US 4,553,397 A · Method and apparatus for a thermodynamic cycle by use of compression

Abstract

A working fluid in the gaseous state at some initial temperature and pressure is expanded polytropically to a resulting exhaust fluid having some lower temperature and pressure in order to produce useful work. Large quantities of a pressured motive liquid are then employed as the vehicle for approximating an isenthalpic compression of the working fluid. The preferred method for effecting this recompression is to provide an overall adiabatic environment within which the two fluids are placed in thermal but not physical communication. The working fluid is then energized by direct compression during which partial condensation of the working fluid is accompanied by heat transfer to the motive liquid. Thereafter the two fluids are mixed, with the resulting two phases permitting separation and reconstitution of the motive and working fluids to their initial states to complete the thermodynamic cycle which, depending upon the fluids selected, can be located in a broad range of the temperature spectrum.

Claims66

Dependent claims

A process for approximating an isenthalpic compression of a working fluid from a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than a pressure P.sub.1 of a state A and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than a temperature T.sub.1 of state A) to a state C (representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) comprising:

energizing the working fluid in state B by
(a) pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures;
and
(c) compressing the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature R.sub.3, during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liquid, thus achieving state C for the working fluid.

2 more elements

A thermodynamic cycle process comprising:

(1) expanding a working fluid from a state A (representing a pressure P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 outside a vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid) to a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than T.sub.1) which may fall inside the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid;
(2) energizing the working fluid from state B to state C (representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) which may fall within the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid by
(a) pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures;
and
(c) compressing the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature T.sub.3, during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liquid, thus achieving state C for the working fluid;
(3) mixing a two-phase effluent of the direct compression with a throttled motive liquid coolant of a compressor while holding back pressure P.sub.3 on the working fluid so that the two phases, a liquid and a vapor, resulting are in physical and chemical equilibrium, wherein the motive fluid is reconstituted in all respects in its initial state as a portion of the resulting liquid phase, and the quantity and composition of the working fluid is restored as the combination of the total resulting vapor and the remainder of the resulting liquid;
and
(4) heating the working fluid as necessary to achieve temperature T.sub.1, thus reconstituting the working fluid in all respects in state A;
whereby an approximate isenthalpic compression of the working fluid is incorporated in a thermodynamic cycle.

7 more elements

A thermodynamic cycle process comprising:

(1) expanding a refrigerant working fluid from a state A (representing a pressure P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 outside a vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid) to a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than T.sub.1) which may fall inside the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid;
(2) energizing the refrigerant working fluid from state B to state C representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) which may fall within the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid by
(a) pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures;
and
(c) comprising the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature T.sub.3, during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liquid, thus achieving state C for the working fluid;
(3) mixing a two-phase effluent of the direct compression with a throttled motive liquid coolant of a compressor while holding back pressure P.sub.3 on the refrigerant working fluid so that the two phases, a liquid and a vapor, resulting are in physical and chemical equilibrium, wherein the motive fluid is reconstituted in all respects in its initial state as a portion of the resulting liquid phase, and the quantity and composition of the working fluid is restored as the combination of the total resulting vapor and the remainder of the resulting liquid;
and
(4) heating the refrigerant working fluid as necessary to achieve temperature T.sub.1, thus reconstituting the working fluid in all respects in state A;
whereby an approximate isenthalpic compression of the working fluid is incorporated in a thermodynamic cycle.

7 more elements

An apparatus for approximating an isenthalpic compression of a working fluid from a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than a pressure P.sub.1 of a state A and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than a temperature T.sub.1 of state A) to a state C (representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) comprising:

means for energizing the working fluid in state B through
(a) means for pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) means for communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures;
and
(c) means for compressing the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature T.sub.3 during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liquid, thus achieving state C for the working fluid.

2 more elements

A thermodynamic cycle apparatus comprising:

(1) turbine means for expanding a working fluid from a state A (representing a pressure P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 outside a vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid) to a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than T.sub.1) which may fall inside the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid;
(2) means for energizing the working fluid from state B to state C (representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) which may fall within the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid, by
(a) means for pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) means for communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures;
and
(c) means for compressing the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature T.sub.3 during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liqud, thus achieving state C for the working fluid;
(3) means for mixing a two-phase effluent of the direct compression with a throttled liquid coolant of a compressor in a phase separator means, holding back pressure P.sub.3 on the working fluid so that the liquid and vapor phases resulting are in physical and chemical equilibrium, wherein the motive fluid is reconstituted in all respects in its initial state as a portion of the resulting liquid phase, and the quantity and composition of the working fluid is restored as the combination of the total resulting vapor and the remainder of the resulting liquid;
and
(4) means for heating the working fluid as necessary to achieve temperature T.sub.1, thus reconstituting the working fluid in all respects in state A;
whereby an approximate isenthalpic compression of the working fluid is incorporated in a thermodynamic cycle.

7 more elements

A thermodynamic cycle apparatus comprising:

(1) turbine means for expanding a refrigerant working fluid from a state A (representing a pressure P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 outside a vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid) to a state B (representing a pressure P.sub.2 lower than P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.2 lower than T.sub.1) which may fall inside the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid;
(2) means for energizing the refrigerant working fluid from state B to state C (representing a pressure P.sub.3 approximating P.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.3 intermediate to temperatures T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 such that T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 <T.sub.1) which may fall within the vapor-liquid phase envelope for the working fluid, through
(a) means for pumping a large quantity of a motive liquid to a pressure at least as great as P.sub.3 and sufficiently high to preserve its liquid state while receiving sensible heat from the working fluid;
(b) means for communicating the working fluid with the pressured motive liquid in an overall adiabatic environment so that there is a local transfer of thermal energy between the two fluids while maintaining their physical separation, wherein the motive liquid serves to limit the temperature rise and prevent superheating of the working fluid by preserving the two fluids at equal temperatures and
(c) means for compressing the working fluid directly, while subject to these conditions, to a pressure P.sub.3 and temperature T.sub.3 during which compression there is at least partial condensation of the working fluid and concomitant release of the condensate latent heat of vaporization to the motive liquid, thus achieving state C for the working fluid;
(3) means for mixing a two-phase effluent of the direct compression with a throttled liquid coolant of a compressor in a phase separator means, holding back pressure P.sub.3 on the refrigerant working fluid so that the liquid and vapor phases resulting are in physical and chemical equilibrium, wherein the motive fluid is reconstituted in all respects in its initial state as a portion of the resulting liquid phase, and the quantity and composition of the working fluid is restored as the combination of the total resulting vapor and the remainder of the resulting liquid;
and
(4) means for heating the refrigerant working fluid as necessary to achieve temperature T.sub.1, thus reconstituting the working fluid in all respects in state A;
whereby an approximate isenthalpic compression of the refrigerant working fluid is incorporated in a closed thermodynamic cycle having state A at ambient conditions.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for a thermodynamic cycle by use of compression

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for a thermodynamic cycle by use of compression

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims66