HEAT ENGINE SYSTEM INCLUDING AN INTEGRATED COOLING CIRCUIT
First Claim
1. A heat engine system, comprising:
- a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, comprising;
a waste heat exchanger configured to be in fluid communication and in thermal communication with a heat source stream, and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the working fluid;
an expander disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger and configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy;
a recuperator disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger and disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the expander;
a pump disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the recuperator and configured to pressurize and circulate at least a first portion of the working fluid within the working fluid circuit; and
a first condenser disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the pump and disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the recuperator; and
a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough, the cooling circuit comprising;
an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid stream, the evaporator further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat engine system, comprising:
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a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, comprising; a waste heat exchanger configured to be in fluid communication and in thermal communication with a heat source stream, and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the working fluid; an expander disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger and configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a recuperator disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger and disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the expander; a pump disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the recuperator and configured to pressurize and circulate at least a first portion of the working fluid within the working fluid circuit; and a first condenser disposed upstream of and in fluid communication with the pump and disposed downstream from and in fluid communication with the recuperator; and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough, the cooling circuit comprising; an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid stream, the evaporator further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A heat engine system comprising:
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a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid comprising carbon dioxide and the working fluid circuit comprising; a waste heat exchanger configured to be in fluid communication and in thermal communication with a heat source stream, and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the working fluid; an expander configured to receive the working fluid from the waste heat exchanger and to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a pump configured to pressurize and circulate a least a first portion of the working fluid within the working fluid circuit, the pump further being configured to be driven by the expander via a driveshaft; a recuperator configured to receive the working fluid from the expander and the first portion of the working fluid from the pump, and to transfer thermal energy from the working fluid received from the expander to the first portion of the working fluid received from the pump; and a first condenser disposed downstream from the recuperator and upstream of the pump; and a cooling circuit configured to be in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and to flow the working fluid therethrough, the cooling circuit comprising; an expansion valve configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to reduce the pressure and temperature of the second portion of the working fluid flowing therethrough; and an evaporator configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid stream, the evaporator further configured to receive the second portion of the working fluid from the expansion valve and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with a heat engine system, comprising:
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transferring thermal energy from a heat source stream to a working fluid in a waste heat exchanger of a working fluid circuit of the heat engine system; expanding the working fluid in an expander in fluid communication with the waste heat exchanger; circulating at least a first portion of the working fluid in the working fluid circuit via a pump driven by the expander; cooling the working fluid in a first condenser disposed upstream of the pump in the working fluid circuit; expanding a second portion of the working fluid in a cooling circuit, wherein the cooling circuit is fluidly coupled with the working fluid circuit at a first junction and a second junction, and the second junction is disposed upstream of the first condenser; and transferring thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid in an evaporator, thereby cooling the fluid stream. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification