Rotary Liquid Piston Compressor for Isothermal Supercritical Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power generation systems using Rankine cycles face inefficiencies in compressing supercritical fluids, which reduces overall system efficiency and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A power generation system incorporating a rotary liquid piston compressor that exchanges pressure between a liquid and a supercritical fluid, utilizing a rotor with channels and barriers to minimize mixing and enhance pressure transfer, while a thermal management system maintains isothermal compression for increased thermodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional compressors are used to compress supercritical fluids in Rankine cycle power generation systems, then the compression function is achieved, but the system efficiency is reduced and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid piston as an intermediary medium between the supercritical fluid and the compressor mechanism. The liquid piston receives pressure from the liquid pump and transfers it to the supercritical fluid, enabling efficient compression without direct mechanical contact. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by achieving both low energy consumption and high system efficiency through the liquid piston's ability to transmit pressure effectively while minimizing friction and mechanical losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a liquid pump to generate high pressure in the liquid piston, which then compresses the supercritical fluid. The system utilizes the incompressibility and high density characteristics of liquids to achieve efficient pressure transmission. This hydraulic approach resolves the energy efficiency contradiction by replacing conventional mechanical compression with hydraulic pressure transfer, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high system efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If a rotary liquid piston compressor is used to exchange pressure between liquid and supercritical fluid, then pressure transfer efficiency exceeds 50%, but device complexity increases due to rotor with channels and barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary liquid piston compressor is divided into multiple segments including the rotor with channels, barriers, and liquid piston chambers. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function: the rotor provides the rotating structure, channels guide fluid flow, barriers separate liquid and supercritical fluid, and liquid pistons transfer pressure. This segmented design resolves the contradiction by achieving high pressure transfer efficiency through specialized components while organizing the complexity into manageable, functional modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary liquid piston compressor operates through periodic rotational cycles where the rotor rotates to periodically bring liquid pistons into contact with supercritical fluid chambers. During each rotation cycle, pressure is transferred from liquid to supercritical fluid in a periodic manner. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by maintaining high pressure transfer efficiency through repeated efficient compression cycles while using a relatively simple rotating mechanism rather than complex continuous compression devices.
3Stability of the object's composition
If barriers are used to block mixing between liquid and supercritical fluid in the rotor, then fluid separation is maintained, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barriers in the rotary liquid piston compressor are designed as flexible membranes or thin films that can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and operational variations. These flexible barriers effectively separate the liquid and supercritical fluid while compensating for minor positioning deviations. This approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining effective fluid separation through the flexibility of the barriers, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements compared to rigid barrier designs.
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 achieves higher energy densities and reduced turbine size, with efficiencies exceeding 50% in pressure transfer and improved thermodynamic efficiency through minimal fluid mixing and isothermal compression.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor that exchanges pressure between the liquid and the supercritical fluid as the rotor rotates
Implementation Method 2
The thermal management system exchanges heat with the rotary liquid piston compressor
Implementation Method 3
maintains isothermal compression for increased thermodynamic efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotary liquid piston compressor and a power generation system including a first fluid loop. The first fluid loop includes a pump that circulates a liquid. A second fluid loop that generates power by circulating a supercritical fluid. The second fluid loop includes a turbine that rotates and powers a generator as the supercritical fluid flows through the turbine. A rotary liquid piston compressor fluidly coupled to the first fluid loop and the second fluid loop. The rotary liquid piston compressor exchanges pressure between the liquid circulating in the first fluid loop and the supercritical fluid circulating in the second fluid loop.