Method and apparatus for acquiring heat from multiple heat sources
First Claim
1. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
- expanding a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream;
condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream;
pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a working stream;
splitting the working stream into a first and second substream;
boiling outside of a distillation condensation subsystem a portion of the first and second substreams utilizing multiple heat source streams, wherein the multiple heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; and
combining the first and second substreams to form a recombined stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for implementing a closed loop thermodynamic cycle utilizing a multi-component working fluid to acquire heat from two or more external heat source streams in an efficient manner utilizing countercurrent exchange. The liquid multi-component working stream is heated by a first external heat source stream at a first heat exchanger and is subsequently divided into a first substream and a second substream. The first substream is heated by the first working stream at a second external heat source stream at a second heat exchanger. The second substream is heated by the second working stream at a third heat exchanger. The first substream and the second substream are then recombined into a single working stream. The recombined working stream is heated by the second external heat source stream at a fourth heat exchanger.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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expanding a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream; condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a working stream; splitting the working stream into a first and second substream; boiling outside of a distillation condensation subsystem a portion of the first and second substreams utilizing multiple heat source streams, wherein the multiple heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; and combining the first and second substreams to form a recombined stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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transforming energy from a gaseous multi-component working stream into a usable form and producing a spent stream; condensing the spent stream to produce a liquid working stream; heating the liquid working stream to the bubble point utilizing a first heat source stream; splitting the working stream into a first and second substream; heating the first and second substreams outside of a distillation condensation subsystem from the bubble point at least to the boiling region utilizing overlapping same-temperature regions of the first heat source stream and a second heat source stream, such that a portion of the first substream and the second substream boils, wherein the first and second heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; and heating the working stream to above the boiling point to create a heated gaseous working stream. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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expanding a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream; condensing the spent stream and producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a liquid working stream; splitting the liquid working stream into a first substream and a second substream; boiling outside of a distillation condensation subsystem a portion of the first substream utilizing at least a first heat source stream; and boiling outside of the distillation condensation subsystem a portion of the second substream utilizing at least a second heat source stream wherein the first and second heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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an expander adapted to expand a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream; a condenser for converting the spent stream to produce a condensed stream; a pump for pressurizing the condensed stream to produce a working stream; a first heat exchanger to heat the working stream utilizing a first heat source stream; a divider to form a first substream and a second substream from the working stream; a second heat exchanger to heat the first substream utilizing the first heat source stream; a third heat exchanger to heat the second substream utilizing a second heat source stream, wherein the first and second heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; a recombiner to form a recombined stream from the first substream and the second substream; and a fourth heat exchanger to heat the recombined stream to form a heated gaseous working stream.
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23. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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expanding a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream; condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a working stream; heating the working stream utilizing a first external heat source stream; splitting the working stream to form a first substream and a second substream; heating the first substream utilizing the first heat source stream; heating the second substream utilizing a second heat source stream, wherein the first and second heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; recombining the first substream and the second substream to form a recombined stream; and heating the recombined stream to from a heated gaseous working stream.
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24. A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:
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expanding a multi-component gaseous working stream transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream; condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a working stream; heating the working stream utilizing a first external heat source stream; splitting the working stream to form a first substream and a second substream; heating the first substream utilizing the first heat source stream; heating the second substream utilizing a second heat source stream, wherein the first and second heat source streams are external to the thermodynamic cycle; and recombining the first substream and the second substream to form a recombined stream.
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Specification