Device and method for recognizing leaks in closed circular processes

A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium for detecting a leak in a thermodynamic cycle device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• an executable portion configured for determining sub-cooling of the working medium in a condenser, wherein sub-cooling is determined as the difference between a condensation temperature in said condenser and a temperature of a fluid working medium exiting said condenser;
• an executable portion configured for detecting a leak in an event that said sub-cooling determined differs from a setpoint value for said sub-cooling or in an event that a filling quantity of said working medium in said thermodynamic cycle device, being determined from said determined sub-cooling, differs from a setpoint value for the filling quantity;
• and
• wherein a respective setpoint value for said sub-cooling or for said filling quantity is determined for different operational modes of the thermodynamic cycle device and wherein the different operational modes of the thermodynamic cycle device include a mode of natural circulation during standstill of the thermodynamic cycle device.

Thermodynamic cycle device, in particular an ORC device, comprising:

• a condenser for condensing vaporous working medium;
• a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a fluid working medium exiting from said condenser;
• a device for determining sub-cooling of the working medium in said condenser, wherein sub-cooling is determined as the difference between a condensation temperature in said condenser and the temperature of a fluid working medium exiting said condenser;
• and for detecting a leak in an event that the sub-cooling determined differs from a setpoint value for the sub-cooling or in an event that a filling quantity of the working medium in said thermodynamic cycle device, being determined from the determined sub-cooling, differs from a setpoint value for the filling quantity;
• and
• wherein a respective setpoint value for said sub-cooling or for said filling quantity is determined for different operational modes of the thermodynamic cycle device and wherein the different operational modes of the thermodynamic cycle device include a mode of natural circulation during standstill of the thermodynamic cycle device.