Method of optimizing performance of Rankine cycle power plants
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsWilliam L. Pope, Howard S. Pines, Padraic A. Doyle, Lenard F. Silvester
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Abstract
A method for efficiently operating a Rankine cycle power plant (10) to maximize fuel utilization efficiency or energy conversion efficiency or minimize costs by selecting a turbine (22) fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line (46).
Claims33
A method for operating a turbine to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the step of:
- expanding working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
A method for operating a turbine to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the step of:
- expanding working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid.
A method for operating a binary Rankine cycle power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the steps of:
- vaporizing a working fluid in a supercritical heat exchanger;
- and
- expanding the working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
A method for operating a power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency including the steps of:
- vaporizing a working fluid in a heat exchanger to supercritical exit conditions;
- and
- expanding the working fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the supercritical vapor region and substantially where the specific heat of the working fluid is a maximum.
A method for operating a power plant to maximize energy conversion and/or fuel utilization efficiency, including the steps of:
- vaporizing a fluid in a heat exchanger;
- and
- expanding the fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid.
A method for operating a Rankine cycle power plant to maximize thermodynamic and economic performance including the steps of:
- vaporizing a fluid in a supercritical primary heater;
- expanding the fluid in a turbine with a turbine fluid inlet state which is substantially in the area adjacent and including the transposed critical temperature line of the fluid;
- and
- condensing the fluid exhausted from the turbine;
- returning the condensed fluid to the heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.