Control system for supercritical working fluid turbomachinery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018038245-A1
Application number	US-201715649800-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Feb 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A turbomachinery control system for controlling supercritical working fluid turbomachinery. The control system includes a light emitter to project light through working fluid of the turbomachinery toward a primary light detector provided within a line of sight to the emitter. The system further includes one or more secondary light detectors spaced from the line of sight, and a controller determining one or both of an intensity of light detected by the primary detector relative to the detected light intensity by the secondary detector, and wavelength of light detected by the primary detector relative to wavelength of light detected by the secondary detector. The controller determines the working fluid proximity of the critical point based on one or both of the determined relative intensity and determined relative wavelength, and controlling an actuator to control turbomachinery inlet or outlet conditions in accordance with the working fluid determined proximity of the critical point.

First claim

1 . A turbomachinery control system for controlling supercritical working fluid turbomachinery, the control system comprising:
a light emitter configured to project light through working fluid of the turbomachinery toward a primary light detector provided within a line of sight to the emitter; one or more secondary light detectors spaced from the line of sight; a controller configured to determine one or both of an intensity of light detected by the primary detector relative to an intensity of light detected by the secondary detector, and a wavelength of light detected by the primary detector relative to a wavelength of light detected by the secondary detector; the controller being configured to determine a proximity of the working fluid to a critical point based on one or both of the determined relative intensity and the determined relative wavelength, and to control an actuator configured to control turbomachinery inlet or outlet conditions in accordance with the determined proximity of the working fluid to the critical point.

2 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises plurality of light sources configured to emit different wavelength light, and respective primary and secondary light detectors for each light source, the respective primary and secondary light detectors being configured to sense the wavelength emitted by the respective emitter.

3 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a plurality of spaced secondary light detectors.

4 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the emitter comprises one of a monochromatic light source such as a laser, and a focused, broad spectrum light source such as an incandescent filament.

5 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a mirror in the light path between the emitter and the primary detector.

6 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator to control one or more of the pressure and temperature of the working fluid, and the rotational speed and pressure ratio of the turbomachinery in accordance with the proximity of the working fluid to the critical point.

7 . A method for controlling supercritical working fluid turbomachinery, the method comprising:
projecting light from an emitter through working fluid of the turbomachinery toward a primary light detector provided within a direct line of sight to the emitter; providing one or more secondary light detectors spaced from the line of sight; determining one or both of: an intensity of light detected by the primary detector relative to an intensity of light detected by the secondary detector; and a wavelength of light detected by the primary detector relative to a wavelength of light detected by the secondary detector; determining a proximity of the working fluid to a critical point based on one or both of the determined relative intensity and the determined relative wavelength; and controlling turbomachinery inlet or outlet conditions in accordance with the determined proximity to the working fluid critical point.

8 . A turbomachine comprising a control system according to claim 1 .

9 . A turbomachine according to claim 8 , wherein the turbomachine comprises a closed Brayton cycle turbomachine comprising a compressor, heat exchanger and turbine arranged in flow series.

10 . A turbomachine according to claim 9 , wherein the closed Brayton cycle machine comprised a heat recovery generator of an internal combustion engine.

11 . A turbomachine according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to modulate heat input into the heat recovery generator in accordance with proximity to the working fluid critical point.

12 . A turbomachine according to claim 8 , wherein the turbomachine comprises an actuator controllable by the controller, The actuator comprising one or more of a variable inlet and a variable outlet guide vane of one or more of the compressor and the turbine.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Moxon Matthew

Classifications

• F01K25/103

  Carbon dioxide (F01K25/065 takes precedence) · 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

• F02C1/10

  Closed cycles · CPC title

• F05D2270/804

  Optical devices · CPC title

• F01K25/04 Primary

  the fluid being in different phases, e.g. foamed · CPC title