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US 11,454,168 B2Granted
Pump control of closed cycle power generation system
AssigneeMalta Inc.
InventorsRaj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for pump control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a Brayton cycle. Operational parameters such as working fluid temperature, thermal fluid temperature, stream pressure, and power generation may be the basis for controlling a thermal fluid pump rate.
Claims12
A method comprising:
- circulating a working fluid through a closed cycle system comprising a first heat exchanger, a turbine, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor, wherein the working fluid flows through, in sequence, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the turbine, and the second heat exchanger in a discharge mode;
- pumping a variable flow rate of a first thermal fluid from a first thermal storage tank through the first heat exchanger and to a second thermal storage tank, wherein the first thermal fluid is in thermal contact with the working fluid via the first heat exchanger;
- generating a quantity of electrical power via a generator driven by the turbine;
- determining an operating condition of the closed cycle system including determining a difference between the quantity of electrical power generated by the generator and a desired quantity of electrical power as the operating condition;
- and
- adjusting the variable flow rate of the first thermal fluid from the first thermal storage tank through the first heat exchanger to the second thermal storage tank based on the operating condition.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- circulating a working fluid through a closed cycle system comprising a first heat exchanger, a turbine, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor, wherein the working fluid flows through, in sequence, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the turbine, and the second heat exchanger in a discharge mode;
- pumping a variable flow rate of a thermal fluid from a first thermal storage tank to a second thermal storage tank through the second heat exchanger, wherein the thermal fluid is in thermal contact with the working fluid via the first heat exchanger;
- generating a quantity of electrical power via a generator driven by the turbine;
- determining an operating condition of the closed cycle system including determining a difference between the quantity of electrical power generated by the generator and a desired quantity of electrical power as the operating condition;
- and
- adjusting the variable flow rate of the thermal fluid from the first thermal storage tank to the second thermal storage tank based on the operating condition.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.