Supersonic Shock Wave Compressor Vapor Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power plants using the Rankine cycle suffer from significant efficiency losses due to heat rejection during vapor condensation, leading to increased auxiliary power consumption and complex equipment requirements, while supersonic shock wave compressors in aircraft engines face challenges in adapting for stationary applications without rotating impellers.
Innovation Solution
A novel power plant cycle employing a supersonic shock wave compressor with a velocity choking device to transition subsonic vapor to supersonic velocity, eliminating vapor condensation and utilizing pump heat of compression as a renewable energy source, thereby reducing auxiliary power consumption and simplifying equipment needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If vapor condensation is used in conventional Rankine cycle power plants, then pressure restoration is achieved, but heat rejection to environment occurs causing 50% efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the condensation step from the conventional Rankine cycle. By using a supersonic shock wave compressor to directly compress vapor without condensation, the condenser system and associated cooling towers are removed entirely, eliminating the 50% heat rejection loss to environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal-mechanical condensation process with a supersonic shock wave compression process. The supersonic shock wave compressor uses shock waves to compress vapor directly, substituting the conventional mechanical condenser system and eliminating the need for heat rejection to environment.
2Use of energy by moving object
If supersonic shock wave compressor is adapted for stationary application, then compression power savings are achieved, but velocity transition from subsonic to supersonic must be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The velocity choking device is positioned upstream of the supersonic shock wave compressor to pre-condition the vapor flow. This preliminary action transitions the subsonic vapor flow to supersonic velocity before it enters the compressor, enabling the shock wave compression mechanism to function effectively in a stationary application.
Solution Approach 2:
The velocity choking device acts as an intermediary component between the vapor source and the supersonic shock wave compressor. It mediates the velocity transition from subsonic to supersonic, enabling the compressor to operate without requiring a rotating impeller while achieving significant power savings.
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 enhances power plant efficiency, reduces air pollution, and allows for independent location from water sources, while providing economical electricity production and increased compression power savings.
Implementation Method 1
a velocity choking device to transition subsonic vapor to supersonic velocity
Implementation Method 2
The velocity choking device may include a pressure reducing valve, orifice, or convergent-divergent nozzle
Implementation Method 3
the impinging air onto the inlet cowl and cone or wedge creates shock waves; thereby, additively compressing the air with each of the oblique shock waves
Implementation Method 4
the impinging air onto the inlet cowl and cone or wedge creates shock waves; thereby, additively compressing the air with each of the oblique shock waves
Implementation Method 5
the turbine may be an axial flow turbine, a radial flow turbine, a steam turbine, a gas turbine, an impulse turbine, a reaction turbine, or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A new power plant cycle that does not condense the vapor leaving the turbine facilitated by an innovative vapor compression apparatus to repressurize the vapor with heat input to the cycle from a new renewable energy or other heat source. The new cycle can be used in place of the conventional low efficiency Rankine cycle to provide economical production of electricity. Using the cycle with heat input from a fossil fuel would reduce air pollution from this source to a fraction of current emissions.