Advanced heat recovery and energy conversion systems for power generation and pollution emissions reduction, and methods of using same
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid from a heat source and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a supercritical vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid from said heat source, wherein a temperature-enthalpy profile of said working fluid in the first heat exchanger is approximately linear as the working fluid changes state from a liquid to a supercritical vapor;
at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and adapted to drive at least one generator to thereby produce electrical power;
an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine prior to the introduction of said working fluid into said first heat exchanger;
a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after said exhaust vapor has passed through said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid; and
a pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said economizer heat exchanger.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for producing mechanical power from a heat source. In various illustrative examples, the system may include a heat recovery heat exchanger, a turbine, an economizer heat exchanger, a condenser heat exchanger, and a liquid circulating pump, etc. In other embodiments, a desuperheater may be employed. In one illustrative embodiment, the system comprises a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid from a heat source and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer with the fluid from the heat source, at least one turbine adapted to receive the vapor, and an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from the turbine and the working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with the exhaust vapor from the turbine prior to the introduction of the working fluid into the first heat exchanger. The system further comprises a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive the exhaust vapor from the turbine after the exhaust vapor has passed through the economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of the exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with the cooling fluid, and a pump that is adapted to circulate the working fluid to the economizer heat exchanger.
154 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid from a heat source and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a supercritical vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid from said heat source, wherein a temperature-enthalpy profile of said working fluid in the first heat exchanger is approximately linear as the working fluid changes state from a liquid to a supercritical vapor; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and adapted to drive at least one generator to thereby produce electrical power; an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine prior to the introduction of said working fluid into said first heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after said exhaust vapor has passed through said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid; and a pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said economizer heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid from a heat source and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid from said heat source; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and to drive at least one compressor of a refrigeration system to thereby produce refrigeration, which may be utilized to chill the air entering a combustion gas turbine or to provide refrigeration to any other industrial, commercial, or residential refrigeration demand; an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine prior to the introduction of said working fluid into said first heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after said exhaust vapor has passed through said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid; and a pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said economizer heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive an exhaust fluid from a combustion gas turbine and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said exhaust fluid from said combustion gas turbine; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and to drive at least one compressor of a refrigeration system to thereby produce refrigeration to chill air entering said combustion gas turbine; an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine prior to the introduction of said working fluid into said first heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after said exhaust vapor has passed through said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid; and a pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said economizer heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive an exhaust fluid from a combustion gas turbine and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said exhaust fluid from said combustion gas turbine; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and to drive at least one compressor of a refrigeration system to thereby produce refrigeration to chill air entering said combustion as turbine; a desuperheater heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and a portion of the working fluid extracted upstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the temperature of the exhaust vapor from the at least one turbine is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer by direct contact and mixing with said working fluid in said desuperheater heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive working fluid exiting said desuperheater heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said working fluid is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid in said condenser heat exchanger; and a pump adapted to circulate said working fluid to said first heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid extracted from an intermediate stage of compression of a multi-stage gas compressor of a combustion gas turbine and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid extracted from said intermediate stage of compression; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and to drive at least one compressor of a refrigeration system to thereby produce refrigeration which is utilized to chill air entering said combustion gas turbine; an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said working fluid, wherein a temperature of the working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine prior to the introduction of said working fluid into said first heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after said exhaust vapor has passed through said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid; and a pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said economizer heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a fluid extracted from an intermediate stage of compression of a multi-stage gas compressor of a combustion gas turbine and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid extracted from said intermediate stage of compression; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and to drive at least one compressor of a refrigeration system to thereby produce refrigeration which is utilized to chill air entering said combustion gas turbine; a desuperheater heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and a portion of the working fluid extracted upstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the temperature of the exhaust vapor from the at least one turbine is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer by direct contact and mixing with said working fluid in said desuperheater heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive working fluid exiting said desuperheater heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said working fluid is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid in said condenser heat exchanger; and a pump adapted to circulate said working fluid to said first heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A system, comprising:
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a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a superheated vapor from a high pressure stage of a refrigeration system that is utilized exclusively for the purpose of replacing a condenser in the refrigeration system and a working fluid, wherein, when the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, the working fluid is converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said fluid from said heat source; at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor; a desuperheater heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and a portion of the working fluid extracted upstream of the first heat exchanger, wherein the temperature of the exhaust vapor from the at least one turbine is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer by direct contact and mixing with said working fluid in said desuperheater heat exchanger; a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive working fluid exiting said desuperheater heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said working fluid is adapted to be reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid in said condenser heat exchanger; and a pump adapted to circulate said working fluid to said first heat exchanger.
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Specification