Rotary Liquid Piston Compressor for Isothermal Supercritical Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power generation systems using Rankine cycles face inefficiencies when compressing supercritical fluids, as they require more energy than pumping liquids, and there is limited thermodynamic efficiency in transferring work and pressure between different fluid states.
Innovation Solution
A power generation system incorporating a rotary liquid piston compressor that exchanges pressure between a liquid and a supercritical fluid, using a rotor with channels and barriers to minimize mixing and incorporate a thermal management system for efficient heat transfer, allowing for isothermal compression and increased efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional compressors are used to compress supercritical fluids, then the compression function is achieved, but energy consumption increases and thermodynamic efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid intermediary fluid that acts as a mediator to transfer pressure to the supercritical fluid. Instead of directly compressing the supercritical fluid with a mechanical compressor, the system uses a liquid pump to pressurize a liquid, which then transfers its pressure to the supercritical fluid through a pressure exchange mechanism, achieving more efficient compression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical compression system with a pressure exchange system based on fluid mechanics. Instead of using mechanical compressors to directly compress supercritical fluids, the system uses a liquid pump to create high-pressure liquid that transfers pressure to the supercritical fluid through a barrier membrane, substituting mechanical compression with hydraulic pressure transfer
2Productivity
If pressure is transferred between liquid and supercritical fluid, then compression efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump and compressor functions into a single integrated pressure exchange system. The liquid pump and supercritical fluid compression occur simultaneously through the pressure exchange mechanism, merging two separate processes into one unified system that reduces overall complexity despite the sophisticated pressure transfer mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure exchange mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a pressure transfer interface, a heat exchange medium, and a fluid separation barrier. The barrier membrane both prevents mixing of fluids and enables pressure transfer, while the system simultaneously pumps liquid and compresses supercritical fluid, providing multi-functionality that justifies the added complexity
3Loss of energy
If isothermal compression is achieved through thermal management, then thermodynamic efficiency increases, but heat transfer requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure exchange and heat exchange functions into a single integrated mechanism. The barrier membrane not only prevents fluid mixing but also serves as a heat transfer interface, allowing thermal energy to pass through while maintaining fluid separation. This merging of pressure and heat exchange functions achieves isothermal compression without requiring separate thermal management systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the heat from the compressed supercritical fluid to preheat the incoming liquid, and the cooler high-pressure liquid to cool the outgoing compressed fluid. This self-service heat recovery mechanism maintains isothermal conditions through the inherent thermal interactions of the fluids themselves, reducing the need for external thermal management equipment
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
The system achieves higher energy densities and reduced turbine size by efficiently transferring work and pressure from a liquid to a supercritical fluid, enhancing overall power generation efficiency and reducing energy consumption in compression processes.
Implementation Method 1
The rotary liquid piston compressor exchanges pressure between the liquid circulating in the first fluid loop and the supercritical fluid circulating in the second fluid loop
Implementation Method 2
A thermal management system surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. The thermal management system exchanges heat with the rotary liquid piston compressor
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of barriers block mixing between the liquid and the supercritical fluid. The plurality of barriers rest within the rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary liquid piston compressor and a power generation system including a first fluid loop. The first fluid loop includes a pump that circulates a liquid. A second fluid loop that generates power by circulating a supercritical fluid. The second fluid loop includes a turbine that rotates and powers a generator as the supercritical fluid flows through the turbine. A rotary liquid piston compressor fluidly coupled to the first fluid loop and the second fluid loop. The rotary liquid piston compressor exchanges pressure between the liquid circulating in the first fluid loop and the supercritical fluid circulating in the second fluid loop.