US 7,019,412 B2Granted

Power generation methods and systems

AssigneeResearch Sciences, L.L.C.

InventorsFrank Ruggieri, Dave Lackstrom, Napoleon P. Salvail, Rudolph N. J. Draaisma

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies. The system can have a heating source, a superheater, an expander, a receiver, an absorber, a desorber, and regenerator with pumps and controls. The superheater heats a working fluid (a refrigerant or steam). A positive liquid/vapor expander expands a low temperature refrigerant, or steam vapor to the saturated state (having both liquid and vapor parts) utilizing a low-pressure sub-atmospheric exhaust sink. An absorber, generates a low-pressure sub-atmospheric sink using chemosorption which involves the exothermic reaction/absorption of ammonia refrigerant in water. The desorber is used to reconstitute inlet vapor (for reuse) and the regenerator recovers heat generated by chemosorption. The system can meet electrical power needs for residences, businesses or office buildings. The system can supply electrical energy to power grids, and can be an alternative power generation plants.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies, comprising the steps of:

using a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor, as received from the thermal generator, against a low pressure subatmospheric sink in order to produce a mechanical work energy;
using said mechanical work energy to rotate a shaft coupled with an electrical generator to produce electrical power;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at
using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F. and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%;
using a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber;
using a regenerator consisting of a heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse;
and
using a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator, wherein the method generates mechanical energy at high efficiencies.

8 more elements

A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies using an ammonia-refrigerant as the working fluid, comprising:

a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi;
a positive displacement expander having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor against a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink in order to produce mechanical work energy;
a shaft coupled with an electrical generator, wherein rotating the shaft by the mechanical work energy causes the electrical generator produce electrical power;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%;
a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber;
a regenerator consisting of a heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse;
and
a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator.

7 more elements

A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies, comprising the steps of:

using a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi;
using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor, as received from the thermal generator, against a low pressure subatmospheric sink in order to produce a mechanical work energy;
using said mechanical work energy to rotate a shaft coupled with an electrical generator to produce electrical power;
using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%;
using a heat exchanger, which is positioned within the absorber for cooling an absorption process in the absorber and recovering a heat produced as a result of the absorption process for heating the liquid part received from the receiver prior to delivery to a regenerator for reuse;
using a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse;
using a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber;
using the regenerator consisting of another heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse;
and
using a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator via the heat exchanger installed within the absorber, wherein the method generates mechanical energy at high efficiencies.

8 more elements

A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies using an ammonia-refrigerant as the working fluid, comprising:

a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi;
a positive displacement expander having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor against a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink in order to produce mechanical work energy;
a shaft coupled with an electrical generator, wherein rotating the shaft by the mechanical work energy causes the electrical generator produce electrical power;
a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander;
an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%;
a heat exchanger, which is positioned within the absorber for cooling an absorption process in the absorber and recovering a heat produced as a result of the absorption process for heating the liquid part received from the receiver prior to delivery to a regenerator for reuse;
a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse;
a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber;
the regenerator consisting of another heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse;
and
a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator via a heat exchanger installed within the absorber.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/826,652Filed 16 Apr 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Apr 2002
Published: US 2004/0007879 A14 Nov 2004
Granted: 28 Mar 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F01K 17/02
Using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plant: for heating purposes, e.g. industrial, domestic
F01K 25/065
Using mixtures of different fluids: with an absorption fluid remaining at least partly in the liquid state, e.g. water for ammonia
F22B 21/26
Built-up from water tubes of form other than straight or substantially straight: bent helically, i.e. coiled
F24D 18/00
Small-scale combined heat and power [chp] generation systems specially adapted for domestic

Family

Application60/372,869Us provisional application · filed 16 Apr 2002
Application10/414,672Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Apr 2003
Application60/544,466Us provisional application · filed 13 Feb 2004
US 2004/0216460 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Nov 2004
US 2004/0007879 A1Published application
US 7,019,412 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.