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US 12,012,902 B2Granted
Variable pressure inventory control of closed cycle system with a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank
AssigneeMalta Inc.
InventorsRaj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for variable pressure inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, with at least a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank are disclosed. Operational parameters of the system such as working fluid pressure, turbine torque, turbine RPM, generator torque, generator RPM, and current, voltage, phase, frequency, and/or quantity of electrical power generated and/or distributed by the generator may be the basis for controlling a quantity of working fluid that circulates through a closed cycle fluid path of the system.
Claims34
A method comprising:
- in a closed cycle system operable in a charge mode and a power generation mode, circulating a working fluid through a closed cycle fluid path which includes, in sequence, a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg, wherein in the generation mode stored heat is provided to the working fluid to drive the turbine, and in the charge mode the compressor is driven by electric power to compress the working fluid to provide heat for storage;
- responsive to determination to adjust the amount of working fluid within the closed cycle system, opening a fluid connection between the closed cycle fluid path and a pressure tank to communicate fluid therebetween via the fluid connection, and opening another fluid connection between the closed cycle fluid path and another pressure tank to communicate fluid therebetween via the other fluid connection, wherein working fluid communicated via the fluid connection passes in the same direction to or from the closed cycle system as working fluid communicated via the other fluid connection to correspondingly add or remove working fluid via each fluid connection;
- and
- closing at least one of the fluid connections in response to achieving a threshold pressure value within at least one of the high pressure leg, low pressure leg, the pressure tank, and the other tank.
1 more element
An energy system comprising:
- at least two turbomachinery systems, wherein at least one of the at least two turbomachinery systems is operable as a compressor system and at least one of the at least two turbomachinery systems is operable as a turbine system;
- a closed cycle system, operable in a charge mode and a power generation mode, for circulating a working fluid through a closed cycle fluid path which includes, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg, wherein in the generation mode stored heat is provided to the working fluid to drive the turbine, and in the charge mode the compressor is driven by electric power to compress the working fluid to provide heat for storage;
- a control system configured to control inventory of working fluid responsive to determination to adjust the amount of working fluid within the closed cycle system, the control system configured to open a fluid connection between the closed cycle fluid path and a pressure tank to communicate fluid therebetween via the fluid connection, and to open another fluid connection between the closed cycle fluid path and another pressure tank to communicate fluid therebetween via the other fluid connection, in response to determination to adjust the amount of working fluid within the closed cycle path, wherein working fluid communicated via the fluid connection passes in the same direction to or from the closed cycle system as working fluid communicated via the other fluid connection to correspondingly add or remove working fluid via each fluid connection, wherein the control system is configured to close at least one of the fluid connections in response to achieving a threshold pressure value within at least one of the high pressure leg, low pressure leg, the pressure tank, and the other tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.