Steam power plant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steam power plants face inefficiencies due to heat of condensation being lost as waste heat, which conventional cooling systems struggle to recover, leading to reduced overall efficiency and increased emissions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an absorption heat pump that recovers heat of condensation by using thermal energy from the steam turbine system, reducing the additional energy required for the absorption heat pump and allowing for partial replacement of conventional cooling systems, thereby enhancing system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an absorption heat pump is integrated to recover heat of condensation, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the absorption heat pump system with the existing steam power plant by integrating the expeller system into the steam turbine's working medium circuit. The heat pump's evaporator connects to the condenser outlet and the expeller's condensate merges back into the working medium circuit, creating a unified system that recovers waste heat without requiring completely separate infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam power plant's own working medium (steam) is used to power the expeller system of the absorption heat pump. By tapping steam from the steam turbine circuit to drive the expeller, the system uses its own resources to fuel the heat recovery process, eliminating the need for external energy sources and reducing overall system complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If steam is tapped from the steam turbine system to power the expeller system, then the absorption heat pump can operate, but energy available for power generation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes steam at different pressure and temperature parameters at various stages of the turbine expansion process. By tapping steam at intermediate stages rather than from the beginning, the system exploits steam that has already performed some work, extracting energy at optimized pressure points to minimize impact on overall power generation while still providing sufficient energy for the expeller system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing steam to be fully expanded and discharged, the system recovers intermediate-stage steam that would otherwise be utilized completely. This recovered steam is diverted to power the expeller system, then the remaining steam continues through the turbine, effectively recovering energy at multiple stages rather than discarding it all at the end.
3Loss of energy
If conventional cooling systems are replaced with absorption heat pump, then heat recovery is improved, but additional energy requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously wasted heat of condensation into a useful resource by using it in the evaporator of the absorption heat pump. This waste heat drives the phase change of the refrigerant in the heat pump cycle, enabling the expeller system to operate without external energy input. The harmful waste heat is transformed into a beneficial energy source that powers the heat recovery mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorption heat pump acts as an intermediary system between the steam power plant's waste heat and the working medium circuit. The heat pump's evaporator absorbs waste heat from the condenser outlet, and the expeller's condensate is mediated back into the working medium circuit, creating a bridge that recovers energy without requiring direct modification of the primary power generation process.
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 absorption heat pump system increases the overall efficiency of the steam power plant by recovering lost heat, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing emissions, while allowing for flexible operation and reduced reliance on conventional cooling methods.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption heat pump (8) having at least one refrigerant circuit (7), with which thermal energy can be transferred from the second heat exchanger system (5) to the first heat exchanger system (3)
Implementation Method 2
The evaporation unit (19) is designed to evaporate the working medium
Implementation Method 3
with which thermal energy can be transferred from the second heat exchanger system (5) to the first heat exchanger system (3)
Implementation Method 4
The condensation unit (20) is designed to condense the working medium
Implementation Method 5
The heat of condensation can be at least partially recovered by the absorption heat pump
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In the context of a steam power plant (1) having a working medium circuit (2) for a working medium, wherein the working medium circuit (2) – considered in the flow direction of the working medium – has a first heat exchanger system (3) for evaporating the working medium, a steam turbine system (4), a second heat exchanger system (5) for condensing the working medium and a working medium pump system (6), it is proposed that at least one coolant circuit (7) of an absorption heat pump (8) encompasses at least in part the first heat exchanger system (3) and at least in part the second heat exchanger system (5), wherein the absorption heat pump (8) is designed to convey heat energy from the second heat exchanger system (5) to the first heat exchanger system (3), and that an expulsion line (9) leads from a turbine bleed point (11) of the steam turbine system (4) via an expulsion system (12) of the absorption heat pump (8) to an injection point (13) into the working medium circuit (2), wherein the working medium in the expulsion line (9) provides heat energy for an expulsion process of the absorption heat pump (8).