Automated mass management control
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention generally provide a heat engine system, a mass management system (MMS), and a method for regulating pressure in the heat engine system while generating electricity. In one embodiment, the MMS contains a tank fluidly coupled to a pump, a turbine, a heat exchanger, an offload terminal, and a working fluid contained in the tank at a storage pressure. The working fluid may be at a system pressure proximal an outlet of the heat exchanger, at a low-side pressure proximal a pump inlet, and at a high-side pressure proximal a pump outlet. The MMS contains a controller communicably coupled to a valve between the tank and the heat exchanger outlet, a valve between the tank and the pump inlet, a valve between the tank and the pump outlet, and a valve between the tank and the offload terminal.
1. A system for pressure regulation of a heat engine, comprising:
a pump fluidly coupled to a working fluid circuit and configured to circulate a working fluid in the working fluid circuit;
a first pressure sensor arranged at or adjacent to an inlet of the pump and configured to detect pressure of the working fluid at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump;
a second pressure sensor arranged at or adjacent to an outlet of the pump and configured to detect pressure of the working fluid at or adjacent to the outlet of the pump;
a mass management system comprising a mass control tank configured to store additional working fluid, the mass management system fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to selectively direct a flow of the working fluid into or out of the working fluid circuit based on the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor;
a mass control tank sensor operatively connected to the mass control tank and configured to detect pressure of the working fluid within the mass control tank;
a first valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to the outlet of the pump; and
a second valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to the inlet of the pump,
wherein the first valve is configured to open when the pressure detected by the mass control tank sensor is less than the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second valve is configured to open when the pressure detected by the mass control tank sensor is greater than the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.
3. A system for pressure regulation of a heat engine, comprising:
a pump fluidly coupled to a working fluid circuit and configured to circulate working fluid in the working fluid circuit;
a mass control tank fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to store working fluid;
a micro-processor controller operatively connected to the mass control tank and configured to execute a program to regulate the flow of the working fluid to and from the mass control tank based on a pressure detected at or adjacent to an inlet of the pump;
a first valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to an outlet of the pump; and
a second valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to the inlet of the pump,
wherein the micro-processor controller is configured to execute a program to open the first valve when the pressure detected in the mass control tank is less than the pressure detected at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the micro-processor controller is configured to execute a program to open the second valve when the pressure detected in the mass control tank is greater than the pressure detected at or adjacent to the outlet of the pump.
5. A mass management system, comprising:
a mass control tank fluidly coupled to a working fluid circuit and configured to store working fluid;
a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure at or adjacent to an inlet of a pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid in the working fluid circuit;
a micro-processor controller operatively connected to the first pressure sensor and configured to execute a program to direct the working fluid into and out of the mass control tank based on the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor;
a mass control tank sensor operatively connected to the micro-processor controller and configured to detect a pressure of the working fluid within the mass control tank;
a second pressure sensor operatively connected to the micro-processor controller and configured to detect a pressure of the working fluid at or adjacent to an outlet of the pump;
a first valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to the outlet of the pump; and
a second valve fluidly coupling the mass control tank to the inlet of the pump,
wherein the micro-processor controller is configured to execute a program to open the first valve when the pressure detected by the mass control tank sensor is less than the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.
6. The mass management system of claim 5 , wherein the micro-processor controller is configured to execute a program to open the second valve when the pressure detected by the mass control tank sensor is greater than the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.