Heat Engine System
First Claim
1. A heat engine system for producing work by expanding a working fluid comprising first and second components, the system comprising, an apparatus for combining the second component of the working fluid as a liquid with the first component, the first component being a gas throughout the system, a compressor for compressing the first component, a pump for compressing at least most of the second component, a heater for heating the first and second components, an expander for expanding the first and second components to produce the work, and a recuperator for transferring at least some of the energy of the working fluid from the outlet of the expander, to the working fluid from the outlet of the apparatus, wherein a substantial portion of the energy transferred in the recuperator is at least a portion of the latent heat of the second component from the outlet of the expander.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat engine system for producing work by expanding a working fluid comprising first and second components, the system comprising, an apparatus for combining the second component of the working fluid as a liquid with the first component, the first component being a gas throughout the system, a compressor for compressing the first component, a pump for compressing at least most of the second component, a heater for heating the first and second components, an expander for expanding the first and second components to produce the work, and a recuperator for transferring at least some of the energy of the working fluid from the outlet of the expander, to the working fluid from the outlet of the apparatus, wherein a substantial portion of the energy transferred in the recuperator is at least a portion of the latent heat of the second component from the outlet of the expander.
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Citations
55 Claims
- 1. A heat engine system for producing work by expanding a working fluid comprising first and second components, the system comprising, an apparatus for combining the second component of the working fluid as a liquid with the first component, the first component being a gas throughout the system, a compressor for compressing the first component, a pump for compressing at least most of the second component, a heater for heating the first and second components, an expander for expanding the first and second components to produce the work, and a recuperator for transferring at least some of the energy of the working fluid from the outlet of the expander, to the working fluid from the outlet of the apparatus, wherein a substantial portion of the energy transferred in the recuperator is at least a portion of the latent heat of the second component from the outlet of the expander.
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32. A method for producing work, the method comprising the steps of:
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compressing a first component of a working fluid in a compressor, the first component being a gas at all times during the method; at least most of compressing a second component of the working fluid as a liquid in a pump; combining the second component as a liquid with the first component in an apparatus; heating the combined first and second components in a heater; expanding the heated first and second components to produce the work in an expander; and transferring in a recuperator at least some of the energy of the working fluid after it has been expanded to the working fluid prior to it being heated in the heater, wherein a substantial portion of the energy transferred is at least a portion of the latent heat of the second component after the working fluid has been expanded in the expander. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification