Plant and process of converting thermal energy into mechanical and/or electrical energy

A plant for converting thermal energy into electrical and/or mechanical energy comprising:

• a closed circuit for circulation of a working fluid,
• a pump operative in the closed circuit for circulating the working fluid in the closed circuit, an evaporator active on the closed circuit and configured to receive heat from a hot source (H) and heat the working fluid to cause its transition from liquid to gaseous state,
• an expander operative in the closed circuit downstream of the evaporator and configured for receiving incoming working fluid in gaseous state,
• a condenser active on the closed circuit downstream of the expander and upstream of the pump, said condenser being configured for determining transition of the working fluid from gaseous to liquid state,
• wherein the pump comprises:
• a first compartment positionable in fluid communication with a first portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of the pump and upstream of the evaporator to send working fluid in liquid state towards the same evaporator, and
• a second compartment positionable in fluid communication with a second portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of said first portion and upstream of the expander to receive working fluid in gaseous state generated by the evaporator;
• wherein said evaporator comprises at least a first heat exchanger having a side configured to receive heat from a hot source and a side crossed by said second portion of the closed circuit;
• wherein the condenser comprises a second heat exchanger having a side crossed by a section of the third portion of the closed circuit interposed between the expander and the pump, and a side configured to interact with a cold source and allow condensation of the working fluid crossing said section, determining its passage from gaseous to liquid state;
• and
• wherein the plant comprises at least a third heat exchanger having a side crossed by a section of the closed circuit interposed between the expander and the condenser and a side crossed by a section of the first portion of the closed circuit, to determine a preheating of the working fluid in liquid state exiting from the pump and directed towards the evaporator.

A plant for converting thermal energy into electrical and/or mechanical energy comprising:

• a closed circuit for circulation of a working fluid,
• a pump operative in the closed circuit for circulating the working fluid in the closed circuit,
• an evaporator active on the closed circuit and configured to receive heat from a hot source (H) and heat the working fluid to cause its transition from liquid to gaseous state,
• an expander operative in the closed circuit downstream of the evaporator and configured for receiving incoming working fluid in gaseous state,
• a condenser active on the closed circuit downstream of the expander and upstream of the pump, said condenser being configured for determining transition of the working fluid from gaseous to liquid state,
• wherein the pump comprises:
• a first compartment positionable in fluid communication with a first portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of the pump and upstream of the evaporator to send working fluid in liquid state towards the same evaporator, and
• a second compartment positionable in fluid communication with a second portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of said first portion and upstream of the expander to receive working fluid in gaseous state generated by the evaporator;
• wherein the plant further comprises a collection tank operating at a third portion of the closed circuit and interposed between the condenser and the pump, said collection tank being configured to receive working fluid from the condenser and to contain working fluid in liquid state in equilibrium with working fluid in gaseous state.