Single Working-Medium Vapor Cycle for Thermal Efficiency and Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steam power devices using high-temperature heat sources face inefficiencies due to large temperature differences between the circulating working medium and the heat source, leading to low thermal efficiency and safety concerns, especially when operating at critical, supercritical, or ultra-supercritical conditions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a single working-medium vapor combined cycle, which involves separate thermal cycles with mix-heating between two working media, allowing for temperature-rising, heat-absorption, pressure-decreasing, and heat-releasing processes to enhance thermal efficiency and safety while maintaining the advantages of steam power devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If steam works in critical, supercritical or ultra-supercritical state to improve thermal efficiency, then the thermal efficiency improves, but the operational safety reduces and material requirements become extremely difficult to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single steam cycle into two separate thermal cycles using two different working media. The first cycle uses a working medium with lower critical parameters for safer operation, while the second cycle uses another working medium to capture additional heat energy. This segmentation allows each cycle to operate within safer parameter ranges while collectively achieving high thermal efficiency through combined heat absorption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If steam works in critical, supercritical or ultra-supercritical state to improve thermal efficiency, then the thermal efficiency improves, but the heat exchange tube bundles require extremely difficult material support for high pressure and high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the thermal cycles by using two different working media with different critical parameters. The first working medium operates at lower temperatures and pressures, avoiding the need for extremely high-grade materials. The second working medium captures heat at different parameter levels, collectively achieving high thermal efficiency without requiring heat exchange tube bundles to withstand extreme conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If steam is used as circulating medium, then the advantages of wide parameter working range and low temperature heat releasing are achieved, but the temperature difference between steam and high temperature gas heat source remains large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second working medium as an intermediary between the high-temperature heat source and the first working medium. The second working medium absorbs heat from the high-temperature gas at closer temperature levels, reducing the temperature difference loss. It then transfers this heat to the first working medium through heat exchange, enabling both media to operate within their optimal ranges while minimizing energy loss.
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 significantly improves the thermal efficiency and operational safety of steam power devices by reducing temperature differences and optimizing energy conversion, while retaining the benefits of steam power technology.
Implementation Method 1
heat-absorption and vaporization process 2-3 because of the mixing with the working-medium weighing m2 kg
Implementation Method 2
heat-absorption and vaporization process 2-3
Implementation Method 3
the pressure-decreasing and working process 3-7
Implementation Method 4
the heat-releasing and condensation process 7-1
Implementation Method 5
the pressure-rising process 3-4
Data Source
AI summary
The single working-medium vapor combined cycle and the vapor power device for combined cycle is provided in this invitation and belongs to the field of energy and power technology. The condenser connects the mixing evaporator by a condensate pipeline via the circulating pump and the preheater, the expander connects the mixing evaporator by a vapor channel via the middle-temperature evaporator, the mixing evaporator connects the compressor and the second expander by a vapor channel, the compressor connects the expander by a vapor channel via the high-temperature heat exchanger, the second expander connects the condenser by a vapor channel; the condenser connects the middle-temperature evaporator by a condensate pipeline via the second circulating pump and a second preheater, the middle-temperature evaporator connects the third expander and the condenser by a vapor channel; the high-temperature heat exchanger, the middle-temperature evaporator, the mixing evaporator, the preheater and the second preheater connects the external part by a working-medium channel of the heat source, the expander connects the compressor and transfers power, the expander, the second expander and the third expander connects the external part and output power, in summary, these above-mentioned equipment and pipelines build up the vapor power device for combined cycle.