INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAT INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY
An installation and method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. The installation includes at least two closed containers, a converter for the conversion of flow energy into mechanical energy, a switching system as well as a supply line, a discharge line and a heat supply system. Each time, the converter is supplied with a fluid under high pressure and temperature from one container and the temperature-reduced fluid is then collected in another container. As soon as the other container is filled and the first container becomes empty, these containers are exchanged or replaced by other containers.
The present invention relates to an installation, as well as a method, for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy.
Installations and methods which convert heat into mechanical energy are known in the present art. Such installations and methods are often used for generating electricity (whereby a generator is connected which converts the mechanical energy into electricity) in order to use thermal energy that would otherwise remain unused. Such thermal energy is often present in cooling water and waste gases. Such thermal energy is also present in ground-water. The use of solar radiation is also known. It is also known that stone, asphalt and other such materials have the properties to retain heat under the effects of solar radiation and solar heat. Likewise, it is also known that this solar heat can be extracted from stone and asphalt, for example, by providing them with water-containing pipes that pass through them.
Although installations and methods for converting heat into mechanical energy generally use available heat, most often residual heat, the efficiency of such conversion processes still remains significant. Because the effective yield from the conversion of heat into mechanical energy or electricity leaves a lot to be desired, it is not often used in practice, although processes for this purpose are known. It clearly remains practical, especially in the use of available (residual heat) for the purpose of heating processes or buildings.
When heat is converted to mechanical energy, this generally requires a transfer medium. This transfer medium can be a fluid which is circulated in a circuit by means of pumps. The liquid is then heated to a higher energy level with a higher pressure and temperature by means of available heat, lead through a converter in which the energy level drops, in particular the temperature and pressure, and then returned via a pump or compressor. This process is not efficient since the pump or compressor requires just as much or more energy to operate than the mechanical energy that is generated in the converter.
The object of the present invention is to provide an installation and method for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy, using a transfer medium in the form of a fluid, with which such a process can be efficiently achieved.
As regards the installation, this object according to the invention can be achieved by providing an installation for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy, whereby the installation comprises:
at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;
a converter for the conversion of flow energy into mechanical energy;
a switching system;
a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
a heat supply system;
whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching system;
whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is connected to the converter for supplying the fluid to the converter;
whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the converter;
whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the switching system for supplying the fluid to the switching system;
whereby the heat supply system is made connectable to each of the containers via the switching system for heating the fluid in said containers;
whereby each container is made connectable via the switching system to the supply line for the supply of fluid to the converter and to the discharge line for receiving the fluid discharged from the converter;
whereby the switching system is switchable between at least two switching positions; whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when switching from one switching position to another, it repeatedly connects other containers than those in the previous switching position to the supply line and/or discharge line;
whereby, on the one hand, the switching system is further arranged in order to connect in each switching position at least one of the containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said container and, on the other hand to the supply line for the supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time, another of those containers is disengaged from the heat supply system and connected to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from the converter.
The process that takes place in the installation is briefly as follows: at the high pressure side of the process there is a closed container filled with fluid. By heating this fluid in the closed container by means of available (residual) heat, the temperature and the pressure in that container increase. Here, a portion of the fluid in the container evaporates. The pressure and temperature in the container increase. This pressure will force fluid, in particular liquid-state fluid, from the container to the converter via a supply line. A fluid then arrives at the converter with a relatively high level of flow energy, with a relatively high temperature and pressure. This flow energy is then converted in the converter to mechanical energy, whereby the level of the flow energy (temperature and/or pressure) present in the fluid will drop. The fluid with the low energy level originating from the converter is then collected at the low pressure side in another container. When the container at the high pressure side is empty, at least when the fluid contained therein drops to below the lower threshold, and/or when the container on the low pressure side is full, at least when the liquid level of the fluid contained therein exceeds an upper threshold, the container at the high pressure side or the container at the low pressure side can be exchanged, either by a full or an empty container respectively. When the process is applied with the use of two containers, this then means the immediate exchange of the containers at the low and the high pressure side.
The installation according to the invention is based on the principle that in the previously described circuit the pump or compressor used for pumping back the fluid from the low pressure side to the high pressure side is omitted and substituted by two or more closed containers which can be mutually interchanged in order to supply fluid at the high pressure side to the converter, or to collect fluid originating from the converter at the low pressure side. When a container at the high pressure side is empty, this can then be exchanged with a filled container at the low pressure side. This therefore changes the continual circuit process, in which a pump or compressor is used, into an interrupted circuit process. Compared with a pump or a compressor, the exchange of the containers requires very little or no energy. The containers do not need to be physically moved, but can be connected at specific desired times by means of a switching system to the high pressure side or to the low pressure side of the process.
According to the invention it is beneficial, when increasing the energy level of the fluid supplied to the converter, if the supply line is provided with an evaporator for evaporating liquid-state fluid which is transported up and down the line to a gaseous or vapour-like fluid. According to a further advantageous embodiment, this evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger connected to the heat supply system. In this manner therefore, evaporation can be achieved using the same available heat source as that with which the container at the high pressure side is heated.
According to a further embodiment, it is advantageous if the discharge line is provided with a cooler for cooling the fluid flowing through the discharge line. In this manner, the saturated gaseous particles of the fluid are easily evaporated. The process can be controlled more effectively with the use of such a cooler. A further advantage of the invention is when the cooler is a heat-exchanger and when the cooler is arranged to supply the heat-exchanger with a cooling medium, the temperature of which is determined by the ambient temperature. The ambient temperature can be the temperature of the air, surface water, seawater, a rock formation, the ground etc. Therefore, in this way, the ambient temperature is used to cool. The ambient temperature is essentially a freely available medium which enables one to use essentially freely available cooling energy.
According to an alternative embodiment, each container can act cooperatively with a heater positioned in a space isolated in respect of, or at least for a substantial part of the internal volume of the respective container, from which heaters each respective container is connected to the switching system. By definition, each isolated space contains a relatively small amount of fluid, only a relatively small amount of which is required for the purpose of heating. This is beneficial in that a considerable expansion of gaseous fluid can be obtained with only a relatively small amount of energy. In this way, a liquid or gas can be supplied in an efficient manner to the converter.
In conjunction herewith, each heater can be positioned externally to the container and be connected to the container by means of connecting lines; however, it is also possible to isolate said space within the interior of the container in relation to the remaining space therein.
Furthermore, each container can act cooperatively with a cooler, which is preferably present within the container. This cooler can be in continual operation, whereby said cooler can cool the gaseous phase directly, as soon as the fluid level in the container is so low that the cooler is disengaged. In this way a rapid cooling of the gaseous phase is achieved, which is beneficial to a short cycle period. Subsequently, the respective cooler can then be quickly re-filled with liquid from another container as a result of the low pressure thus achieved.
The invention relates further to an installation for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy, whereby the installation comprises:
at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;
a converter for the converting flow energy into mechanical energy;
a switching system;
a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
a heat supply system;
whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching system;
whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is connected to the converter for supplying the converter with the fluid;
whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the converter;
whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the switching system for supplying the switching system with the fluid;
whereby each container acts cooperatively with a heater;
whereby the heat supply system is made connectable via the switching system with each of the heaters for heating the fluid in said containers;
whereby each container is made connectable through the switching system, with the supply line for the supply of fluid to the converter and with the discharge line for the receipt of the fluid discharged from the converter;
whereby the switching system is switchable between at least two switching positions;
whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when switching from one position to another, it repeatedly connects other containers than those in the previous switching position to the supply line and/or discharge line;
whereby, on the one hand, the switching system is further arranged in order to connect, in each switching position, the heater of at least one of the containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said container and, on the other hand, to connect that container to the supply line for the supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time, another of those heaters is disengaged from the heat supply system and the other of those containers is connected to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from the converter.
This installation may be provided with a heat discharge system;
whereby each container acts cooperatively with a cooler;
whereby the heat discharge system is connected to each of the coolers of the containers for cooling the fluid in said containers.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the converter comprises a turbine, in particular a liquid turbine. Gaseous and/or liquid flows with high efficiencies can be converted into mechanical energy by the use of a turbine.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the converter comprises a flywheel. This enables the converter to compensate for any interruptions or irregularities in the supply of fluid.
According to a further aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising an installation according to the invention, including an electricity generator, whereby the generator is coupled to the converter for generating electricity from the mechanical energy generated from the converter.
According to a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of an installation according to the invention for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy.
According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to the use of an assembly according to the invention for the conversion of thermal energy into electricity.
As regards the method, the object of the invention, according to yet another aspect of the invention, is achieved by applying a method for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy, whereby the method is applied with the use of at least two containers,
whereby the method comprises the following steps:
a) the heating of a liquid-containing fluid present in a first said container, by means of a medium with a high temperature, in such a manner that a portion of the liquid is converted to a gaseous phase and the pressure in the container increases;
b) the use of the increase in pressure in the first container in order to transfer the fluid, particularly a liquid-phase fluid, from the first container to a converter;
c) the conversion in the converter of flow energy, present in the fluid supplied to the converter, into mechanical energy;
d) the extraction of the energy-reduced fluid to a second said container;
e) the collection in the second container of all the fluid extracted from the converter;
f) the exchange of this first container with another container with a higher liquid level when the liquid level of the first container drops below a certain predetermined lower threshold;
g] the exchange of the container in use by another container with a lower filling level when the liquid level of the second container has exceeded a predetermined upper threshold;
whereby a container made available in step g] is used in step f];
whereby a container made available in step f] is used in step g].
Further advantageous embodiments of this method are described in the claims 17-21. With regard to the further description of the method according to the invention, as well as advantageous embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the aforementioned, as well as to the description of the figures given hereinafter.
The fluid used in the installation and by the method according to the invention can essentially be any fluid which is evaporable from its liquid state. The liquid may be water, for example. In particular, the fluid will be a fluid typically applied in cooling systems, such as R407C, R134a, Freon and Freon-substitues etc.
The installation and assembly according to the invention are highly suited to being constructed as containers in a modular fashion. Here, conceivable containers would be, for example, freight containers and sea containers, such as those used in road transport, sea transport or for other means of transport over water.
When the installation according to the invention is applied with the use of high pressure steam—i.e. steam with a pressure exceeding 70 bar, for example, higher than 130 bar (for example with a pressure of 180 bar and a temperature of 540° C.)-considerably higher efficiency rates are achievable than in conventional high-pressure steam systems.
The present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
The switching system 8 here is shown schematically as a block that can be caused to move between two positions in accordance with the twin arrow 84, in which a multiple of connecting channels 85 are positioned, illustrated in inclined positions, which, depending on the position of the switching system 8 connect the lines 20, 30, 40 and 50, lying on the upper surface of the block, either with the lines 21, 31, 41, and 51 respectively, or with the lines 22, 32, 42 and 52 respectively.
Line 20 is indicated together with the supply line and connects the switching system 8 with the inlet 13 of the converter 2. This supply line 20 can optionally comprise an evaporator 6 in order to evaporate the liquid-state fluid flowing through the line 20.
Line 30 is indicated as discharge line and connects the outlet 14 of the converter 2 with the switching system 8. This discharge line 30 may optionally comprise a cooler 4 for cooling the fluid flowing through the discharge line 30.
When a fluid is supplied via the evaporator 6 through line 20 to the converter 2 (in this example a turbine) under relatively high pressure, for example 15 to 20 bar, a turbine wheel in the turbine is caused to rotate which drives an axle 16 with which electricity can be generated by a generator 3, the electricity thus generated being indicated by arrow 100. The energy-reduced fluid in the converter 2 will enter the discharge line 30 via the outlet 14 and, if necessary, can thereby be cooled by means of the cooler 4. Subsequently, in order to enable the fluid to circulate in a continual process, the discharge line 30 and the supply line 20 would need to be jointly connected via a pump or compressor. In such cases, the pump of compressor requires such a high level of power that the electricity 100 thus generated is obtained in an extremely inefficient manner. The present invention eliminates this problem by means of connecting the circuit between the discharge line 30 and the supply line 20 in a different manner.
The present invention uses at least 2 closed containers 9 and 11, the example according to
The heat required for heating the fluid in container 9 (in the position indicated in
By means of the embodiment according to
In the alternative embodiment in
Additionally, a heat pump 110 is provided, which is supplied via the line 111 with a portion of the electrical energy generated by generator 3. The heat pump enables the reclamation of heat which would otherwise be discharged from the installation and be lost. The heat pump 110 absorbs heat from the heat-exchanger 5 via line 109, and transfers the heat thus absorbed to the line 38. Cooling is then supplied to the heat-exchanger via line 108.
Furthermore, the heat-exchangers 10, 12 or coolers may cool the container after the liquid has been forced out, as described hereinbefore, in order to obtain a low pressure in the interior of said container. To this end, in the exemplary embodiment of
External heat can be supplied via the heat-exchanger to the installation via the lines 38′ and 48′. Also, even if the heat-exchanger is not in operation, external heat can be supplied to the installation via lines 38″ and 48″; in connection with the exchange of operations with or without a exchanger, appropriate switching means (not shown) can be provided for using the respective lines 38′ and 48′ or 38″ and 48″.
Although in the previous description the coolers 102 are cooled by the operation of the heat pump, this is not a requirement. Cooling by a different means may also ensure the desired cooling effect, such as cooling by means of a cold ambient environment.
Claims
1-22. (canceled)
23. Installation for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy, whereby the installation comprises:
- at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;
- a converter for converting flow energy into mechanical energy;
- a switching system;
- a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
- a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
- a heat supply system;
- whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching system;
- whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is connected to the converter for supplying the converter with the fluid;
- whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the converter;
- whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the switching system for supplying the switching system with the fluid;
- whereby the heat supply system is made connectable via the switching system with each of the containers for heating the fluid in said containers;
- whereby each container is made connectable via the switching system with the supply line for the supply of fluid to the converter and with the discharge line for the receipt of the fluid discharged from the converter;
- whereby the switching system is switchable between at least two switching positions;
- whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when switching from one switching position to another, it repeatedly connects other containers than those in the previous switching position to the supply line or discharge line;
- whereby, on the one hand, the switching system is further arranged in order to connect, in each switching position, at least one of the containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said container and, on the other hand, the supply line for the supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time, another of those containers is disengaged from the heat supply system and connected to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from the converter,
- whereby each container (9, 11) acts cooperatively with a heater (102) which is present in a space (103) which is isolated in relation to at least the most substantial part of the internal volume of the respective container, through which said heaters (102) each respective container (9, 11) is connected with the switching system.
24. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the supply line is provided with an evaporator for evaporating the liquid-state fluid;
25. Installation according to claim 24, whereby the evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger which is connected to the heat supply system.
26. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the discharge line is provided with a cooler for cooling the fluid flowing through the discharge line.
27. Installation according to claim 26, whereby the cooler is arranged in order to supply the heat-exchanger with the cooling medium, the temperature of which is determined by the ambient temperature.
28. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the converter comprises a turbine, in particular a liquid turbine.
29. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the converter comprises a flywheel.
30. Installation according claim 23, whereby each heater (102) is positioned exterior to the container (9, 11) and is connected to the container via connection lines (104, 105).
31. Installation according to claim 23, whereby each container (9, 11) acts cooperatively with a cooler (11, 12).
32. Installation according to claim 23, whereby a heat pump is provided which is connected to the heat supply system and the discharge line for extracting heat from the discharge line and for the supply of the heat extracted from the discharge line to the heat supply system.
33. Assembly comprising an installation according to claim 23, including an electricity generator, whereby the generator is coupled to the converter for generating electricity from the mechanical energy generated from the converter.
34. Method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy,
- whereby the method is performed with the use of at least two containers,
- whereby the method comprises the following steps:
- a) heating a liquid-containing fluid present in a first mentioned container, by means of a medium with a high temperature, in such a manner that a portion of the liquid is converted to a gaseous phase and the pressure in the container increases;
- b) increasing the pressure in the first container in order to transfer the liquid-phase fluid, such as a liquid-state fluid, from the first container to a converter;
- c) converting flow energy in the converter, present in the fluid supplied to the converter, into mechanical energy;
- d) discharging the energy-reduced fluid to a second said container;
- e) collecting in the second container all the fluid discharged from the converter;
- f) exchanging the first container with another container with a higher liquid level when the liquid level of the first container drops below a certain minimum level;
- g) exchanging the container in use with another container with a lower filling level when the liquid level of the second container has exceeded a predetermined upper threshold;
- whereby a container made available in a step g) is used in step f);
- whereby a container made available in a step f) is used in step g)
- whereby in step a) a portion of the liquid in the container is separated from the rest of the liquid, the separated portion is heated and whereby the gaseous phase thus obtained from the separated portion is transported back to the container.
35. Method according to claim 34, whereby steps f) and g) take place simultaneously.
36. Method according to claim 35, whereby the method is performed with the use of two containers which, when steps f) and g) are executed, are both mutually exchanged.
37. Method according to claim 34, whereby the fluid is evaporated during step b).
38. Method according to claim 34, whereby the fluid is cooled during step d).
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 21, 2010
Applicant: TIPSPIT INVENSTORS B.V. (Vlaardingen)
Inventors: Hans Van Rij (Vlaardingen), Rob Jansen (Hoogvliet)
Application Number: 12/739,231
International Classification: F01K 25/02 (20060101); F01K 27/00 (20060101);