Advanced power recovery and energy conversion systems and methods of using same

• US 7,827,791 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAS Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tas Limited
• Inventors: Pierson, Tom L., Penton, John David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang M
• Application Number:
  US11/243,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/70, 606/77
• US Class Current: 60/653
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/14 having both steam accumulator and heater, e.g. superheating accumulator steam superheaters per se F22G
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/265 using live steam for superheating or reheating

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for producing mechanical power from a heat source. The system may include a heat recovery heat exchanger, a turbine, a condenser heat exchanger, and a liquid circulating pump, etc. In other embodiments, a desuperheater or an economizer, or both, 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 optional 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 optional 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 optional economizer heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a heating stream from a heat source and a first portion of the working fluid other than water, wherein, when the first portion of the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, and converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said heating stream from said heat source;

at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and produce rotational, mechanical power to a shaft that is adapted to transmit said power to at least one device adapted to receive said power;

a direct contact desuperheater heat exchanger adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and a second portion of said working fluid, wherein the temperature of the second portion of said working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine while the temperature of said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine is reduced in said direct contact desuperheater heat exchanger;

a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said direct contact desuperheater heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor from said direct contact desuperheater heat exchanger is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid;

a liquid accumulator that is adapted to receive said cooled working fluid, provide storage for said cooled working fluid, and provide a surge volume for said system;

at least one pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said first heat exchanger;

a flow splitter that is adapted to divide the working fluid from said at least one pump into at least said first and second portions, wherein said first portion is supplied to said first heat exchanger and said second portion is supplied to said desuperheater heat exchanger; and

,

a flow regulating valve adapted to receive said second portion of said working fluid and regulate the flow of and reduce the pressure of said second portion of said working fluid before supplying said second portion of said working fluid to said desuperheater heat exchanger.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid enters said first heat exchanger as a supercritical liquid and via heat transfer with the heating stream from said heat source changes state from a supercritical liquid to a supercritical vapor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling fluid for said condenser heat exchanger comprises at least one of a liquid and a gas.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling fluid for said condenser heat exchanger is a partially or fully vaporized liquid in passing through said condenser heat exchanger.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said condenser heat exchanger is adapted to condense the exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine to a liquid at a temperature between approximately 50-250°

F.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is methyl alcohol (methanol) or one of its derivatives and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 463-963°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1070 psia.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is bromine and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 592-1092°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1500 psia.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is carbon tetrachloride and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 600-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 542-1042°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1000 psia.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is ethyl alcohol or one of its derivatives and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 470-970°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 920 psia.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is R-150A and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 482-982°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 730 psia.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is thiophene and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 600-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 583-1083°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 730 psia.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is a mixture of hydrocarbons containing ten or fewer carbon atoms per molecule and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 400-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 400-1000°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 300 psia.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one electrical generator to produce electrical power.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one compressor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one turbine drives said at least one pump.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one electrical generator to produce electrical power and said at least one pump.

17. A system, comprising:

a first heat exchanger adapted to receive a heating stream from a heat source and a first portion of the working fluid other than water, wherein, when the first portion of the working fluid is passed through the first heat exchanger, and converted to a vapor via heat transfer from the heat contained in said heating stream from said heat source;

at least one turbine adapted to receive said vapor and produce rotational, mechanical power to a shaft that is adapted to transmit said power to at least one device adapted to receive said power;

an economizer heat exchanger adapted to receive exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine and said first portion of the working fluid, wherein the temperature of the first portion 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 first portion of the working fluid into said first heat exchanger;

a direct contact desuperheater heat exchanger adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine after it passes through said economizer heat exchanger and a second portion of said working fluid, wherein the temperature of the second portion of said working fluid is adapted to be increased via heat transfer with said exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine while the temperature of said exhaust vapor is reduced by heat transfer in said economizer heat exchanger;

a condenser heat exchanger that is adapted to receive said exhaust vapor from said economizer heat exchanger and a cooling fluid, wherein a temperature of said exhaust vapor from said economizer heat exchanger is reduced via heat transfer with said cooling fluid;

a liquid accumulator that is adapted to receive said cooled working fluid, provide storage for said cooled working fluid, and provide a surge volume for said system;

at least one pump that is adapted to circulate said working fluid to said first heat exchanger;

a flow splitter that is adapted to divide the working fluid from said at least one pump into at least said first and second portions, wherein said first portion is supplied to said economizer heat exchanger and said second portion is supplied to said desuperheater heat exchanger; and

,

a flow regulating valve adapted to receive said second portion of said working fluid and regulate the flow of and reduce the pressure of said second portion of said working fluid before supplying said second portion of said working fluid to said desuperheater heat exchanger.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid enters said first heat exchanger as a supercritical liquid and via heat transfer with the heating stream from said heat source changes state from a supercritical liquid to a supercritical vapor.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said cooling fluid for said condenser heat exchanger comprises at least one of a liquid and a gas.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said cooling fluid for said condenser heat exchanger is a partially or fully vaporized liquid in passing through said condenser heat exchanger.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said condenser heat exchanger is adapted to condense the exhaust vapor from said at least one turbine to a liquid at a temperature between approximately 50-250°

F.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is methyl alcohol (methanol) or one of its derivatives and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 463-963°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1070 psia.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is bromine and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 592-1092°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1500 psia.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is carbon tetrachloride and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 600-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 542-1042°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 1000 psia.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is ethyl alcohol or one of its derivatives and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 470-970°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 920 psia.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is R-150A and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 500-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 482-982°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 730 psia.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is thiophene and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 600-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 583-1083°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 730 psia.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein said working fluid is a mixture of hydrocarbons containing ten or fewer carbon atoms per molecule and said fluid from said heat source has a temperature of between approximately 400-2500°

F., the maximum temperature of the working fluid is between approximately 400-1000°

F., and wherein said pump is adapted to operate at a discharge pressure greater than approximately 300 psia.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one electrical generator to produce electrical power.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one compressor.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one turbine drives said at least one pump.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one turbine drives at least one electrical generator to produce electrical power and said at least one pump.