Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
  • F01M5/00—Heating, cooling, or controlling temperature of lubricant; Lubrication means facilitating engine starting
  • F01M5/002—Cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
  • F01K25/00—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for
  • F01K25/08—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a recuperator for recovery of thermal energy from the lubricating/cooling oil of a compressor and for conversion of said energy into mechanical energy, as well as to a compression and energy-recovery unit comprising said recuperator.
• the oil thus absorbs from the air the thermal energy that is generated during compression and the thermal energy that is generated by friction.
• Said thermal energy is usually dissipated in a radiator cooled by air in a forced way via a fan.
• the radiator can be cooled also by another fluid.
• the aim of the present invention is to recover said thermal power in a recuperator that converts it into mechanical or electrical power.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bladed expander used in the compression and energy-recovery unit of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the expander of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a graph of the thermodynamic behaviour of the expander of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a compression and recovery unit according to the present invention, which uses the bladed expander of Figure 1;
• Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views from opposite sides of the unit represented in the diagram of Figure 4;
• Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a thermal-energy recuperator interfaceable with an external compressor to obtain the unit of the invention
• FIG 8 is a perspective view of the recuperator represented in the diagram of Figure 7.
• FIGS 9 and 10 are schematic illustrations of two different possibilities of use of the recuperator of Figure 8.
• the expander 1 basically comprises an external casing 2, an annular stator 3 with axis A housed in the casing 2 and provided with a cylindrical cavity 4 with axis B parallel to and distinct from the axis A, and a substantially cylindrical rotor 5 with axis A housed in the cavity 4.
• the rotor 5 carries a plurality of blades 7, which extend in a radial direction in the annular chamber 6 and slide radially so as to co-operate substantially in a sealed way with an inner surface 8 of the stator 3.
• the blades 7 are spaced at equal distances apart circumferentially around the rotor 5, and divide the annular chamber 6 into a plurality of compartments 9 with variable volume.
• the stator 3 has an inlet port 10 in the area of minimum radial width of the compartment 6 and an outlet port 11 in the area of maximum radial width of the compartment 6 in such a way that each chamber 9 increases progressively in volume from the inlet port 10 to the outlet port 11.
• the casing 2 is conveniently provided in two pieces 13, 14, of which one (13) is a cup-shaped body defining integrally a head 15 and an outer annular wall 16, and the other (14) constitutes the other head of the casing.
• the casing 2 defines an annular chamber 17 surrounding the stator 3, which has an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 for connection to an external hydraulic circuit, as will be described more fully in what follows.
• the annular chamber 17 is delimited axially by the heads 14, 15 and radially by the stator 3 on the inside and by the wall 16 on the outside.
• the stator 3 is provided with radial fins 20 extending within the annular chamber 17 ( Figure 1) , which have the purpose of increasing the surface of heat exchange with the fluid contained therein.
• the expander 1 is provided with an output shaft 12, which, in the example illustrated, is integral with the rotor 5.
• the output shaft 12 is supported in respective through seats 22, 23 of the heads 14, 15, and exits radially from the heads 14 with an axial end 24 of its own, which constitutes a power take off designed to be connected to a current generator or a motor functioning as generator or other mechanical load, as will be described more fully in what follows.
• the seat 23 of the heads 15 is closed axially by a lid 25.
• the shaft 12 is conveniently provided with a blind axial hole
• the hole 27 which is made in the lid 25 and communicates with a first area of the annular chamber 17 through a channel 28 made in the head 15.
• An opposite end of the hole 26 is connected by radial holes 29 with a portion 30 of the seat 22 and delimited axially in a sealed way by a pair of gaskets 34, 35.
• the hole 26 could present devices (not represented) designed to increase the coefficient of heat exchange.
• the portion 30 communicates with a second area of the annular chamber 17 opposite to the first area via a channel 36 made in the head 14.
• the expander 1 is used for carrying out the step of expansion of a thermodynamic cycle of the ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) or Hirn type, during which it is possible to recover mechanical energy at the shaft 12 by subtracting thermal energy from a working fluid, generally an organic fluid or mixture, such as a chlorofluorocarbon in pure form or in mixture or a fluorocarbon, or the like.
• ORC Organic Rankine Cycle
• Hirn type a working fluid
• a working fluid generally an organic fluid or mixture, such as a chlorofluorocarbon in pure form or in mixture or a fluorocarbon, or the like.
• the inlet port 10 and the outlet port 11 of the expander are consequently connected, respectively, to a high-pressure branch and to a low-pressure branch of a closed circuit traversed by the working fluid.
• the annular chamber 17, the hole 26 of the shaft 12, and the corresponding connection channels and ports define as a whole a heating line 37 designed to be connected to a fluid source at a temperature at least equal to the inlet temperature of the working fluid.
• the expansion is carried out in conditions such as to be able to receive thermal energy from outside, instead of being substantially adiabatic, as occurs in expanders of a conventional type.
• the ideal configuration would be to carry out an isothermal expansion or even an expansion at an increasing temperature if the fluid that laps the chamber 17 were so to allow.
• Vin is the initial volume of the compartment
• Vfin is the final volume of the compartment.
• the integral (1) can be calculated once the evolution of the pressure during the variation of volume (thermodynamic transformation) is known. In other words, Eq. (1) becomes
• the work exchanged thus depends upon the thermodynamic transformation that the gas undergoes during the transformation of expansion within the compartments.
• Figure 3 represents the cases of an adiabatic transformation (curve a) and of an isothermal transformation (curve i) .
• stator and rotor heating proves even greater in the case where the fluid that expands in the compartment can present a transition of state from vapour to liquid: this is the case of water vapour or of any other substance, whether pure or in mixture.
• fraction of fluid that condenses represents a loss of work of expansion in so far as the liquid no longer undergoes variations of volume during the process of expansion.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram of a compression unit 40 provided according to the present invention and equipped with an ORC recuperator 41 for recovery of the thermal energy from the lubricating/cooling oil of the compressor.
• the compression unit 40 basically comprises a compressor 42, for example a bladed volumetric compressor, driven by an electric motor 43 via a shaft 44. Connected in series on the output line of the compressed air 45 of the compressor 42 is a stage 46 of an air/working fluid heat exchanger 47 or economizer, described more fully in what follows.
• the compressor 42 comprises a lubricating/cooling line 49, which is connected to the heating line 37 of the expander 1 to form a closed oil circuit 50 therewith.
• the oil circuit further comprises a three-way by-pass valve 51, with three open-centre positions and continuous positioning, via which an oil outlet 52 of the compressor can be connected to the inlet 18 of the expander 1 or else to a line 53 of return to the compressor 42, thus bypassing the expander.
• the valve 51 is normally in a bypass position and is driven into the position of connection to the expander 1 by a thermal actuator 54 controlled by the temperature of the oil at output from the compressor 40. In this way, the recuperator 41 is activated only when the compressor reaches the steady-state temperature.
• the electromagnetic clutch 48 is controlled accordingly; i.e., it is closed until the steady-state temperature is reached.
• a stage 55 of an oil/working-fluid heat exchanger 56 Connected in series on the line 53 of return to the compressor are a stage 55 of an oil/working-fluid heat exchanger 56, described more fully in what follows and, downstream of this, a filter 57.
• the recuperator 41 comprises a closed circuit traversed by the working fluid and operating according to a Rankine cycle (if the organic fluid is brought into saturation conditions) or, preferably, a Hirn cycle (if the organic fluid is brought into superheating conditions) . More in particular, the recuperator 41 comprises a pump 58 driven by an electric motor 59 or other device and designed to bring the working fluid to a pre-set pressure level. At the end of the compression stage, the fluid is in the liquid state .
• the working fluid is in the state of saturated or superheated vapour, as mentioned previously.
• a two-position three-way solenoid valve 62 which can deliver the flow selectively, and two circuit branches 63, 64, set in parallel to one another and both connected to the inlet of the pump 58.
• Set on the first branch 63 is a radiator 65 in heat exchange with a forced air flow generated by an electric fan 66;
• set on the second branch 64 is a stage 67 of a heat exchanger 68, the other stage 69 of which is designed to be connected to a source of cold fluid, for example water, which may be available.
• the solenoid valve 62 can be omitted, and just one between the radiator 65 and the heat exchanger 68 can be used.
• the radiator 65 or the heat exchanger 68 constitutes a condenser in which the working fluid undergoes a change of state and returns into the liquid state, subsequently reaching the pump 58 (start of cycle) .
• the compression unit 40 and the recuperator 41 are integrated together to form an integrated compression and energy-recovery unit 70, assembled on a single load-bearing structure 71 ( Figure 5) .
• Figures 5 and 6, which are perspective views of the unit 70 the main components are clearly visible: the compressor 42, the electric motor 43, the expander 1 (all on a common axis) , the heat exchangers 47 (air/ORC fluid) , 56 (oil/ORC fluid) , 68 (ORC fluid/water) , the radiator 65 with the corresponding electric fan 66, and the oil filter 57.
• FIGS 7 and 8 illustrate, instead, an embodiment of the present invention in which the recuperator 41 constitutes an autonomous unit, interfaceable with an external compressor of any type or with another machine or system generating a recoverable thermal power (for example, a static internal- combustion engine or an internal-combustion engine for vehicle applications, or else a system for exploitation of the geothermal energy or of the energy produced by biomasses) .
• a recoverable thermal power for example, a static internal- combustion engine or an internal-combustion engine for vehicle applications, or else a system for exploitation of the geothermal energy or of the energy produced by biomasses
• the circuit diagram of the recuperator 41 is similar to the one described with reference to the integrated unit.
• the recuperator comprises an electric generator 72 driven by the bladed expander. Consequently, energy recovery occurs through generation of electrical energy, instead of mechanical energy.
• the economizer 47 can be omitted.
• the recuperator 41 has a pair of connections 73 for inlet/outlet of a hot fluid (oil, water, burnt gases, etc.) and a pair of connections 74 for inlet/outlet of a cold fluid (typically water of the water mains), whenever available.
• FIG 8 illustrates an embodiment of the recuperator 41.
• the components described with reference to the integrated solution of Figures 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numbers, and clearly visible is the electric generator 72 coupled to the bladed expander 1.
• recuperator 41 In the case where the recuperator 41 is used in combination with an external compressor of a conventional type, two situations may basically arise.
• the hot fluid can be constituted directly by the lubricating/cooling oil of the compressor.
• the recuperator is consequently set in parallel with respect to the radiator 75, which can be excluded via the bypass valves 76 (and possibly used as emergency solution to prevent machine stoppages of the compressor 42 in the case of breakdown or maintenance of the recuperator) .
• the hot fluid used by the recuperator 41 can be constituted by the cooling water.
• recuperator 41 is connected in parallel to the water stage of the water/oil heat exchanger 77 via bypass valves 76 set upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger itself along a water line 78.
• bypass valves 76 By switching the bypass valves 76, it is possible to select whether to use the recuperator 41 for the production of electrical energy or else use the cooling water for other purposes (for example, for heating environments in winter) .
• the compression unit 40 basically comprises a compressor 42, for example a bladed volumetric compressor, driven by an electric motor 43 via a shaft 44. Connected in series on the output line for the compressed air 45 of the compressor 42 is a stage 46 of an air/working-fluid heat exchanger 47 or economizer, described more fully in what follows. Connected to the shaft 44 of the compressor 42, via an electromagnetic clutch 48, or other coupling device, is the output shaft 12 of a bladed expander 1 of the type previously described, forming part of the recuperator 41.
• the compressor 42 comprises a lubricating/cooling line 49, which is connected to the heating line 37 of the expander 1 to form a closed oil circuit 50 therewith.
• the oil circuit further comprises a three-way by-pass valve 51, with three open-centre positions and continuous positioning, via which an oil outlet 52 of the compressor can be connected to the inlet 18 of the expander 1 or else to a line 53 of return to the compressor 42, thus bypassing the expander.
• the valve 51 is normally in the bypass position and is driven into the position of connection to the expander 1 by a thermal actuator 54 controlled by the temperature of the oil at output from the compressor 40. In this way, the recuperator 41 is activated only when the compressor reaches the steady-state temperature.
• the electromagnetic clutch 48 is controlled accordingly; i.e., it is closed until the steady-state temperature is reached.
• the recuperator 41 comprises a closed circuit traversed by the working fluid and operating according to a Rankine cycle (if the organic fluid is brought into saturation conditions) or, preferably, a Hirn cycle (if the organic fluid is brought into superheating conditions) .
• the recuperator 41 comprises a pump 58 driven by an electric motor 59 or some other device and designed to bring the working fluid to a pre-set pressure level. At the end of the compression stage, the fluid is in the liquid state.
• the working fluid is in the state of saturated or superheated vapour, as mentioned previously.
• a two-position three-way solenoid valve 62 which can deliver the flow selectively, and two circuit branches 63, 64, set in parallel to one another and both connected to the inlet of the pump 58.
• Set on the first branch 63 is a radiator 65 in heat exchange with a forced air flow generated by an electric fan 66.
• Set on the second branch 64 is a stage 67 of a heat exchanger 68, the other stage 69 of which is designed to be connected to a source of cold fluid, for example water, which may be available.
• the solenoid valve 62 can be omitted, and just one between the radiator 65 and the heat exchanger 68 can be used.
• the radiator 65 or the heat exchanger 68 constitutes a condenser in which the working fluid undergoes a change of state and returns into the liquid state, subsequently reaching the pump 58 (start of cycle) .
• the compression unit 40 and the recuperator 41 are integrated together to form an integrated compression and energy-recovery unit 70, assembled on a single load-bearing structure 71 ( Figure 5) .
• Figures 5 and 6 which are perspective views of the unit 70, the main components are clearly visible: the compressor 42, the electric motor 43, the expander 1 (all on a common axis) , the heat exchangers 47 (air/ORC fluid) , 56 (oil/ORC fluid) , 68 (ORC fluid/water) , the radiator 65 with the corresponding electric fan 66, and the oil filter 57.
• Figures 7 and 8 illustrate, instead, an embodiment of the present invention in which the ORC recuperator 41 constitutes an autonomous unit, interfaceable with an external compressor of a rotary volumetric type to form a unit according to the present invention.
• the circuit diagram of the ORC recuperator 41 is similar to the one described with reference to the integrated unit. In this case, however, the recuperator comprises an electric generator 72 driven by the bladed expander. Consequently, energy recovery occurs through generation of electrical energy, instead of mechanical energy.
• the economizer 47 can be omitted.
• the ORC recuperator 41 has a pair of connections 73 for inlet/outlet of a hot fluid (oil, water, burnt gases, etc.) and a pair of connections 74 for inlet/outlet of a cold fluid (typically water of the water mains), whenever available.
• Figure 8 illustrates one embodiment of the ORC recuperator 41.
• the components described with reference to the integrated solution of Figures 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numbers, and clearly visible is the electric generator 72 coupled to the bladed expander 1
• the ORC recuperator 41 is used in combination with an external compressor of a conventional type, two situations may basically arise.
• the hot fluid can be constituted directly by the lubricating/cooling oil of the compressor.
• the recuperator is consequently set in parallel with respect to the radiator 75, which can be excluded via the bypass valves 76 (and possibly used as emergency solution to prevent machine stoppages of the compressor 42 in the case of breakdown or maintenance of the recuperator) .
• the hot fluid used by the ORC recuperator 41 can be constituted by the cooling water; consequently, the heat exchange between the lubricating/cooling oil of the compressor 42 and the working fluid in this case is indirect.
• the ORC recuperator 41 is connected to the water stage of the water/oil heat exchanger 77 via bypass valves 76 set along the water line 78 upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger 77.
• bypass valves 76 By switching the bypass valves 76 it is possible to select whether to use the ORC recuperator 41 for the production of electrical energy or else use the cooling water for other purposes (for example, for heating environments in winter) .
• recuperator 41 Use of a recuperator 41 provided according to the invention affords a considerable energy saving.
• the thermal power that is exchanged by the lubricating/cooling oil of a compressor is slightly lower than the electric power absorbed and is characterized by a medium-to-low thermal level.
• the oil in fact, does not generally exceed 100°C and cannot be cooled to temperatures lower than 55-60°C.
• the efficiency of the recuperator 41 can be approximately 15%. Assuming that it is applied to a compression unit with a compressor having an absorption of electric power of 50 kW, the thermal power exchanged with the lubricating/cooling oil of the compressor is approximately 40 kW. With an average conversion efficiency of 15%, the mechanical/electrical power recovered is 6 kW. A value of 6 kW represents more than 10% of the absorbed electric power, which in the specific sector is very significant.
• the power produced by the system is used in mechanical form. Once the recovery system is brought to steady-state conditions, the mechanical power is supplied to the compressor 42 via the electromagnetic clutch 48, enabling reduction by more than 10% of the absorption of electric power of the electric motor 43. In the cases of Figures 7 to 10, the power produced by the system is used in electrical form. The same power is reintroduced into the power mains, representing for the person running the compression unit an additional income (sale of electrical energy) .
• thermostatting of the expander may be absent, or else limited to the stator or to the rotor, and may be provided in a way different from what has been described herein .
• Thermostatting can be carried out with the oil of the compressor or with another fluid, preferably in heat exchange therewith.
• the compressor 42 may be a volumetric rotary compressor of any type.
• the working fluid used may be an organic fluid such as a chlorofluorocarbon or any other fluid suited to the thermal levels involved.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-09-19 EP EP11784797.0A patent/EP2744989B1/en active Active
  • 2011-09-19 WO PCT/IT2011/000325 patent/WO2013042142A1/en unknown
  • 2011-09-19 CN CN201180074941.4A patent/CN103975134B/zh active Active

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