OPERATING A SUB-SEA ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE (ORC) SYSTEM USING INDIVIDUAL PRESSURE VESSELS
First Claim
1. An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for generating electrical power using a sub-sea geothermal source from a sea, the ORC system comprising:
- a first pressure vessel containing an evaporator configured to receive heat from the sub-sea geothermal source and vaporize an organic fluid passing through the first pressure vessel;
a second pressure vessel removably connected to the first pressure vessel and containing a turbine configured to receive the organic fluid and expand the fluid to produce mechanical shaft energy convertible to electrical power;
a third pressure vessel removably connected to the second pressure vessel and containing a condenser configured to condense the vaporized organic fluid flowing from the second pressure vessel and reject heat to cold sea water; and
a fourth pressure vessel removably connected to the third pressure vessel and the first pressure vessel, and containing a pump configured to increase a pressure of the condensed organic fluid and recycle the organic fluid to the first pressure vessel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for generating electrical power for sub-sea applications includes assembling each of the main components (132, 138, 142, 146) of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system (100) inside a pressure vessel to form a series of vessels (104, 106, 108, 110) removably connected to one another and configured to be placed near, on or below a sea floor. The main components of the ORC system include an evaporator (132), a turbine (138), a condenser (142) and a pump (146). A working fluid (135) is circulated through the pressure vessels in order to generate mechanical shaft power that is converted to electrical power (P). In some embodiments, the ORC system includes at least one redundant component that corresponds to one of the main components. The working fluid may be circulated through at least one redundant ORC component such that the ORC system is able to continue operating when one of more of the main components is not operating properly. A control system (148) is used to monitor operation of the main components and at least one redundant ORC component. In some embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a pressure vessel with its corresponding main component. In other embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a separate pressure vessel.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for generating electrical power using a sub-sea geothermal source from a sea, the ORC system comprising:
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a first pressure vessel containing an evaporator configured to receive heat from the sub-sea geothermal source and vaporize an organic fluid passing through the first pressure vessel; a second pressure vessel removably connected to the first pressure vessel and containing a turbine configured to receive the organic fluid and expand the fluid to produce mechanical shaft energy convertible to electrical power; a third pressure vessel removably connected to the second pressure vessel and containing a condenser configured to condense the vaporized organic fluid flowing from the second pressure vessel and reject heat to cold sea water; and a fourth pressure vessel removably connected to the third pressure vessel and the first pressure vessel, and containing a pump configured to increase a pressure of the condensed organic fluid and recycle the organic fluid to the first pressure vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A system for producing electrical power for sub-sea applications, the system comprising:
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a plurality of main components configured to operate as an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system that generates electrical power using a working fluid that circulates through the main components; a plurality of pressure vessels removably connected to each other, wherein each pressure vessel contains a main component of the ORC system such that the working fluid circulates through each pressure vessel; a redundant component corresponding to one of the main components of the ORC system; and a control system to control operation of the main components and the redundant component, wherein operation of the redundant component includes at least one of maintaining the redundant component in a non-operational mode, operating the redundant component simultaneously with a corresponding main component, and operating the redundant component as a substitute to the corresponding main component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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16. (canceled)
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19-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A method of generating electrical power for sub-sea applications using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system having each of an evaporator, a turbine, a condenser and a pump inside a separate pressure vessel to form a series of vessels removably connected to one another and configured to be placed proximate to a sea floor, the method comprising:
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circulating an organic fluid through the pressure vessels; generating mechanical shaft power using the organic fluid; and converting the mechanical shaft power to electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24-25. -25. (canceled)
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29-33. -33. (canceled)
Specification