US 8,166,761 B2 · Method and system for generating power from a heat source

Abstract

A method of generating power from a heat source, said method including: compressing (10) a working fluid to increase its temperature; exchanging (11) heat between said working fluid and said heat source to superheat said working fluid; expanding (12) said superheated working fluid to drive a turbine, thereby reducing its temperature; condensing (13) said working fluid to further reduce its temperature: and returning said working fluid to said compressing step (10), the method further including the step (14) of regenerating the heat of said working fluid wherein working fluid passing between said compressing step (10) and said heat exchanging step (11) exchanges heat with working fluid passing between said expanding step (12) and said condensing step (13); wherein said steps are performed in a thermodynamic cycle (S1-S1′-S2-S3-S3′-S4) within a supercritical region (SC) above the saturation dome (A) of said working fluid, and wherein said heat regenerating step (14) is performed under isenthalpic conditions to induce continuous heat exchange. A system for generating power from a heat source is also provided.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method of generating power from a heat source, said method comprising:

compressing a working fluid to increase its temperature;
exchanging heat between said working fluid and said heat source to superheat said working fluid;
expanding said superheated working fluid to drive a turbine, thereby reducing its temperature;
condensing said working fluid to further reduce its temperature;
and
returning said working fluid to said compressing step,
the method further comprising the step of regenerating the heat of said working fluid wherein working fluid passing between said compressing step and said heat exchanging step exchanges heat with working fluid passing between said expanding step and said condensing step;
wherein said steps are performed in a thermodynamic cycle within a supercritical region above the saturation dome of said working fluid, and wherein said heat regenerating step is performed under isenthalpic conditions to induce continuous heat exchange.

5 more elements

A system for generating power from a heat source, said system comprising:

a compressor for compressing a working fluid to increase its temperature;
a first heat exchanger fluidly connectable to said compressor and said heat source for exchanging heat between said working fluid and said heat source to superheat said working fluid;
a turbine fluidly connectable to said first heat exchanger for expanding said superheated working fluid, thereby reducing its temperature;
a second heat exchanger for condensing said working fluid to further reduce its temperature, said second heat exchanger being fluidly connectable to said turbine and said compressor, and
a heat regenerator, said regenerator being fluidly interconnectable between said compressor and said first heat exchanger to pre-heat said working fluid prior to entering said first heat exchanger, and fluidly interconnectable between said turbine and said second heat exchanger to cool said working fluid after exiting said turbine, wherein said working fluid passing between said compressor and said first heat exchanger exchanges heat with said working fluid passing between said turbine and said condenser,
wherein said system operates in a thermodynamic cycle within a supercritical region above the saturation dome of said working fluid, and wherein said regenerator operates under isenthalpic conditions to induce continuous heat exchange.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for generating power from a heat source

Life of this patent

Method and system for generating power from a heat source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50