An experimental prototype of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) was built for low-temperature waste heat power generation. With R123 as working fluid

heat transfer oil as the waste heat source

and radial inflow turbine as expander

a series of tests were carried out by adjusting the R123 mass flow rate to evaluate the performance of apparatus and system. The temperature rise and entropy increase of hydraulic diaphragm pump were lower

and consumed power increased with the mass flow rate. The pressure drop in the evaporator was greater than that in the condenser

and both increased with the mass flow rate of R123. The isentropic efficiency of the radial inflow turbine increased first and then decreased with the increase of R123 flow rate

with the maximum value of 0.775 kg·s-1 and the optimum value of 0.215 kg·s-1. The system output power increased monotonously to 2.009 kW as the flow rate of R123 increased to 0.283 kg·s-1. Exergy destruction rate of evaporator was the largest parts in total exergy destruction rate

followed by condenser and radial inflow turbine

about 62%

32% and 6%

respectively

under the optimum condition.