Processes and compositions for organic rankine cycles for generating mechanical energy from heat
AssigneeE.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorKonstantinos Kontomaris
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Abstract
Disclosed are compositions of novel working fluids uniquely designed for higher cycle efficiencies leading to higher overall system efficiencies. In particular, these working fluids are useful in Organic Rankine Cycle systems for efficiently converting heat from any heat source into mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to novel processes for recovering heat from a heat source using ORC systems with a novel working fluid comprising at least about 20 weight percent cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz-Z), trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz-E), or mixtures thereof.
Claims25
A process for recovering heat from a heat source and generating mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- (a) passing a first working fluid in liquid phase through a heat exchanger or an evaporator, wherein said heat exchanger or said evaporator is in communication with said heat source that supplies said heat;
- (b) removing at least a portion of said first working fluid in a vapor phase from said heat exchanger or said evaporator;
- (c) passing said at least a portion of said first working fluid in vapor phase to an expander, wherein at least portion of said heat is converted into mechanical energy;
- (d) passing said at least a portion of said first working fluid in vapor phase from said expander to a condenser, wherein said at least a portion of said first working fluid in vapor phase is condensed to a second working fluid in liquid phase;
- (e) optionally, compressing and mixing said second working fluid in liquid phase with said first working fluid in liquid phase in Step (a);
- and
- (f) optionally, repeating Steps (a) through (e), at least one time;
- wherein at least about 20 weight percent of said first working fluid comprises HFO-1336mzz-Z, HFO-1336mzz-E, or mixtures thereof.
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A process for recovering heat from a heat source and generating mechanical energy, comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing a first working fluid in liquid phase above said first working fluid's critical pressure;
- (b) passing said first working fluid from Step (a) through a heat exchanger or a fluid heater and heating said first working fluid to a temperature that is higher or lower than the critical temperature of said first working fluid, wherein said heat exchanger or said fluid heater is in communication with said heat source that supplies said heat;
- (c) removing at least a portion of the heated said first working fluid from said heat exchanger fluid heater;
- (d) passing said at least a portion of the heated said first working fluid to an expander,
- wherein at least portion of said heat is converted into mechanical energy, and
- wherein the pressure on said first at least a portion of the heated said first working fluid is reduced to below the critical pressure of said first working fluid, thereby rendering said at least a portion of the heated said first working fluid to a first working fluid vapor or a first working fluid mixture of vapor and liquid;
- (e) passing said first working fluid vapor or said first working fluid mixture of vapor and liquid from said expander to a condenser, wherein said at least a portion of said working fluid vapor or said working fluid mixture of vapor and liquid is fully condensed to a second working fluid in liquid phase;
- (f) optionally, compressing and mixing said second working fluid in liquid phase with said first working fluid in liquid phase in Step (a);
- (g) optionally, repeating Steps (a) through (f), at least one time;
- wherein at least about 20 weight percent of said first working fluid comprises HFO-1336mzz-Z, HFO-1336mzz-E, or mixtures thereof.
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A composition comprising HFO-1336mzz-Z at a temperature in the range of from about 250° C. to about 300° C., wherein said HFO-1336mzz-Z content is in the range of from about 50 weight percent to about 99.5 weight percent.
An Organic Rankine Cycle System extracting heat at an operating pressure in the range from about 3 MPa to about 10 MPa, wherein said system contains a working fluid, and wherein about 50 weight percent of said working fluid comprises HFO-1336mzz-Z, HFO-1336mzz-E, or mixtures thereof.
A composition as working fluid for power cycles, wherein the temperature of said composition is in the range of from about 200° C. to about 400° C., and wherein about 50 weight percent of said composition comprises HFO-1336mzz-Z, HFO-1336mzz-E, or mixtures thereof.
A method for replacing HFC-245fa in a power cycle system comprising removing said HFC-245fa from said power cycle system and charging said system with a working fluid comprising at least about 20 weight percent of HFO-1336mzz-Z, HFO-1336mzz-E, or mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.