ORC stack-system control

US10570782B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ORCAN ENERGY AG · DE

Inventors

• Markus Lintl · Hersbruck, DE
• Jens-Patrick Springer · Munich, DE
• Andreas Schuster · Annaberg-Buchholz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 3, 2015
• Grant date: Feb 25, 2020
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/06
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling ORC stacks with a total number ntot of individually operable ORC modules, said method comprising the following steps: determining the running time remaining until the next servicing time for each operable ORC module respectively; determining a target number nsoll of ORC modules to be operated; comparing said target number nsoll to an actual number nist of currently operated ORC modules; when nsoll>nist, connecting a number nsoll−nist of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the target number and the actual number, where the ORC modules with the longest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently not being operated are connected; and/or when nsoll<nist, disconnecting a number nist−nsoll of ORC modules that corresponds to the difference between the actual number and the target number, where the ORC modules with the shortest remaining running times of the ORC modules currently being operated are disconnected; and/or when nsoll=nist, connecting the ORC module with the longest remaining running time Δt1 of the ORC modules not currently being operated, and disconnecting the ORC module with the shortest remaining …