Method and system utilizing steam turbine and heat pump
OwnerJohn I. Manninginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Discharge cooling water from the condenser of a steam turbine is pumped through the chiller of a refrigeration machine operating as a "heat pump" during heating duty, thus improving the efficiency thereof from that obtained when using water supplied to the chiller at a lower temperature. Evaporation of the refrigerant in the chiller removes heat from the water supplied thereto, whereby the water temperature is closer to that of the source from which it is taken for use in the turbine condenser.
Claims12
A method of conjointly operating a steam turbine generating plant and a mechanical compression heat pump for heating duty comprising:
- (a) providing water from a source at ambient temperature to the steam condenser of the generating plant;
- (b) providing at least a portion of the water discharged from the steam condenser to the chiller of the heat pump for extraction of heat from such water by evaporation of refrigerant in the chiller;
- (c) discharging the water from the chiller back into said source;
- (d) circulating water returning from a space heating system through the refrigerant condenser, thereby raising the temperature of such water;
- and
- (e) circulating the water from the refrigerant condenser back to the space heating system to provide useful space heating.
A combined electrical generating and space heating system comprising, in combination:
- (a) a steam turbine generating plant including a boiler, a turbine, an electrical generator driven by said turbine, and a steam condenser;
- (b) means providing water from a source at ambient temperature to said steam condenser for circulation from an inlet to an outlet thereof to effect condensation of steam discharged from said turbine, thereby raising the temperature of said water above said ambient temperature;
- (c) a mechanical compression heat pump connected for heating duty including a refrigerant condenser, a compressor and a chiller wherein refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from a fluid circulated through said chiller from an inlet to an outlet thereof;
- (d) means connecting said steam condenser outlet to said heat pump chiller inlet for supplying water above said ambient temperature as the fluid circulated through said chiller;
- (e) means for circulating the water returning from a space heating system through said refrigerant condenser, thereby raising the temperature of such water;
- and
- (f) means for circulating the water from the refrigerant condenser back to the space heating system to provide useful space heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.