Method and system for enhancing power output of renewable thermal cycle power plants

2:

• The system of claim 1 wherein a condenser is provided downstream from said turbine, said condenser adapted to receive steam from said turbine and condense said steam into liquid water, said condenser including an outlet for the liquid water.

3:

• The system of claim 2 wherein said source of fuel includes a fuel containing carbon therein, with the products of combustion within said reheater including steam and carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide within the products of combustion causing carbon dioxide to be contained within the working fluid leaving said outlet of said reheater, said condenser adapted to separate carbon dioxide in the working fluid from water within the working fluid, with the carbon dioxide being in a gaseous state when leaving said condenser and the water being in a liquid state when leaving said condenser.

4:

• The system of claim 3 wherein said water outlet of said condenser is recycled to the Rankine cycle power plant at least partially.

5:

• The system of claim 3 wherein said carbon dioxide outlet of said condenser is coupled to a carbon dioxide collection system adapted to collect carbon dioxide away from the atmosphere, such that carbon dioxide is not emitted into the atmosphere by said system.

6:

• The system of claim 1 wherein said turbine downstream of said outlet of said reheater is a steam turbine.

7:

• The system of claim 1 wherein said turbine downstream of said outlet of said reheater is a gas turbine, said gas turbine having an outlet temperature above a condensation temperature for water.

8:

• The system of claim 7 wherein a heat recovery steam generator is located downstream of said gas turbine, said heat recovery steam generator adapted to give up heat to a second working fluid sufficient to condense steam within the working fluid generated in said reheater, the heat recovery steam generator including a liquid water outlet.

9:

• The system of claim 8 wherein said second working fluid is coupled to an expander for further power output from said system, said heat recovery steam generator including a gaseous carbon dioxide outlet.

11:

• The method of claim 10 wherein a steam turbine is located downstream of the steam in the Rankine cycle power plant and upstream of the steam inlet of the reheater, such that the steam passes through a turbine within the Rankine cycle power plant before the steam is routed to the reheater and to the turbine downstream of the output of the reheater, such that two separate turbines are provided at least partially in series with at least some of the steam passing through each of the turbines, and each of the turbines outputting power from the power plant.

12:

• The method of claim 10 including the further step of condensing at least a portion of the steam downstream of the turbine.

13:

• The method of claim 12 including the further step of configuring the source of fuel to include a fuel containing carbon therein, such that the products of combustion within the reheater include carbon dioxide and the working fluid includes carbon dioxide;
• and
• separating the carbon dioxide in gaseous form from the water in liquid form downstream from the turbine.

14:

• The method of claim 13 including the further step of routing the water from said separating step back to the Rankine cycle power plant upstream of the source of heat.

15:

• The method of claim 13 wherein said separating step includes the step of collecting gaseous carbon dioxide separated from the water in the working fluid with the carbon dioxide collected at least partially away from the atmosphere, such that carbon emissions into the atmosphere are diminished.

17:

• The system of claim 16 wherein said source of heat includes solar radiation.

18:

• The system of claim 16 wherein said source of heat includes geothermal heat.

19:

• The system of claim 16 wherein said source of heat includes combustion of a biomass fuel.

20:

• The system of claim 16 wherein a condenser is provided downstream from said expander, said condenser adapted to receive the working fluid from said expander and condense water in the working fluid into a liquid state, said condenser including an outlet for the liquid water.

21:

• The system of claim 20 wherein said water outlet of said condenser is recycled to the Rankine cycle power plant at least partially, upstream of said source of heat.

22:

• The system of claim 21 wherein said source of fuel includes a fuel containing carbon therein, with the products of combustion within said reheater including carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide within the products of combustion causing carbon dioxide to be contained within the working fluid leaving said outlet of said reheater, said condenser adapted to separate carbon dioxide in the working fluid from water within the working fluid with the carbon dioxide being in a gaseous state when leaving said condenser and the water being in a liquid state when leaving said condenser.

23:

• The system of claim 22 wherein said carbon dioxide outlet of said condenser is coupled to a carbon dioxide collection system adapted to collect carbon dioxide away from the atmosphere, such that at least a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by the reheater is not emitted into the atmosphere by said system.