Systems and methods for controlling temperature and pressure of fluids

• US 8,333,330 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P10 Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Active Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Schuetze, Karl T., Hudson, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAVANI, AVINASH A
• Application Number:
  US10/943,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,014 Days
• Field of Search: 137/602, 137/487.5, 137/102, 137/14, 137/3, 237/12, 237/12.1, 237/2.B, 237/19, 237/80, 165/281, 141/8
• US Class Current: 237/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2013 using throttling means as controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a dual-path fluid routing system that uses a flow restriction device to enhance temperature and pressure control of fluid are provided. Systems and methods for using a setpoint pressure control system to accurately control the setpoint pressure of a regulator are also provided.

Claims

1. A dual-path fluid routing system, comprising:

a first path in fluid communication with a fluid source and an output node, said first path comprising;

a first regulator connected to said fluid source and having a first regulator output; and

a heat exchanger connected to said first regulator and said output node, said heat exchanger operative to change the temperature of fluid flowing through said first path;

a second path in fluid communication with said fluid source and said output node, said second path comprising;

a second regulator connected to said fluid source and having a second regulator output; and

a flow restriction device connected to said second regulator output and said output node and operative to restrict mass flow through said second path, said flow restriction device restricting flow to a degree sufficient to decouple said first regulator output and said second regulator output, thereby enabling said second path to inject a desired quantity of said fluid into said first path; and

control circuitry operative to control said first and second regulators to provide a fluid of a predetermined pressure and temperature to said output node, said predetermined pressure variable between 0 and 1,000 PSI.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction device is an orifice.

3. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction device is a screen or a valve.

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is an exhaustless heater.

5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is a thermal storage unit.

6. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said first regulator is operative to control mass flow of fluid through said first path.

7. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said second regulator is operative to control mass flow of fluid through said second path.

8. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second regulators are operative to control mass flow of said fluid through said first and second paths.

9. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said first regulator controls the pressure of said fluid in said first path independent of said second regulator.

10. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said second regulator controls the pressure of said fluid in said second path independent of said first regulator.

11. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said second regulator increases its pressure output relative to the pressure output of said first regulator to lower the temperature of said outlet fluid.

12. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said first regulator increases its pressure output relative to the pressure output of said second regulator to lower the temperature of said outlet fluid.

13. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said first regulator maintains a first path pressure, and

wherein said second regulator adjusts a second path pressure to change the temperature of said fluid provided to said outlet node.

14. The system defined in claim 13, wherein said first regulator automatically adjusts the mass flow of fluid flowing through said first path to maintain said first path pressure, while compensating for changes in said second path pressure.

15. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger heats fluid flowing through said first path.

16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein said control circuitry is operative to:

increase a setpoint pressure of said second regulator to lower the temperature of said fluid provided to said outlet node.

17. The system defined in claim 15, wherein said control circuitry is operative to:

decrease a setpoint pressure of said second regulator to increase the temperature of said fluid provided to said outlet node.

18. The system defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring circuitry that provides temperature and pressure data to said control circuitry.

19. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is operative to control pressure setpoints of said first and second regulators.

20. An electrical generation system, comprising:

a dual-path fluid routing system as defined in claim 1; and

a fluid utilization system connected to receive fluid of a predetermined pressure and temperature from said dual-path fluid routing system.

21. The electrical generation system defined in claim 20, wherein said fluid utilization system is a turbine.

22. The electrical generation system defined in claim 20, wherein said fluid utilization system is a turbine-generator.

47. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined pressure is variable between 0 and 450 PSI.

23. A dual-path fluid routing system for controlling temperature and pressure of a fluid, said system comprising:

an inlet port;

an outlet port;

a main path that provides a main path fluid having a first predetermined temperature and pressure to said outlet port, said main path connected to receive fluid at said inlet port and comprising a first regulator having a first regulator output; and

a bypass path that provides a bypass path fluid having a second predetermined temperature and pressure to said outlet port, said bypass path connected to receive fluid at said inlet port and comprising a second regulator having a second regulator output,

said outlet port mixes said main path and bypass path fluids to provide a mixed fluid having a third predetermined temperature and pressure, said third predetermined pressure variable between 0 and 1,000 PSI and wherein at least one of said main and bypass paths includes a flow restriction device that enhances temperature control said mixed fluid said flow restriction device restricting flow to a degree sufficient to decouple said first regulator output and said second regulator output, thereby enabling said bypass path to inject a desired quartity of said fluid into said main path.

24. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path controls said main path fluid independent of said bypass path.

25. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said bypass path controls said bypass path fluid independent of said main path.

26. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path comprises:

a first regulator connected to said inlet port; and

a heat exchanger connected to said first regulator and to said outlet port, said heat exchanger operative to change the temperature of said main path fluid; and

wherein said bypass path comprises;

a second regulator connected to said inlet port; and

said flow restriction device connected to said second regulator and said outlet port.

27. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path comprises:

a first regulator connected to said inlet port;

a heat exchanger connected to said first regulator, said heat exchanger operative to change the temperature of said main path fluid; and

said flow restriction device connected to said heat exchanger and said outlet port; and

wherein said bypass path comprises;

a second regulator connected to said inlet port and said outlet port.

28. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path comprises:

a first regulator connected to said inlet port;

said flow restriction device connected to said first regulator and said heat exchanger; and

a heat exchanger connected to said flow restriction device and to said outlet port, said heat exchanger operative to change the temperature of said main path fluid; and

wherein said bypass path comprises;

a second regulator connected to said inlet port and said outlet port.

29. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path comprises:

a first regulator connected to said inlet port;

wherein said flow restriction device is a first flow restriction device that is connected to said first regulator and said heat exchanger; and

a heat exchanger connected to said flow restriction device and to said outlet port, said heat exchanger operative to change the temperature of said main path fluid; and

wherein said bypass path comprises;

a second regulator connected to said inlet port; and

a second flow restriction device connected to said second regulator and said outlet node.

30. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said main path comprises:

a regulator connected to said inlet said flow restriction device connected to said regulator; and

a heat exchanger connected to said flow restriction device and said outlet port; and

wherein said bypass path comprises;

a flow control valve connected to said outlet port and to a node between said regulator and said flow restriction device, said flow control valve operative to provide said mixed fluid.

31. The system defined in claim 23, further comprising:

control circuitry operative to control the pressure and mass flow of said main path fluid and said bypass fluid.

32. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said bypass path controls mass flow of said main path fluid and said bypass fluid.

33. The system defined in claim 23, wherein said flow restriction device is an orifice, a valve, a screen, or any combination thereof.

34. A thermal and compressed air storage system, comprising:

a fluid source;

a dual-path fluid routing system as defined in claim 24 connected to said fluid source; and

a turbine-generator connected to said fluid routing system, said turbine-generator operative to generate power when the turbine portion of said turbine-generator is driven by said mixed fluid.

35. The system defined in claim 34, wherein said fluid source is selected from the group consisting of a pressurized vessel, a cavern, a salt dome, and a gas bottle.

37. The system defined in claim 26, wherein said first fluid source provides a fluid having a first predetermined temperature.

36. A dual-path fluid routing system for controlling temperature and pressure of a fluid, said system comprising:

a first fluid source;

a second fluid source;

an outlet port;

a first regulator connected to said first fluid source and having a first regulator output connected to said outlet port; and

a second regulator connected to said second fluid source and having a second regulator output connected to a flow restriction device, said flow restriction device connected to said outlet port, said flow restriction device restricting flow to a degree sufficient to decouple said first regulator output and said second regulator output, thereby enabling said second regulator to inject a desired quantity of said second fluid into said outlet port,

wherein said first and second regulators regulate mass flow and pressure of fluid received from said first and second fluid sources, respectively, to provide a mixed fluid having a predetermined temperature and pressure to said outlet port, said predetermined pressure variable between 0 and 1,000 PSI.

38. The system defined in claim 36, wherein said second regulator provides a fluid having a second predetermined temperature.

39. A dual-path fluid routing system for controlling temperature and pressure of a fluid, said system comprising:

at least one source of fluid;

main path mass flow control means connected to receive fluid from said at least one source of fluid and operative to provide a main path fluid to an outlet node;

bypass path mass flow control means connected to receive fluid from said at least one source of fluid and operative to provide a bypass path fluid to said outlet node;

control means for controlling said mass flow control means and bypass path mass flow control means to provide a mixed fluid having a predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure at said outlet node, said predetermined pressure variable between 0 and 1,000 PSI; and

restriction means for enhancing temperature and pressure control of said mixed fluid, said restriction means restricting flow to a degree sufficient to decouple said main path mass flow control means and said bypass path mass flow control means, thereby enabling said bypass path mass flow control means to inject a desired quantity of said fluid into said outlet node.

40. The system defined in claim 39, further comprising said heat exchanging means for altering the temperature of fluid received from said at least one source of fluid.

41. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said mixed fluid is a mixture of main path fluid and said bypass path fluid.

42. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said main path mass flow control means comprises a pressure regulator, and wherein said bypass path mass flow control means comprises a pressure regulator.

43. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said main path mass flow control means comprises a pressure regulator, and wherein said bypass path mass flow control means comprises a flow control valve.

44. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said restriction means is connected downstream of said main path mass flow control means.

45. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said restriction means is connected downstream of said bypass mass flow control means.

46. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said restriction means is selected from the group consisting of an orifice, a screen, and a valve.