Absorption power cycle with two pumped absorbers
OwnerDonald C. Erickson, Gopalakrishnan Anandinventors
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Abstract
An absorption power cycle is disclosed which achieves a closer match to heat source temperature glide, and also lower heat source exit temperatures, and hence higher conversion efficiencies, in practical equipment. Referring to FIG. 7, two separate absorbers (725 and 706) are provided, each with a pumping path for a different concentration absorbent liquid to a different temperature location within counter-current high-pressure desorber 721. Heat source 710 heats the high-pressure desorber 721 and superheater 724 in parallel, and subsequently heats intermediate-pressure desorber 761. Dotted lines in the figures signify vapor.
Claims27
An absorption power cycle with circulating liquid absorbent comprised of a high-pressure generator with temperature glide;
- a work-expander for vapor from the high-pressure generator;
- a low-pressure absorber which is externally cooled and which absorbs at least part of the expanded vapor from the work-expander, a first pump which transfers absorbent from the low-pressure absorber to one section of the high-pressure generator, a second absorber;
- and a second pump which transfers absorbent from the second absorber to a different section of the high-pressure generator.
An apparatus for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy in a thermodynamic cycle comprised of:
- a) an absorption working pair;
- b) a high-pressure component for exchange of heat from said source of thermal energy to said working pair;
- c) an expander which produces mechanical work by expansion of vapor from said high-pressure component;
- d) a first externally-cooled low-pressure absorber which absorbs vapor from said expander and supplies a first liquid absorbent for pumping to said high-pressure component;
- and
- e) at least one of:
- i) a second eternally-cooled absorber which is at an intermediate pressure;
- and
- ii) a second low-pressure absorber which is cooled by exchange of latent heat with part of the absorbent from said first absorber.
A method of converting thermal energy to mechanical energy comprising the cyclical steps of:
- a) counter-currently transferring heat to a high-pressure binary working fluid so as to produce a vapor comprised of the more volatile component at a purity of at least 90%;
- b) expanding said vapor to low pressure in a mechanical-energy producing expander;
- c) absorbing part of said expanded vapor in an externally-cooled low-pressure absorber;
- d) absorbing a second part of said low-pressure vapor in an internally-cooled low-pressure absorber which is cooled by latent heat exchange with internal cycle fluid;
- e) pumping the binary working liquid from said eternally-cooled absorber to high pressure;
- f) supplying part of said high-pressure liquid to said heat transferring step;
- and
- g) supplying another part of said high-pressure liquid to said internally-cooled absorber for cooling thereof.
A method of converting heat to power comprising:
- a) supplying heat to an absorption power cycle comprised of a high-pressure generator, a low-pressure absorber, and an intermediate-pressure absorber;
- b) pumping absorbent from said intermediate-pressure absorber to the cold end of said high-pressure generator;
- c) pumping part of the sorbent from said low-pressure absorber to a mid-temperature section of said high-pressure generator;
- and
- d) work-expanding vapor from said high-pressure generator to low pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.