Device and method for operating volumetric expansion machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11585231-B2
Application number	US-202117219803-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Dec 16, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2023
Grant date	Feb 21, 2023

Abstract

A device is provided comprising an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium; a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine and used for generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine; wherein the expansion machine and the generator form a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber between the expansion machine and the generator, and wherein, when the expansion machine is in operation, working medium expanded into the exhaust vapor chamber contacts the generator; and means for feeding, in particular injecting, a liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber. Also provided is an ORC device comprising the device and a method for operating the device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium;
a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine and used for generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine;
the expansion machine and the generator being arranged in a common housing and forming a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber arranged between the expansion machine and the generator, such that, when the expansion machine is in operation, a working medium entering said common housing flows through said expansion machine and is expanded by said expansion machine without leaving the common housing and thereafter the working medium enters into the exhaust vapor chamber and flows from said exhaust vapor chamber through and in contact with said generator without leaving said common housing, wherein a substantial portion of the working medium flows through the generator; and
at least one opening for feeding a liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber in addition to said expanded working medium for cooling said expanded working medium before contacting said generator, wherein cooling said expanded working medium in the exhaust vapor chamber occurs by evaporation enthalpy of the liquid working medium.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the structural unit comprises a housing, and wherein the at least one opening extends through the housing of the structural unit.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the shaft is configured as a hollow shaft and the at least one opening comprises one or a plurality of openings in said hollow shaft.

4. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising at least one nozzle, which is arranged at one or a plurality of the openings, the nozzle or nozzles being configured to control a flow of the liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is configured as a hollow shaft and the at least one opening comprises one or a plurality of openings in said hollow shaft.

6. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one nozzle, which is arranged at one or a plurality of the openings, the nozzle or nozzles being configured to control a flow of the liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one nozzle, which is arranged at one or a plurality of the openings, the nozzle or nozzles being configured to control a flow of the liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is in communication with a feed line for feeding liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber.

9. The device according to claim 8 , further comprising a valve, wherein the feed line is in communication with the valve for adjusting a mass flow of the fed working medium in the feed line.

10. The device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a temperature sensor for measuring a vapor temperature in the exhaust vapor chamber;
a temperature sensor in the generator for measuring a winding temperature; and
a control or regulating unit for controlling or regulating the valve or the orifice depending on at least one selected from the group consisting of the measured vapor temperature and winding temperature.

11. An ORC device, comprising:
a device comprising:
an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium;
a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine and used for generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine;
the expansion machine and the generator being arranged in a common housing and forming a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber arranged between the expansion machine and the generator, such that, when the expansion machine is in operation, a working medium entering said common housing flows through said expansion machine and is expanded by said expansion machine without leaving the common housing and thereafter the working medium enters into the exhaust vapor chamber and flows from said exhaust vapor chamber through and in contact with said generator without leaving said common, wherein a substantial portion of the working medium flows through the generator; and
at least one opening for feeding a liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber in addition to said expanded working medium for cooling said expanded working medium before contacting said generator, wherein cooling said expanded working medium in the exhaust vapor chamber occurs by evaporation enthalpy of the liquid working medium;
a feed pump for pumping liquid working medium to an evaporator;
the evaporator for evaporating the liquid working medium; and

a condenser for condensing the vaporous working medium which exits the structural unit of the device comprising the expansion machine and the generator.

12. The ORC device according to claim 11 ,
wherein a feed line for liquid working medium leading into the exhaust vapor chamber is in fluid communication with a line between the feed pump and the evaporator; or
wherein a feed line for liquid working medium leading into the exhaust vapor chamber is in fluid communication with an intermediate space of a multi-stage feed pump; or
wherein a feed line for liquid working medium leading into the exhaust vapor chamber is in fluid communication with a line between two feed pumps of an arrangement comprising a plurality of consecutive feed pumps; or
wherein an additional pump is provided for pumping the liquid working medium in a feed line.

13. The ORC device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an additional feed line for feeding a lubricating medium to one or a plurality of lubrication points of the expansion machine; and
a heat exchanger for cooling the lubricating medium with the working medium conducted to the exhaust vapor chamber.

14. A method for operating an expansion machine, comprising the following steps:
generating mechanical energy by expanding vapor of a working medium in the expansion machine;
generating electric energy from mechanical energy of the expansion machine by a generator connected to a shaft of the expansion machine;
the expansion machine and the generator being arranged in a common housing and forming a structural unit with an exhaust vapor chamber arranged between the expansion machine and the generator, such that, when the expansion machine is in operation, a working medium entering said common housing flows through said expansion machine and is expanded by said expansion machine without leaving said common housing and, thereafter, the expanded working medium enters into the exhaust vapor chamber and, thereafter, the expanded working medium flows through said generator and contacts the generator without leaving said common housing, wherein a substantial portion of the working medium flows through the generator; and
feeding liquid working medium into the exhaust vapor chamber in addition to said expanded working medium for cooling the expanded working medium before contacting said generator, wherein cooling said expanded working medium in the exhaust vapor chamber occurs by evaporation enthalpy of the liquid working medium.

15. The method according to claim 14 , comprising the further step of:
adjusting a mass flow of the fed working medium in a feed line for liquid working medium leading into the exhaust vapor chamber.

16. The method according

Assignees

• Orcan Energy Ag
• Bitzer Kuehlmaschinenbau Gmbh

Inventors

• Aumann Richard
• Grill Andreas
• Langer Roy
• Schuster Andreas

Classifications

• F01C13/00

  Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby · CPC title

• F01D15/10 Primary

  Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators · CPC title

• F01K25/10 Primary

  the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether · CPC title

• F01K13/02

  Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting · CPC title

• F25B2500/16

  Lubrication · CPC title