System and method for generating and storing transient integrated organic rankine cycle energy

Abstract

A system and method are provided for using the thermal mass of an ORC, the working fluid, the oil loop, the cooling fluid loop and all components, to provide additional transient power to an electrical grid. A pre-heater transfers heat from the cooling fluid to a low temperature (LT) ORC loop working fluid. A LT ORC loop expander generates transient power to support stabilization of the electrical grid. A heat exchanger transfers heat from the thermal oil to a high temperature (HT) ORC loop working fluid. A HT ORC loop expander generates transient power to support stabilization of the electrical grid.

1 . An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant comprising:
 an internal combustion engine or gas turbine (engine/turbine) cooling fluid loop configured to transfer engine/turbine cooling fluid heat to a low temperature (LT) ORC loop working fluid, the engine/turbine cooling loop and the LT ORC loop together configured to generate transient power via at least one LT expander; and   a thermal oil loop configured to transfer heat generated via the engine/turbine to a high temperature (HT) ORC loop working fluid, the thermal oil loop and the HT ORC loop together configured to generate transient power via at least one HT expander.   
     
     
         2 . The ORC plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal oil loop comprises a heat exchanger configured to receive an engine/turbine exhaust gas and transfer heat from the engine/turbine exhaust gas to the thermal oil. 
     
     
         3 . The ORC plant according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermal oil loop further comprises an evaporator configured to receive the heated thermal oil and transfer heat to the HT ORC loop working fluid to generate a HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream. 
     
     
         4 . The ORC plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the HT ORC loop comprises a HT expander configured to receive the HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream and generate transient output power there from as the temperature and pressure of the HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream exiting the HT expander is reduced. 
     
     
         5 . The ORC plant according to  claim 4 , wherein the HT ORC loop further comprises a condenser configured to receive the reduced pressure and reduced temperature HT ORC loop vapor stream exiting the HT expander and re-generate the HT ORC loop working fluid there from. 
     
     
         6 . The ORC plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine/turbine cooling fluid loop comprises a pre-heater configured to receive engine/turbine cooling fluid heated via the engine/turbine and transfer heat from the engine/turbine cooling fluid to the LT ORC loop working fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The ORC plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the LT ORC loop comprises an evaporator configured to receive the heated cooling fluid from the pre-heater and transfer heat to the LT ORC loop working fluid to generate a LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream. 
     
     
         8 . The ORC plant according to  claim 7 , wherein the LT ORC loop further comprises a LT expander configured to receive the LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream and generate transient output power there from as the temperature and pressure of the LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream exiting the LT expander is reduced. 
     
     
         9 . The ORC plant according to  claim 8 , wherein the LT ORC loop further comprises a condenser configured to receive the reduced pressure and reduced temperature LT ORC loop vapor stream exiting the LT expander and re-generate the LT ORC loop working fluid there from. 
     
     
         10 . The ORC plant according to  claim 9 , wherein the LT ORC loop condenser comprises a plurality of air blown finned tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The ORC plant according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more storage facilities selected from one or more thermal oil storage tanks configured to receive and store heated thermal oil, one or more cooling fluid storage tanks configured to receive and store heated cooling fluid, and combinations thereof, such that sufficient thermal energy is stored to provide for corresponding ORC loop extended transient operation to supply additional power to a power grid during periods of increased power grid loading or power grid loss events. 
     
     
         12 . The ORC plant according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one ORC loop comprises a plurality of expanders configured to generate transient output power to the power grid there from in response to the stored thermal energy. 
     
     
         13 . An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant comprising an internal combustion engine or gas turbine (engine/turbine) cooling fluid loop configured to transfer engine/turbine cooling fluid heat from an engine/turbine to a low temperature (LT) ORC loop working fluid, the engine/turbine cooling loop and the LT ORC loop together configured to generate transient power via a LT expander. 
     
     
         14 . The ORC plant according to  claim 13 , wherein the engine/turbine cooling fluid loop comprises a pre-heater configured to receive engine/turbine cooling fluid heated via the engine/turbine and transfer heat from the engine/turbine cooling fluid to the LT ORC loop working fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The ORC plant according to  claim 14 , wherein the LT ORC loop comprises an evaporator configured to receive the heated cooling fluid from the pre-heater and transfer heat to the LT ORC loop working fluid to generate a LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream. 
     
     
         16 . The ORC plant according to  claim 15 , wherein the LT ORC loop further comprises at least one LT expander configured to receive the LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream and generate transient output power there from as the temperature and pressure of the LT ORC loop saturated vapor stream exiting the LT expander is reduced. 
     
     
         17 . The ORC plant according to  claim 16 , wherein the LT ORC loop further comprises a condenser configured to receive the reduced pressure and reduced temperature LT ORC loop vapor stream exiting the LT expander and re-generate the LT ORC loop working fluid there from. 
     
     
         18 . The ORC plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the LT ORC loop condenser comprises a plurality of air blown finned tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The ORC plant according to  claim 13 , further comprising one or more cooling fluid storage tanks configured to receive and store heated cooling fluid, such that sufficient thermal energy is stored to provide for corresponding ORC loop extended transient operation to supply additional power to a power grid during periods of increased power grid loading or power grid loss events. 
     
     
         20 . The ORC plant according to  claim 19 , wherein the ORC loop comprises a plurality of expanders configured to generate transient output power to the power grid there from in response to the stored thermal energy. 
     
     
         21 . An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant comprising a thermal oil loop configured to transfer heat from an internal combustion engine or gas turbine (engine/turbine) to a high temperature (HT) ORC loop working fluid, the thermal oil loop and the HT ORC loop together configured to generate transient power via at least one HT expander. 
     
     
         22 . The ORC plant according to  claim 21 , wherein the thermal oil loop comprises a heat exchanger configured to receive an engine/turbine exhaust gas and transfer heat from the engine/turbine exhaust gas to the thermal oil. 
     
     
         23 . The ORC plant according to  claim 22 , wherein the thermal oil loop further comprises an evaporator configured to receive the heated thermal oil and transfer heat to the HT ORC loop working fluid to generate a HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream. 
     
     
         24 . The ORC plant according to  claim 23 , wherein the HT ORC loop comprises at least one HT expander configured to receive the HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream and generate transient output power there from as the temperature and pressure of the HT ORC loop saturated vapor stream exiting the HT expander is reduced. 
     
     
         25 . The ORC plant according to  claim 24 , wherein the HT ORC loop further comprises a condenser configured to receive the reduced pressure and reduced temperature HT ORC loop vapor stream exiting at least one HT expander and re-generate the HT ORC loop working fluid there from. 
     
     
         26 . The ORC plant according to  claim 21 , further comprising one or more thermal oil storage tanks configured to receive and store heated thermal oil, such that sufficient thermal energy is stored to provide for corresponding ORC loop extended transient operation to supply additional power to a power grid during periods of increased power grid loading or power grid loss events. 
     
     
         27 . The ORC plant according to  claim 26 , wherein the ORC loop comprises a plurality of expanders configured to generate transient output power to the power grid there from in response to the stored thermal energy.