Abstract: To explore the operating performance of the organic Rankine cycle（ORC） experimental system with low cooling-water temperature in cold region, an organic Rankine cycle experimental system was built in Harbin, and the thermal model was also given. The operating performance of condensation temperature, net power output, power generation and power-electricity conversion efficiency of the system was investigated with heat-source temperatures of 79.0-113.6 ℃ and cooling-water temperature of 6.4 ℃. The results show that the condensation temperature of ORC system with cooling-water temperature of 6.4 ℃ in Harbin is 13.1 ℃, which is 19.0 ℃ lower than that with cooling-water temperature of 30.8 ℃ in Taipei. The maximum electricity generation of the system in Harbin is 1.44 kW, which is 30.9%（0.34 kW） higher than that in Taipei. The low temperature cooling water in Harbin can reduce the operating condensation temperature of ORC system for improving the power and electricity generation performance of the system.