Method and apparatus for thermodynamic cycle

A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising the steps of:

• superheating a gaseous working stream;
• expanding the superheated gaseous working stream to transform its energy into usable form;
• dividing the expanded gaseous working stream into a withdrawal stream and a spent stream;
• reheating the spent stream and expanding the reheated spent stream;
• cooling the withdrawal stream and the spent stream, after the expansion of the spent stream, the cooling of the withdrawal stream and the spent stream transferring heat used to superheat the gaseous working stream;
• combining the withdrawal stream with a lean stream, having a higher content of a high-boiling component than the withdrawal stream, to form a composite stream that condenses over a temperature range that is higher than the temperature range required to evaporate a high pressure liquid working stream;
• condensing the composite stream to provide heat to partially evaporate the high pressure liquid working stream to form a partially evaporated working stream, and to provide heat to the lean stream;
• cooling and condensing the composite stream to preheat the high pressure liquid working stream;
• expanding the composite stream to reduce the pressure of the composite stream;
• dividing the composite stream into a first stream and a second stream;
• separating the first stream to form a liquid stream, that produces the lean stream, and a vapor stream;
• combining the vapor stream with the second stream to form a pre-condensed working stream;
• condensing the pre-condensed working stream to produce a liquid working stream;
• pumping the lean stream to a higher pressure than the pressure of the liquid stream produced from the separation of the first stream;
• preheating the high pressure lean stream with a counterstream of the composite stream, formed by combining the lean stream with the withdrawal stream, and a counterstream of the spent stream;
• pumping the liquid working stream, formed from the condensation of the pre-condensed working stream, to a higher pressure, forming the high pressure liquid working stream;
• heating the high pressure liquid working stream with heat transferred from a counterstream of the composite stream to form the partially evaporated working stream;
• and
• evaporating the partially evaporated working stream with heat transferred from the withdrawal and spent streams, and from an external heat source, producing the gaseous working stream.

A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising the steps of:

• superheating a gaseous working stream;
• expanding the superheated gaseous working stream to transform its energy into usable form;
• dividing the expanded gaseous working stream into a withdrawal stream and a spent stream;
• reheating the spent stream and expanding the reheated spent stream;
• cooling the withdrawal stream and the spent stream, after the expansion of the spent stream, the cooling of the withdrawal stream and the spent stream transferring heat used to superheat the gaseous working stream;
• combining the withdrawal stream with a lean stream, having a higher content of a high-boiling component than the withdrawal stream, to form a composite stream that condenses over a temperature range that is higher than the temperature range required to evaporate a high pressure liquid working stream;
• condensing the composite stream to provide heat to partially evaporate the high pressure liquid working stream to form a partially evaporated working stream;
• cooling and condensing the composite stream to heat the lean stream and to preheat the high pressure liquid working stream;
• evaporating and superheating a portion of the partially evaporated working stream with heat from the spent and withdrawal streams;
• preheating the lean stream with heat from the spent stream;
• dividing the composite stream into a first stream and a second stream after the composite stream has been used to preheat the high pressure liquid working stream;
• expanding the first stream to reduce the pressure of the first stream;
• dividing the first stream into a third stream and a fourth stream, after the first stream has been expanded;
• sending the second stream and the third stream into a distillation tower;
• sending the spent stream into the distillation tower, after the spent stream has been used to preheat the lean stream;
• separating from the second stream, the third stream and the spent stream, that have been sent into the distillation tower, a liquid stream, that forms the lean stream, and a vapor stream;
• combining the vapor stream with the fourth stream to produce a pre-condensed working stream,
• condensing the pre-condensed working stream to produce a liquid working stream;
• pumping the lean stream to a higher pressure than the pressure of the liquid stream that is produced from the distillation tower;
• heating the lean stream, after it has been pumped to a higher pressure, with heat from a counterstream of the composite stream, that is formed by combining the lean stream with the withdrawal stream, and a counterstream of the spent stream;
• pumping the liquid working stream, formed by the condensation of the pre-condensed working stream, to a higher pressure to form the high pressure liquid working stream;
• heating the high pressure liquid working stream with heat transferred from a counterstream of the composite stream to form the partially evaporated working stream;
• and
• evaporating the partially evaporated working stream with heat transferred from the withdrawal and spent streams, and from an external heat source, producing the gaseous working stream.

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• means for expanding a gaseous working stream to transform its energy into usable form;
• means for removing from the expanded gaseous working stream a withdrawal stream;
• a first stream mixer for combining the withdrawal stream with a lean stream, having a higher content of a higher-boiling component than is contained in the withdrawal stream, to form a composite stream that condenses over a temperature range that is higher than the temperature range required to evaporate an oncoming liquid working stream;
• a heat exchanger for condensing the composite stream to provide heat to partially evaporate the oncoming liquid working stream;
• a distillation tower for separating the composite stream to form a liquid stream, the liquid stream forming a portion of the lean stream that is combined with the withdrawal stream, and a vapor stream;
• a condenser for forming the oncoming liquid working stream that is partially evaporated by the composite stream in the heat exchanger;
• and
• an external heat source for evaporating the oncoming liquid working stream, using heat provided by the external heat source, to form the gaseous working stream.

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• means for superheating a gaseous working stream;
• means for expanding the superheated gaseous working stream to transform its energy into usable form;
• means for dividing the expanded gaseous working stream into a withdrawal stream and a spent stream;
• means for reheating the spent stream and expanding the reheated spent stream;
• means for cooling the withdrawal stream and the spent stream, after the expansion of the spent stream, such that the cooling of the withdrawal stream and the spent stream transfers heat for superheating the gaseous working stream;
• means for combining the withdrawal stream with a lean stream, having a higher content of a high-boiling component than the withdrawal stream, to form a composite stream that condenses over a temperature range that is higher than the temperature range required to evaporate an oncoming liquid working stream;
• means for condensing the composite stream to provide heat to partially evaporate the oncoming liquid working stream to form a partially evaporated working stream, and to provide heat to the lean stream;
• means for cooling and condensing the composite stream to preheat the oncoming liquid working stream;
• means for expanding the composite stream to reduce the pressure of the composite stream;
• means for dividing the composite stream into a first stream and a second stream;
• means for separating the first stream to form a liquid stream, that produces the lean stream, and a vapor stream;
• means for combining the vapor stream with the second stream to form a pre-condensed working stream;
• means for condensing that pre-condensed working stream to produce the liquid working stream;
• a first pump for pumping the lean stream to a higher pressure than the pressure of the liquid stream produced from the separation of the first stream;
• means for heating the high pressure lean stream with a counterstream of the composite stream, formed by combining the lean stream with the withdrawal stream, and a counterstream of the spent stream;
• a second pump for pumping the liquid working stream, formed from the condensation of the pre-condensed working stream, to a higher pressure, forming a high pressure liquid working stream;
• means for heating the high pressure liquid working stream with heat transferred from a counterstream of the composite stream to form a partially evaporated working stream;
• and
• means for evaporating the partially evaporated working stream with heat transferred from the withdrawal and spent streams, and from an external heat source, producing the gaseous working stream.

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• means for superheating a gaseous working stream;
• means for expanding the superheated gaseous working stream to transform its energy into usable form;
• means for dividing the expanded gaseous working stream into a withdrawal stream and a spent stream;
• means for reheating the spent stream and expanding the reheated spent stream;
• means for cooling the withdrawal stream and the spent stream, after the expansion of the spent stream, such that the cooling of the withdrawal stream and the spent stream transfers heat for superheating the gaseous working stream;
• means for combining the withdrawal stream with a lean stream, having a higher content of a high-boiling component than the withdrawal stream, to form a composite stream that condenses over a temperature range that is higher than the temperature range required to evaporate a high pressure liquid working stream;
• means for condensing the composite stream to provide heat to partially evaporate the high pressure liquid working stream to form a partially evaporated working stream;
• means for cooling and condensing the composite stream to heat the lean stream and to preheat the high pressure liquid working stream;
• means for evaporating and superheating a portion of the partially evaporated working stream with heat from the spent and withdrawal streams;
• preheating the lean stream with heat from the spent stream;
• means for dividing the composite stream into a first stream and a second stream after the composite stream has been used to preheat the high pressure liquid working stream;
• means for expanding the first stream to reduce the pressure of the first stream;
• means for dividing the first stream into a third stream and a fourth stream, after the first stream has been expanded;
• means for sending the second stream and the third stream into a distillation tower;
• means for sending the spent stream into the distillation tower, after the spent stream has been used to preheat the lean stream;
• means for separating from the second stream, the third stream and the spent stream, that have been sent into the distillation tower, a liquid stream, that forms the lean stream, and a vapor stream;
• means for combining the vapor stream with the fourth stream to produce a pre-condensed working stream;
• means for condensing the pre-condensed working stream to produce a liquid working stream;
• a first pump for pumping the lean stream to a higher pressure than the pressure of the liquid stream that is produced from the distillation tower;
• means for heating the lean stream, after it has been pumped to a higher pressure, with heat from a counterstream of the composite stream, that is formed by combining the lean stream with the withdrawal stream, and a counterstream of the spent stream;
• a second pump for pumping the liquid working stream, formed by the condensation of the pre-condensed working stream, to a higher pressure to form the high pressure liquid working stream;
• means for heating the high pressure liquid working stream with heat transferred from a counterstream of the composite stream to form the partially evaporated working stream;
• and
• means for evaporating the partially evaporated working stream with heat transferred from the withdrawal and spent streams, and from an external heat source, producing the gaseous working stream.