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High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG

  • US 7,028,481 B1
  • Filed: 10/14/2004
  • Issued: 04/18/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A closed-loop Brayton power conversion system, comprising:

  • A. a heat source;

    B. a power turbine;

    C. a recuperator;

    D. a suction cooler;

    E. a compressor;

    F. a superheater;

    G. an insulated storage tank for storing cold, liquefied heat sink media;

    H. a pump for pumping the liquefied heat sink media from the storage tank (G) to the suction cooler (D);

    I. primary coolant loop piping means for conveying a primary stream of a heat transfer gas in the following closed-loop flow sequence;

    from component A to B to C to D to E, back to C, and then back to A;

    wherein the entire sequence is cyclically repeated;

    J. side-stream piping means for conveying a fraction of the heat transfer gas in a side-stream that splits-off from the primary coolant loop piping means at a first T-junction located in-between power turbine (B) and recuperator (C); and

    then flows through superheater (F); and

    finally to a second T-junction located in-between recuperator (C) and suction cooler (D);

    at which point the side-stream is recombined with the primary stream of heat transfer gas before entering suction cooler (D); and

    K. heat sink piping means for conveying the cold, liquefied heat sink media from storage tank (G) to pump (H);

    then to suction cooler (D) where the liquefied heat sink media is substantially vaporized;

    then to superheater (F); and

    finally to exit piping means for delivering the vaporized heat sink media to market.

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