Efficient conversion of heat to useful energy
First Claim
1. A heat transfer system for converting heat into energy, comprising:
- a power sub-system communicatively coupled to a heat source stream, said power sub-system comprising;
a first heat exchanger adapted to heat a multi-component working stream with heat from said heat source stream thereby producing a heated working stream;
a turbine adapted to expand said heated working stream thereby producing a spent stream;
a stream splitter adapted to split a partially heated working stream into a first substream and a second substream prior to being heated in said first heat exchanger, anda second heat exchanger adapted to heat said first substream with heat from said spent stream thereby producing a cooled spent stream having a first set of thermodynamic characteristics;
a distillation condensation sub-system adapted to receive said cooled spent stream having substantially the same thermodynamic characteristics as said first set of thermodynamic characteristics, thereby producing a condensed working stream; and
a residual heat exchanger adapted to heat said condensed working stream with heat from a low temperature tail of said heat source stream thereby producing said partially heated working stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat transfer system includes a power sub-system configured to receive a heat source stream, and one or more heat exchangers configured to transfer heat from the heat source stream to a working stream. The working stream is ultimately heated to a point where it can be passed through one or more turbines, to generate power, while the heat source stream is cooled to a low temperature tail. A distillation condensation sub-system cools the spent stream to generate an intermediate stream and a working stream. The working stream can be variably heated by the intermediate stream so that it is at a sufficient temperature to make efficient use of the low temperature tail. The working stream is then heated by the low temperature tail, and subsequently passed on for use in the power sub-system.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A heat transfer system for converting heat into energy, comprising:
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a power sub-system communicatively coupled to a heat source stream, said power sub-system comprising; a first heat exchanger adapted to heat a multi-component working stream with heat from said heat source stream thereby producing a heated working stream; a turbine adapted to expand said heated working stream thereby producing a spent stream; a stream splitter adapted to split a partially heated working stream into a first substream and a second substream prior to being heated in said first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger adapted to heat said first substream with heat from said spent stream thereby producing a cooled spent stream having a first set of thermodynamic characteristics; a distillation condensation sub-system adapted to receive said cooled spent stream having substantially the same thermodynamic characteristics as said first set of thermodynamic characteristics, thereby producing a condensed working stream; and a residual heat exchanger adapted to heat said condensed working stream with heat from a low temperature tail of said heat source stream thereby producing said partially heated working stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12)
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8. 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; cooling the spent stream producing a cooled spent stream having a first set of thermodynamic characteristics; condensing the cooled spent stream having substantially the same thermodynamic characteristics as said first set of thermodynamic characteristics in a distillation condensation sub-system and producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a multi-component stream; heating the multi-component stream with fluid from the distillation condensation subsystem; subsequent to heating the multi-component stream with fluid from the distillation condensation subsystem, heating the working stream with the low temperature tail of a heat source stream at a residual heat exchanger; splitting the multi-component stream heated at the residual heat exchanger to form a first substream and a second substream; heating the first substream with heat from the spent stream at a first heat exchanger, thereby forming said cooled spent stream; recombining the first substream and the second substream to form a recombined multi-component stream; and heating the recombined multi-component stream with heat from the heat source stream at a second heat exchanger to form the multi-component gaseous working stream. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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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; cooling the spent stream and producing a cooled spent stream having a first set of thermodynamic characteristics; condensing the cooled spent stream having substantially the same thermodynamic characteristics as said first set of thermodynamic characteristics in a distillation condensation sub-system and producing a condensed stream; pressurizing the condensed stream and producing a multi-component stream; heating the multi-component stream with the low temperature tail of a heat source stream at a residual heat exchanger; splitting the multi-component stream heated at the residual heat exchanger to form a first substream and a second substream; heating the first substream with heat from the spent stream at a first heat exchanger, thereby producing the cooled spent stream; and heating the second substream with heat from the heat source stream at a second heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification