Systems and methods for reducing parasitic losses in closed loop systems
First Claim
1. A system for generating power, said system comprising:
- a closed loop fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid to a pump component, an evaporator component, a power generating component, a condenser component, and a heat recovery unit coupled with the evaporator component to receive a thermal source fluid from the evaporator component at a temperature sufficient to evaporate the working fluid, the closed loop fluid circuit comprising a flow path that is configured to direct the working fluid in vapor phase from the heat recovery unit to the pump component, wherein the pump component is configured to pressurize the working fluid in liquid phase in response to flow of the working fluid in vapor phase.
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Abstract
Embodiments of a system that configured as a closed loop system, with a pump, an evaporator, a power generator, and a condenser, the combination of which circulate a working fluid to generate electrical power. The embodiments can harvest residual energy in the working fluid to improve efficiency and to reduce power loss that can derive from the pump as well as other auxiliary loads (e.g., fans). In one embodiment, the system incorporates members that operate in response to the working fluid, often in the higher pressure vapor form that occurs after evaporation and/or power generation stages. These members can include mechanical elements, for example, that have motive action (e.g., reciprocate, rotate, etc.) that is useful to satisfy operating and power requirements of auxiliary loads. For the pressurization stage, these mechanical elements may embody a piston-and-cylinder arrangement (or other rotary or linear positive displacement arrangement) that generates motion that can drive the pump.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for generating power, said system comprising:
a closed loop fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid to a pump component, an evaporator component, a power generating component, a condenser component, and a heat recovery unit coupled with the evaporator component to receive a thermal source fluid from the evaporator component at a temperature sufficient to evaporate the working fluid, the closed loop fluid circuit comprising a flow path that is configured to direct the working fluid in vapor phase from the heat recovery unit to the pump component, wherein the pump component is configured to pressurize the working fluid in liquid phase in response to flow of the working fluid in vapor phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 22, 23, 24)
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10. A system for generating power, said system comprising:
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a first flow path that is configured to circulate a working fluid between an evaporator component, a power generating component, an evaporator component, and a pump component; and a second flow path that couples with the first flow path to direct the working fluid in vapor phase to a mechanical element that is configured for motive action in response to the working fluid in vapor phase, wherein the second flow path includes a heat recovery unit that is coupled with the evaporator component to receive a thermal source fluid from the evaporator component at a temperature sufficient to evaporate the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A closed loop system with a fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid, said closed loop system comprising:
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an evaporator component; a heat recovery unit coupled with the evaporator component to receive a thermal source fluid from the evaporator component at a temperature sufficient to evaporate a working fluid from liquid phase to vapor phase; a flow path that is configured to couple with the fluid circuit to divert the working fluid to the heat recovery unit in liquid phase from the fluid circuit; and a pump component that is configured to couple with the flow path, the pump component comprising a drive member and a pump member, the drive member comprising a mechanical element that is configured for motive action in response to the working fluid in vapor phase from the heat recovery unit to operate the pump member to pressurize the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification