Air condenser for organic rankine cycle plants
AssigneeTurboden S.P.A.
InventorsRoberto Bini, Mariio Gaia, Isaia Casali
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air condenser for an organic Rankine cycle plants which includes a two-pitch tube bundle in which in the first pitch the condensation of the working fluid takes place up to a steam content in any case greater than zero and in the second pitch only the residual steam flow rate of the working fluid not condensed in the first pitch is condensed. The second pitch is inclined upwards and is provided with an opening for the extraction of incondensable gases. Preferably, the second pitch is located in a position above the first pitch on a position parallel to that of the first pitch. The innovative air condenser is particularly suitable for non-cogenerative organic Rankine cycle plants.
Claims14
An air condenser (100) suitable for an organic Rankine cycle plant operated by a working fluid, comprising a two-pitch tube bundle (80) a support structure (110) which allows the inclined positioning of the tube bundle (80), an air duct (120) that passes through the tube bundle (80) and at least one fan (130) that sucks in the air to perform the heat exchange with the working fluid to be condensed, wherein;
- a first pitch (10) of the tube bundle (80), comprising a first plurality of tubes, condenses the working fluid up to a vapor content in any case greater than zero, and
- a second pitch (14) of the tube bundle (80), comprising a second plurality of tubes and having a first end (14′) upstream and a second end (14″) downstream, condenses only the residual vapor flow of the working fluid not condensed in the first pitch (10),
- said second pitch (14) is inclined upwards and allows the extraction through its second end (14″) of incondensable gases present in the working fluid,
- at least one exchange tube (140) of the second plurality of tubes of the second pitch (14) is provided with a cross section (141), transversal to the axis of an exchange tube (140) of the second pitch (14), located in the lower part of the exchange tube (140), in which section (141) the liquid is collected,
- wherein said cross section (141) is that of a small draining tube (145) positioned along the axial direction with respect to the exchange tube (140) inserted in the exchange tube (140) and resting on the exchange pipe (140),
- and wherein said small draining tube (145) is provided with an opening (148) at the point of tangency between the exchange tube (140) and the small draining tube (145), to allow the condensate to enter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.