Organic Rankine Cycle Working Fluid Additive for Heat Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power systems face limitations in maximizing heat source utilization due to mineralization issues, fixed flow rates, and pressure constraints, leading to suboptimal performance and reduced power output.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lower boiling point component into the working fluid, allowing for adjustable boiling pressure and flow rate control, and implementing a system with flow control units and a reserve tank for oil decontamination, to optimize power output and heat utilization without reducing turbine efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the boiler pressure is increased to increase power output per weight unit of working fluid, then the power output per weight unit improves, but the heat available for vaporization decreases because more heat is used for pre-heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the working fluid composition by adding a lower boiling point component to alter the vaporization characteristics. This parameter change allows the system to operate at higher boiler pressures while maintaining better heat utilization, as the modified working fluid requires less pre-heating and vaporizes more efficiently at the elevated temperature and pressure conditions.
2Loss of energy
If the cooling air temperature is decreased to maximize heat source utilization, then the heat source utilization improves, but the condensation temperature must remain constant to prevent explosive mixtures, limiting power output increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the working fluid composition by incorporating a lower boiling point component, which changes the condensation characteristics. This allows the system to condense at lower temperatures while maintaining safety margins against explosive mixtures, thereby enabling better utilization of cooler ambient air for condensation and improving overall heat source utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite working fluid system combining a base hydrocarbon with a lower boiling point component. This composite fluid mixture provides optimized thermodynamic properties that allow operation across a wider temperature range, enabling the system to exploit cooler ambient air for condensation while maintaining safety and power output.
3Loss of energy
If the flow rate of working fluid is increased to maximize heat source utilization, then the heat utilization improves, but the fixed flow rate constraint prevents optimal operation at varying pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic flow control mechanisms including flow control valves and a bypass line that allow the working fluid flow rate to be adjusted according to operating conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to optimize heat source utilization across varying pressure and temperature conditions, transitioning from a fixed flow rate system to an adaptable one.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flow path by introducing a bypass line that allows portion of the working fluid to be diverted from the main flow path. This segmentation enables independent control of flow rates through different paths, allowing optimization of heat exchange processes and adaptation to varying operating conditions without compromising overall system performance.
4Reliability
If the condenser pressure is maintained at minimum to prevent explosive mixtures, then safety is maintained, but the power output is limited by the constant condensation temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the working fluid composition by adding a lower boiling point component, which shifts the condensation temperature curve. This parameter change allows the system to condense at lower temperatures and pressures while maintaining safety margins against explosive mixtures, thereby breaking the limitation that constrained power output at minimum condenser pressure.
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 increases power utilization efficiency by up to 10% and maximizes heat source utilization across varying coolant temperatures, while maintaining turbine efficiency and reducing oil contamination, resulting in enhanced system performance and extended operational lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a lower boiling point component into the working fluid, allowing for adjustable boiling pressure
Implementation Method 2
organic Rankine cycle power systems that utilize a working fluid and a geothermal heat source or similar heat sources
Implementation Method 3
the heat used for the vaporization of the working fluid
Implementation Method 4
the flow of cooling air is reduced so that the temperature of condensation remains at 85.53° F. or higher
Data Source
AI summary
An optimized Rankine thermodynamic cycle system and method include utilizing a working fluid including a base component and an effective amount of a lower boiling point component, where the effective amount is sufficient to raise a power utilization efficiency of the systems by up to 10%, without changing a weight of the fluid reducing turbine efficiency for the particular base component and for optimizing output control valves for adjusting the working fluid composition and temperature sensors measuring an initial temperature of a coolant medium and a final temperature of a heat source stream to computer control valves to continuously adjust a pressure and a flow rate of a working fluid stream to be vaporized so that a heat utilization of the system is about 99% increasing output by approximately 3% to 6% on a sustained and permanent yearly basis.