HRSG Additional Heat Exchanger for Dynamic Duty Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat recovery systems in combined cycle power plants face challenges in efficiently managing heat duty across different heat exchanger sections, leading to suboptimal energy conversion and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional heat exchanger section that can be selectively fluidly coupled to existing heat exchanger sections via a controller, allowing for the alteration of heat duty by creating parallel circuits and controlling valves to optimize heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed heat exchanger configuration is used, then the system structure is simple, but the heat duty cannot be dynamically adjusted leading to suboptimal energy conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the heat exchanger configuration changeable through a controller that selectively fluidly couples the additional heat exchanger section to different sections based on operational requirements. This allows the system to dynamically adjust heat duty distribution among economizer, evaporator, reheater, and superheater sections, transforming a static system into an adaptive one that optimizes energy conversion under varying load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the heat recovery system into multiple independent heat exchanger sections (economizer, evaporator, reheater, superheater) with an additional configurable section. This modular segmentation allows each section to be independently controlled and coupled, enabling flexible heat duty management while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized interfaces and control logic.
2Productivity
If heat duty is not dynamically adjusted, then the system operation is simple, but energy conversion efficiency is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback through a controller that monitors system operation and selectively fluidly couples the additional heat exchanger section to optimize heat duty distribution. The controller receives operational data and automatically adjusts the configuration to maximize energy conversion efficiency, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining simple operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by enabling the heat exchanger configuration to automatically adapt to operational conditions through the controller. The system self-regulates heat duty distribution across sections without requiring external control, optimizing energy conversion efficiency autonomously while keeping the operation interface simple for users.
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 approach enhances the efficiency of heat recovery by dynamically adjusting heat duty, thereby improving energy conversion and overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
heat recovery system configured to recover heat from a fluid includes multiple heat exchanger sections fluidly coupled to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an HRSG that includes a plurality of heat exchanger sections fluidly coupled to each other. The plurality of heat exchanger sections comprises at least one economizer, at least one evaporator, at least one reheater, and at least one superheater. In addition, the HRSG includes an additional heat exchanger section coupled to two different heat exchanger sections of the plurality of heat exchanger sections. Further, the HRSG includes a controller programmed to selectively fluidly couple the additional heat exchanger section to one of the two different heat exchanger sections to alter a heat duty for the selected heat exchanger section fluidly coupled to the additional heat exchanger.