Method of optimizing performance of Rankine cycle power plants
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a turbine to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the step of:
- expanding working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
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Abstract
A method for efficiently operating a Rankine cycle power plant (10) to maximize fuel utilization efficiency or energy conversion efficiency or minimize costs by selecting a turbine (22) fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line (46).
39 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for operating a turbine to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the step of:
expanding working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
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2. A method for operating a turbine to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the step of:
expanding working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid.
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3. A method for operating a binary Rankine cycle power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the steps of:
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vaporizing a working fluid in a supercritical heat exchanger; and expanding the working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
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4. A method for operating a power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the steps of:
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vaporizing a working fluid in a heat exchanger to supercritical exit conditions; and expanding the working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
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5. A method for operating a power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency, including the steps of:
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vaporizing a fluid in a heat exchanger; and expanding the fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for operating a Rankine cycle power plant to maximize thermodynamic and economic performance including the steps of:
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vaporizing a fluid in a supercritical primary heater; expanding the fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid; and condensing the fluid exhausted from the turbine; returning the condensed fluid to the heater. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification