The Kalina cycle, developed by Dr.

Alexander Kalina is
a thermodynamic process for converting thermal energy into usable
mechanical power.

It uses a solution of 2 fluids with different boiling points for its working
fluid. Since the solution boils over a range of temperatures as
in distillation, more of the heat can be extracted from the source than
with a pure working fluid. The same applies on the exhaust
(condensing) end. This provides efficiency comparable to a Combined
cycle, with less complexity.[1]

By appropriate choice of the ratio between the components of the

solution, the boiling point of the working solution can be adjusted to
suit the heat input temperature. Water and ammonia is the most
widely used combination, but other combinations are feasible.

Because of this ability to take full advantage of the temperature

difference between the particular heat source and sink available, it
finds applications in reuse of industrial process heat, geothermal
energy, solar energy, and use of waste heat from power plants
(Bottoming cycle).

Kalina cycle power plants[edit]

Recoverable heat from industrial processes

The Kalina cycle (site in construction)[2] has been thought to increase

thermal power output efficiencies by up to 50% in suitable
installations, and is ideally suited for applications such as steel, coal,
oil refineries and cement production plants.
 The Kashima Steel Works operated by Sumitomo Metal
Industries was commissioned in 1999. It produces 3.6MW of
electricity and is the longest running commercial application of the
Kalina Cycle
 The Tokyo Bay Oil Refinery operated by Fuji Oil was commissioned
in 2005 and produces 4MW of power

Geothermal

 Husavik facility, Iceland rated 2MW electric power output and

20MW heat power
 Unterhaching facility, Germany was commissioned in April 2009
and was the first of its kind (low enthalpy) in southern Germany.
This plant produces 3.4MW of electric power and 38MW of heating
power for the local township of Unterhaching.
 Bruchsal facility, Germany was commissioned in December 2009
and produces 580 kW of electricity.
 EcoGen Unit, the first ever 50 kW EcoGen unit was installed
at Matsunoyama Onsen hot spring at Tokamachi, Niigata in Japan
in 2011. The EcoGen units are based on the miniaturization of the
Kalina Cycle and designed for the Japanese hot spring market and
other low enthalpy geothermal markets.

Second Generation[edit]
A second generation of Kalina cycle systems was developed by Dr.
Kalina and Kalex LLC. These systems are technically Kalina cycles (in
that they utilize multi-component working fluid with variable
composition) but they do not use the "Kalina cycle" trademark. [3]
Unlike first generation Kalina cycle systems, which are applicable only
for relatively low-temperature heat sources, the second generation of
Kalina cycle systems is applicable to both low and relatively high
temperature heat sources.[4]

For low temperature heat sources, second generation Kalina cycles

are projected to attain thermal efficiencies higher than those possible
with first generation cycles