Patents by Inventor Jens-Patrick Springer

Jens-Patrick Springer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11352911
    Abstract: A device for utilizing the waste heat of a thermo-process device comprising a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from a heat flow of a thermo-process device to a heat transfer medium; a second heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat flow to a heat transfer medium, the second heat exchanger being arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger with respect to the heat flow; a thermodynamic cycle device having a third heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to a working medium of the thermodynamic cycle device and having a fourth heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to the working medium, the fourth heat exchanger being arranged upstream of the second heat exchanger with respect to the flow of the working medium; wherein heat transfer medium cooled in the third heat exchanger can be supplied at least partially to the first heat exchanger for heating and wherein heat transfer medium cooled in the fourth heat exchanger can be supplied at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Daniela Walter, Richard Aumann
  • Patent number: 11035258
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for controlling a thermodynamic cycle process apparatus, in particular an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus comprises an evaporator, an expansion machine, a condenser and a feed pump, and the expansion machine is coupled to an external apparatus in normal operation, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: measuring an exhaust steam pressure downstream of the expansion machine; and setting a volume flow of the feed pump in accordance with a computer-implemented control model of the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus according to the measured exhaust steam pressure and a target rotational speed of the expansion machine as input variables of the control model and with the volume flow of the feed pump as an output variable of the control model. The invention further refers to a corresponding thermodynamic cycle process apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Fabian Weigand
  • Publication number: 20210003039
    Abstract: A device for utilizing the waste heat of a thermo-process device comprising a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from a heat flow of a thermo-process device to a heat transfer medium; a second heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat flow to a heat transfer medium, the second heat exchanger being arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger with respect to the heat flow; a thermodynamic cycle device having a third heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to a working medium of the thermodynamic cycle device and having a fourth heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat transfer medium to the working medium, the fourth heat exchanger being arranged upstream of the second heat exchanger with respect to the flow of the working medium; wherein heat transfer medium cooled in the third heat exchanger can be supplied at least partially to the first heat exchanger for heating and wherein heat transfer medium cooled in the fourth heat exchanger can be supplied at
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Orcan Energy AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Daniela Walter, Richard Aumann
  • Publication number: 20200095897
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for controlling a thermodynamic cycle process apparatus, in particular an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus comprises an evaporator, an expansion machine, a condenser and a feed pump, and the expansion machine is coupled to an external apparatus in normal operation, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: measuring an exhaust steam pressure downstream of the expansion machine; and setting a volume flow of the feed pump in accordance with a computer-implemented control model of the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus according to the measured exhaust steam pressure and a target rotational speed of the expansion machine as input variables of the control model and with the volume flow of the feed pump as an output variable of the control model. The invention further refers to a corresponding thermodynamic cycle process apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Fabian Kricke
  • Patent number: 10570782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling ORC stacks with a total number ntot of individually operable ORC modules, said method comprising the following steps: determining the running time remaining until the next servicing time for each operable ORC module respectively; determining a target number nsoll of ORC modules to be operated; comparing said target number nsoll to an actual number nist of currently operated ORC modules; when nsoll>nist, connecting a number nsoll?nist of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the target number and the actual number, where the ORC modules with the longest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently not being operated are connected; and/or when nsoll<nist, disconnecting a number nist?nsoll of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the actual number and the target number, where the ORC modules with the shortest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently being operated are disconnected; and/or when nsoll=nist
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Orcan Energy AG
    Inventors: Markus Lintl, Jens-Patrick Springer, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 10480515
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, during pumping of a liquid, comprising the following steps: fixing a setpoint value of a flow rate of the pump; measuring an inlet pressure of the liquid upstream of the pump and an outlet pressure of the liquid downstream of the pump; determining a setpoint value of a rotational speed of the pump from a performance map of the pump, wherein the fixed setpoint value of the flow rate and a difference between the outlet pressure and the inlet pressure are incorporated into the performance map as input values; and setting the rotational speed of the pump to the setpoint value of the rotational speed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device for controlling a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Jens-Patrick Springer, Andreas Grill, Richard Aumann, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 10378392
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a thermodynamic cycle, in particular an ORC process, comprising: a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium to an evaporator by increasing the pressure; the evaporator for evaporating and optionally additionally superheating the working medium by supplying heat; an expansion machine for producing mechanical energy by expanding the evaporated working medium; and at least two condensers connected in parallel between the expansion machine and the feed pump for condensing and optionally subcooling the expanded working medium. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for operating a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Daniela Walter, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Nicolas Restrepo
  • Patent number: 10352197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a leak in a thermodynamic cycle device with a condenser for condensing vaporous working medium, comprising the following steps: determining sub-cooling of the working medium in the condenser, wherein sub-cooling is determined as a difference between a condensation temperature in the condenser and a temperature of a liquid working medium exiting the condenser; detecting a leak in the event that the sub-cooling determined differs from a setpoint value for the sub-cooling or in the event that a filling quantity of the working medium in the thermodynamic cycle device, being determined from the determined sub-cooling, differs from a setpoint value for the filling quantity. The invention further relates to a corresponding computer program product and to a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Richard Aumann, Roy Langer, Daniela Walter, Andreas Schuster
  • Patent number: 10329961
    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 setpoi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Jens-Patrick Springer, Andreas Grill
  • Patent number: 10247046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic cycle apparatus, comprising: a working medium; an evaporator for evaporating the working medium; an expansion machine; a condenser, and a pump, wherein the geometrical arrangement of the evaporator is selected such that the condensed working medium can flow from the condenser to the evaporator by force of gravity and the working medium can circulate in a closed circuit via the evaporator and the condenser wherein a predetermined head height of the liquid working medium can be provided at the pump. The invention additionally relates to a method of starting the thermodynamic cycle apparatus the method comprising the following steps: applying heat to the evaporator and evaporating the working medium in the evaporator, wherein the working medium is caused to flow to the condenser; condensing the working medium in the condenser; starting the pump when a predetermined head height of the working medium at the pump is reached or exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Asim Celik, Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Daniela Gewald, Richard Aumann
  • Patent number: 10100682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic circuit process device comprising a working medium having a lubricant additive; an expansion machine (5) for converting enthalpy in the working medium into mechanical energy; a multi-stage pressure-increasing apparatus (1) for the step-by-step pressurization of the working medium; a means (4) for branching a part of the working medium between two stages of the multi-stage pressure-increasing apparatus (1); and a means (4) for feeding the branched off part of the working medium to one or a plurality of bearing points of the expansion machine. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for lubricating an expansion machine in a thermodynamic circuit process device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Gabor Ast, Andreas Sichert, Richard Aumann, Andreas Schuster
  • Publication number: 20170328242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a thermodynamic cycle, in particular an ORC process, comprising: a feed pump for conveying liquid working medium to an evaporator by increasing the pressure; the evaporator for evaporating and optionally additionally superheating the working medium by supplying heat; an expansion machine for producing mechanical energy by expanding the evaporated working medium; and at least two condensers connected in parallel between the expansion machine and the feed pump for condensing and optionally subcooling the expanded working medium. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for operating a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Daniela Walter, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Nicolas Restrepo
  • Publication number: 20170030227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a leak in a thermodynamic cycle device with a condenser for condensing vaporous working medium, comprising the following steps: determining sub-cooling of the working medium in the condenser, wherein sub-cooling is determined as a difference between a condensation temperature in the condenser and a temperature of a liquid working medium exiting the condenser; detecting a leak in the event that the sub-cooling determined differs from a setpoint value for the sub-cooling or in the event that a filling quantity of the working medium in the thermodynamic cycle device, being determined from the determined sub-cooling, differs from a setpoint value for the filling quantity. The invention further relates to a corresponding computer program product and to a corresponding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Richard Aumann, Roy Langer, Daniela Gewald, Andreas Schuster
  • Publication number: 20170002693
    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 setpoi
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jens-Patrick SPRINGER, Andreas GRILL
  • Publication number: 20160376932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling ORC stacks with a total number ntot of individually operable ORC modules, said method comprising the following steps: determining the running time remaining until the next servicing time for each operable ORC module respectively; determining a target number nsoll of ORC modules to be operated; comparing said target number nsoll to an actual number nist of currently operated ORC modules; when nsoll>nist, connecting a number nsoll?nist of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the target number and the actual number, where the ORC modules with the longest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently not being operated are connected; and/or when nsoll<nist, disconnecting a number nist?nsoll of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the actual number and the target number, where the ORC modules with the shortest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently being operated are disconnected; and/or when nsoll=nist
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Markus LINTL, Jens-Patrick SPRINGER, Andreas SCHUSTER
  • Publication number: 20160251983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic cycle apparatus, comprising: a working medium; an evaporator for evaporating the working medium; an expansion machine for generating mechanical energy while expanding the evaporated working medium; a condenser for condensing the working medium, and a pump for pumping the condensed working medium to the condenser, wherein the geometrical arrangement of the evaporator is selected such that, prior to starting the pump, the condensed working medium can flow from the condenser to the evaporator by force of gravity and the working medium can circulate in a closed circuit via the evaporator and the condenser, whereby in particular a predetermined head height of the liquid working medium can be provided at the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas SCHUSTER, Asim CELIK, Andreas GRILL, Jens-Patrick SPRINGER, Daniela GEWALD, Richard AUMANN
  • Publication number: 20160169055
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic circuit process device comprising a working medium having a lubricant additive; an expansion machine (5) for converting enthalpy in the working medium into mechanical energy; a multi-stage pressure-increasing apparatus (1) for the step-by-step pressurisation of the working medium; a means (4) for branching a part of the working medium between two stages of the multi-stage pressure-increasing apparatus (1); and a means (4) for feeding the branched off part of the working medium to one or a plurality of bearing points of the expansion machine. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for lubricating an expansion machine in a thermodynamic circuit process device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Grill, Jens-Patrick Springer, Gabor Ast, Andreas Sichert, Richard Aumann, Andreas Schuster