Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system

摘要

This disclosure relates to a waste heat recovery (WHR) system and to a system and method for regulation of a fluid inventory in a condenser and a receiver of a Rankine cycle WHR system. Such regulation includes the ability to regulate the pressure in a WHR system to control cavitation and energy conversion.

主权项

1. A waste heat recovery system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a working fluid circuit containing a working fluid; a condenser positioned along the working fluid circuit and containing a liquid working fluid having a first fluid level; a heat exchanger positioned along the working fluid circuit downstream of the condenser; an energy conversion device positioned along the working fluid circuit between the heat exchanger and the condenser; a fluid management system including a receiver containing the liquid working fluid and a transfer circuit fluidly connecting the receiver and the condenser, wherein the liquid working fluid in the receiver has a second fluid level and wherein a minimum second fluid level is higher than a maximum first fluid level; a bi-directional pump positioned along the transfer circuit between the condenser and the receiver; a valve positioned along the transfer circuit between the condenser and the receiver in parallel to the pump; at least one sensor adapted to measure a condition of the working fluid circuit; and a control module configured to receive the condition signal from the at least one sensor to generate a pump control signal and a valve control signal based on the condition signal to control operation of the bi-directional pump and the valve to transfer liquid working fluid between the receiver and the condenser to change the first fluid level.