Gland leakage seal system

A method for sealing a turbine within a thermodynamic cycle to minimize the escape of working fluid to the ambient environment, such that working fluid which escapes from the turbine is captured, condensed, and returned to the thermodynamic cycle the method comprising;

• expanding at a turbine a multi-component working stream of a thermodynamic cycle transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream;
• mixing a non-condensable with at least a portion of the multi-component working fluid escaping from the thermodynamic cycle at the turbine to form a combined stream;
• condensing at least a portion of the combined stream to separate the escaped multi-component working fluid from the non-condensable, the separated multi-component working fluid forming a working stream;
• pressurizing the working stream;
• and
• returning at least a portion of the pressurized working stream to the thermodynamic cycle.

A method for sealing a turbine within a thermodynamic cycle to minimize the escape of working fluid to the ambient environment, wherein at least a portion of the working fluid that escapes from the turbine is captured, and returned to the thermodynamic cycle, the method comprising:

• expanding a multi-component working fluid in the turbine of the thermodynamic cycle thereby transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream;
• forming a combined stream by mixing a non-condensable with multi-component working fluid escaping from the thermodynamic cycle at the turbine;
• condensing at least a portion of the combined stream in a condenser to separate the escaped multi-component working fluid from the non-condensable;
• forming a working stream from the combined stream by evacuating the non-condensable;
• pumping the working stream to a higher pressure than the pressure of the combined stream in the condenser;
• heating the working stream in a heat exchanger to increase the temperature of the working stream towards the dew point;
• splitting the working stream forming a lean stream to be added to the combined stream and a rich stream having temperature and pressure parameters approximating the spent stream;
• and
• returning the rich stream to the thermodynamic cycle.