A novel auto-cascade Rankine cycle (ARC) is proposed to reduce thermodynamics irreversibility and improve energy utilization. Like the Kalina cycle, the working fluid for the ARC is zeotropic mixture, which can improve the system efficiency due to the temperature slip that zeotropic mixtures...

The application of zeotropic mixtures may lead to the occurrence of the EPTD (extreme point of temperature difference), i.e. the Pinch Point, between the working fluid and the HTF (heat transfer fluid) in heat exchangers. The positions of the EPTD are related to the system operating conditions....