Oil Separator for Organic Rankine Cycle Working Fluid
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plants, oil leakage from mechanical seals mixes with the working fluid, affecting its physical and chemical characteristics and reducing efficiency, as there are no existing devices for online oil separation and removal during plant operation.
Innovation Solution
A device with a separator and collection system, including a cyclone or fractional distillation, is installed between the evaporator and condenser to separate oil from the working fluid in both liquid and vapor phases, utilizing a bypass line and valves for efficient oil recovery and discharge without stopping the plant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oil is used for lubrication in mechanical seals, then sealing reliability and component lifetime are improved, but oil mixes with the working fluid and deteriorates cycle efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts oil from the working fluid stream by introducing a separation zone where oil and working fluid are separated based on density differences. The oil, being heavier, settles at the bottom of the separation zone and is removed through a drainage system, while the cleaned working fluid continues its cycle. This extraction principle directly addresses the contradiction by removing the harmful oil contamination while preserving the lubrication function in seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary separation zone that acts as a mediator between the lubrication system and the working fluid cycle. This intermediate structure allows oil to be transferred from the working fluid to a collection reservoir without directly affecting the seal lubrication or the main cycle performance, thus resolving the conflict between lubrication needs and efficiency maintenance.
2Device complexity
If oil loss from seals is accepted, then device complexity is reduced, but working fluid characteristics change and efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The separation device utilizes the natural density difference between oil and working fluid to achieve separation without requiring external power or complex mechanical components. The heavier oil automatically settles and drains under gravity, making the system self-service and minimizing added complexity while effectively maintaining thermal efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If separator is added to remove oil, then working fluid purity is improved, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the separation function locally at a specific point in the cycle (in the liquid line before the evaporator) rather than throughout the entire system. This localized approach achieves the necessary working fluid purity improvement while minimizing overall system complexity by concentrating the separation function in a single, simple device.
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
Enables continuous oil separation and removal from the working fluid, improving the thermal and mechanical efficiency of the ORC plant by maintaining the fluid's characteristics and extending plant lifespan without requiring significant modifications to existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
said separator is a cyclone
Implementation Method 2
the separator is based on fractional distillation
Data Source
AI summary
Device for oil separation and removal from a working fluid of an organic Rankine cycle plant, said plant having at least a supply pump (6), at least a heat exchanger (1,16), an expansion turbine (5), a condenser (4), wherein the device is provided with a separator (2) and collection means (3), located between the evaporator (1) and the condenser (4) or between the evaporator (1) and a regenerator (16) of the organic Rankine cycle plant.