Method for compressing the working fluid during a water/steam combination process

Abstract

A method for compressing the working fluid during a water/steam combination process in multi-stage turbocompressors comprising intercooling in the individual compressor stages, by the addition of a coolant to the working fluid. The aim of the invention is to provide a technical solution, which is suitable for the efficient intercooling of the working fluid during multi-stage compression and thus for the highest possible reduction of the required compressor power. To achieve this, dispersed water, which is obtained by the pressure atomization of water to form micro-droplets, is used as the coolant. The coolant is added directly to the working fluid in at least one compression stage in a quantity that maintains the thermodynamic equilibrium, and is converted during compression into the state of the working fluid, the evaporation of the coolant takes place at the saturation line. The addition of coolant between the compressor entrance and the compressor exit permits the mass flow of the working fluid to be increased.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.