Abstract
The invention relates to a device for condensation of vapour expanded in an expansion machine of a thermal power plant to a condensed liquid, in particular containing oil, comprising: a module for condensation, wherein for condensation the module comprises an inlet and one or more pipelines, for example having substantially horizontally disposed pipes; a liquid separator for separating the condensed liquid; and a liquid collector for collecting the separated, condensed liquid.
Claims
1. Device for the condensation of vapor expanded in an expansion machine of a thermal power plant to a condensed, in particular oil-containing liquid, comprising: a module for condensation, wherein the module for condensation comprises an inlet as well as one or more pipelines, for example having substantially horizontally arranged pipes; a liquid separator for separating the condensed liquid; and a liquid collector for collecting the separated, condensed liquid.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator is provided upstream of or at the inlet and/or downstream of the first pipeline; wherein the liquid collector comprises a branch pipe configured to divert at least one portion of the separated, condensed liquid out of the device.
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid separator comprises a siphon which is arranged between the branch pipe and the liquid collector.
4. Device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid separator comprises a condensate drain having a conduit and a float, which is arranged between the branch pipe and the liquid collector.
5. Device according to claim 1 further comprising a cooling device configured to cool the separated, condensed liquid before same is transferred into the liquid collector.
6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid collector is a feed container, or wherein the one or more pipelines are additionally configured as liquid collectors.
7. Device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid separator is a first liquid separator; comprising at least one further pipeline and at least one further liquid separator corresponding to the first liquid separator, wherein the further liquid separator is arranged downstream of the at least one further pipeline, and is configured to divert at least one further portion of the separated, condensed liquid out of the device.
8. Device according to claim 1, comprising at least one further module for condensation which corresponds to the module according to claim 1; and further comprising a collecting conduit, which is arranged upstream of the liquid separator, and which is configured to combine the expanded vapor after the passage thereof through the one or more pipelines and transfer it further to the further module for condensation.
9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the collecting conduit has one single, central connection to a conduit for transferring the expanded vapor further, or several separate conduits for transferring the expanded vapor further.
10. Device according to claim 8, wherein the collecting conduit comprises a falling gradient towards the liquid separator.
11. Thermal power plant comprising a device for condensation according to claim 1.
12. Method for the condensation of vapor expanded in an expansion machine of a thermal power plant to a condensed, in particular oil-containing liquid, comprising a module for condensation, wherein the module for condensation comprises one or more pipelines, for example having substantially horizontally arranged pipes; and a liquid separator, comprising the steps of: distributing a vapor volume flow to the one or more pipelines; separating at least one portion of the condensed, in particular oil-containing liquid upstream and/or downstream of the first pipeline; discharging the separated, condensed liquid; collecting the separated, condensed liquid.
13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of cooling the separated, condensed liquid before same is collected.
14. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of separating at least one further portion of the condensed, in particular oil-containing liquid downstream of at least one further pipeline.
15. Method according to claim 12, comprising at least one further module for condensation, which corresponds to the module according to claim 12, comprising the steps of: combining the expanded vapor after having passed through the one or more pipeline(s); and transferring the combined, expanded vapor further to the further module for condensation.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0045] FIG. 1 represents a schematic diagram of a conventional thermal power plant.
[0046] FIG. 2 represents a schematic diagram for a division of a vapor volume flow in a conventional condenser of a thermal power plant.
[0047] FIG. 3 schematically shows the separation of condensed liquid in a device for condensation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 4 schematically shows the separation of condensed liquid in a device for condensation according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a detailed representation of the separation of condensed liquid according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a further development of the device for condensation shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.
[0051] FIG. 7 shows a further development of the device for condensation which is based on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.
[0052] FIG. 8 schematically shows the division of a vapor volume flow at the inlet of a module of a device according to the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 9 schematically shows another embodiment of the division of a vapor volume flow at the inlet of a module of a device according to the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 10 schematically shows a branch element as may be used in FIGS. 8 and 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] FIG. 1 shows pure schematically a conventional thermal power plant. This plant may be a Clausius Rankine plant or an Organic Rankine plant. The plant may, in principle, be operated with a direct evaporation, or with an intermediate cycle (not shown). FIG. 1 shows an evaporator 1 which may be, for example, a heat exchanger or heat transfer element. Heat from a heat source (not shown) may be supplied to the evaporator 1, for example, by a fluid, such as a flue gas. The supply of heat is exemplarily shown by the arrow 1A. In the evaporator 1 the heat from the fluid is transferred to a working medium working fluid. The working medium is supplied, for example, by a feed pump 2 to the evaporator 1. In the evaporator 1 the working medium is, for example, completely evaporated. It can also be evaporated by means of flash evaporation downstream of the heat transfer element. The working medium, which is now practically completely evaporated, is supplied by a suitable pressure line to an expansion machine 3. In the expansion machine 3 the pressurized vapor of the working medium may be expanded. By the expansion a generator 4 can be driven in a suitable manner.
[0056] The expansion machine 3 may be a displacement machine, e.g. a piston engine. Downstream of the expansion machine 3 the expanded working medium is transferred further to a condenser 5. In the condenser 5 the working medium is condensed. Heat of condensation thus produced may be dissipated by another heat transfer medium, which is designated with reference number 5A, or directly to a cooling medium, e.g. air. The heat transfer medium 5A may also be a cooling element. The working medium now liquified is transferred to the feed pump 2, and from there back to the evaporator 1. It will be appreciated that additional pumps may be employed in the system, which are not shown.
[0057] FIG. 2 shows pure schematically a conventional interconnection of vapor inlets and pipelines used in air conditioning technology. A vapor flow is shown in the left half of FIG. 2, or vapor 10 is shown at an inlet of a condenser. An inlet conduit is designated with reference number 11. Reference number 12 designates a pipeline. The pipeline 12 consists of an upper pipe 12A and a lower pipe 12B. The two pipes 12A and 12B are connected by a pipe bend 15. In the example, the pipe bend 15 is configured as a “180° pipe bend”. This means that the pipe bend 15 deflects the vapor flow by 180°. Several pipelines 12 are shown, before the vapor is directed to another module of the condenser or, upon the completed condensation, to a collecting conduit (not shown), as is indicated by reference number 14.
[0058] The right half of FIG. 2 depicts another possible interconnection of vapor inlets. The figure shows several distributions by several pipes 16 which transfer the vapor flow further to another module of the condenser or, if the condensation is already completed, to a collecting conduit (not shown). The pipes 16 may also be regarded as pipelines, however, without pipe bends.
[0059] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Like elements, which were already introduced in FIGS. 1 and 2, are designated with like reference numbers.
[0060] In FIG. 3 a vapor flow 10, e.g. a vaporous working medium that was expanded in an expansion machine of a thermal power plant, is transferred into a device for condensation. The expansion machine may, in particular, be a displacement machine. In particular, the vaporous working medium 10, the vapor, may contain an oil portion, which may be present, for example, in the form of an oil-vapor spray.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows by way of an example a pipeline 12 having an upper pipe 12A and a lower pipe 12B. The two pipes 12A and 12B are connected by a pipe bend 15. Downstream of the pipe bend 15 a branch element 17 is provided. The branch element 17 may be a branch pipe, it is substantially possible to divert condensed liquid in the branch element 17 already downstream of the first pipeline 12, or already downstream of the first part of the first pipeline 12A. Vaporous working medium not diverted at the branch element 17 is transferred through conduit 12B to a feed container 23 and is condensed on its way to the feed container 23. A stock of liquid 23F is provided in the feed container 23. It will be appreciated that this liquid 23F, again, is a mixture of the oil-containing liquid and the actual working medium of the thermal power plant. The advantage of the diverting by means of the branch element 17 is that condensed liquid can be separated at an early stage. The liquid separated first may contain a high ratio of oil-containing liquid.
[0062] It will be appreciated that the limitation to substantially only one illustrated pipeline 12 is based on purely schematic reasons and merely serves to explain the principle. It is also possible to provide additional pipelines that substantially correspond to the pipeline 12.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows a siphon 19 downstream of the branch element 17. Owing to the height difference of the liquid column substantially only liquid stands in tine siphon 19 up to an upper maximum pressure, and no vapor, This is outlined in more detail in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 shows a further development of the device for condensation corresponding to the present invention. Again, the illustration is a mere example and to be understood schematically. Similar to FIG. 3, the limitation to only one pipeline 12, including elements 12A and 12B and a pipe bend 15, only serves to explain the principle. It is possible, of course, to provide additional pipelines 12 in the device. Like FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows a branch element 17. The branch element 17 is configured, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, to divert condensed liquid, i.e. condensate, out of the pipeline 12. Vaporous working medium not diverted at the branch element 17 is transferred further through the conduit/pipe 12B of the pipeline 12 to the feed container 23. Again, a liquid level 23F is shown in the feed container 23.
[0064] FIG. 4 shows a condensate draining element/a condensate drain 21 instead of the siphon 19 as used in FIG. 3. The condensate drain 21 can include, for example, a float element/float (not shown). The float may be lifted in the presence of condensate in the condensate drain, e.g. by the condensate itself, allowing the condensate to be drained. The different specific weight of liquid and vapor is used, for example, to separate the liquid from the vapor. In principle, also condensate drains may be used that are based on the Bernoulli principle, that is, on the different dynamic response with regard to alterations of the flow speed of compressible and incompressible fluids. The use of condensate drains based on the Venturi effect, too, is conceivable.
[0065] FIG. 5 shows a detailed representation of the embodiment already described in connection with FIG. 3. The siphon 19 receives liquid diverted, separated from the device, e.g. a pipeline 12. The U-pipe-shaped siphon 19 is filled with liquid up to a height hF. The siphon 19 is substantially formed of two U-pipe-shaped halves connected to one another. The right half is designated with reference number 19R. The left half is designated with reference number 19L.
[0066] The two halves of the siphon 19 are arranged substantially vertically. The left half 19L extends up to a height H, where another pipe 19K is bent off substantially horizontally. The pipe 19K passes the liquid 19F from the siphon 19 into the feed container 23. The liquid level 23F in the feed container 23 is as high as height H. A pressure difference Δp at the siphon 19, i.e. on, respectively in, the right half 19R of the siphon 19, is calculated from the product of the density p of the liquid, the gravitational acceleration g and the height difference h of the liquid columns. At normal pressure differences, for example, height differences of some 10 cm to approximately 1 m ensue. However, greater or smaller height differences may be possible, too. Above height h.sub.F, i.e. in the region of height h, the right half 19R of the siphon 19 contains substantially only vapor, while substantially only liquid is contained below the height h.sub.F.
[0067] FIG. 6 shows another further development of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5. Like elements are provided with like reference numbers. Downstream of the branch element 17 another pipeline 18 is shown in FIG. 6, before the liquid diverted at the branch element 17 is transferred to the siphon 19. The further pipeline 18 is substantially flown through by diverted liquid. In addition, a cooling device for cooling the liquid may be used in this area. In FIG. 6 a cooling flow, e.g. an airflow, is shown by arrows 18F. Due to the heat of condensation ensuing in the device for condensation the device is frequently provided with a cooler. Also, a heat exchanger may be used so as to heat up another liquid/another fluid by means of the heat from the device for condensation. The separated, diverted liquid may be dealt with analogously. Also, it is possible (not shown) to integrate the pipeline downstream of the branch element 17 in a heat transfer packet of the device (not shown), i.e. for example the above-mentioned heat exchanger. Thus, it is possible, on the one hand, to control the temperature of the diverted liquid and, in particular, reduce it. On the other hand, this heat, instead of dissipating it to the environment, may be utilized for the heat transfer to other fluids.
[0068] FIG. 7 shows another further development of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5 or 6. FIG. 7, again, shows a device similar to the device of FIG. 5. In particular, the device in FIG. 7 comprises, again, a branch element 17 and a siphon 19. However, the liquid contained in the siphon 19 is now not transferred into a feed container, but into another pipeline 32. The reflections regarding the pressure differences as discussed in connection with FIG. 5 apply analogously.
[0069] The further pipeline 32 is connected to pipeline 12 by another pipe bend 15. Again, it will be appreciated that two pipelines 12 and 32 have merely been chosen by way of example for illustration purposes, and that it is also possible to use a greater number of pipelines. The pipeline 32 is formed of pipes 32A and 32B and a pipe bend 35. At the orifice 37 the siphon 19, that is, the left half 19L of the siphon, opens into the pipe 32B at the end of the pipe bend 35. The pipeline 32 is substantially filled with liquid, i.e. the pipeline 32 being a part of the device for condensation serves as a liquid collector. A liquid stock 32F is stored in the pipeline 32. The liquid may be transported further from pipeline 32 through another pipe bend 37, which substantially has a 90° deflection. Thus, the pipeline 32 replaces a feed container, or may be used in addition to a feed container (not shown). In use, a sufficiently great quantity can thus be held available typically in the lower portion of the device, i.e. pipeline 32. This stock may vary depending on the load state. In the event of high live steam pressures a high density vapor fills the evaporator as well as the conduits and pipelines. In low load operation more liquid is required, which may be withdrawn from the stock, for example, from pipeline 32.
[0070] FIG. 8 shows a division of the vapor volume flow at the inlet of the device according to the present invention. The vapor flow 10, vapor, is passed in a conduit 11. The vapor passed in the conduit 11 is distributed to conduits 16. The number of eight conduits 16 as shown should here not be understood as a limitation, but merely as an example. The vapor transferred through the conduits 16, which, as described above, may again be a mixture of the actual working medium and an oil-containing fluid, e.g. an oil-containing liquid, is combined by means of one common collecting conduit 25. The conduit 25 transfers the combined vapor to a branch element/branch 27. From there at least a portion of the vapor can be transferred through the conduit 29 to another module (not shown) of the device for condensation. The other module may comprise a division of the vapor volume flow, as is shown by way of example for the module according to FIG. 8.
[0071] In FIG. 8, for example, condensate/condensed liquid may be transferred through conduit 28 to a liquid separator (not shown). Also, it is possible that the conduit 29 is equally provided with a liquid separator (not shown). In both cases the liquid separator may be of the type as discussed in connection with FIGS. 3 to 7. The representation chosen in FIG. 8 shows the relationships of the depicted elements in a plane, that is, the physical arrangement of the elements is not shown. In particular, a liquid separator may physically also be arranged downstream of the plane shown in FIG. 8.
[0072] FIG. 9 shows another further development of the division of the vapor volume flow at the inlet of the device for condensation as described above. Similar to FIG. 8, a vapor flow 10 is transferred into a conduit 11 which distributes the vapor flow to conduits 16 of the same type. In this case, too, it will be appreciated that there is no limitation to eight conduits only. There may also be provided more or fewer conduits. In comparison with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, each individual one of the conduits 16 comprises a branch element/branch 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5, 27.6, 27.7, and 27.8. Each conduit 16 is connected by its respective branch element 27.1. 27.2. 27.3. 27.4, 27.5, 27.6, 27.7, and 27.8 to a collecting conduit 25. The branch elements 27.1 to 27.8 are shown in FIG. 10 for explanation purposes, as will be discussed below. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, condensed liquid can be separated through the collecting conduit 25, for example, in the direction as shown by the arrow 28A. This liquid can be transferred, again to a liquid separator (not shown). The liquid separator may be of the type as explained in connection with FIGS. 3 to 7.
[0073] Each of the conduits 16 comprises downstream of the respective branch element 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5, 27.6, 27.7, and 27.8 corresponding further conduits 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7 and 29.8. Through these corresponding further conduits 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7 and 29.8 vapor not yet condensed in conduits 16 may be transferred into another module (not shown) of the device. The further module may, again, correspond to the module shown herein. As was already mentioned in connection with FIG. 8 the representation in FIG. 9, too, shows the relationships of the depicted elements in a plane. In other words, one can talk about a projection onto the plane of projection. A possible physical arrangement of the elements is not shown. In particular, a liquid separator as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 7 may physically also be arranged downstream of the plane shown in FIG. 9.
[0074] FIG. 10 shows by way of example a branch element 27, which is depicted in FIG. 8 or 9. The branch element shown in FIG. 10 may correspond to the elements 27, 27.1 to 27.8 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, an exemplary conduit is shown, which may correspond to the conduit 16 of FIGS. 8 and 9. A vapor flow is passed in the conduit 16. The direction of flow of the vapor flow is denoted with the arrow 16R. The vapor flow is bent by 180° in the region 27R of FIG. 10 and transferred further through conduit 29. Conduit 29 may correspond to conduits 29 and 29.1 to 29.8 of FIGS. 8 and 9. The bend by 180° is an example. The bend could also be a 90° bend, or another angle could be chosen. It is noted once more that the projection chosen for FIGS. 8 and 9 does not depict this bend. The vapor flow continued downstream of the bend is denoted by the arrow 29R. By the inertia of the liquid transported along in the vapor flow 16R this liquid does not follow the sharp bend, in this case 180°, or at least not entirely, and may flow through conduit 25, for example, by gravitation. The corresponding direction of flow of the liquid is shown by arrow 25R. The conduit 25 then leads to a separator as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 7.
