POWER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HIGH OR MEDIUM INITIAL TEMPERATURE HEAT SOURCES IN MEDIUM AND SMALL SCALE POWER PLANTS

• US 20100146973A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kalina Power Limited
• Original Assignee: Kalex, LLC
• Inventors: Kalina, Alexander I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/653
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/06 using mixtures of different fluids plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/08 using special vapours
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/22 the turbines having inter-stage steam heating
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/18 using the waste heat of gas-turbine plants outside the plants themselves, e.g. gas-turbine power heat plants using waste heat as source of energy for refrigeration plants F25B27/02; using the waste heat of a gasturbine for steam generation or in a steam cycle see F01K23/10

Abstract

Power generation systems and methods are disclosed for use with medium to high temperature heat source stream, gaseous or liquid, where the systems and methods permit efficient energy extraction for medium and small scale power plants.

Claims

1. A system for heat conversion comprising:

a turbine subsystem (TSS) including at least one turbine adapted to convert a portion of thermal energy contained in a fully vaporized and superheated rich working fluid stream to form a spent rich working fluid stream,

a vaporizing and superheating subsystem (VSS) including a heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) and at least one VSS heat exchange unit, where the HRVG is adapted to produce the fully vaporized and superheated rich working fluid stream using heat from an external heat source stream and the at least one VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to produce a heated richer working fluid stream and a heated lean or leaner working fluid stream using heat from the spent rich working fluid stream,

a heat exchange and separation subsystem (HESS) including at least one HESS heat exchange unit, a separator and at least two HESS pumps, where the at least one HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to form a heated richer working fluid stream and a pre-heated higher pressure first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a condensing working fluid stream comprising a cooled spent working fluid stream and a higher pressure second leaner working fluid substream, where the separator is adapted to separate a cooled condensing working fluid stream into a rich vapor stream and a liquid leaner working fluid stream, where the liquid leaner working fluid stream is split into a first leaner working fluid substream, second leaner working fluid substream and third leaner working fluid substream and where the two HESS pumps are adapted to produce a higher pressure first leaner working fluid substream and the higher pressure second leaner working fluid stream, and

a condensing subsystem (CSS) including two CSS heat exchange units and a CSS pump, where the CSS pump is adapted to produce a higher pressure fully condensed richer working fluid stream form a fully condensed richer working fluid stream, where one of the CSS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure fully condensed richer working fluid stream and partially condense a richer working fluid stream comprising the third leaner working fluid substream and the rich vapor stream, and where the other CSS heat exchange unit is adapted to fully condense the partially condensed richer working fluid stream using an external coolant stream to form the fully condensed richer working fluid stream, and

where all of the streams are derived from a single multi-component fluid including at least one lower boiling point component and at least one higher boiling point component, where the rich vapor stream has a first fluid composition, where the richer working fluid streams having a second fluid composition, where the rich working fluid streams have a third fluid composition, where the condensing working fluid streams have a fourth fluid composition and where the leaner working fluid streams have a fifth fluid composition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid composition has a higher concentration of the at least one lower boiling point component than the second fluid composition, which has a higher concentration of the at least one lower boiling point component than the third fluid composition and where the fifth composition has a higher concentration of the higher boiling point component than the fourth composition and where the third and fourth compositions are the same or the third composition has a higher concentration of the lower boiling point component than the fourth composition.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are combined into a rich working fluid stream, prior to the rich working fluid stream entering the HRVG and exiting the HRVG as the at least one fully vaporized and superheated rich working fluid stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the heated richer stream and the heated leaner stream are superheated in the HRVG and then combined into the at least one fully vaporized and superheated rich stream.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the VSS further includes two VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the pre-heated first leaner working fluid substream and the other VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat and vaporize the heated richer working fluid stream with heat from two spent rich working fluid substream formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units, one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the pre-heated leaner working fluid substream and the heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the spent rich working fluid stream and where the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units, one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the VSS further includes two VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the pre-heated first leaner working fluid substream and the other VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat and vaporize the heated richer working fluid stream with heat from two spent rich working fluid substream formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a VSS dual flow heat exchange unit, where the pre-heated leaner working fluid substream and the heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the spent rich working fluid stream and where the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a HESS dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the VSS further includes three VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream with heat from a first spent rich working fluid substream, another of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat and vaporize a further heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a second spent rich working fluid substream, where the spent rich working fluid substreams are formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the third VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to further heat the heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a combined cooled spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units and a third pump, where one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream, and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

10. The system of claim 1,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream and the further heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated with heat from the spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units and a third pump, where one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream, and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the VSS further includes three VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream with heat from a first spent rich working fluid substream, another of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat and vaporize a further heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a second spent rich working fluid substream, where the spent rich working fluid substreams are formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the third VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to further heat the heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a combined cooled spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid stream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes a third pump and the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream and the further heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated with heat from the spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes a third pump and the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

13. A method for heat conversion comprising the steps of:

converting a portion of heat in at least one fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream into a useable form of energy in a turbine subsystem (TSS) to form a spent rich working fluid stream,

heating a richer working fluid stream and a lean or leaner working fluid stream with heat from the spent rich working fluid stream in a vaporizing and superheating subsystem (VSS) including a heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) and at least one VSS heat exchange unit,

fully vaporizing and superheating the rich working fluid stream comprising the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated lean or leaner working fluid stream with from heat derived from an external heat source stream in the HRVG to form the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream,

heating a higher pressure second leaner working fluid substream and a pre-heated, higher pressure richer working fluid stream with heat from a condensing working fluid stream in a heat exchange and separation subsystem (HESS) including at least one HESS heat exchange unit, a separator and at least two HESS pumps,

separating a cooled condensing working fluid stream in the separator into a rich vapor stream and a liquid leaner working fluid stream,

splitting the liquid leaner working fluid stream into first, second and third leaner working fluid substreams,

pressurizing the first leaner working fluid substream to form a higher pressure first leaner working fluid stream,

pressurizing the second leaner working fluid stream to form the higher pressure second leaner working fluid stream,

combining a cooled spent rich working fluid stream and the higher pressure, second leaner working fluid substream to form the condensing working fluid, and

pre-heating a higher pressure fully condensed richer working fluid stream with heat from a richer working fluid stream comprising the third leaner working fluid substream and the rich vapor stream to form a pre-heated richer working fluid stream and a partially condensed richer working fluid stream in a condensing subsystem (CSS) including two CSS heat exchange units and a CSS pump,

condensing the partially condensed richer working fluid stream using an external coolant stream to form a fully condensed richer working fluid stream, and

pressurizing the fully condensed richer working fluid stream to form the higher pressure fully condensed richer working fluid stream,

where all of the streams are derived from a single multi-component fluid including at least one lower boiling point component and at least one higher boiling point component, where the rich vapor stream has a first fluid composition, where the richer working fluid streams having a second fluid composition, where the rich working fluid streams have a third fluid composition, where the condensing streams have a fourth fluid composition, where the leaner working fluid streams have a fifth fluid composition and where the lean working fluid streams have a sixth composition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first fluid composition has a higher concentration of the at least one lower boiling point component than the second fluid composition, which has a higher concentration of the at least one lower boiling point component than the third fluid composition and where the fifth composition has a higher concentration of the higher boiling point component than the fourth composition and where the third and fourth compositions are the same or the third composition has a higher concentration of the lower boiling point component than the fourth composition.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are combined into a rich working fluid stream, prior to the rich working fluid stream entering the HRVG and exiting the HRVG as the at least one fully vaporized and superheated rich working fluid stream.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the heated richer stream and the heated leaner stream are superheated in the HRVG and then combined into the at least one fully vaporized and superheated rich stream.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the VSS further includes two VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the pre-heated first leaner working fluid substream and the other VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat and vaporize the heated richer working fluid stream with heat from two spent rich working fluid substream formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units, one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the pre-heated leaner working fluid substream and the heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the spent rich working fluid stream and where the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units, one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the VSS further includes two VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the pre-heated first leaner working fluid substream and the other VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat and vaporize the heated richer working fluid stream with heat from two spent rich working fluid substream formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated leaner working fluid stream to form a spent leaner working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream comprising a fully vaporized and superheated richer working fluid stream and the spent leaner working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream and the heated leaner working fluid stream are simultaneously vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and the spent leaner working fluid stream is simultaneously reheated in an upper part of the HRVG and where the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a VSS dual flow heat exchange unit, where the pre-heated leaner working fluid substream and the heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the spent rich working fluid stream and where the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a HESS dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream.

21. The method of claim 13,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the VSS further includes three VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream with heat from a first spent rich working fluid substream, another of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat and vaporize a further heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a second spent rich working fluid substream, where the spent rich working fluid substreams are formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the third VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to further heat the heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a combined cooled spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units and a third pump, where one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream, and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

22. The method of claim 13,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream and the further heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated with heat from the spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes two HESS heat exchange units and a third pump, where one of the HESS heat exchange units is adapted to pre-heat the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream with heat from a first condensing working fluid substream and the other HESS heat exchange unit is adapted to heat the pre-heated richer working fluid stream and where the two cooled condensing working fluid substreams are combined into the cooled condensing working fluid stream, and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

23. The method of claim 13,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the VSS further includes three VSS heat exchange units, one of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream with heat from a first spent rich working fluid substream, another of the VSS heat exchange units is adapted to heat and vaporize a further heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a second spent rich working fluid substream, where the spent rich working fluid substreams are formed from the spent rich working fluid substream and where the third VSS heat exchange unit is adapted to further heat the heated, second richer working fluid substream with heat from a combined cooled spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid stream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes a third pump and the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.

24. The method of claim 13,

wherein the TSS comprises a higher pressure turbine having a admission valve and a lower pressure turbine, where the higher pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream to form a spent lean working fluid stream, where the lower pressure turbine is adapted to convert a portion of heat in a fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the at least one VSS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream and the further heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated with heat from the spent rich working fluid stream and where a heated higher pressure, lean working fluid stream is fully vaporized and superheated in the HRVG and a fully vaporized rich working fluid stream is simultaneously superheated in an upper part of the HRVG, where the fully vaporized rich working fluid stream comprises a fully vaporized second richer working fluid substream and the spent lean working fluid stream to form the fully vaporized, superheated lean working fluid stream and the fully vaporized, superheated rich working fluid stream;

wherein the HESS includes a third pump and the at least one HESS heat exchange unit comprises a dual flow heat exchange unit, where the higher pressure, first leaner working fluid substream and the pre-heated richer working fluid stream are simultaneously heated by the condensing working fluid stream and where the heated richer working fluid stream is split into a first heated richer working fluid substream and a second heated richer working fluid substream and where the pre-heated, first leaner working fluid substream is combined with the first heated richer working fluid substream to form a lean working fluid stream, and where the third pump is adapted to produce the higher pressure, lean working fluid stream.