Patent Grant
9458738
Heat is often created as a byproduct of industrial processes where flowing streams of liquids, solids or gasses that contain heat must be exhausted into the environment or removed in some way in an effort to maintain the operating temperatures of the industrial process equipment. Sometimes the industrial process can use heat exchanger devices to capture the heat and recycle it back into the process via other process streams. Other times it is not feasible to capture and recycle this heat because it is either too high in temperature or it may contain insufficient mass flow. This heat is referred to as “waste” heat and is typically discharged directly into the environment or indirectly through a cooling medium, such as water.
Waste heat can be utilized by turbine generator systems that employ well-known thermodynamic methods, such as the Rankine cycle, to convert the heat into useful work. Typically, this method is a steam-based process where the waste heat is used to generate steam in a boiler in order to drive a turbine. The steam-based Rankine cycle, however, is not always practical because it requires heat source streams that are relatively high in temperature (e.g., 600° F. or higher) or are large in overall heat content. Moreover, the complexity of boiling water at multiple pressures/temperatures to capture heat at multiple temperature levels as the heat source stream is cooled, is costly in both equipment cost and operating labor. Consequently, the steam-based Rankine cycle is not a realistic option for streams of small flow rate and/or low temperature.
The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) addresses some of these issues by replacing water with a lower boiling-point fluid, such as a light hydrocarbon like propane or butane, or a HFC (e.g., R245fa) fluid. However, the boiling heat transfer restrictions remain, and new issues such as thermal instability, toxicity or flammability of the fluid are added.
There exists a need in the art for a system that can efficiently and effectively produce power from not only waste heat but also from a wide range of thermal sources.
Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a heat engine system for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. The heat engine may include a working fluid circuit that circulates a working fluid through a high pressure side and a low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to regulate a pressure and an amount of working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The working fluid circuit may include a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat source to transfer thermal energy to the working fluid, a first expander in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and fluidly arranged between the high and low pressure sides, and a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the first expander and configured to transfer thermal energy between the high and low pressure sides. The working fluid circuit may also include a cooler in fluid communication with the first recuperator and configured to control a temperature of the working fluid in the low pressure side, and a first pump fluidly coupled to the cooler and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit. The mass management system may include a mass control tank fluidly coupled to the high pressure side at a first tie-in point located upstream from the first expansion device and to the low pressure side at a second tie-in point located upstream from an inlet of the pump, and a control system communicably coupled to the working fluid circuit at a first sensor set arranged before the inlet of the pump and at a second sensor set arranged after an outlet of the pump, and communicably coupled to the mass control tank at a third sensor set arranged either within or adjacent the mass control tank.
Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide a method for regulating a pressure and an amount of a working fluid in a thermodynamic cycle. The method may include placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged within a working fluid circuit, the working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and circulating the working fluid through the working fluid circuit with a pump. The method may also include expanding the working fluid in an expander to generate mechanical energy, and sensing operating parameters of the working fluid circuit with first and second sensor sets communicably coupled to a control system, the first sensor set being arranged adjacent an inlet of the pump and the second sensor set being arranged adjacent an outlet of the pump. The method may further include extracting working fluid from the working fluid circuit at a first tie-in point arranged upstream from the expander in the high pressure side, the first tie-in point being fluidly coupled to a mass control tank, and injecting working fluid from the mass control tank into the working fluid circuit via a second tie-in point arranged upstream from an inlet of the pump to increase a suction pressure of the pump.
Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide another method for regulating a pressure and an amount of a working fluid in a thermodynamic cycle. The method may include placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged within a working fluid circuit, the working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and circulating the working fluid through the working fluid circuit with a pump. The method may also include expanding the working fluid in an expander to generate mechanical energy, and extracting working fluid from the working fluid circuit and into a mass control tank by transferring thermal energy from working fluid in the mass control tank to a heat exchanger coil, the working fluid being extracted from the working fluid circuit at a first tie-in point arranged upstream from the expander in the high pressure side and being fluidly coupled to the mass control tank. The method may further include injecting working fluid from the mass control tank to the working fluid circuit via a second tie-in point by transferring thermal energy from the heat exchanger coil to the working fluid in the mass control tank.
Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide a mass management system. The mass management system may include a mass control tank fluidly coupled to a low pressure side of a working fluid circuit that has a pump configured to circulate a working fluid throughout the working fluid circuit, the mass control tank being coupled to the low pressure side at a tie-in point located upstream from an inlet of the pump. The mass management system may also include a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to and from the mass control tank to either draw in working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to the mass control tank via the tie-in point or inject working fluid into the working fluid circuit from the mass control tank via the tie-in point. The mass management system may further include a control system communicably coupled to the working fluid circuit at a first sensor set arranged adjacent the inlet of the pump and a second sensor set arranged adjacent an outlet of the pump, and communicably coupled to the mass control tank at a third sensor set arranged either within or adjacent the mass control tank.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term “or” is intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e., “A or B” is intended to be synonymous with “at least one of A and B,” unless otherwise expressly specified herein.
As will be described in greater detail below, the thermodynamic cycle may operate as a closed-loop cycle, where a working fluid circuit has a flow path defined by a variety of conduits adapted to interconnect the various components of the heat engine system 100. Although the heat engine system 100 may be characterized as a closed-loop cycle, the heat engine system 100 as a whole may or may not be hermetically-sealed such that no amount of working fluid is leaked into the surrounding environment.
As illustrated, the heat engine system 100 may include a waste heat exchanger 5 in thermal communication with a waste heat source 101 via connection points 19 and 20. The waste heat source 101 may be a waste heat stream such as, but not limited to, gas turbine exhaust, process stream exhaust, or other combustion product exhaust streams, such as furnace or boiler exhaust streams. In other embodiments, the waste heat source 101 may include renewable sources of thermal energy, such as heat from the sun or geothermal sources. Accordingly, waste heat is transformed into electricity for applications ranging from bottom cycling in gas turbines, stationary diesel engine gensets, industrial waste heat recovery (e.g., in refineries and compression stations), solar thermal, geothermal, and hybrid alternatives to the internal combustion engine.
A turbine or expander 3 may be arranged downstream from the waste heat exchanger 5 and be configured to receive and expand a heated working fluid discharged from the heat exchanger 5 to generate power. To this end, the expander 3 may be coupled to an alternator 2 adapted to receive mechanical work from the expander 3 and convert that work into electrical power. The alternator 2 may be operably connected to power electronics 1 configured to convert the electrical power into useful electricity. In one embodiment, the alternator 2 may be in fluid communication with a cooling loop 112 having a radiator 4 and a pump 27 for circulating a cooling fluid such as water, thermal oils, and/or other suitable refrigerants. The cooling loop 112 may be configured to regulate the temperature of the alternator 2 and power electronics 1 by circulating the cooling fluid.
A recuperator 6 may be fluidly coupled to the expander 3 and configured to remove at least a portion of the thermal energy in the working fluid discharged from the expander 3. The recuperator 6 may transmit the removed thermal energy to the working fluid proceeding toward the waste heat exchanger 5. A condenser or cooler 12 may be fluidly coupled to the recuperator 6 and configured to reduce the temperature of the working fluid even more. The recuperator 6 and cooler 12 may be any device adapted to reduce the temperature of the working fluid such as, but not limited to, a direct contact heat exchanger, a trim cooler, a mechanical refrigeration unit, and/or any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, the waste heat exchanger 5, recuperator 6, and/or the cooler 12 may include or employ one or more printed circuit heat exchange panels. Such heat exchangers and/or panels are known in the art, and are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,921,518; 7,022,294; and 7,033,553, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent consistent with the present disclosure.
The cooler 12 may be fluidly coupled to a pump 9 that receives the cooled working fluid and pressurizes the fluid circuit to re-circulate the working fluid back to the waste heat exchanger 5. In one embodiment, the pump 9 may be driven by a motor 10 via a common rotatable shaft. The speed of the motor 10, and therefore the pump 9, may be regulated using a variable frequency drive 11. As can be appreciated, the speed of the pump 9 may control the mass flow rate of the working fluid in the fluid circuit of the heat engine system 100.
In other embodiments, the pump 9 may be powered externally by another device, such as an auxiliary expansion device 13. The auxiliary expansion device 13 may be an expander or turbine configured to expand a working fluid and provide mechanical rotation to the pump 9. In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary expansion device 13 may expand a portion of the working fluid circulating in the working fluid circuit.
As indicated, the working fluid may be circulated through a “high pressure” side of the fluid circuit of the heat engine system 100 and a “low pressure” side thereof. The high pressure side generally encompasses the conduits and related components of the heat engine system 100 extending from the outlet of the pump 9 to the inlet of the turbine 3. The low pressure side of the heat engine system 100 generally encompasses the conduits and related components of the heat engine system 100 extending from the outlet of the expander 3 to the inlet of the pump 9.
In one or more embodiments, the working fluid used in the heat engine system 100 may be carbon dioxide (CO2). It should be noted that the use of the term carbon dioxide is not intended to be limited to CO2 of any particular type, purity, or grade. For example, industrial grade CO2 may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Carbon dioxide is a neutral working fluid that offers benefits such as non-toxicity, non-flammability, easy availability, thermal stability, and low price.
In other embodiments, the working fluid may be a binary, ternary, or other working fluid blend. The working fluid combination can be selected for the unique attributes possessed by the fluid combination within a heat recovery system, as described herein. For example, one such fluid combination includes a liquid absorbent and CO2 mixture enabling the combined fluid to be pumped in a liquid state to high pressure with less energy input than required to compress CO2. In another embodiment, the working fluid may be a combination of CO2 and one or more other miscible fluids. In other embodiments, the working fluid may be a combination of CO2 and propane, or CO2 and ammonia, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Moreover, the term “working fluid” is not intended to limit the state or phase of matter that the working fluid is in. For example, the working fluid may be in a fluid phase, a gas phase, a supercritical phase, a subcritical state or any other phase or state at any one or more points within the heat engine system 100 or thermodynamic cycle. In one or more embodiments, the working fluid is in a supercritical state over certain portions of the heat engine system 100 (i.e., the “high pressure side”), and in a subcritical state at other portions of the heat engine system 100 (i.e., the “low pressure side”). In other embodiments, the entire thermodynamic cycle, including both the high and low pressure sides, may be operated such that the working fluid is maintained in a supercritical or subcritical state throughout the entire working fluid circuit of the heat engine system 100.
The thermodynamic cycle(s) executed by the heat engine system 100 may be described with reference to a pressure-enthalpy diagram 200 for a selected working fluid. For example, the diagram 200 in
As will be appreciated, each process (i.e., A-B, B-C, C-D, D-A) need not occur as shown on the exemplary diagram 200, instead each step of the cycle could be achieved via a variety of ways. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible to achieve a variety of different coordinates on the diagram 200 without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Similarly, each point on the diagram 200 may vary dynamically over time as variables within and external to the heat engine system 100 (
In one embodiment, the thermodynamic cycle is executed during normal, steady state operation such that the low pressure side of the heat engine system 100 (points A and D in the diagram 200) falls between about 400 psia and about 1500 psia, and the high pressure side of the heat engine system 100 (points B and C in the diagram 200) falls between about 2,500 psia and about 4,500 psia. Those skilled in the art will also readily recognize that either or both higher or lower pressures could be selected for each or all points A-D. In at least one embodiment, the working fluid may transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical state (i.e., a transcritical cycle) between points C and D. In other embodiments, however, the pressures at points C and D may be selected or otherwise configured such that the working fluid remains in a supercritical state throughout the entire cycle. It should be noted that representative operative temperatures, pressures, and flow rates as indicated in any of the Figures or otherwise defined or described herein are by way of example only and are not in any way to be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
Referring again to
In order to minimize or otherwise regulate the suction pressure of the pump 9, the heat engine system 100 may incorporate the use of a mass management system (“MMS”) 110. The MMS 110 may be configured to control the inlet pressure of the pump 9 by regulating the amount of working fluid entering and/or exiting the heat engine system 100 at strategic locations in the working fluid circuit, such as at tie-in points A, B, and C. Consequently, the heat engine system 100 becomes more efficient by manipulating the suction and discharge pressures for the pump 9, and thereby increasing the pressure ratio across the turbine 3 to its maximum possible extent.
It will be appreciated that any of the various embodiments of cycles and/or working fluid circuits described herein can be considered as closed-loop fluid circuits of defined volume, wherein the amount of mass can be selectively varied both within the cycle or circuit and within the discrete portions within the cycle or circuit (e.g., between the waste heat exchanger 5 and the turbine 3 or between the cooler 12 and the pump 9). In normal operation, the working fluid mass in the high pressure side of the cycle is essentially set by the fluid flow rate and heat input. The mass contained within the low pressure side of the cycle, on the other hand, is coupled to the low-side pressure, and a means is necessary to provide optimal control of both sides. Conventional Rankine cycles (both steam and organic) use other control methods, such a vapor-liquid equilibrium to control low side pressure. In the case of a system which must operate with low-side pressures that range above and below the critical pressure, this option is not possible. Thus, actively controlling the injection and withdrawal of mass from the closed-loop fluid circuit is necessary for the proper functioning and control of a practical ScCO2 system. As described below, this can be accomplished through the use of the MMS 110 and variations of the same.
As illustrated, the MMS 110 may include a plurality of valves and/or connection points 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 23, and a mass control tank 7. The valves and connection points 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 23 may be characterized as termination points where the MMS 110 is operatively connected to the heat engine system 100, provided with additional working fluid from an external source, or provided with an outlet for flaring excess working fluid or pressures. Particularly, a first valve 14 may fluidly couple the MMS 110 to the heat engine system 100 at or near tie-in point A. At tie-in point A, the working fluid may be heated and pressurized after being discharged from the waste heat exchanger 5. A second valve 15 may fluidly couple the MMS 110 to the system at or near tie-in point C. Tie-in point C may be arranged adjacent the inlet to the pump 9 where the working fluid circulating through the heat engine system 100 is generally at a low temperature and pressure. It will be appreciated, however, that tie-in point C may be arranged anywhere on the low pressure side of the heat engine system 100, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
The mass control tank 7 may be configured as a localized storage for additional working fluid that may be added to the fluid circuit when needed in order to regulate the pressure or temperature of the working fluid within the fluid circuit. The MMS 110 may pressurize the mass control tank 7 by opening the first valve 14 to allow high-temperature, high-pressure working fluid to flow to the mass control tank 7 from tie-in point A. The first valve 14 may remain in its open position until the pressure within the mass control tank 7 is sufficient to inject working fluid back into the fluid circuit via the second valve 15 and tie-in point C. In one embodiment, the second valve 15 may be fluidly coupled to the bottom of the mass control tank 7, whereby the densest working fluid from the mass control tank 7 is injected back into the fluid circuit at or near tie-in point C. Accordingly, adjusting the position of the second valve 15 may serve to regulate the inlet pressure of the pump 9.
A third valve 16 may fluidly couple the MMS 110 to the fluid circuit at or near tie-in point B. The working fluid at tie-in point B may be more dense and at a higher pressure relative to the density and pressure on the low pressure side of the heat engine system 100, for example adjacent tie-in point C. The third valve 16 may be opened to remove working fluid from the fluid circuit at tie-in point B and deliver the removed working fluid to the mass control tank 7. By controlling the operation of the valves 14, 15, 16, the MMS 110 adds and/or removes working fluid mass to/from the heat engine system 100 without the need of a pump, thereby reducing system cost, complexity, and maintenance.
The working fluid within the mass control tank 7 may be in liquid phase, vapor phase, or both. In other embodiments, the working fluid within the mass control tank 7 may be in a supercritical state. Where the working fluid is in both vapor and liquid phases, the working fluid will tend to stratify and a phase boundary may separate the two phases, whereby the more dense working fluid will tend to settle to the bottom of the mass control tank 7 and the less dense working fluid will advance toward the top of the tank 7. Consequently, the second valve 15 will be able to deliver back to the fluid circuit the densest working fluid available in the mass control tank 7.
The MMS 110 may be configured to operate with the heat engine system 100 semi-passively. To accomplish this, the heat engine system 100 may further include first, second, and third sets of sensors 102, 104, and 106, respectively. As depicted, the first set of sensors 102 may be arranged at or adjacent the suction inlet of the pump 9, and the second set of sensors 104 may be arranged at or adjacent the outlet of the pump 9. The first and second sets of sensors 102, 104 monitor and report the working fluid pressure and temperature within the low and high pressure sides of the fluid circuit adjacent the pump 9. The third set of sensors 106 may be arranged either inside or adjacent the mass control tank 7 and be configured to measure and report the pressure and temperature of the working fluid within the tank 7.
The heat engine system 100 may further include a control system 108 that is communicable (wired or wirelessly) with each sensor 102, 104, 106 in order to process the measured and reported temperatures, pressures, and mass flow rates of the working fluid at predetermined or designated points within the heat engine system 100. The control system 108 may also communicate with external sensors (not shown) or other devices that provide ambient or environmental conditions around the heat engine system 100. In response to the reported temperatures, pressures, and mass flow rates provided by the sensors 102, 104, 106, and also to ambient and/or environmental conditions, the control system 108 may be able to adjust the general disposition of each of the valves 14, 15, 16. The control system 108 may be operatively coupled (wired or wirelessly) to each valve 14, 15, 16 and configured to activate one or more actuators, servos, or other mechanical or hydraulic devices capable of opening or closing the valves 14, 15, 16. Accordingly, the control system 108 may receive the measurement communications from each set of sensors 102, 104, 106 and selectively adjust each valve 14, 15, 16 in order to maximize operation of the heat engine system 100. As will be appreciated, control of the various valves 14, 15, 16 and related equipment may be automated or semi-automated.
In one embodiment, the control system 108 may be in communication (via wires, RF signal, etc.) with each of the sensors 102, 104, 106, etc. in the heat engine system 100 and configured to control the operation of each of the valves (e.g., 14, 15, 16) in accordance with a control software, algorithm, or other predetermined control mechanism. This may prove advantageous for being able to actively control the temperature and pressure of the working fluid at the inlet of the first pump 9, thereby selectively increasing the suction pressure of the first pump 9 by decreasing compressibility of the working fluid. Doing so may avoid damage to the pump 9 as well as increase the overall pressure ratio of the thermodynamic cycle, which improves the efficiency and power output of the heat engine system 100. Doing so may also raise the volumetric efficiency of the pump 9, thus allowing operation of the pump 9 at lower speeds.
In one embodiment, the control system 108 may include one or more proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers as a control loop feedback system. In another embodiment, the control system 108 may be any microprocessor-based system capable of storing a control program and executing the control program to receive sensor inputs and generate control signals in accordance with a predetermined algorithm or table. For example, the control system 108 may be a microprocessor-based computer running a control software program stored on a computer-readable medium. The software program may be configured to receive sensor inputs from the various pressure, temperature, flow rate, etc. sensors (e.g., sensors 102, 104, and 106) positioned throughout the working fluid circuit and generate control signals therefrom, wherein the control signals are configured to optimize and/or selectively control the operation of the working fluid circuit.
Exemplary control systems 108 that may be compatible with the embodiments of this disclosure may be further described and illustrated in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/880,428, filed on Sep. 13, 2010, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,281,593, which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure.
The MMS 110 may also include delivery points 17 and 18, where delivery point 17 may be used to vent working fluid from the MMS 110. Connection point 21 may be a location where additional working fluid may be added to the mass management system 110 from an external source, such as a fluid fill system (not shown). Embodiments of an exemplary fluid fill system that may be fluidly coupled to the connection point 21 to provide additional working fluid to the mass management system 110 are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,281,593, incorporated by reference above. The remaining connection points 22, 23 may be used in a variety of operating conditions such as start up, charging, and shut-down of the waste heat recovery system. For example, point 22 may be a pressure relief valve.
One method of controlling the pressure of the working fluid in the low side of the heat engine system 100 is by controlling the temperature of the mass control tank 7 which feeds the low-pressure side via tie-in point C. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a desirable requirement is to maintain the suction pressure of the pump 9 above the boiling pressure of the working fluid. This can be accomplished by maintaining the temperature of the mass control tank 7 at a higher level than at the inlet of the pump 9.
Referring to
In
As illustrated, the mass control tank 7 may be fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit at tie-in point C. Via tie-in point C, working fluid may be added to or extracted from the working fluid circuit, depending on the temperature of the working fluid within the tank 7. For example, heating the working fluid in the tank 7 will pressurize the tank and tend to force working fluid into the working fluid circuit from the tank 7, thereby effectively raising the suction pressure of the pump 9. Conversely, cooling the working fluid in the tank 7 will tend to withdraw working fluid from the working fluid circuit at tie-in point C and inject that working fluid into the tank 7, thereby reducing the suction pressure of the pump 9. Accordingly, working fluid mass moves either in or out of the tank 7 via tie-in point C depending on the average density of the working fluid therein.
In
In
Depending on the temperature of the working fluid extracted at tie-in point B and the amount of cooling and/or heating realized by the coil 114 in the tank 7, the mass control tank 7 may be adapted to either inject fluid into the working fluid circuit at tie-in point C or extract working fluid at tie-in point C. Consequently, the suction pressure of the pump 9 may be selectively managed to increase the efficiency of the heat engine system 100.
Referring now to
The exemplary MMS 700 may be configured to store working fluid in the mass control tank 7 at or near ambient temperature. In exemplary operation, the mass control tank 7 may be pressurized by tapping working fluid from the working fluid circuit via the first valve 14 fluidly coupled to tie-in point A. The third valve 16 may be opened to permit relatively cooler, pressurized working fluid to enter the mass control tank 7 via tie-in point B. As briefly described above, extracting additional fluid from the working fluid circuit may decrease the inlet or suction pressure of the pump 9 (
When required, working fluid may be returned to the working fluid circuit by opening the second valve 15 fluidly coupled to the bottom of the mass control tank 7 and allowing the additional working fluid to flow through the third tie-in point C and into the working fluid circuit upstream from the pump 9 (
The MMS 800 in
In operation, when it is desired to increase the suction pressure of the pump 9 (
Under most conditions, the expanded fluid following the valves 804, 806 will be two-phase fluid (i.e., vapor+liquid). To prevent the pressure in the mass control tank 7 from exceeding its normal operating limits, a small vapor compression refrigeration cycle 807 including a vapor compressor 808 and accompanying condenser 810 may be used. The refrigeration cycle 807 may be configured to decrease the temperature of the working fluid and condense the vapor in order to maintain the pressure of the mass control tank 7 at its design condition. In one embodiment, the vapor compression refrigeration cycle 807 forms an integral part of the MMS 800, as illustrated. In other embodiments, however, the vapor compression refrigeration cycle 807 may be a stand-alone vapor compression cycle with an independent refrigerant loop.
The control system 108 shown in each of the MMS 700, 800 may be configured to monitor and/or control the conditions of the working fluid and surrounding cycle environment, including temperature, pressure, flow rate and flow direction. The various components of each MMS 700, 800 may be communicably coupled to the control system 108 (wired or wirelessly) such that control of the various valves 14, 15, 16 and other components described herein is automated or semi-automated in response to system performance data obtained via the various sensors (e.g., 102, 104, 106 in
In one or more embodiments, it may prove advantageous to maintain the suction pressure of the pump 9 above the boiling pressure of the working fluid. The pressure of the working fluid in the low side of the working fluid circuit can be controlled by regulating the temperature of the working fluid in the mass control tank 7, such that the temperature of the working fluid in the mass control tank 7 is maintained at a higher level than the temperature at the inlet of the pump 9. To accomplish this, the MMS 700 may include a heater and/or a coil 714 arranged within or about the tank 7 to provide direct electric heat. The coil 714 may be similar in some respects to the coil 114 described above with reference to
The exemplary mass management systems 110, 700, 800 described above may be applicable to different variations or embodiments of thermodynamic cycles having different variations or embodiments of working fluid circuits. Accordingly, the thermodynamic cycle shown in and described with reference to
Following expansion in the second turbine 304, the second portion of the working fluid m2 may be cooled in a second recuperator RC2 which also serves to pre-heat a combined working fluid flow m1+m2 after it is discharged from the pump 9. The combined working fluid m1+m2 may be formed by merging the working fluid portions m1 and m2 discharged from both recuperators RC1, RC2, respectively. A condenser 312 may be configured to receive the combined working fluid m1+m2 and reduce its temperature prior to being pumped through the fluid circuit again with the pump 9. Depending upon the achievable temperature at the suction inlet of the pump 9, and based on the available cooling supply temperature and performance of the condenser 312, the suction pressure at the pump 9 may be either subcritical or supercritical. Moreover, any one of the MMS 110, 700, or 800 described herein may fluidly communicate with the thermodynamic cycle shown in
The first power turbine 302 may be coupled to and provide mechanical rotation to a first work-producing device 306, and the second power turbine may be adapted to drive a second work-producing device 308. In one embodiment, the work-producing devices 306, 308 may be electrical generators, either coupled by a gearbox or directly driving corresponding high-speed alternators. It is also contemplated herein to connect the output of the second power turbine 304 with the second work-producing device 308, or another generator that is driven by the first turbine 302. In other embodiments, the first and second power turbines 302, 304 may be integrated into a single piece of turbomachinery, such as a multiple-stage turbine using separate blades/disks on a common shaft, or as separate stages of a radial turbine driving a bull gear using separate pinions for each radial turbine.
By using multiple turbines 302, 304 at similar pressure ratios, a larger fraction of the available heat source from the waste heat exchanger 5 is utilized and residual heat from the turbines 302, 304 is recuperated via the cascaded recuperators RC1, RC2. Consequently, additional heat is extracted from the waste heat source through multiple temperature expansions. In one embodiment, the recuperators RC1, RC2 may be similar to the waste heat exchanger 5 and include or employ one or more printed circuit heat exchange panels. Also, the condenser 312 may be substantially similar to the cooler 12 shown and described above with reference to
In any of the cascade embodiments disclosed herein, the arrangement or general disposition of the recuperators RC1, RC2 can be optimized in conjunction with the waste heat exchanger 5 to maximize power output of the multiple temperature expansion stages. Also, both sides of each recuperator RC1, RC2 can be balanced, for example, by matching heat capacity rates and selectively merging the various flows in the working fluid circuits through waste heat exchangers and recuperators; C=m·cp, where C is the heat capacity rate, m is the mass flow rate of the working fluid, and cp is the constant pressure specific heat. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, balancing each side of the recuperators RC1, RC2 provides a higher overall cycle performance by improving the effectiveness of the recuperators RC1, RC2 for a given available heat exchange surface area.
Additional control valves CV1 and CV2 may be included to facilitate operation of the turbopump 510 under varying load conditions. The control valves CV1, CV2 may also be used to channel thermal energy into the turbopump 510 before the first power turbine 302 is able to operate at steady-state. For example, at system startup the shut off valve SOV1 may be closed and the first control valve CV1 opened such that the heated working fluid discharged from the waste heat exchanger 5 may be directed to the turbopump 510 in order to drive the main system pump 9 until achieving steady-state operation. Once at steady-state operation, the control valve CV1 may be closed and the shut off valve SOV1 may be simultaneously opened in order to direct heated working fluid from the waste heat exchanger 5 to the power turbine 302.
As with
In one embodiment, the second recuperator Recup2 may be configured to preheat the second portion m2 to a temperature within approximately 5 to 10° C. of the exhausted first portion m1 fluid at state 5. After expansion in the second-stage power turbine 304, the second portion m2 may be re-combined with the first portion m1 at point 504. The re-combined working fluid m1+m2 may then transfer initial thermal energy to the second portion m2 via a first recuperator Recup1 prior to the second portion m2 passing through the second recuperator Recup2, as described above. The combined working fluid m1+m2 is cooled via the first recuperator Recup1 and subsequently directed to the condenser 312 (e.g., state 6) for additional cooling, after which it ultimately enters the working fluid pump 9 (e.g., state 1) where the cycle starts anew.
Referring now to
Referring to
Specifically, the working fluid circuit 910 may be in thermal communication with the waste heat source 101 via a first heat exchanger 902 and a second heat exchanger 904. The first and second heat exchangers 902, 904 may correspond generally to the heat exchanger 5 described above with reference to
The first heat exchanger 902 may serve as a high temperature heat exchanger (e.g., high temperature with respect to the second heat exchanger 904) adapted to receive an initial or primary flow of thermal energy from the heat source 101. In various embodiments, the initial temperature of the heat source 101 entering the cycle 900 may range from about 400° F. to greater than about 1,200° F. (i.e., about 204° C. to greater than about 650° C.). In the illustrated embodiment, the initial flow of the heat source 101 may have a temperature of about 500° C. or higher. The second heat exchanger 904 may then receive the heat source 101 via a serial connection 908 downstream from the first heat exchanger 902. In one embodiment, the temperature of the heat source 101 provided to the second heat exchanger 904 may be reduced to about 250-300° C.
The heat exchangers 902, 904 are arranged in series in the heat source 101, but in parallel in the working fluid circuit 910. The first heat exchanger 902 may be fluidly coupled to a first turbine 912 and the second heat exchanger 904 may be fluidly coupled to a second turbine 914. In turn, the first turbine 912 may also be fluidly coupled to a first recuperator 916 and the second turbine 914 may also be fluidly coupled to a second recuperator 918. One or both of the turbines 912, 914 may be a power turbine configured to provide electrical power to auxiliary systems or processes. The recuperators 916, 918 may be arranged in series on a low temperature side of the circuit 910 and in parallel on a high temperature side of the circuit 910.
The pump 9 may circulate the working fluid throughout the circuit 910 and a second, starter pump 922 may also be in fluid communication with the components of the fluid circuit 910. The first and second pumps 9, 922 may be turbopumps, motor-driven pumps, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the first pump 9 may be used to circulate the working fluid during normal operation of the cycle 900 while the second pump 922 may be nominally driven and used generally for starting the cycle 900. In at least one embodiment, the second turbine 914 may be used to drive the first pump 9, but in other embodiments the first turbine 912 may be used to drive the first pump 9, or the first pump 9 may be nominally driven by an external or auxiliary machine (not shown).
The first turbine 912 may operate at a higher relative temperature (e.g., higher turbine inlet temperature) than the second turbine 914, due to the temperature drop of the heat source 101 experienced across the first heat exchanger 902. In one or more embodiments, however, each turbine 912, 914 may be configured to operate at the same or substantially the same inlet pressure. This may be accomplished by design and control of the circuit 910, including but not limited to the control of the first and second pumps 9, 922 and/or the use of multiple-stage pumps to optimize the inlet pressures of each turbine 912, 914 for corresponding inlet temperatures of the circuit 910. This is also accomplished through the use of one of the exemplary MMS 110, 700, or 800 that may be fluidly coupled to the circuit 910 at tie-in points A, B, and/or C, whereby the MMS 110, 700, or 800 regulates the working fluid pressure in order to maximize power outputs.
The working fluid circuit 910 may further include a condenser 924 in fluid communication with the first and second recuperators 916, 918. The low-pressure discharge working fluid flow exiting each recuperator 916, 918 may be directed through the condenser 924 to be cooled for return to the low temperature side of the circuit 910 and to either the first or second pumps 9, 922.
In operation, the working fluid is separated at point 926 in the working fluid circuit 910 into a first mass flow m1 and a second mass flow m2. The first mass flow m1 is directed through the first heat exchanger 902 and subsequently expanded in the first turbine 912. Following the first turbine 912, the first mass flow m1 passes through the first recuperator 916 in order to transfer residual heat back to the first mass flow m1 as it is directed toward the first heat exchanger 902. The second mass flow m2 may be directed through the second heat exchanger 904 and subsequently expanded in the second turbine 914. Following the second turbine 914, the second mass flow m2 passes through the second recuperator 918 to transfer residual heat back to the second mass flow m2 as it is directed toward the second heat exchanger 904. The second mass flow m2 is then re-combined with the first mass flow m1 at point 928 to generate a combined mass flow m1+m2. The combined mass flow m1+m2 may be cooled in the condenser 924 and subsequently directed back to the pump 9 to commence the fluid loop anew.
In the circuit 1010, the working fluid is separated into a first mass flow m1 and a second mass flow m2 at a point 1002. The first mass flow m1 is eventually directed through the first heat exchanger 902 and subsequently expanded in the first turbine 912. The first mass flow m1 then passes through the first recuperator 916 to transfer residual thermal energy back to the first mass flow m1 that is coursing past state 25 and into the first recuperator 916. The second mass flow m2 may be directed through the second heat exchanger 904 and subsequently expanded in the second turbine 914. Following the second turbine 914, the second mass flow m2 is merged with the first mass flow m1 at point 1004 to generate the combined mass flow m1+m2. The combined mass flow m1+m2 may be directed through the second recuperator 918 to transfer residual thermal energy to the first mass flow m1 as it passes through the second recuperator 918 on its way to the first recuperator 916.
The arrangement of the recuperators 916, 918 allows the residual thermal energy in the combined mass flow m1+m2 to be transferred to the first mass flow m1 in the second recuperator 918 prior to the combined mass flow m1+m2 reaching the condenser 924. As can be appreciated, this may increase the thermal efficiency of the working fluid circuit 1010 by providing better matching of the heat capacity rates, as defined above.
In one embodiment, the second turbine 914 may be used to drive (shown as dashed line) the first or main working fluid pump 9. In other embodiments, however, the first turbine 912 may be used to drive the pump 9. The first and second turbines 912, 914 may be operated at common turbine inlet pressures or different turbine inlet pressures by management of the respective mass flow rates at the corresponding states 41 and 42.
The heat exchangers 902, 904, 1102 may be arranged in series in thermal communication with the heat source 101, and arranged in parallel within the working fluid circuit 1110. The corresponding first and second recuperators 916, 918 are arranged in series on the low temperature side of the circuit 1110 with the condenser 924, and in parallel on the high temperature side of the circuit 1110. After the working fluid is separated into first and second mass flows m1, m2 at point 1104, the third heat exchanger 1102 may be configured to receive the first mass flow m1 and transfer thermal energy from the heat source 101 to the first mass flow m1. Accordingly, the third heat exchanger 1102 may be adapted to initiate the high temperature side of the circuit 1110 before the first mass flow m1 reaches the first heat exchanger 902 and the first turbine 912 for expansion therein. Following expansion in the first turbine 912, the first mass flow m1 is directed through the first recuperator 916 to transfer residual thermal energy to the first mass flow m1 discharged from the third heat exchanger 1102 and coursing toward the first heat exchanger 902.
The second mass flow m2 is directed through the second heat exchanger 904 and subsequently expanded in the second turbine 914. Following the second turbine 914, the second mass flow m2 is merged with the first mass flow m1 at point 1106 to generate the combined mass flow m1+m2 which provides residual thermal energy to the second mass flow m2 in the second recuperator 918 as the second mass flow m2 courses toward the second heat exchanger 904. The working fluid circuit 1110 may also include a throttle valve 1108, such as a pump-drive throttle valve, and a shutoff valve 1112 to manage the flow of the working fluid.
As illustrated, the combined recuperator 1202 may be configured to transfer heat to the first mass flow m1 before it enters the first heat exchanger 902 and receive heat from the first mass flow m1 after it is discharged from the first turbine 912. The combined recuperator 1202 may also transfer heat to the second mass flow m2 before it enters the second heat exchanger 904 and also receive heat from the second mass flow m2 after it is discharged from the second turbine 914. The combined mass flow m1+m2 flows out of the recuperator 1202 and to the condenser 924 for cooling.
As indicated by the dashed lines extending from the recuperator 1202, the recuperator 1202 may be enlarged or otherwise adapted to accommodate additional mass flows for thermal transfer. For example, the recuperator 1202 may be adapted to receive the first mass flow m1 before entering and after exiting the third heat exchanger 1102. Consequently, additional thermal energy may be extracted from the recuperator 1202 and directed to the third heat exchanger 1102 to increase the temperature of the first mass flow m1.
As illustrated, the recuperators 916, 918, 1402 may operate as separate heat exchanging devices. In other embodiments, however, the recuperators 916, 918, 1402 may be combined into a single recuperator, similar to the recuperator 1202 described above with reference to
Each of the described cycles 900-1400 from
The mass management systems 110, 700, and 800 described herein provide and enable: i) independent control suction margin at the inlet of the pump 9, which enables the use of a low-cost, high-efficiency centrifugal pump, through a cost effective set of components; ii) mass of working fluid of different densities to be either injected or withdrawn (or both) from the system at different locations in the cycle based on system performance; and iii) centralized control by a mass management system operated by control software with inputs from sensors in the cycle and functional control over the flow of mass into and out of the system.
The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/278,705, entitled “Heat Engine and Heat to Electricity Systems and Methods with Working Fluid Mass Management Control,” and filed Oct. 21, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/631,379, entitled “Heat Engine and Heat to Electricity Systems and Methods,” and filed Dec. 4, 2009, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,128, which claims benefit of U.S. Prov. Appl. No. 61/243,200, filed on Sep. 17, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140096524 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61243200 | Sep 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13278705 | Oct 2011 | US |
| Child | 14102628 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12631379 | Dec 2009 | US |
| Child | 13278705 | US |
