Method of and apparatus for producing power from a heat source

• US 6,960,839 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ormat Technologies Incorporated (Ormat Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ormat Technologies Incorporated (Ormat Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Batscha, Danny, Zimron, Ohad
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/902,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 290/4.R, 290/1.R, 290/2, 606/49, 606/51, 606/70, 606/11
• US Class Current: 290/2
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/04 condensation heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/10 with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle F01K17/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/08 using special vapours
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method for producing power from a heat source comprises the steps of: heating an intermediate fluid with heat from the heat source and producing a vaporized intermediate fluid in an intermediate fluid heater/vaporizer. Heat from the vaporized intermediate fluid vaporizes an organic liquid working fluid present in an organic working fluid vaporizer to form a vaporized organic working fluid and intermediate fluid condensate. The vaporized organic working fluid is expanded in an organic vapor turbine for generating power and producing expanded vaporized organic working fluid; the expanded organic vaporized working fluid being condensed to produce an organic fluid condensate with the organic fluid condensate being supplied to the organic fluid vaporizer. According to the present invention, prior to supplying the vaporized intermediate fluid to the organic fluid vaporizer the vaporized intermediate fluid is expanded in an intermediate fluid vapor turbine and power is produced.

Claims

1. A method for producing power from a heat source comprising the steps of:

a) heating a synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid with heat from said heat source and producing a vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid in an intermediate fluid heater/vaporizer;

b) supplying said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid to an organic fluid vaporizer for supplying heat to organic liquid working fluid present in said organic fluid vaporizer;

c) vaporizing said organic liquid working fluid with heat from the vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid in said organic fluid vaporizer to form a vaporized organic working fluid and a synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid condensate in said organic fluid vaporizer;

d) expanding said vaporized organic working fluid in an organic vapor turbine for producing an expanded vaporized organic working fluid;

e) generating power by use of an electric generator driven by said organic vapor turbine;

f) condensing said expanded organic vaporized working fluid to produce an organic fluid condensate; and

g) supplying the organic fluid condensate to the organic fluid vaporizer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein prior to supplying said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid to said organic fluid vaporizer said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid is expanded in an intermediate fluid vapor turbine and power is produced.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid condensate is supplied to said synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid heater/vaporizer.

4. Apparatus for producing power from a heat source comprising:

a) a synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid heater/vaporizer that heats and vaporizes the synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid with heat from said heat source and produces a vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid;

b) an organic fluid vaporizer that receives said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid for supplying heat to an organic liquid working fluid present in said organic fluid vaporizer and vaporizes said organic liquid working fluid with heat from said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid to form a vaporized organic working fluid and a synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid condensate in said organic fluid vaporizer;

c) an organic vapor turbine that expands said vaporized organic working fluid, producing an expanded vaporized organic working fluid;

d) an electric generator driven by said organic vapor turbine for generating power; and

e) an organic fluid condenser that condenses said expanded organic vaporized working fluid to produce an organic working fluid condensate so that the organic working fluid condensate is supplied to the organic working fluid vaporizer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including an intermediate fluid vapor turbine that expands said vaporized synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid prior to supplying it to said organic fluid vaporizer such that said intermediate fluid vapor turbine produces power and a pump for supplying said synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluit condensate to said synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid heater/vaporizer.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said synthetic, alkylated aromatic heat transfer fluid comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of an alkyl substituted aromatic fluid and a mixture of isomers of an alkylated aromatic fluid.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said working fluid comprises a working fluid selected form the group consisting of butane, iso-butane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, hexane, iso-hexane and mixtures thereof.