Multi-Compressor Exhaust Heat Recovery With Water Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exhaust heat recovery systems do not effectively utilize thermal energy from all gas compressors and lack a comprehensive connection to exhaust heat recovery devices, leading to inefficiencies in energy use.
Innovation Solution
An exhaust heat recovery system with a controller that connects multiple gas compressors to an exhaust heat recovery equipment via a heat recovery path, allowing selective use based on the controller's instructions, comparing required and supply water temperatures to optimize heat recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If all gas compressors are connected to the exhaust heat recovery device, then thermal energy recovery efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas compressor fleet into multiple independent groups, each with its own exhaust heat recovery path. This segmentation allows selective connection of compressors to the heat recovery device based on operational conditions, achieving high thermal energy recovery efficiency when needed while maintaining system simplicity when connection is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control mechanisms that allow the connection state of gas compressors to the exhaust heat recovery device to change based on real-time operational conditions. The controller dynamically adjusts which compressors are connected, enabling the system to optimize between thermal energy recovery efficiency and operational simplicity according to actual needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gas compressors are selectively connected to the exhaust heat recovery path, then operational flexibility is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback on water temperature conditions and compressor operational status, using this information to automatically determine which gas compressors should be connected to the exhaust heat recovery path. This feedback mechanism enables operational flexibility to respond to changing conditions while the automated control reduces the complexity of manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables gas compressors to self-select whether to use the exhaust heat recovery path based on instructions from the controller, allowing operational flexibility without requiring complex centralized control decisions. Each compressor independently responds to controller instructions, simplifying the overall control architecture.
3Loss of energy
If the exhaust heat recovery path is always available, then thermal energy recovery opportunity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by connecting gas compressors to the exhaust heat recovery path only when thermal energy recovery is beneficial and water temperature conditions are appropriate. This selective connection approach maximizes thermal energy recovery opportunities while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption that would occur if all compressors were continuously connected regardless of conditions.
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
Efficient recovery of thermal energy from all gas compressors, improving energy efficiency and reducing the need for additional cooling mechanisms, thereby lowering costs and enhancing system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a exhaust heat recovery equipment (2) that recovers heat generated in the process of generating compressed gas
Implementation Method 2
efficient recovery of thermal energy from all gas compressors
Data Source
AI summary
Efficient recovery of thermal energy. An exhaust heat recovery system comprising: a plurality of gas compressors; a exhaust heat recovery equipment; and a controller, wherein further comprising a exhaust heat recovery path connecting the plurality of gas compressors and the exhaust heat recovery equipment, and the plurality of gas compressors can select whether or not to use the exhaust heat recovery path based on instructions from the controller, the controller compares the set required water temperature with the supply water temperature, which is the temperature of the water supplied from the exhaust heat recovery equipment to the outside, and at least one of the plurality of gas compressors is instructed to use the exhaust heat recovery path when the supply water temperature is lower than the required water temperature.