High Glide ORC Condenser Segmentation via Fluid Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
High glide working fluids in organic Rankine cycle power generation systems require large condensers with significant surface areas, making the systems impractical due to increased temperature differences between components, which affects condenser effectiveness, size, and cost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a separator to split the high glide working fluid into its components, allowing each to be condensed in separate condensers optimized for individual thermal properties, reducing the size and cost of condensers and improving thermal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a high glide working fluid is used in an organic Rankine cycle system, then thermal efficiency can be improved through greater temperature difference between bubble and dew points, but condenser size and cost increase significantly due to the large temperature differences affecting condensation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the condensation process into multiple stages by separating the multi-component working fluid into individual components, each condensed in separate condensers. This segmentation allows each condenser to handle a single component with a narrower temperature range, reducing the required surface area compared to condensing the entire high-glide mixture in one large condenser.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separator as an intermediary device between the turbine and condensers. This separator divides the vapor mixture into individual component streams, enabling targeted condensation of each component in optimized condensers, thereby reducing the overall condensation surface area requirement while maintaining thermal efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a high glide working fluid is used, then the temperature difference between components increases which improves thermal efficiency, but the condenser effectiveness decreases due to the difficulty of condensing multiple components with different condensation temperatures simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The condensation process is segmented into multiple independent condensation stages, with each condenser dedicated to a specific working fluid component. This ensures that each condenser operates at optimized conditions for its assigned component, maintaining high condensation effectiveness despite the high overall glide of the working fluid mixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary that resolves the conflict between high glide and condensation effectiveness by dividing the complex multi-component vapor into simpler single-component streams, which can then be condensed efficiently in dedicated condensers.
3Area of stationary object
If separate condensers are used for each component of the working fluid, then condenser size and cost are reduced, but device complexity increases due to the need for separation and multiple condensation units
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into multiple condensers does increase the number of components, each condenser is simpler in design and operation, handling only a single component with a narrow temperature range. The overall system complexity is managed through the use of a relatively simple separator device that divides the vapor stream into manageable component streams.
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 and practicality of high glide organic Rankine cycle systems by minimizing the impact of temperature differences, allowing for smaller, more efficient condensers and improved heat transfer, thereby increasing overall system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The working fluid utilized in an organic Rankine cycle can be a combination of components with different condensation and evaporation temperatures at a given pressure. The difference in working temperatures of the components is known as 'glide'.
Implementation Method 2
The condensers are configured for condensing a single component of the working fluid. Once each of the components condense back into a liquid form they are recombined and exhausted to a pump
Implementation Method 3
A working fluid is heated in the vapor generator to a dry saturated vapor
Implementation Method 4
The vapor is expanded in a turbine, thereby driving the turbine to generate power. Expansion in the turbine reduces pressure and may condense some of the vapor.
Data Source
AI summary
An example power generation system includes a vapor generator, a turbine, a separator and a pump. In the separator, the multiple components of the working fluid are separated from each other and sent to separate condensers. Each of the separate condensers is configured for condensing a single component of the working fluid. Once each of the components condense back into a liquid form they are recombined and exhausted to a pump that in turn drives the working fluid back to the vapor generator.