Device for controlling supply of working fluid

Abstract

A device for controlling a supply of a working fluid to a power generation cycle with a compressor compressing the working fluid and a precooler cooling the working fluid supplied to the compressor comprises a storage tank storing the working fluid supplied to the power generation cycle and a flotation tank disposed between the precooler and the compressor to flow or temporarily store the working fluid, wherein a pressure within the flotation tank and a flow rate of the working fluid are controlled based on pressures at an inlet of the compressor and an outlet of the precooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for controlling a supply of a working fluid to a power generation cycle with a compressor compressing the working fluid and a precooler cooling the working fluid supplied to the compressor, the device comprising:
 a storage tank storing the working fluid supplied to the power generation cycle; 
 a flotation tank disposed between the precooler and the compressor to flow or temporarily store the working fluid; 
 a supply pump disposed between the storage tank and the flotation tank to supply the working fluid from the storage tank to the flotation tank; and 
 a control valve disposed between the storage tank and the flotation tank to discharge the working fluid from the flotation tank to the storage tank, 
 wherein a pressure within the flotation tank and a flow rate of the working fluid are controlled based on pressures at an inlet of the compressor and an outlet of the precooler. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation tank is a piston accumulator tank. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the flotation tank comprises:
 a tank body into which the working fluid is introduced; and 
 a piston installed inside the tank body to be elevated by a control fluid supplied from the outside. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the flotation tank further comprises:
 a control fluid inflowing portion provided at a lower end of the tank body and having the control fluid inflowing and outflowing therethrough; 
 a first inlet provided at one side of the tank body and having the working fluid inflowing from the supply pump thereinto; and 
 a first outlet provided at the other side of the tank body and having the working fluid discharged to the control valve therethrough. 
 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the flotation tank further comprises:
 a second inlet provided at an upper part of the tank body and having the working fluid inflowing from the precooler thereinto; and 
 a second outlet provided at the upper part of the tank body and having the working fluid discharged to the compressor therethrough. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein when the pressure at the outlet of the precooler or the pressure at the inlet of the compressor rises, the control fluid is supplied to the control fluid inflowing portion and the control valve is open to discharge the working fluid within the flotation tank to the storage tank through the first outlet. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the supply of the control fluid and the discharge of the working fluid to the storage tank are made until a height of the piston reaches a height corresponding to a set value. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 5 , wherein when the pressure at the outlet of the precooler or the pressure at the inlet of the compressor falls, the supply pump is operated to supply the working fluid into the flotation tank through the first inlet. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the supply of the working fluid into the flotation tank is made until a height of the piston reaches a height corresponding to a set value. 
     
     
       10. A device for controlling a supply of a working fluid to a power generation cycle with a compressor compressing the working fluid and a precooler cooling the working fluid supplied to the compressor, the device comprising:
 a storage tank storing the working fluid supplied to the power generation cycle; 
 a flotation tank disposed on a low pressure line of an inlet of the compressor to flow or temporarily store the working fluid; 
 a supply pump disposed between the storage tank and the flotation tank to supply the working fluid from the storage tank to the flotation tank; and 
 a control valve disposed between the storage tank and the flotation tank to discharge the working fluid from the flotation tank to the storage tank. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein if a pressure at an outlet of the precooler or the inlet of the compressor rises, the working fluid is discharged from the flotation tank to the storage tank, and if the pressure at the outlet of the precooler or the inlet of the compressor falls, the working fluid is supplied from the storage tank to the flotation tank. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flotation tank is a piston accumulator tank. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the flotation tank comprises:
 a tank body into which the working fluid is introduced; and 
 a piston installed inside the tank body to be elevated by a control fluid supplied from the outside. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the flotation tank further comprises:
 a control fluid inflowing portion provided at a lower end of the tank body and having the control fluid inflowing and outflowing therethrough; 
 a first inlet provided at one side of the tank body and having the working fluid inflowing from the supply pump thereinto; and 
 a first outlet provided at the other side of the tank body and having the working fluid discharged to the control valve therethrough. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the flotation tank further comprises:
 a second inlet provided at an upper part of the tank body and having the working fluid inflowing from the precooler thereinto; and 
 a second outlet provided at the upper part of the tank body and having the working fluid discharged to the compressor therethrough. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein when the pressure at the outlet of the precooler or the pressure at the inlet of the compressor rises, the control fluid is supplied to the control fluid inflowing portion and the control valve is open to discharge the working fluid within the flotation tank to the storage tank through the first outlet. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein the supply of the control fluid and the discharge of the working fluid to the storage tank are made until a height of the piston reaches a height corresponding to a set value. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15 , wherein when the pressure at the outlet of the precooler or the pressure at the inlet of the compressor falls, the supply pump is operated to supply the working fluid into the flotation tank through the first inlet. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the supply of the working fluid into the flotation tank is made until a height of the piston reaches a height corresponding to a set value.