Harmonic adsorption recuperative power systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10240486-B2
Application number	US-201715634690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A new power generation thermodynamic cycle is described that eliminates need for bulk liquid condensation and vaporization steps required in conventional ORC power systems. An exemplary harmonic adsorption recuperative power cycle system offers more efficient power generation as compared with conventional ORC systems. A multibed adsorption system is used to provide thermal compression for the cycle. An adsorption compressor contains a sorbent with strong adsorption affinity for the working fluid in the pores while well outside the P-T conditions needed to condense the liquid phase, allowing the adsorption compressor to reduce operating pressure exiting the expander.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermal compression power generation system, comprising:
a working fluid;
an engine driven by the working fluid;
a heat exchange fluid; and
a thermal compression system comprising two or more independent adsorbers each containing a sorbent;
wherein the working fluid passes through the adsorbers and is adsorbed and desorbed by the sorbent;
wherein the heat exchange fluid passes through the thermal compression system and transfers energy to and from the working fluid while being desorbed and adsorbed by the sorbent;
wherein the working fluid remains in vapor phase while in the thermal compression system without condensing into liquid phase; and
wherein the two or more independent adsorbers alternate between an adsorption phase and a desorption phase in a harmonic cycle, wherein during the desorption phase output pressure of the adsorbers falls to a minimum value while adsorber temperature rises to a maximum temperature, and during the adsorption phase the adsorbers begin at a lowest pressure in the cycle and pressure increases up to a maximum value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more independent adsorbers operate out of phase with one another, such that at least one adsorber is adsorbing the working fluid while at least one adsorber is desorbing the working fluid.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein working fluid exiting the engine flows into one of the adsorbers in an adsorption phase, and working fluid entering the engine flows from one of the adsorbers in a desorption phase.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system comprises four or more independent adsorbers.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the four or more independent adsorbers alternate between a pre-cooling phase, an adsorption phase, a pre-heating phase, and a desorption phase, in harmonic cycles.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system lacks a condenser.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system lacks an evaporator.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system lacks a working fluid pump.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system comprises at least one adsorber having a tube-and-shell configuration.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the adsorbers comprises a tubular body having a cylindrical wall and fins projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall, with the sorbent positioned between the fins.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a vapor channel is defined radially inside of the fins, and the working fluid passes through the vapor channel in contact with the sorbent.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein an outer shell is positioned around the cylindrical wall and the heat exchange fluid flows between the outer shell and the cylindrical wall.

13. The system of claim 1 , where at least one of the adsorbers comprises a plurality of tubular adsorption beds containing the sorbent, and an outer wall positioned around the tubular adsorption beds, wherein the working fluid passing through the tubular adsorption beds and the heat exchange fluid passes between the tubular adsorption beds and the outer wall.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprise a metal organic framework with a chemical affinity for the working fluid.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprise a covalent organic framework with a chemical affinity for the working fluid.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprise a hierarchical porous carbon with a chemical affinity for the working fluid.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprise a zeolite or mesoporous silica framework with a chemical affinity for the working fluid.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprises a composite combination of two or more of a metal organic framework, a covalent organic framework, a hierarchical porous carbon, and a zeolite or mesoporous silica framework, and wherein the sorbent is in the form a core-shell, a yolk-shell, or a mixed matrix with a chemical affinity for the working fluid.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adsorbers can achieve at least 98% of a theoretical liquid density of the working fluid in pores of the sorbent while the working fluid remains in vapor phase.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system comprises a harmonic adsorption recuperative power (HARP) system.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal compression system achieves a compression ratio of at least 30:1.

22. A thermal compression power generation system, comprising:
a working fluid;
an expander driven by the working fluid;
a heat exchange fluid; and
a thermal compression system comprising four or more independent adsorbers containing a sorbent;
wherein the working fluid passes through the expander and the four or more independent adsorbers, the working fluid adsorbed and desorbed by the sorbent while remaining in vapor phase;
wherein the heat exchange fluid originates from a heat source and passes through the four or more independent adsorbers; and
wherein the four or more independent adsorbers are coupled in series and alternate between a pre-cooling phase, an adsorption phase, a pre-heating phase, and a desorption phase, in harmonic cycles.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute
• Rockwell Collins Inc
• Ethosgen Llc

Inventors

• Mcgrail B Peter
• Motkuri Radha Kishan
• Jenks Jeromy J
• Roege Paul
• Abrams William

Classifications

• F25B37/00

  Absorbers; Adsorbers (boiler-absorbers F25B35/00) · CPC title

• 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 · CPC title

• F01K13/006 Primary

  Auxiliaries or details not otherwise provided for · CPC title