Gas Compressor Exhaust Heat Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas compressors inefficiently utilize exhaust heat, leading to insufficient power generation for driving auxiliary machines like cooling fans, due to variable exhaust heat rates and initial startup challenges.
Innovation Solution
A gas compressor system that integrates a compressor unit and an electricity generation device using the Rankine cycle, with a switch device and control system to harness exhaust heat for power generation and switch between generated power and commercial power supply based on electricity generation amounts, ensuring reliable operation of auxiliary machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If exhaust heat is used for electricity generation via Rankine cycle, then energy utilization is improved, but electricity generation amount is insufficient during initial operation and variable heat rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the Rankine cycle electricity generation system with a heat storage unit to merge two functions: exhaust heat utilization and energy storage. This allows the system to accumulate thermal energy during periods of high heat rate and discharge it during periods of low heat rate or initial operation, ensuring reliable electricity generation for auxiliary machines throughout all operating conditions.
2Reliability
If switch device is added to alternate between generated power and commercial power, then reliability of auxiliary machine operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switch device as an intermediary component that mediates between the electricity generation device, heat storage unit, and auxiliary machines. This simple switching mechanism allows seamless alternation between generated power and commercial power supply, ensuring continuous reliable operation of auxiliary machines while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively utilizes exhaust heat to generate power for driving auxiliary machines, ensuring continuous operation by switching between generated power and commercial power, thereby overcoming initial startup and variable heat rate challenges.
Implementation Method 1
heat is exchanged between compressed air discharged from a compressor body and a working fluid in the Rankine cycle
Implementation Method 2
vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by compressing action in the compressor body
Implementation Method 3
the Rankine cycle is established by driving an expander with the vaporized working fluid, thereby generating electricity
Implementation Method 4
driving an expander with the vaporized working fluid
Implementation Method 5
an electricity generation device for generating electricity by obtaining a driving force by vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by compressing action in the compressor body and expanding the working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A gas compressor includes a compressor unit having a compressor body for compressing gas and an electricity-generation device generating electricity by obtaining a driving force by vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by a compressing action in the compressor body and expanding the working fluid so as to utilize the power generated by the electricity-generation device as a power source, and includes a switch device switching between power from the electricity generation device and power from a commercial power supply to supply power to the power consumption equipment, and a control device detecting an electricity-generation amount or a value correlative to the electricity generation amount and switching between the powers by the switch device, thereby generating the power using exhaust heat as a heat source to surely drive an auxiliary machine by a simple configuration regardless of a shortage of the electricity generation amount.