Nozzle module for an energy converter

Abstract

A nozzle module for an energy converter, in particular for a power plant, including a first nozzle for the introduction of a motive fluid into a mixing chamber and an introduction opening for the introduction of a suction fluid into the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having a geometry for merging the motive fluid and the suction fluid in the mixing chamber in a flow-intensifying manner. To specify a nozzle module which effects an increase in efficiency of the power plant, a vapor pressure of the motive fluid upstream of the first nozzle is lower than a vapor pressure of the suction fluid upstream of the introduction opening, and a gas pressure in the mixing chamber in a region downstream of the first nozzle is lower than a gas pressure in the mixing chamber in a region downstream of the introduction opening.

Claims

1. A nozzle module (1) for an energy converter, comprising a first nozzle (2) for the introduction of a motive fluid into a mixing chamber (3) and comprising an introduction opening (4) for the introduction of a suction fluid into the mixing chamber (3), the mixing chamber (3) having a geometry for merging the motive fluid and the suction fluid in the mixing chamber (3) in a flow-intensifying manner, wherein a vapor pressure of the motive fluid upstream of the first nozzle (2) is lower than a vapor pressure of the suction fluid upstream of the introduction opening (4), and a gas pressure in the mixing chamber (3) in a region (6) downstream of the first nozzle (2) is lower than a gas pressure in the mixing chamber (3) in a region (7) downstream of the introduction opening (4), wherein the motive fluid is water and the suction fluid is water, wherein the nozzle module (1) comprises a reservoir (8) adapted for storing the suction fluid, wherein the mixing chamber (3) is connected to the reservoir (8) by way of a gap opening (9) of adjustable form, the introduction opening (4) being formed by the gap opening (9).

2. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber (3) is in the form of a receiving nozzle (5) for the joint discharge of the motive fluid and of the suction fluid to a turbine (17).

3. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the introduction opening (4) is in the form of a second nozzle, the second nozzle being designed to evaporate the suction fluid during the introduction into the mixing chamber (3).

4. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber (3) is designed to condense the suction fluid during the merging with the motive fluid.

5. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reservoir (8) is connected to the introduction opening (4) and positioned upstream of the introduction opening (4).

6. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap opening (9) is delimited at one side by an inner wall (10) of the mixing chamber (3) and at the other side by a circumferential surface (11) of a plug (13) which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the mixing chamber (3) counter to an elastic restoring element (12).

7. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spacing of the first nozzle (2) to a discharge opening (14) of the mixing chamber (3) is smaller than a spacing of the introduction opening (4) to the discharge opening (14) of the mixing chamber (3).

8. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, a temperature of the motive fluid upstream of the first nozzle (2) being lower than a temperature of the suction fluid upstream of the introduction opening (4).

9. The nozzle module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an osmotic concentration of the motive fluid is higher than an osmotic concentration of the suction fluid.

Description

(1) In detail, in the figures of the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a nozzle module according to a first embodiment of the invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a nozzle module according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a nozzle module 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The nozzle module 1 is provided for use in a power plant and comprises a first nozzle 2 for the introduction of a motive fluid into a mixing chamber 3 and comprises an introduction opening 4, in the form of a second nozzle, for the introduction of a suction fluid into the mixing chamber 3. The motive fluid is preferably cold water. The suction fluid is preferably hot water. The mixing chamber 3 is in the form of a receiving nozzle 5 for merging the motive fluid and the suction fluid in a flow-intensifying manner and for jointly discharging these to a turbine. For this purpose, the receiving nozzle 5 has a convergent part in which the first nozzle 2 and the second nozzle are arranged.

(5) Downstream of a discharge opening 14 of the mixing chamber 3 in the form of a receiving nozzle 5, the receiving nozzle 5 has a divergent part, which forms a diffuser and which serves for the discharge of the motive fluid and of the suction fluid to the turbine. It is essential to the invention that a vapor pressure of the motive fluid upstream of the first nozzle 2 is lower than a vapor pressure of the suction fluid upstream of the second nozzle, and a gas pressure in the mixing chamber 3 in a region 6 downstream of the first nozzle 2 is lower than a gas pressure in the mixing chamber 3 in a region 7 downstream of the second nozzle. The suction fluid evaporates during the introduction into the mixing chamber 3 through the second nozzle. During the merging with the motive fluid, the suction fluid condenses in the motive fluid in the receiving nozzle 5. The nozzle module 1 has a reservoir 8 which is connected to the introduction opening 4 in the form of second nozzle and which is positioned upstream of the introduction opening 4 and which serves for storing the suction fluid. In the first embodiment, the mixing chamber 3 is arranged outside the reservoir 8. The mixing chamber 3 is connected to the reservoir 8 by way of a gap opening 9 which is of adjustable form and which is in the form of a ring-shaped gap, the second nozzle being formed by the ring-shaped gap. The ring-shaped gap is delimited at one side by an inner wall 10 of the mixing chamber 3 and at the other side by a circumferential surface 11 of a plug 13 which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the mixing chamber 3 counter to an elastic restoring element 12. The elastic restoring element 12 is in the form of a helical spring which can be subjected to tensile load. A spacing of the first nozzle 2 to a discharge opening 14 of the mixing chamber 3 in the form of receiving nozzle 5 is smaller than a spacing of the introduction opening 4 in the form of second nozzle to the discharge opening 14 of the mixing chamber 3 in the form of receiving nozzle 5. Thus, the evaporated suction fluid, on its acceleration path in the direction of the receiving nozzle 5, impinges on the motive fluid, in which said suction fluid condenses and into which said suction fluid introduces its energy. The receiving nozzle 5 or mixing chamber 3 is of radially symmetrical form with respect to a longitudinal axis running in the flow direction of the motive fluid, and has a conical region at the level of the plug 13. A width of the ring-shaped gap is adjustable by way of an axial position, in relation to the longitudinal axis, of the plug 13 relative to the receiving nozzle 5. The receiving nozzle 5 has a smaller radius in its convergent part in the region 6 downstream of the first nozzle 2 than in the region 7 downstream of the second nozzle. A pipe piece arranged in the mixing chamber 3 for the purposes of introducing the motive fluid into the first nozzle 2 is of cylindrical form. A pipe piece arranged in the reservoir 8 for the purposes of introducing the motive fluid into the first nozzle 2 has a corrugated bellows in order to provide axial displaceability, in relation to the longitudinal axis, of the plug 13.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a nozzle module 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The nozzle module 1 is of similar construction to the nozzle module 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, and likewise has a reservoir 8 which is connected to the introduction opening 4 in the form of second nozzle and which is positioned upstream of the introduction opening 4 in the form of second nozzle and which serves for storing the suction fluid. The mixing chamber 3 is in the form of a receiving nozzle 5 for jointly discharging the motive fluid and the suction fluid to a turbine 17. However, in the second embodiment, the mixing chamber 3 is arranged within the reservoir 8. The reservoir 8 is closed off with respect to the surroundings. The reservoir 8 and the mixing chamber 3 arranged therein are generally designed such that an exchange of thermal energy can take place between the reservoir 8 and the mixing chamber 3.

(7) Furthermore, the reservoir 8 comprises a feed line, which has a pressure exchanger 15, and a discharge line, which has a negative-pressure pump 16, for the feed and discharge of the suction fluid respectively, wherein the negative-pressure pump 16 is operatively connected to the pressure exchanger 15. The negative-pressure pump 16 generates, in the reservoir 8, a negative pressure which draws the suction fluid into the reservoir 8 through the feed line. The temperature of the suction fluid is measured by way of a temperature sensor 18 fastened to the reservoir 8, wherein the measured temperature is taken into consideration in the control of the negative-pressure pump 16.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

(8) 1 Nozzle module 2 First nozzle 3 Mixing chamber 4 Introduction opening 5 Receiving nozzle 6 Region 7 Region 8 Reservoir 9 Gap opening 10 Inner wall 11 Circumferential surface 12 Restoring element 13 Plug 14 Discharge opening 15 Pressure exchanger 16 Negative-pressure pump 17 Turbine 18 Temperature sensor