Siemens Acquires Expertise in Organic Rankine Cycle Applications

ERLANGEN, Germany (April 4, 2013) – Siemens Energy has acquired specialized know-how of organic Rankine cycle technology from insolvency administrators managing the assets of Maxxtec AG and Adoratec GmbH in Sinsheim, Germany. The purchase agreements have been signed and the transaction will soon be concluded. The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a thermodynamic process which uses fluids with a lower boiling point than water—such as silicone oils, refrigerants or hydrocarbons - as the working fluid. This allows electrical power to be generated economically from lower-temperature sources as well. Siemens has thereby expanded its portfolio of environmentally compatible products and solutions.

The ORC process is used when the available temperature differential between the heat source and heat sink is too low to drive a steam turbine operated on steam generated from water. This technology can significantly lower reduce overall electrical generating costs because it allows waste heat that could otherwise not be viably used for conversion into electricity. It also enables natural heat such as from geothermic sources to be utilized for power generation. Besides using waste and geothermal heat, ORC facilities can also produce electricity from the thermal energy generated by biomass combustion. Siemens will initially supply products and components for biomass-fired and waste-heat recovery plants with outputs of 2 megawatts (MW). Over the medium term, geothermal plants with electrical generating capacities of up to 5 MW will be added to this product range.

“We will use the acquired know-how in ORC module manufacturing in targeted fashion to meet the specific needs and wishes of our customers for ORC plants. Combined with our long-standing experience in building small turbines, we want to utilize this pioneering organic Rankine cycle technology to tap into new markets,” states Markus Tacke, Head of the Industrial Power Business Unit at Siemens’ Energy Sector. 
The Siemens Energy Sector is a supplier of a broad spectrum of products, services and solutions for power generation in thermal power plants and using renewables, power transmission in grids and for the extraction, processing and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2012 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of EUR27.5 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR26.9 billion and posted a profit of EUR2.2 billion. On September 30, 2012, the Energy Sector had a work force of almost 86,000.