US 12,698,730 B2 · Ambient temperature thermal adapter for supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle is connected to a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle by incorporating a CO2 condenser which is also the refrigeration cycle evaporator. The heat rejected by the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the refrigerant in the CO2 condenser. Work is done on the refrigerant to raise its temperature above the local ambient temperature. The heat absorbed from the power cycle and the work required to raise the refrigerant temperature is rejected to the ambient environment, which may be either air, earth, or water. This results in improved efficiencies in carbon dioxide power cycles without regard to the ambient temperature by forcing a transcritical phase change even when ambient temperatures are above the carbon dioxide critical point. A two-phase heat transfer on both sides of the CO2 condenser further improves efficiency of the sCO2 power cycle.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power system comprising:

a thermal energy source;
a turbine configured to receive supercritical CO2 from the thermal energy source and expand the supercritical CO2;
a recuperator configured to receive CO2 from the turbine;
a condenser configured to receive CO2 from the recuperator;
a refrigeration system in thermal communication with the condenser, the refrigeration system configured to provide a heat sink for the CO2 at a temperature below a critical temperature of CO2 to condense the CO2 to a liquid state regardless of an ambient temperature being above or below the critical temperature of CO2;
a pump configured to pump liquid CO2 existing the condenser;
and
a carbon dioxide (CO2) fluid loop configured to convey CO2 through the fluid loop such that the CO2 transitions from a supercritical state upstream of the turbine, to a gaseous state downstream of the turbine, to a liquid state downstream of the condenser, and back to the supercritical state after being heated by the thermal energy source.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ambient temperature thermal adapter for supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle

Life of this patent

Ambient temperature thermal adapter for supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17