The ORC turbogenerator uses medium-to-high-temperature thermal oil to preheat and vaporize a suitable organic working fluid in the evaporator (4>5). The organic fluid vapor rotates the turbine (5>6), which is directly coupled to the electric generator, resulting in clean, reliable electric power.

The supercritical ORC aims to enlarge the expansion in the turbine to generate more power such that the evaporation process occurs above the critical pressure of the working fluid. In a regenerative ORC, a heat exchanger is placed between the fluid exiting the turbine and that exiting the pump.

In ORC systems, a pressure drop analysis is essential because these systems operate at low operating temperatures and pressures. If the pressure drop gives a high value, the system cannot work optimally or cannot even generate electricity.

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.