Systems and methods extracting useable energy from low temperature sources

An apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• a turbine expanding a fully vaporized and superheated third vapor stream, converting a portion of its thermal energy into a usable form energy to form a low pressure spent stream,
• a first mixing valve for mixing the spent stream with a third reduced mixed liquid-vapor stream to form a basic solution stream,
• a condenser or first heat exchange unit for condensing the basic solution stream using an external coolant to form a fully condensed basic solution stream,
• a first pump for pressurizing the fully condensed basic solution stream to form a pressurized basic solution stream,
• a second mixing valve for mixing the pressurized basic solution stream with a first saturated vapor stream to form a first or once enriched stream, where the pressurized basic solution stream fully absorbs the once saturated vapor stream,
• a second pump for pressurizing the once enriched stream to form a pressurized enriched stream,
• a second heat exchange unit for partially vaporizing the pressurized enriched stream using heat from a cooled external heat source stream to form a partially vaporized enriched stream and a spent external heat source stream,
• a first separator for separating the partially vaporized enriched stream to form the third saturated vapor stream and a first lean liquid stream,
• a third heat exchange unit for fully vaporizing and superheating the third saturated vapor stream to form the fully vaporized and superheated third vapor stream,
• a first throttle valve for reducing the pressure of the first lean liquid stream to form a first reduced pressure mixed liquid-vapor stream,
• a third separator into which the first reduced pressure mixed liquid-vapor stream is fed to form the first saturated vapor stream and a third lean liquid stream, and
• a third throttle valve for reducing the pressure of the third lean liquid stream to form the third reduced pressure mixed liquid-vapor stream,
• where all of the stream are derived form a multi-component working fluid.

A skid apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• a skid on which is mounted a turbine unit T1, three heat exchange units HE1, HE2 and HE3, three gravity separators S1, S2, and S3, four fluid connectors C1, C2, C3 and C4, one electrical connection E1, three pumps P1, P2, and P3, one water pump wP, one air fan aF, three mixing valve M1, M2 and M3, three throttle valve TV1, TV2, and TV3, and one two way valve V0, six three way valves V1, V2, V3, V4, VV65 and V6 and piping interconnecting the various components, where:
• a turbine outlet is connected to the third mixing value M3 and includes the electric connector E1,
• the third mixing value M3 is connected to the third throttle valve TV3 and a first heat exchange unit inlet,
• the third throttle valve TV3 is connected to a bottom port of the first separator S1,
• a first heat exchange unit outlet is connected to the first pump P1 and then to the first mixing valve M1,
• the first mixing valve M1 is connect to a top port of the third separator S3 and to the first three way valve V1,
• the first three way valve V1 is connected to the second three way valve V2 and the second pump P2,
• the second three way valve V2 is connected to the second pump P2 and the second mixing valve M2,
• the second mixing valve M2 is connected to the one way valve V0 and the third pump P3,
• the one way valve V0 is connected to a top port of the second separator S2,
• the pump P3 is connected to a second heat exchange unit inlet,
• a second heat exchange unit outlet is connected to a middle port of the first separator S1,
• a top port of the separator S1 is connected to a third heat exchange unit inlet,
• a bottom port of the separator S1 is connected to a fourth three way valve V4,
• a third heat exchange unit outlet is connected to a turbine inlet,
• the fourth three way valve V4 is connected to the second throttle valve TV2 and to the third three way valve V3,
• the second throttle valve TV2 is connected to a middle port of the second separator S2,
• the third three way valve V3 is connected to a bottom port of the second separator S2 and the first throttle valve TV1, and
• the first throttle valve TV1 is connected to a middle port of the first separator S1, and where the valves are adapted to permit the apparatus to enrich the upcoming stream one or two time using vapor streams from the third and second separators S3 and S2, and
• where the streams flowing through the piping and components of the apparatus are derived from a multi-component working fluid, and
• where the first and sixth valve V5 and V6 are adapted to permit the apparatus to use either water or air as the external coolant.

A skid apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising:

• a vaporizing and superheating subunit including heat exchanges units HE2 and HE3 and the fluid connectors C1 and C2 and associated piping mounted on a first skid,
• a separation subsystem including the three separators S1, S2, and S3, the three throttle valve TV1, TV2 and TV3, the pumps P1, P2, and P3, the valves V0, V1, V2, V3 and V4, and the mixing valves M1, M2 and M3 and associated piping mounted on a second skid,
• a turbine subsystem including a turbine T1, the electrical connector E1 and associated piping and electric cables mounted on a third skid,
• a condenser subsystem including the condenser HE1, the valves V5 and V6, the water pump wP and the air fan aF and associated piping mounted on a fourth skid,
• where the skids are adapted to be interconnected to form a complete system and where the condenser subsystem includes the two valves V5 and V6, the water pump wP and the air fan aF so that the apparatus can use either water or air as the coolant, and
• where:
• a turbine outlet is connected to the third mixing value M3 and includes the electric connector E1,
• the third mixing value M3 is connected to the third throttle valve TV3 and a first heat exchange unit inlet,
• the third throttle valve TV3 is connected to a bottom port of the first separator S1,
• a first heat exchange unit outlet is connected to the first pump P1 and then to the first mixing valve M1,
• the first mixing valve M1 is connect to a top port of the third separator S3 and to the first three way valve V1,
• the first three way valve V1 is connected to the second three way valve V2 and the second pump P2,
• the second three way valve V2 is connected to the second pump P2 and the second mixing valve M2,
• the second mixing valve M2 is connected to the one way valve V0 and the third pump P3,
• the one way valve V0 is connected to a top port of the second separator S2,
• the pump P3 is connected to a second heat exchange unit inlet,
• a second heat exchange unit outlet is connected to a middle port of the first separator S1,
• a top port of the separator S1 is connected to a third heat exchange unit inlet,
• a bottom port of the separator S1 is connected to a fourth three way valve V4,
• a third heat exchange unit outlet is connected to a turbine inlet,
• the fourth three way valve V4 is connected to the second throttle valve TV2 and to the third three way valve V3,
• the second throttle valve TV2 is connected to a middle port of the second separator S2,
• the third three way valve V3 is connected to a bottom port of the second separator S2 and the first throttle valve TV1, and
• the first throttle valve TV1 is connected to a middle port of the first separator S1, and where the valves are adapted to permit the apparatus to enrich the upcoming stream one or two time using vapor streams from the third and second separators S3 and S2, and
• where the streams flowing through the piping and components of the apparatus are derived from a multi-component working fluid, and
• where the first and sixth valve V5 and V6 are adapted to permit the apparatus to use either water or air as the external coolant.