EP4148345A1 - Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail - Google Patents

Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4148345A1
EP4148345A1 EP21275127.5A EP21275127A EP4148345A1 EP 4148345 A1 EP4148345 A1 EP 4148345A1 EP 21275127 A EP21275127 A EP 21275127A EP 4148345 A1 EP4148345 A1 EP 4148345A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
working fluid
fluid circuit
condenser
heat exchanger
thermal communication
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21275127.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Madan Pal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems PLC
Original Assignee
BAE Systems PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BAE Systems PLC filed Critical BAE Systems PLC
Priority to EP21275127.5A priority Critical patent/EP4148345A1/fr
Priority to CA3231694A priority patent/CA3231694A1/fr
Priority to PCT/GB2022/052241 priority patent/WO2023037096A1/fr
Publication of EP4148345A1 publication Critical patent/EP4148345A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B11/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, using turbines, e.g. gas turbines
    • F25B11/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, using turbines, e.g. gas turbines as expanders
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
    • F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B40/00—Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/05—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to modulation and conditioning of working fluids.
  • Heat is often created as a byproduct of industrial or mechanical processes and is discharged when, e.g., heated liquids, solids, and/or gasses are exhausted into the environment or when heat is removed from the medium in question.
  • heat removal can be performed to avoid exceeding safe and efficient operating temperatures in a process or system or may be inherent as exhaust in open cycles.
  • Exceeding safe and efficient operating temperatures can cause damage or reduced efficiency in the process or system concerned.
  • useful thermal energy is generally lost when this heat is not recovered or recycled during such processes.
  • heat exchanging devices can be used to recover heat and recycle thermal energy back into the process. Heat can also be converted into mechanical energy that can be used to generate electrical energy.
  • the exhaust or heat source stream from which heat is to be extracted may be reduced to low-grade (e.g., low temperature) heat, from which economical energy extraction is difficult, or the heat may otherwise be difficult to recover.
  • low-grade heat e.g., low temperature
  • Another limiting factor arises in the form of the efficiency of the material that is used to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream for the purposes of, e.g., heat extraction.
  • an apparatus comprising a first working fluid circuit comprising a first working fluid, a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit, the heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream to the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit, a recuperator fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger, a first condenser fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the recuperator, a second working fluid circuit comprising a second working fluid, the second working fluid circuit coupled to and in thermal communication with the first condenser, a second condenser fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the first condenser, and a third working fluid circuit comprising a third working fluid, the third working fluid circuit coupled to and in thermal communication with the second condenser.
  • a condenser may be replaced by a heat exchange
  • thermomechanical cycle can significantly improve overall efficiency of a thermomechanical cycle while reducing the size and weight of a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • Working fluids used in such a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system can be optimally conditioned, thereby significantly improving the overall cycle efficiency of the system.
  • an expansion device can be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the recuperator.
  • a compression device can be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the expansion device and upstream of the recuperator.
  • a pump can be fluidly coupled to the second working fluid. The pump can circulate the second working fluid within the second working fluid circuit. In an example, the pump can be disposed upstream of the first condenser and downstream of the second condenser.
  • a storage vessel can be fluidly coupled to the second working fluid circuit to store the second working fluid for the second working fluid circuit.
  • the expansion device can generate mechanical energy from expansion of the first working fluid therein, and a generator can be coupled to the expansion device to convert the mechanical energy to electrical energy.
  • the expansion device can generate mechanical energy from expansion of the first working fluid therein, and the compression device can be coupled to the expansion device whereby to receive mechanical energy therefrom.
  • the compression device can compress the first working fluid for the recuperator.
  • At least one of the heat exchanger, recuperator, first condenser and second condenser can comprise a thermoelectric generator fluidly coupled thereto and in thermal communication therewith.
  • a controller can be provided to control a mode of operation of the or each thermoelectric generator in response to a condition signal generated by a sensor configured to generate a measure representing a condition of the first working fluid.
  • the sensor can be provided at one of an inlet and outlet of at least one of the heat exchanger, recuperator, first condenser and second condenser.
  • the or each thermoelectric generator can heat and/or cool at least one of the first, second and third working fluids.
  • a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit.
  • the second heat exchanger can transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit.
  • a second expansion device can be provided fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger.
  • any one of the first working fluid, the second working fluid and the third working fluid can be selected from any one or more of air, water, a mixture of water and glycol, a mixture of: water, glycol, metallic nano-oxides, butylBenzene, propyl-benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (OMTS), butane, isobutene, n-butane, n-hexane, RC-318, R-227ea, R-113, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, R-245fa, R-236ea, C5F12, R236fa, helium, carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, other refrigerants and noble gases, or a mixture thereof.
  • OMTS octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane
  • a method for modulating and conditioning a working fluid comprising heating a first mass flow of a first working fluid in a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a first working fluid circuit and a heat source stream, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the first mass flow of the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit, transferring, via a recuperator, heat from the first mass flow downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of a first condenser to the first mass flow downstream of the first condenser and upstream of the heat exchanger, condensing the first mass flow of the first working fluid in a first condenser fluidly coupled to the first working fluid circuit, condensing a second mass flow of a second working fluid of a second working fluid circuit fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first condenser, the second mass flow condensed using a second condenser fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second working
  • the method can further comprise at least one of heating and cooling any one or more of the first working fluid, the second working fluid and the third working fluid using one or more thermoelectric generators fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit and/or the second working fluid circuit and/or the third working fluid circuit.
  • the method can further comprise determining a condition of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid from respective condition signals generated by one or more sensors provided at at least one of an inlet and outlet of at least one of the heat exchanger, recuperator, first condenser and second condenser, and using the condition signals, generating at least one control signal.
  • the method can further comprise regulating a respective mode of operation of the or each thermoelectric generator using a control signal.
  • the method can further comprise generating the at least one control signal using a controller operatively coupled to the one or more sensors.
  • the method can further comprise generating, using the one or more thermoelectric generators, electrical energy by way of the Seeback effect.
  • the method can further comprise selecting a respective mode of operation of the or each thermoelectric generator from one of heating and cooling, whereby to regulate the temperature of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid, and generation of electrical energy.
  • a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for modulating and conditioning a working fluid, the instructions executable by a processor of a controller of an apparatus as provided in accordance with the first aspect, whereby to cause the controller to regulate a mode of operation of at least one thermoelectric generator using a control signal received from a sensor, the control signal representing a condition of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid.
  • the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium can be further encoded with instructions to cause the controller to heat or cool respective ones of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid, and/or generate electrical energy using the at least one thermoelectric generator.
  • the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium can be further encoded with instructions to cause the controller to generate the control signal on the basis of one or more condition signals received from one or more sensors provided at at least one of an inlet and outlet of at least one of the heat exchanger, recuperator, first condenser and second condenser.
  • a working fluid is used to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream.
  • the working fluid can be a gas, a liquid, a mixture of both, or a supercritical fluid for example, which is typically maintained in a closed loop system forming a working fluid circuit.
  • the working fluid circuit comprising the working fluid, can be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the heat source stream, such as, e.g., an exhaust stream of an engine or the like by way of a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the working fluid within the working fluid circuit.
  • the working fluid circuit can be in fluid communication with, e.g., a heat exchanger with a thermal communication or coupling between the two to enable heat from the heat source stream to be effectively removed therefrom.
  • Removal of thermal energy enables, for example, safe and efficient operating temperatures to be maintained and/or generation of mechanical energy from a proportion of the heat that has been removed.
  • Thermal energy that has been removed from a system can also be used to generate, e.g., electrical energy by way of thermoelectric generators or used for process heating.
  • An optimally conditioned working fluid can significantly improve the overall cycle efficiency of the thermomechanical waste heat recovery system in question.
  • the temperature and enthalpy of a working fluid can be optimised in order to achieve maximum work output from, e.g., an expansion device through which a relatively high pressure working fluid is expanded to produce work that can be used to drive a compressor or generator.
  • deterioration of the working fluid enthalpy can lead to a consequential deterioration of the work output from an expansion device for example.
  • the operating condition (enthalpy and temperature) of a working fluid should therefore ideally match the optimum operational conditions of the expansion device.
  • an apparatus in which modulation and conditioning of one or more working fluids can be performed in order to optimise the enthalpy and temperature of the working fluids, thereby enabling an efficient transfer of thermal energy from a heat source stream to a working fluid.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an example.
  • a heat exchanger 101 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a first working fluid circuit 103 (denoted by way of double lined arrows) comprising a first working fluid.
  • the first working fluid circuit forms a closed loop circuit in which the first working fluid circulates in the direction depicted by the arrows.
  • An upstream direction is a direction that is opposite to that of the mass fluid flow (i.e., in terms of the first working fluid circuit, a direction that is opposite to the direction of the arrows) whilst a downstream direction is a direction that is the same as that of the mass fluid flow.
  • a first device or component may be described as being upstream or downstream of a second device or component. That is, the first component may be disposed before or after the second component considering the direction of flow of the working fluid in the working fluid circuit. This does not preclude the presence of additional components logically disposed between the first and second components. That is, in the sense of a fluid flow, a first component may be disposed upstream of a second component irrespective of the presence or absence of other components disposed therebetween.
  • the first working fluid circuit can comprise a storage apparatus/buffer for a working fluid and a pump in order to circulate the working fluid within the first working fluid circuit and/or regulate the pressure of the first working fluid.
  • the heat exchanger 101 is configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream 105 to the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit 103.
  • the heat source stream 105 can be, e.g., an exhaust stream of a mobile platform (such as a land-, air- or water-based vehicular platform for example) or a stationary structure (such as a building, furnace, power plant, geothermal plant, or geyser for example).
  • the heat source stream 105 can comprise a heated liquid or gas from which it is desirable to remove heat.
  • Heat exchanger 101 can be, e.g., a shell and tube, plate, condenser/boiler or plate/fin type heat exchanger.
  • the apparatus of figure 1 can form a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system by way of thermal energy conversion 110 from heat recovered from the heat source stream using heat exchanger 101 for example.
  • a recuperator 107 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 103 and is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger 101. Recuperator 107 can be used to recover any useful heat left in the working fluid after conversion 110 of thermal energy, such as in an expansion stage for example.
  • recuperator 107 can comprise a heat exchanger.
  • a heat exchanger can be, for example, a counter-flow energy recovery heat exchanger such as a shell and tube, plate, condenser/boiler, microtube or plate/fin type heat exchanger.
  • the first working fluid which carries thermal energy by virtue of its passage through heat exchanger 101 passes through recuperator 107.
  • a first condensing device or condenser 109 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 103 and disposed downstream of the recuperator 107. Condenser 109 transfers thermal energy from the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit 103 to a second working fluid circuit 111 comprising a second working fluid.
  • the second working fluid circuit 111 is coupled to and in thermal communication with the first condenser 109.
  • circuit 111 can termed or considered as a coolant circuit rather than a working fluid circuit since the second working fluid may not be used in a heat engine or similar. Accordingly, the second working fluid may be considered a coolant.
  • a second condenser 113 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second working fluid circuit 111 and is disposed downstream of the first condenser 109.
  • a third working fluid circuit 115 comprising a third working fluid is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second condenser 113.
  • the third working fluid passes or flows directly over the second condenser 113.
  • the circuit 115 can termed or considered as a coolant circuit circulating a coolant.
  • each of the first, second and third working fluids can comprise any one of air, water, a mixture of water and glycol, a mixture of water, glycol and metallic nano-oxides, butylBenzene, propyl-benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (OMTS), butane, isobutene, n-butane, n-hexane, RC-318, R-227ea, R-113, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, R-245fa, R-236ea, C5F12, R236fa, helium, carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, other refrigerants, organic fluids and noble gases.
  • OMTS octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane
  • the second working fluid can be provided from a storage reservoir 117 that is provided as part of the second working fluid circuit 111, and a pump 119 can be used to circulate the second working fluid within the second working fluid circuit 111.
  • the second and/or third working fluid circuit can be configured as an open circuit in which the second/third working fluids pass to the environment or a waste.
  • the third working fluid circuit 115 can be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second condenser 113, and form a closed loop circuit.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an example.
  • Apparatus 200 of figure 2 is a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • the apparatus of figure 2 (and apparatus 100 of figure 1 ) can be used to modulate and condition a working fluid, such as a first and/or second and/or third working fluid.
  • Apparatus 200 comprises a heat exchanger 201 fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a first working fluid circuit 203 comprising a first working fluid.
  • the first working fluid circuit (again, denoted by doubled lined arrows) forms a closed loop circuit in which the first working fluid circulates in the direction depicted by the arrows.
  • Heat exchanger 201 is configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream 205 to the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit 203.
  • the heat source stream 205 can be, e.g., an exhaust stream of a mobile platform (such as a land-, air- or water-based vehicular platform for example) or a stationary structure (such as a building for example).
  • the heat source stream 205 can comprise a heated liquid or gas from which it is desirable to remove heat.
  • Heat exchanger 201 can be, e.g., a shell and tube, plate, condenser/boiler, microtube or plate/fin type heat exchanger.
  • recuperator 207 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203 and is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger.
  • recuperator 207 can comprise a heat exchanger such as a counter-flow energy recovery heat exchanger.
  • the first working fluid, which carries thermal energy by virtue of its passage through heat exchanger 201 passes through recuperator 207.
  • a first condensing device or condenser 209 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203 and disposed downstream of the recuperator 207.
  • Condenser 209 transfers thermal energy from the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit 203 to a second working fluid circuit 211 comprising a second working fluid.
  • the second working fluid circuit 211 is coupled to and in thermal communication with the first condenser 209.
  • An expansion device 212 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203 and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger 201 and upstream of the recuperator 207.
  • the first working fluid having absorbed thermal energy from the heat source stream by way of heat exchanger 201 reduces in temperature and enthalpy in expansion device 212 as a result of a reduction in its pressure due to expansion.
  • the reduced pressure/temperature first working fluid then passes through recuperator 207. Accordingly, post expansion the first working fluid passes through recuperator 207 to transfer to transfer excess thermal energy to the first working fluid going into the heat exchanger 201.
  • a second condenser 213 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second working fluid circuit 211 and is disposed downstream of the first condenser 209.
  • a third working fluid circuit 215 comprising a third working fluid is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second condenser 213.
  • the apparatus 200 further comprises a compression device 214 fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203 and disposed downstream of the expansion device 212 and upstream of the recuperator 207.
  • each of the first, second and third working fluids can comprise any one of air, water, a mixture of water and glycol, a mixture of water, glycol and metallic nano-oxides, butylBenzene, propyl-benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (OMTS), butane, isobutene, n-butane, n-hexane, RC-318, R-227ea, R-113, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, R-245fa, R-236ea, C5F12, R236fa, helium, carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, other refrigerants and nobel gases.
  • OMTS octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane
  • the second working fluid can be provided from a storage reservoir or tank 217 that is provided as part of the second working fluid circuit 211, and a pump 219 can be used to circulate the second working fluid within the second working fluid circuit 211.
  • the third working fluid circuit 215 can be configured as an open circuit in which the third working fluid passes or flows directly over the second condenser 213 to a waste.
  • the third working fluid circuit 215 can be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the second condenser 213, and form a closed loop circuit.
  • apparatus 200 can be used to efficiently remove waste heat from the heat source stream, which may be an exhaust gas for example, by conditioning and modulating at least the first working fluid whereby to increase the temperature and enthalpy thereof.
  • the expansion device 212 is driven by the conditioned first working fluid.
  • mechanical power can be generated by the expansion device 212 from expanding the conditioned high temperature/enthalpy first working fluid.
  • the mechanical power can be used to power compression device 214 which can, in an example, be coupled to a generator 216 which generates electrical energy, thereby completing a thermomechanical cycle for converting waste heat energy to electric energy.
  • a compression device may not be coupled to a generator.
  • both a compressor and a generator can be coupled to an expander as that is where the mechanical work they use comes from.
  • the first condenser 209 is configured as a fluid modulation and conditioning device for conditioning the first working fluid to low temperature and enthalpy.
  • the second working fluid also facilitates the conditioning/modulation of the first working fluid in device 209.
  • Compression device 214 increases the pressure of the conditioned first working fluid and delivers the so-conditioned first working fluid to a fluid modulation and conditioning device configured as the recuperator (or regenerator) 207 wherein the pressured first working fluid is conditioned to moderately increase the temperature and enthalpy of the first working fluid.
  • working fluid coming out of expansion device 212 has a residual heat which will preheat the working fluid going into the recuperator (207; 107) .
  • the same heat exchanger (101/201) can be configured to modulate and condition the first working fluid. The cycle is then repeated.
  • the second working fluid is, in an example, a pressurised low temperature/enthalpy fluid drawn from the storage tank 217 by pump 219 to condition the first working fluid in a fluid modulation and conditioning device configured as the first condenser (or evaporator/cooler) 209
  • the second working fluid comprises a high temperature/enthalpy.
  • the high temperature/enthalpy second working fluid can be conditioned in at least one fluid modulation and conditioning device configured as the condenser (or evaporator/cooler) 213 to a low temperature/enthalpy second working fluid.
  • the third working fluid facilitates the conditioning of the high temperature/enthalpy second working fluid in a fluid modulation and conditioning device configured as the condenser (or evaporator/cooler) 213.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an example.
  • apparatus 300 of figure 3 is a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • a second heat exchanger 301 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203.
  • the second heat exchanger 301 is configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream 205 to the first working fluid within the first working fluid circuit 203.
  • a second expansion device 303 is fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the first working fluid circuit 203 and is disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger 201 and upstream of the second heat exchanger 301.
  • the use of the second heat exchanger 301 disposed within the heat source stream flow, and a second expansion device 303 can improve removal of heat from the heat source stream 205 compared to the apparatus of figure 2 for example, in which a single heat exchanger is provided.
  • thermoelectric generators configured to heat, cool and/or generate electrical energy can be provided within one or more of the devices of the thermomechanical waste heat recovery systems.
  • Thermoelectric generators can be integrated in the fluid modulation and conditioning devices in order to modulate and condition the first, second and third working fluids by way of a thermoelectric operation comprising heating and/or cooling using, e.g., the Peltier effect, and/or generation of electricity using, e.g., the Seeback effect.
  • a thermoelectric operation comprising heating and/or cooling using, e.g., the Peltier effect, and/or generation of electricity using, e.g., the Seeback effect.
  • the choice of thermoelectric operation is controlled by a closed-loop feedback control unit or controller 250.
  • the choice of thermoelectric operation can be based on the condition of a working fluid.
  • a condition of a working fluid such as one of the first, second and third working fluids can be determined or measured using one or more sensors.
  • a sensor can be provided or embedded in a fluid inlet and/or outlet port of a device of an apparatus 200, 300.
  • a condition of a working fluid can relate to or be defined by one or more of parameters such as the temperature, pressure, salinity, acidity and flow rate and so on of the working fluid.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an example.
  • Apparatus 400 of figure 4 is a thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • multiple sensors 401 are depicted at the inlets and outlets of the heat exchanger 201, recuperator 207, first condenser 209 and second condenser 213. Sensors may be provided at any one of inlets and outlets in any combination at respective ones of the devices of the prevailing apparatus.
  • a sensor can determine or measure one of more of the temperature, pressure and flow rate of a working fluid, such as the first and/or second working fluid.
  • multiple sensors can be provided, each configured to generate a measure of one of temperature, pressure and flow rate of a working fluid, each sensor providing a corresponding condition signal reflecting the parameter it is configured to monitor/measure.
  • Sensors to measure the same or similar parameters of the third working fluid can be disposed at appropriate inlet and/or outlet ports of devices in the third working fluid circuit.
  • the third working fluid is largely disposable, rather than being recirculated in a closed loop circuit, measurement of certain parameters thereof may, in some examples, be neglected.
  • each sensor 401 can generate a condition signal representing the condition of a working fluid (e.g., the first working fluid) at the region of the prevailing working fluid circuit in which the sensor in question is disposed.
  • the condition signal can comprise data representing one of more of the temperature, pressure, flow rate and other parameters of a working fluid.
  • Each sensor can transmit a condition signal to a controller 250.
  • a sensor may be wired to or wirelessly coupled to controller 250 for the purposes of data transfer, using a low energy radio frequency communications protocol for example.
  • controller 250 is configured to control a mode of operation of the or each thermoelectric generator (TEG) in response to a received condition signal.
  • Each sensor may transmit a condition signal at predefined intervals (regular or irregular), may be polled by the controller 250 or a combination of two.
  • a sensor may be configured to transmit a condition signal to the controller outside of any preconfigured transmission window or time in the event that a measured parameter of a working fluid exceeds a predetermined threshold value representing, e.g., a safe operating condition thereof.
  • the controller 250 can use the condition signal(s) received from a sensor or sensors to generate a control signal.
  • the control signal can be used to control a mode of operation of the or each TEG.
  • a control signal can be generated based on a predetermined combination of condition signals from respective sensors.
  • the first heat exchanger 201 (and/or the second heat exchanger 301) may comprise two sensors, one at an inlet and one at an outlet. Each sensor can send a condition signal to the controller 250.
  • the controller 250 can process the received condition signals and generate a control signal based on, e.g., a combination of the process condition signals.
  • a sensor disposed at an inlet of the first heat exchanger 201 may transmit a condition signal representing a temperature of the first working fluid of 40 deg C.
  • a sensor disposed at an outlet of the first heat exchanger 201 may transmit a condition signal representing a temperature of the first working fluid of 140 deg C.
  • the controller can process these condition signals to generate, e.g., a delta value of 100 deg C.
  • This value and/or the value from the inlet and/or outlet sensor can be mapped using, e.g., a look-up table, to a predefined control signal that is configured to control a mode of operation of a TEG.
  • the delta value of 100 deg C, and/or the inlet value of 40 deg C and/or an outlet value of 140 deg C may map to a control signal value that is configured to cause a TEG associated with the first heat exchanger to heat the first working fluid at the outlet or inlet of the first heat exchanger, thereby providing additional heating for the first working fluid before it reaches an expansion device for example.
  • condition signals may be used to control a mode of operation of a TEG.
  • more complex rules may be used that enable outputs from multiple sensors to be processed to generate a control signal.
  • the outputs from sensors from more than one device can be processed in order to generate a control signal, thereby rendering control of a TEG dependent on the condition of a working fluid at multiple points around the corresponding working fluid circuit for example.
  • the control of a TEG associated with a component of one working fluid circuit can be dependent on outputs from sensors associated with components of other working fluid circuits.
  • any single output or combination of outputs from any one or more sensors can be used to generate a control signal that can be used for any one or more device or component of an apparatus (e.g., pumps and so on).
  • Modulation and conditioning of the primary and secondary working fluids leads to an optimised operation of the thermomechanical waste heat recovery cycle which improves the overall cycle efficiency. Additional cogeneration of electric energy by TEGs integrated in the said fluids modulation and conditioning devices further improves the overall efficiency of the thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) structure according to an example.
  • the TEG structure 509 is depicted as forming part of a device of the first working fluid circuit, which in the case of figure 5 comprises the first condenser 209.
  • Second working fluid 211 enters inlet 505 of the condenser 209 and emerges at outlet 507.
  • the first working fluid enters at inlet 501 of the condenser 209 and emerges at outlet 503.
  • the first working fluid 203 and the second working fluid 211 are in thermal communication with another whereby to enable a transfer of thermal energy therebetween.
  • the first working fluid can follow a predefined pathway such as that defined by, e.g., a conduit 519, with an exemplary direction of flow depicted by the arrows within the body of the condenser 209.
  • the second working fluid may follow a predefined pathway such as that defined by, e.g., a conduit 521 of the condenser as it passes, under pressure, from inlet 505 to outlet 507. It will be appreciated that the opposite relationship between the inlets and outlets for the fluids may be used, such that the second working fluid enters inlet 501 and emerges at outlet 503 and so on.
  • a TEG structure 509 can be disposed within the condenser at, near or around one or more of the conduits 519; 521, inlet 501, inlet 505, outlet 503 and outlet 507.
  • TEGs may be provided as discrete elements within the condenser or may be provided as part of one or more of the conduits 519; 521, inlet 501, inlet 505, outlet 503 and outlet 507.
  • a flow regime enables a temperature gradient from the left to the right side of the TEG at all points across its vertical length.
  • Controller 250 receives one or more condition signals 509a-d from the sensors 401. As described above, the controller can use the condition signals to generate a control signal 511.
  • the control signal is provided by the controller 250 to electrodes 513 of TEG structure 509.
  • the electrodes control the action of multiple doped semiconductor elements, such as n-type and p-type doped semiconductor elements (depicted by the alternate patterns of the elements 515 of figure 5 ), that are configured to heat or cool a working fluid through application of a voltage (e.g., in the form of a suitably configured control signal), or generate electrical energy as a result of exposure to a thermal gradient due to the difference in temperature between, e.g., the first and second working fluids.
  • a voltage e.g., in the form of a suitably configured control signal
  • TEG structure 509 comprises a circuit composed of elements 515 comprising materials of different Seebeck coefficients (e.g., p-doped and n-doped semiconductors), such that they are configured to operate according to the thermoelectric effect in which temperature differences can be converted to electric voltage and vice versa.
  • TEG structure 509 can create a voltage when there is a different temperature on each side (e.g., left side vs. right side of the system depicted in figure 5 ) as a result of the difference in temperature between, e.g., the first and second working fluids.
  • An insulating and/or protective layer 517 can be provided around the TEG structure.
  • the controller can generate a control signal configured to cause the TEG structure 509 to enter a cooling mode of operation in which the first working fluid is cooled.
  • the temperature of the first working fluid emerging from the outlet of the condenser will decrease. Consequently, in this regime, the temperature of the second working fluid will increase.
  • a subsequent temperature determination using the sensor at the outlet 503 can provide an indication as to the current temperature of the first working fluid such that, when the predetermined threshold temperature is reached, the controller can cease providing the control signal thereby causing the TEG structure to cease cooling.
  • a similar process can occur in order to heat a working fluid.
  • a fluid modulation and conditioning device configured as apparatus 200, 300, 400 and can modulate and condition working fluids so that at least one of the enthalpy, temperature and pressure drop of the working fluids can be monitored, modulated and conditioned to achieve maximum energy output and efficiency from the thermomechanical waste heat recovery system.
  • the machine-readable instructions may, for example, be executed by a machine such as a general-purpose computer, user equipment such as a smart device, e.g., a smart phone, a special purpose computer, an embedded processor or processors of other programmable data processing devices to realize the functions described in the description and diagrams.
  • a processor or processing apparatus may execute the machine-readable instructions.
  • modules of apparatus for example, a module implementing a controller
  • modules of apparatus may be implemented by a processor executing machine readable instructions stored in a memory, or a processor operating in accordance with instructions embedded in logic circuitry.
  • the term 'processor' is to be interpreted broadly to include a CPU, processing unit, ASIC, logic unit, or programmable gate set etc.
  • the methods and modules may all be performed by a single processor or divided amongst several processors.
  • Such machine-readable instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage that can guide the computer or other programmable data processing devices to operate in a specific mode.
  • the instructions may be provided on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, executable by a processor.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a machine according to an example.
  • the machine comprises a controller 250.
  • the controller 250 may be used with any of the apparatus of figures 1 to 5 in order to receive and process condition signals and/or transmit control signals, as described above.
  • controller 250 comprises a processor 603, and a memory 605 to store instructions 607, executable by the processor 603.
  • the controller 250 can comprise a storage 609 that can be used to store data 611 to map a condition signal or signals to a control signal or signals, such as a look-up table for example as described above.
  • the instructions 607, executable by the processor 603, can cause the controller 250 to regulate a mode of operation of at least one thermoelectric generator using a control signal received from a sensor, the control signal representing a condition of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid, and/or heat or cool respective ones of the first working fluid and/or the second working fluid and/or the third working fluid, and/or generate electrical energy using the at least one thermoelectric generator, and/or generate the control signal on the basis of one or more condition signals received from one or more sensors provided at at least one of an inlet and outlet of at least one of the heat exchanger, recuperator, first condenser and second condenser.
  • the controller 250 can implement a method for modulating and conditioning a working fluid.
  • Such machine-readable instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing devices, so that the computer or other programmable data processing devices perform a series of operations to produce computer-implemented processing, thus the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable devices provide an operation for realizing functions specified by flow(s) in the flow charts and/or block(s) in the block diagrams.
  • teachings herein may be implemented in the form of a computer or software product, such as a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, the computer software or product being stored in a storage medium and comprising a plurality of instructions, e.g., machine readable instructions, for making a computer device implement the methods recited in the examples of the present disclosure.
  • Cloud-computing environments may provide various services and applications via the Internet. These cloud-based services (e.g., software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as a service, etc.) may be accessible through a web browser or other remote interface of the user equipment 300 for example. Various functions described herein may be provided through a remote desktop environment or any other cloud-based computing environment.
  • the embodiments disclosed herein may also be implemented using software modules that perform certain tasks. These software modules may include script, batch, or other executable files that may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or in a computing system. In some embodiments, these software modules may configure a computing system to perform one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. In addition, one or more of the modules described herein may transform data, physical devices, and/or representations of physical devices from one form to another.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
EP21275127.5A 2021-09-09 2021-09-09 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail Pending EP4148345A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21275127.5A EP4148345A1 (fr) 2021-09-09 2021-09-09 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail
CA3231694A CA3231694A1 (fr) 2021-09-09 2022-09-02 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail
PCT/GB2022/052241 WO2023037096A1 (fr) 2021-09-09 2022-09-02 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21275127.5A EP4148345A1 (fr) 2021-09-09 2021-09-09 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4148345A1 true EP4148345A1 (fr) 2023-03-15

Family

ID=77710712

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21275127.5A Pending EP4148345A1 (fr) 2021-09-09 2021-09-09 Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4148345A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014165144A1 (fr) * 2013-03-13 2014-10-09 Echogen Power Systems, L.L.C. Système de commande pour un système de moteur thermique utilisant un fluide actif supercritique
US9341084B2 (en) * 2012-10-12 2016-05-17 Echogen Power Systems, Llc Supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle for waste heat recovery
EP3444448A1 (fr) * 2017-08-18 2019-02-20 General Electric Technology GmbH Système et procédé pour convertir de le énergie électrique en énergie thermique et de stockage d'énergie thermique
EP3572329A1 (fr) * 2018-05-24 2019-11-27 Rolls-Royce plc Système de réglage environnemental d'un aéronef
US20200292217A1 (en) * 2017-11-21 2020-09-17 Aestus Energy Storage, LLC Thermal storage system charging

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9341084B2 (en) * 2012-10-12 2016-05-17 Echogen Power Systems, Llc Supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle for waste heat recovery
WO2014165144A1 (fr) * 2013-03-13 2014-10-09 Echogen Power Systems, L.L.C. Système de commande pour un système de moteur thermique utilisant un fluide actif supercritique
EP3444448A1 (fr) * 2017-08-18 2019-02-20 General Electric Technology GmbH Système et procédé pour convertir de le énergie électrique en énergie thermique et de stockage d'énergie thermique
US20200292217A1 (en) * 2017-11-21 2020-09-17 Aestus Energy Storage, LLC Thermal storage system charging
EP3572329A1 (fr) * 2018-05-24 2019-11-27 Rolls-Royce plc Système de réglage environnemental d'un aéronef

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9118226B2 (en) Heat engine system with a supercritical working fluid and processes thereof
EP3163029B1 (fr) Procédé de commande pour systèmes de moteur thermique possédant un circuit de fluide de travail sélectivement configurable
KR102069403B1 (ko) 압축기 복열을 사용하는 열역학 사이클 및 이와 연관된 시스템들 및 방법들
US10472994B2 (en) Systems and methods for controlling the pressure of a working fluid at an inlet of a pressurization device of a heat engine system
WO2014138035A1 (fr) Systèmes de moteur thermique possédant des circuits de dioxyde de carbone supercritique à haute énergie nette
US8783034B2 (en) Hot day cycle
WO2017027480A1 (fr) Système de moteur thermique comprenant un circuit de refroidissement intégré
CN104487662A (zh) 三次膨胀废热回收系统和方法
US20150135709A1 (en) Cascaded power plant using low and medium temperature source fluid
WO2015034988A1 (fr) Procédés de commande pour systèmes de moteur thermique possédant un circuit de fluide de travail configurable de façon sélective
WO2017159149A1 (fr) Appareil de génération de puissance à stockage d'énergie par air comprimé
US20150214458A1 (en) Thermoelectric generator system for intercooler coupled to turbocharger
JP2013015030A (ja) バイナリ発電装置
CN102769304A (zh) 一种锅炉烟气余热发电系统
JP2014034924A (ja) 内燃機関の排熱回収装置及びコジェネレーション・システム
RU2704385C2 (ru) Двухкаскадное газотурбинное устройство
EP4148345A1 (fr) Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail
CA3231694A1 (fr) Modulation et conditionnement de fluides de travail
GB2610808A (en) Modulating and conditioning working fluids
JP2013160059A (ja) 熱回収発電装置
JP2010286135A (ja) 熱供給システム
US9540961B2 (en) Heat sources for thermal cycles
EP2876268B1 (fr) Dispositif électrique combiné et procédé permettant d'actionner le dispositif électrique combiné
JP2009180101A (ja) エネルギー回収機能を備えた減圧設備
JP2011075131A (ja) 熱供給システム

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20230324

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR