Power generation methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method for generating energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
- using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid, as received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using an absorber, and a chemosorption process, to absorb the vapor working fluid received from the receiver and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
using a desorber for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for pressurizing and moving the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, as the result of chemosorption, to the desorber;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from hydrogen, fossil fuels, bio-fuels, solar or other renewable and recoverable energy sources. The system can have a heating source, a superheater, an expander, a receiver, a condenser, vacuum pump, or absorber, a desorber, and regenerator with pumps and controls. The heating source and superheater are used to heat a working fluid (including ammonia, other refrigerants, a combination of refrigerants, or steam). A positive displacement liquid/vapor expander expands the heated working fluid to the near saturated or saturated state utilizing a reduced pressure, low-pressure, or sub-atmospheric exhaust sink. A condenser, vacuum pump, or absorber is used to generate the reduced pressure, low pressure, or sub-atmospheric sink. The desorber is used to reconstitute inlet vapor (for reuse) and the regenerator recovers heat generated by the process. The system can generate mechanical energy (or power) which can be used to drive a wide range of mechanical systems (including pumps, compressors, vehicles, conveyances, or other similar mechanical devices); or used to drive an electrical generator to meet electrical power needs-for residences, businesses or office buildings, or commercial and industrial applications. The system can supply electrical energy to power grids, and can be an alternative to power generation plants.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for generating energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid, as received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using an absorber, and a chemosorption process, to absorb the vapor working fluid received from the receiver and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
using a desorber for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for pressurizing and moving the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, as the result of chemosorption, to the desorber;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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2. A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using an absorber, and a chemosorption process, to absorb the vapor working fluid received from the receiver and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
using a desorber for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for pressurizing and moving absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, as the result of the chemosorption process, to the desorber;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the heat generator for reuse; and
using a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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3. A method for generating a mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using a condensing device to condense the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink, at the exit or the expander;
using a vaporizer for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device and providing a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for pressurizing and moving the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device to the vaporizer;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 60)
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4. A method for regenerating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using a condensing device to condense the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
using a pump for moving the condensed working fluid produced by the compressor to the receiver;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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5. A method for generating a mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using a compressor to compress the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit or the expander;
using a vaporizer for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the compressed working fluid and providing a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for pressurizing and moving the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device to the vaporizer;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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6. A method for regenerating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising the steps of:
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using a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using a compressor to compress the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
using a pump for moving the compressed working fluid produced by the compressor to the receiver;
using a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; and
using a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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7. An apparatus for generating energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid, as received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
an absorber, and a chemosorption process, to absorb the vapor working fluid received from the receiver and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
a desorber for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for pressurizing and moving the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, as the result of chemosorption, to the desorber;
a regenerator to recover heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
a pump to transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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8. An apparatus for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
an absorber, and a chemosorption process, to absorb the vapor working fluid received from the receiver and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
a desorber for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for pressurizing and moving absorbent liquid produced in the absorber, as the result of the chemosorption process, to the desorber;
a regenerator to recover heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver and provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the heat generator for reuse; and
a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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9. An apparatus for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
a condensing device to condense the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink, at the exit or the expander;
a vaporizer for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device and providing a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for pressurizing and moving the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device to the vaporizer;
a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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10. An apparatus for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
a condensing device to condense the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
a pump for moving the condensed working fluid produced by the compressor to the receiver;
a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; and
a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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11. An apparatus for generating a mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
a compressor to compress the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit or the expander;
a vaporizer for heating and reconstituting the vapor working fluid from the compressed working fluid and providing a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for pressurizing and moving the condensed working fluid produced in the condensing device to the vaporizer;
a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor working fluid to the thermal generator for reuse; and
a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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12. An apparatus for regenerating mechanical energy at high efficiencies from an energy source, comprising in combination:
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a thermal generator for heating a pressurized working fluid;
a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized working fluid received from the thermal generator, against a reduced pressure sink in order to produce mechanical work;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of the working fluid discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
a compressor to compress the vapor working fluid, as received from the receiver, and to generate a reduced pressure sink at the exit of the expander;
a pump for moving the compressed working fluid produced by the compressor to the receiver;
a regenerator to recover heat energy from the thermal generator exhaust gases to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the working fluid received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; and
a pump to pressurize and transfer the liquid working fluid from the receiver to the regenerator.
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Specification