Operating a sub-sea organic rankine cycle (orc) system using individual pressure vessels

Abstract

A method and system for generating electrical power for sub-sea applications includes assembling each of the main components () of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system () inside a pressure vessel to form a series of vessels () removably connected to one another and configured to be placed near, on or below a sea floor. The main components of the ORC system include an evaporator (), a turbine (), a condenser () and a pump (). A working fluid () is circulated through the pressure vessels in order to generate mechanical shaft power that is converted to electrical power (P). In some embodiments, the ORC system includes at least one redundant component that corresponds to one of the main components. The working fluid may be circulated through at least one redundant ORC component such that the ORC system is able to continue operating when one of more of the main components is not operating properly. A control system () is used to monitor operation of the main components and at least one redundant ORC component. In some embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a pressure vessel with its corresponding main component. In other embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a separate pressure vessel.