Energy Conversion System with Recirculator Suspension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy conversion systems face challenges in regulating the specific gravity of liquids to maintain design parameters, affecting the efficiency of energy conversion processes.
Innovation Solution
An energy conversion system comprising a riser conduit, a down-comer with a finely divided material in suspension, a converter device, and a recirculator that maintains the material in suspension by mixing it with a third liquid of higher specific gravity, along with tanks and a separator to control liquid heights and densities, using an alternating discharge arrangement and a propeller pump for recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the energy conversion system operates with finely divided material in suspension to enable energy conversion, then energy conversion processes can take place, but it becomes difficult to regulate the specific gravity of the liquid to stay within design parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control through the recirculator that continuously monitors and adjusts the recirculation of third liquid to maintain finely divided material in suspension. This feedback mechanism ensures that specific gravity remains within design parameters by dynamically balancing the suspension material concentration, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling energy conversion and maintaining regulation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters by introducing a recirculator that modifies the concentration and distribution of finely divided material through controlled recirculation of third liquid. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal specific gravity while continuously performing energy conversion, addressing both productivity and reliability requirements.
2Ease of operation
If liquid height in tanks is not controlled, then the system can operate freely, but the head of water available to drive the turbine cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by implementing a regulated supply mechanism that dynamically adjusts liquid flow to the first and second tanks. This dynamic control maintains liquid heights within optimal ranges, ensuring consistent head for turbine operation while allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions, thus balancing ease of operation with reliability.
3Reliability
If the recirculator continuously recirculates third liquid to maintain material in suspension, then energy conversion consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculator is designed to operate autonomously, maintaining finely divided material in suspension through self-regulating recirculation of third liquid. This self-service capability ensures consistent energy conversion without requiring external intervention or complex control systems, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
This configuration effectively controls the liquid heights in the system, maintaining the head of water to drive turbines and ensuring consistent energy conversion by regulating the supply of liquids and recirculating the finely divided material, thus stabilizing the energy conversion process.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension
Implementation Method 2
discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid
Implementation Method 3
Changes in dilution of the finely divided material, and thus the specific gravity of the liquid, cause the liquid to move within the system under the action of gravity
Implementation Method 4
the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid
Implementation Method 5
a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system
Implementation Method 6
maintaining the head of water available to drive the turbine
Implementation Method 7
a separator arranged to receive second liquid from the down-comer, separate the first liquid from the finely divided material
Data Source
AI summary
An energy conversion system comprising: a riser conduit comprising a first liquid; a down-comer comprising a second liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with the riser conduit, the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with a first tank and a second tank; a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system, and to discharge the first liquid thereafter; and a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension, the third liquid comprising second liquid and further finely divided material in suspension. The recirculator is arranged to discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid. The first tank and the second tank are arranged between the converter device and the down-comer, to receive the first liquid discharged from the converter and to supply the first liquid to the down-comer. Supply of first liquid to the first and second tanks is in use regulated to maintain the height of liquid in the first and second tanks below a predetermined threshold.