Thermodynamic cycle

Abstract

A method of improving heat utilization in a thermodynamic cycle, the method comprising heating a working stream in a at least one distillation assembly to produce a rich stream and a lean stream; wherein the distillation assembly comprises a bottom reboiler section, a middle distillation section and a top condenser section; superheating the rich stream in at least one superheater to produce a gaseous working stream; expanding the gaseous working stream in at least one means for expansion to obtain energy in usable form and at least one spent stream; mixing the spent stream and the lean stream to produce a mixed stream; condensing the mixed stream in an absorber-condenser assembly using cooling water to obtain a condensed stream; exchanging heat between the condensed stream and the rich stream to partially condense the rich stream before step b); whereby the condensed stream on heat exchange gives a liquid working stream; exchanging heat between the liquid working stream and the lean stream in at least one heat exchanger before step d) to produce the working stream; and, recycling the working stream to the distillation section of the distillation assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.