Cryogenic cogeneration system

• US 7,647,774 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Block, Zina Block
• Original Assignee: Blue Earth Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Storck, Gary A. Jr., Shirk, Mark Alan, Welgel, Wesley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang M
• Application Number:
  US11/100,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 606/51, 606/71, 606/70
• US Class Current: 60/651
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/08 using special vapours
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/04 of closed-cycle type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/005 Binary cycle plants where the fluid from the solar collector heats the working fluid via a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines

Abstract

A cryogenic and thermal source cogeneration method for converting energy from a heat source, through a cryogenic heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising, utilizing a vapor compression cycle (2) to absorb heat from the heat source and, utilizing a Rankine cycle (4) for energy transfer, for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy.

Claims

1. A cryogenic cogeneration method for converting energy from a heat source, through a cryogenic heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising:

utilizing a vapor compression cycle to absorb heat from said heat source wherein the vapor compression cycle includes a vapor compression evaporator and at least one subassembly wherein the subassembly includes a heat transfer medium therein;

utilizing the heat source to heat the medium whereby the medium stays at a substantially fixed volume;

utilizing a Rankine cycle in conjunction with the vapor compression cycle, for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy wherein the Rankine cycle includes a condenser;

transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle via a heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger includes the vapor compression evaporator and the condenser, in a simultaneous fashion; and

utilizing a substantial portion of said mechanical and/or electrical energy to provide power to an external workload.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said Rankine cycle includes utilizing means for conversion of thermal energy into mechanical and/or electrical energy, including energy absorption and rejection means to transfer substantial thermal energy from said heat source to said Rankine cycle, and recycling means for transfer of thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing said vapor compression cycle with energy absorption and rejection means for transfer of thermal energy from said heat source to said Rankine cycle and/or for transfer of energy via transfer to and from said Rankine cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing a heat transfer medium in said Rankine cycle.

5. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing a refrigerant in said Rankine cycle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a refrigerant.

7. The method of claim 4, further including utilizing a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said heat transfer medium.

8. The method of claim 5, further including utilizing a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said refrigerant.

9. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said heat transfer medium.

10. The method of claim 6, further including utilizing a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said refrigerant.

11. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing means to compress and/or superheat a heat transfer medium and/or refrigerant by passive natural isothermal and/or exothermal processes.

12. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing means for maintaining a predetermined continuous constant pressure output and/or flow through a sequenced method of simultaneous and/or parallel implementation of passive natural isothermal and/or exothermal processes, using the at least one subassembly.

13. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using a blowdown cycle.

14. The method of claim 13, further including utilizing one or more blowdown expansion engines in said blowdown cycle as a means of reducing pressure in said parallel passive compressors while recovering/converting some residual energy.

15. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using parallel passive volume reduction compressors.

16. The method of claim 1, further including utilizing means to increase a buoyant vessel lifting capacity using avionic lifting means.

17. The method of claim 13, further including utilizing means for broadening said range and control of pressures and/or flows by utilizing a volume reduction compressor.

18. The method of claim 14, further including utilizing a heat sink to further recover residual energy from said parallel passive compressors.

19. The method of claim 14, further including utilizing one or more pumps to enhance flow from said parallel passive compressors.

20. The method of claim 19, further including utilizing a vacuum diffusion ejector to further recover residual energy from and induce flow into said parallel passive compressors.

50. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle in a simultaneous fashion further comprises utilizing at least two heat exchangers between the vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle as a means for said latent thermal energy transfer.

21. A cryogenic cogeneration apparatus for converting energy from a heat source, through a cryogenic heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising:

vapor compression cycle means to absorb heat from said heat source_wherein the vapor compression cycle means includes a vapor compression evaporator;

Rankine cycle means to absorb heat from said heat source, said Rankine cycle means for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy, said Rankine cycle means including a condenser, the Rankine cycle means being operatively linked to said vapor compression cycle means via the vapor compression evaporator;

means for transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle via a heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger includes the vapor compression evaporator and the condenser, in a simultaneous fashion; and

wherein a substantial portion of said mechanical and/or electrical energy is utilized to provide power to an external workload.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said vapor compressor cycle means includes a heat transfer medium.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said Rankine cycle means includes a heat transfer medium.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said vapor compressor cycle means includes a refrigerant.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said Rankine cycle means includes a refrigerant.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further means for creating a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said heat transfer medium.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further including means for creating a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said refrigerant.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further including means for creating a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said heat transfer medium.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further including means for creating a thermosiphonic flow stimulated by gravity and natural convection to circulate said refrigerant.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means to compress and/or superheat a heat transfer medium and/or refrigerant by passive natural isothermal and/or exothermal processes.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for maintaining a predetermined continuous constant pressure output and/or flow through a sequenced method of simultaneous and/or parallel implementation of passive natural isothermal and/or exothermal processes, using the at least one subassembly.

32. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using a blowdown cycle.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further including utilizing one or more blowdown expansion engines in said blowdown cycle as a means of reducing pressure in said parallel passive compressors while recovering/converting some residual energy.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further including utilizing a heat sink to further recover residual energy from said parallel passive compressors.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further including utilizing one or more pumps to enhance flow into/from said parallel passive compressors.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further including utilizing a vacuum diffusion ejector to further recover residual energy from and induce flow into said parallel passive compressors.

37. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using a blowdown vacuum heat sink.

38. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using parallel passive volume reduction compressors.

39. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means to increase a buoyant vessel lifting capacity using avionic lifting means.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, further including means for broadening said range and control of pressures and/or flows by utilizing a volume reduction compressor.

41. The apparatus of claim 21, further including a motorized mechanical driven compressor and motorized mechanical driven blower, for flow circulation.

51. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the energy transfer means comprises at least two heat exchangers between the vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle.

42. A thermal source cogeneration method for converting energy from a heat source, through a heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising:

utilizing a vapor compression cycle to absorb heat from said heat source wherein the vapor compression cycle includes a vapor compression evaporator;

utilizing a Rankine cycle in conjunction with the vapor compression cycle, the Rankine cycle including a condenser, for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy;

transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle via a heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger includes the vapor compression evaporator and the condenser, in a simultaneous fashion; and

utilizing a substantial portion of said mechanical and/or electrical energy to provide power to an external workload.

43. The method of claim 42, further including utilizing means for broadening both range and control of pressures and/or flows using a blowdown cycle, and further utilizing means for conversion of thermal energy into mechanical and/or electric energy using an expansion engine.

44. The method of claim 43, further including utilizing means for re-introducing the blowdown cycle heat transfer medium into a vapor compression cycle for conversion of thermal energy into mechanical and/or electric energy using an expansion engine and a blowdown heat sink.

45. The method of claim 42 further including utilizing said mechanical and/or electric energy for the liquification and/or liquefaction of at least one of nitrogen, air, hydrogen, helium, water vapor/steam, helium, methane, carbon dioxide.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein said heat source comprises thermal friction producing assemblies and/or surfaces.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein said heat source comprises renewable energy sources, said renewable energy sources comprising at least solar thermal, geo-thermal and bio-mass thermal.

48. The method of claim 42 further including utilizing said mechanical and/or electric energy to propel at least compressors, electrical generators and transmissions.

52. The method of claim 42 wherein transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle in a simultaneous fashion further comprises utilizing at least two heat exchangers between the vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle as a means for said latent thermal energy transfer.

49. A thermal source cogeneration apparatus for converting energy from a heat source, through a heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising:

vapor compression cycle means to absorb heat from said heat source wherein the vapor compression cycle means includes a vapor compression evaporator;

Rankine cycle means to absorb heat from said heat source, said Rankine cycle means for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy, said Rankine cycle means including a condenser, the Rankine cycle means being operatively linked to said vapor compression cycle means via the vapor compression evaporator;

means for transferring latent thermal energy to and from said vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle via a heat exchanger wherein the heat exchanger includes the vapor compression evaporator and the condenser, in a simultaneous fashion; and

wherein a substantial portion of said mechanical and/or electrical energy is utilized to provide power to an external workload.

53. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the energy transfer means comprises at least two heat exchangers between the vapor compression cycle and said Rankine cycle.