound is used as a flowing medium (toluene, isobutene, isopentane or silicon fluids). ORC is one way to generate electricity and heat in lower temperatures. Heat from evaporation of organic fluid is less than that of water.

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) machines are used to convert low-temperature heat resources into power. Examples include systems making use of waste heat in a cogeneration system, low temperature geothermal electricity generation, solar ponds, and potentially OTEC.

The Rankine cycle, also called the Rankine vapor cycle, is a thermodynamic cycle that converts heat into mechanical energy. The Rankine cycle is name after William Johnson Macquorn Rankine, a 19th century Scottish engineer and physicist known for his research in the thermodynamic properties of steam.