Closed circuit functioning according to a Rankine cycle with a device for the emergency stopping of the circuit, and method using such a circuit

A method for controlling a closed circuit operating on a Rankine cycle, the circuit comprising at least one compression and circulation pump with an inlet and an outlet for a working fluid in liquid form, a heat exchanger over which a hot source is swept in order to evaporate the fluid circulating between an inlet and an outlet of the heat exchanger, an expansion device for expanding the fluid in the form of a vapor, a cooling exchanger swept by a cold source to condense the working fluid circulating between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling exchanger, a reservoir of working fluid, working fluid circulation pipes for circulating the fluid between the pump, the heat exchanger, the expansion means, the condenser and the reservoir, a bypass device for the hot source which passes through the heat exchanger, the bypass device comprising a bypass pipeline connected between an upstream line for carrying the hot source to the heat exchanger and a downstream line for carrying the hot source from the heat exchanger, the bypass device bypassing the heat exchanger, the bypass pipeline bearing a three-way valve provided at a junction of the pipeline with the upstream line of the heat exchanger, and a nonreturn check-valve placed in a vicinity of the outlet of the at least one compression and circulation pump, the method comprising, upon occurrence of an emergency shutdown of the circuit initiated by detection of at least one of overpressure and overheating, transferring the fluid contained in the heat exchanger to the part of the circuit between the upstream side of the pump and the reservoir, and commanding the three-way valve into a position such that the hot source bypasses the heat exchanger through the bypass pipeline.