Roots Blower Steam Expansion Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating industrially usable steam are costly due to reliance on external electrical energy for operation, which increases production expenses.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a steam generator that uses a Roots blower to expand steam from a higher actual generation pressure to a target operating pressure, generating mechanical and/or electrical energy, which is then used to operate the steam generation system independently, reducing the need for external energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If steam is generated with target operating pressure using conventional methods, then the steam can be directly used for technical processes, but external electrical energy is required to operate the steam generation system, increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by using the steam expansion process itself to generate the mechanical/electrical energy needed to operate the Roots blower and other system components. The steam generator becomes self-sufficient by capturing and utilizing the energy from steam expansion to power its own operation, eliminating or reducing the need for external electrical energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts what would normally be wasted energy - the thermal energy in steam at high pressure that needs to be reduced to operating pressure - into a beneficial resource. By using a Roots blower to expand the steam and capturing the mechanical energy generated during this pressure reduction process, the system transforms an energy loss into a useful energy source that powers the steam generation system.
2Extent of automation
If a Roots blower is used to expand steam from higher pressure to target pressure, then mechanical and/or electrical energy is generated to operate the system, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Roots blower serves multiple functions within the system: it acts as a pressure reduction device to bring steam from generation pressure to operating pressure, simultaneously functions as a prime mover to generate mechanical energy, and can be coupled to a generator to produce electrical energy. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and justifies the added complexity by consolidating multiple operations into a single device.
3Power
If the actual generation pressure is increased by pressure difference Δp to enable energy generation in the Roots blower, then thermal energy is converted to higher-value mechanical/electrical energy, but additional fuel consumption is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the steam - specifically the pressure difference Δp between generation pressure and target operating pressure - to enable energy generation. By maintaining a controlled pressure differential, the steam possesses sufficient thermal energy to drive the Roots blower and generate mechanical/electrical power, with the pressure parameter serving as the key enabler for energy conversion while managing fuel consumption.
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 allows for cost-effective generation of steam by efficiently converting thermal energy into higher-value forms of energy, minimizing external energy consumption and enabling self-sufficient steam production in industrial plants.
Implementation Method 1
a Roots blower (22) which expands the steam to the target operating pressure and generates mechanical energy and/or electrical energy from the thermal energy of the steam
Implementation Method 2
a fuel (13) is fed to a burner (12) to generate heat
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A process for steam generation is provided in which a fuel is supplied to a combustion chamber (12) to generate heat by means of a conveying device (14). The heat generated in the combustion chamber (12) is used to produce steam at a generation pressure, wherein the generation pressure is greater than a target operating pressure intended for technical use of the steam by a pressure difference Δp. The steam is then expanded to the target operating pressure by means of a rotary lobe blower (22) that generates mechanical and/or electrical energy from the thermal energy of the steam. The efficient conversion of additional thermal energy into higher-value energy forms by the rotary lobe blower (22) reduces the need for expensive external higher-value energy and/or allows for cost compensation through feeding into a power grid (30), thus enabling the cost-effective generation of technically usable steam.