Sensorless condenser regulation for power optimization for ORC systems

• US 10,329,961 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orcan Energy Ag
• Original Assignee: Orcan Energy Ag
• Inventors: Springer, Jens-Patrick, Grill, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dounis, Laert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Largi, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US15/106,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20170002693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 11/00 Plants characterised by the engines being structurally combined with boilers or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/02 Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/08 using special vapours
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 9/003 condenser cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 1/06 using air or other gas as the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28B 11/00 Controlling arrangements with features specially adapted for condensers control arrangements in general G05

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one selected from the group of (i) determining the rotational speed of the generator or the expansion machine further comprises measuring the rotational speed of the generator or the expansion machine (ii) determining the rotational speed of the condenser fan by measuring the rotational speed of the condenser fan, and (iii) determining the condensation pressure by measuring the condensation pressure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein during starting the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, initially, the following steps are carried out:

determining a start value for the condensation setpoint pressure;

starting the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus and controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the start value of the condensation setpoint pressure as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed; and

replacing the start value for the condensation setpoint value with the condensation setpoint value determined during the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein subsequent to a shut-down of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, the following steps are carried out:

determining a shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure;

replacing the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus with the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure; and

controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the shut-down value as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed and stopping the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein during starting the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, initially, the following steps are carried out:

determining a start value for the condensation setpoint pressure;

starting the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus and controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the start value of the condensation setpoint pressure as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed; and

replacing the start value for the condensation setpoint value with the condensation setpoint value determined during the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a start value for the condensation setpoint value the saturation pressure of the working medium at the current condensate temperature or the saturation pressure at the temperature of the working medium at an inlet of the feed pump, the actual pressure in standstill of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, or the last condensation setpoint pressure during the last operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus can be determined.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein replacing comprises controlling or regulating the condensation pressure from the start value of the condensation pressure to the setpoint condensation pressure determined during the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein subsequent to a shut-down of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, the following steps are carried out:

determining a shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure;

replacing the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus with the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure; and

controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the shut-down value as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed and stopping the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein replacing comprises controlling or regulating the condensation pressure from the start value of the condensation pressure to the setpoint condensation pressure determined during the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein subsequent to a shut-down of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, the following steps are carried out:

determining a shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure;

replacing the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus with the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure; and

controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the shut-down value as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed and stopping the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

11. The method according to claim 5, wherein subsequent to a shut-down of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, the following steps are carried out:

determining a shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure;

replacing the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus with the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure; and

controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the shut-down value as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed and stopping the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein subsequent to a shut-down of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus, the following steps are carried out:

determining a shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure;

replacing the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus with the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure; and

controlling or regulating the condensation pressure with the shut-down value as a target value by means of adjusting the condenser fan rotational speed and stopping the operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein as shut-down value the last setpoint condensation pressure during the last operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus or the saturation pressure of the working medium at current condensate temperature is specified.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein replacing comprises a controlling and regulating the condensation pressure of the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus to the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein replacing comprises a controlling and regulating the condensation pressure of the setpoint condensation pressure determined during operation of the thermo-dynamic cycle apparatus to the shut-down value for the setpoint condensation pressure.

16. A thermal cycle apparatus, comprising:

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.

17. A thermal cycle apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the evaporator is further configured for superheating the working medium with the supply of heat.