Back to results
US 2013/0255258 A1Published application
Rankine Cycle System
OwnerRonald Lee Lovedayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing the Rankine Cycle with improved efficiency through the use of thermal exchange between the working fluid and a brine liquid. In one embodiment, the brine liquid is further processed through a multistage flash distillation unit to produce distilled water or other minerals. Geothermal or exhaust waste heat may be used to further improve the Rankine Cycle efficiency, with remaining thermal energy improving the distillation process.
Claims16
A Rankine Cycle system comprising:
- a first heat exchanger configured to facilitate thermal energy transfer from a heated fluid to a working fluid,
- a turbine coupled to a generator, said turbine is configured to receive the working fluid from the first heat exchanger;
- a second heat exchanger configured to facilitate thermal energy transfer from the working fluid flowing from an output of the turbine to a brine liquid;
- and
- a multistage flash distillation unit configured to produce distilled water from the brine liquid flowing from an output of the second heat exchanger.
2 more elements
A method for improving a Rankine Cycle system comprising:
- receiving a heated fluid into a first heat exchanger;
- heating a working fluid in the first heat exchanger;
- driving a turbine coupled to a generator;
- receiving a cool brine into a second heat exchanger;
- transferring heat from the working fluid to the cool brine to create heated brine;
- transferring the heated brine into a multistage flash distillation unit;
- decompressing at least part of the heated brine into vapor;
- and
- condensing the vapor on cooling fingers sourced by cool fluid.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.