Thermal energy conversion device
First Claim
1. A thermal energy conversion device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, comprising:
- a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid circuit comprising;
a heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the working fluid;
an expander in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger, the expander configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; and
a pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit; and
a mass management system fluidly coupled to an outlet of the pump and configured to remove the working fluid at a first pressure and a first density from a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger, and further fluidly coupled to an inlet of the pump and configured to add the working fluid from the mass management system to a location upstream of the pump, the first pressure being greater than a pressure of the working fluid at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump and the first density being greater than a density of the working fluid at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments provide a power generation device that utilizes a working fluid containing carbon dioxide within a working fluid circuit having high and low pressure sides. Components of the device may include a heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid, an expander located between the high and low pressure sides of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a recuperator operative to transfer thermal energy between the high and low pressure sides, a cooler operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low pressure side, a pump operative to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system configured to control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit.
404 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A thermal energy conversion device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, comprising:
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a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid circuit comprising; a heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the working fluid; an expander in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger, the expander configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; and a pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit; and a mass management system fluidly coupled to an outlet of the pump and configured to remove the working fluid at a first pressure and a first density from a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger, and further fluidly coupled to an inlet of the pump and configured to add the working fluid from the mass management system to a location upstream of the pump, the first pressure being greater than a pressure of the working fluid at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump and the first density being greater than a density of the working fluid at or adjacent to the inlet of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power generation device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, comprising:
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a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid circuit comprising; a heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source and to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the working fluid; an expander in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the heat exchanger, the expander configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a cooler in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the expander and configured to control a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the expander; and a pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit; a mass management system having a mass control tank comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the pump and configured to remove the working fluid from a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger and an outlet fluidly coupled to an inlet of the pump and configured to add working fluid from the mass control tank to a location upstream of the pump; and a support structure for housing and supporting the working fluid circuit and the mass management system, the support structure having a mass management connection point configured to couple the mass management system to an external source of the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A power generation device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, comprising:
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a housing; a working fluid circuit disposed in the housing and configured to flow a working fluid therethrough; a heat exchanger disposed in the housing and fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the working fluid circuit, configured to be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a heat source, and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the working fluid; an expander disposed in the housing, fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the working fluid circuit, and configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy by a pressure drop in the working fluid flowing therethrough; a pump disposed in the housing, fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit; and a mass management system disposed in the housing and comprising; a mass control tank having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the pump and configured to remove the working fluid from a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger and an outlet fluidly coupled to an inlet of the pump and configured to add the working fluid from the mass control tank to a location upstream of the pump; a fluid line extending from a connection point downstream from the mass control tank and terminating in a mass management fill point disposed on an exterior of the housing and configured to couple the fluid line to an external source of working fluid; and a valve disposed downstream of the outlet of the mass control tank and the connection point along the direction of fluid flow through the mass management system, wherein the valve is configured to be controlled to deliver working fluid from the external source, working fluid from the mass control tank, or a combination thereof into the location upstream of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification