Sensorless condenser regulation for power optimization for ORC systems
First Claim
1. A method for regulating a condenser in a thermal cycle apparatus, wherein the thermal cycle apparatus comprises a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating the working medium with a supply of heat, an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium, a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the condenser for condensing the expanded working medium, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- determining a rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine;
determining, without the use of a temperature sensor, a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser;
determining from the determined generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, a condensation setpoint pressure at which a net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum; and
controlling or regulating a condensation pressure, with the condensation setpoint pressure as a target value by adjusting a condenser fan rotational speed,wherein determining the temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser further comprises one of (i) calculating the temperature of cooling air from the determined rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine, a determined rotational speed of the condenser fan and a determined condensation pressure, or (ii) sampling the temperature of cooling air from a predetermined table dependent upon the determined rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine, a determined rotational speed of the condenser fan and a determined condensation pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for regulating a condenser in a thermal cycle apparatus, in particular in an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermal cycle apparatus comprises a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating and optionally additionally superheating the working medium with a supply of heat, an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium, a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the condenser for condensing the expanded working medium, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining a rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine; determining, without the use of a temperature sensor, a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser; determining from the determined generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, a condensation setpoint pressure at which the net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum; and controlling or regulating the condensation pressure, with the condensation setpoint pressure as target value, in particular by adjusting a condenser fan rotational speed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for regulating a condenser in a thermal cycle apparatus, wherein the thermal cycle apparatus comprises a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating the working medium with a supply of heat, an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium, a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the condenser for condensing the expanded working medium, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:
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determining a rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine; determining, without the use of a temperature sensor, a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser; determining from the determined generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, a condensation setpoint pressure at which a net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum; and controlling or regulating a condensation pressure, with the condensation setpoint pressure as a target value by adjusting a condenser fan rotational speed, wherein determining the temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser further comprises one of (i) calculating the temperature of cooling air from the determined rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine, a determined rotational speed of the condenser fan and a determined condensation pressure, or (ii) sampling the temperature of cooling air from a predetermined table dependent upon the determined rotational speed of the generator or of the expansion machine, a determined rotational speed of the condenser fan and a determined condensation pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A thermal cycle apparatus, comprising:
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a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium with an increase in pressure to an evaporator, the evaporator for evaporating the working medium with a supply of heat; an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expansion of the evaporated working medium; a generator for at least partially converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy; a condenser for condensing the expanded working medium; a control and regulation device for determining a temperature of cooling air supplied from the condenser from a determined rotational speed of the generator or the expansion machine, a determined rotational speed of the condenser fan and a determined condensation pressure;
determining a condensation setpoint pressure at which a net electrical power of the thermal cycle apparatus is at a maximum from a determined or measured generator or expansion machine rotational speed and the determined cooling air temperature, and for controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the setpoint condensation pressure as a target value;a rotational speed sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the generator or the expansion machine; a pressure sensor for measuring the condensation pressure; and a further rotational speed sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the condenser fan. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification