Parallel cycle heat engines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for converting thermal energy to work, comprising:
- circulating a working fluid comprising carbon dioxide with a pump throughout a working fluid circuit;
separating the working fluid into a first mass flow and a second mass flow within the working fluid circuit;
transferring thermal energy in a first heat exchanger from a heat source to the first mass flow, the first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source;
expanding the first mass flow in a first turbine fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit;
transferring residual thermal energy in a first recuperator from the first mass flow discharged from the first turbine to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger, the first recuperator being fluidly coupled to the first turbine via the working fluid circuit;
transferring thermal energy in a second heat exchanger from the heat source to the second mass flow, the second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source;
transferring thermal energy in a third heat exchanger from the heat source to the first mass flow prior to passing through the first heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source and fluidly arranged between the pump and the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit;
expanding the second mass flow in a second turbine fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger; and
transferring residual thermal energy in a second recuperator from a combined first and second mass flow to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger, the second recuperator being fluidly coupled to the second turbine via the working fluid circuit.
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Abstract
Waste heat energy conversion cycles, systems and devices use multiple waste heat exchangers arranged in series in a waste heat stream, and multiple thermodynamic cycles run in parallel with the waste heat exchangers in order to maximize thermal energy extraction from the waste heat stream by a working fluid. The parallel cycles operate in different temperature ranges with a lower temperature work output used to drive a working fluid pump. A working fluid mass management system is integrated into or connected to the cycles.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for converting thermal energy to work, comprising:
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circulating a working fluid comprising carbon dioxide with a pump throughout a working fluid circuit; separating the working fluid into a first mass flow and a second mass flow within the working fluid circuit; transferring thermal energy in a first heat exchanger from a heat source to the first mass flow, the first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source; expanding the first mass flow in a first turbine fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit; transferring residual thermal energy in a first recuperator from the first mass flow discharged from the first turbine to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger, the first recuperator being fluidly coupled to the first turbine via the working fluid circuit; transferring thermal energy in a second heat exchanger from the heat source to the second mass flow, the second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source; transferring thermal energy in a third heat exchanger from the heat source to the first mass flow prior to passing through the first heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the heat source and fluidly arranged between the pump and the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit; expanding the second mass flow in a second turbine fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger; and transferring residual thermal energy in a second recuperator from a combined first and second mass flow to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger, the second recuperator being fluidly coupled to the second turbine via the working fluid circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for converting thermal energy to work, comprising:
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a working fluid comprising carbon dioxide; a working fluid circuit containing the working fluid; one pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid throughout the working fluid circuit, the working fluid circuit separating the working fluid into a first mass flow and a second mass flow downstream of the one pump, and wherein an inlet of the one pump receives both the first mass flow and the second mass flow; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the one pump via the working fluid circuit and configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source, the first heat exchanger receiving the first mass flow and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the first mass flow; a first turbine fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit and configured to expand the first mass flow; a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the first turbine via the working fluid circuit and configured to transfer residual thermal energy from the first mass flow discharged from the first turbine to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the one pump via the working fluid circuit and configured to be in thermal communication with the heat source, the second heat exchanger receiving the second mass flow and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the second mass flow; a second turbine fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit and configured to expand the second mass flow; and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second turbine via the working fluid circuit and configured to transfer residual thermal enemy from a combined first and second mass flow to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for converting thermal energy to work, comprising:
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a working fluid comprising carbon dioxide; a working fluid circuit containing the working fluid; a pump fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid throughout the working fluid circuit, the working fluid circuit separating the working fluid into a first mass flow and a second mass flow downstream of the pump; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump via the working fluid circuit and configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source, the first heat exchanger receiving the first mass flow and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the first mass flow; a first turbine fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit and configured to expand the first mass flow; a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the first turbine via the working fluid circuit and configured to transfer residual thermal energy from the first mass flow discharged from the first turbine to the first mass flow directed to the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump via the working fluid circuit and configured to be in thermal communication with the heat source, the second heat exchanger being configured to receive the second mass flow and transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the second mass flow; a second turbine fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit and configured to expand the second mass flow, the second mass flow being discharged from the second turbine and re-combined with the first mass flow to generate a combined mass flow; a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second turbine via the working fluid circuit and configured to transfer residual thermal energy from the combined mass flow to the second mass flow directed to the second heat exchanger; and a third heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with the heat source and fluidly arranged between the pump and the first heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit, the third heat exchanger being configured to receive and transfer thermal energy to the first mass flow upstream of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger are fluidly arranged in series in the heat source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification