Multiple organic Rankine cycle system and method

A system for generating power from heat comprising a closed loop working fluid circuit, the circuit comprising:

• A. a first source of heat energy and a second source of heat energy;
• B. a working fluid condenser comprising a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet;
• C. one or more working fluid pump(s) in working fluid receiving communication with the outlet of the working fluid condenser;
• D. a first expander and a second expander;
• E. a first heat exchanger (i) in heat energy receiving communication with the first source of heat energy and (ii) in working fluid receiving communication with at least one of the one or more working fluid pumps;
• F. a second heat exchanger (i) in heat energy receiving communication with the second source of heat energy, (ii) in working fluid receiving communication with the first heat exchanger, and (iii) in working fluid sending communication with the first expander;
• G. a third heat exchanger (i) in heat energy receiving communication with the first source of heat energy, (ii) in working fluid receiving communication with at least one of the one or more working fluid pumps, and (iii) in working fluid sending communication with the second expander;
• H. the first expander comprising (i) a working fluid inlet in working fluid receiving communication with the second working fluid heat exchanger, (ii) a rotating mechanical power output shaft, and (iii) a working fluid outlet;
• I. the second expander comprising (i) a working fluid inlet in working fluid receiving communication with the working fluid outlet of the first expander, (ii) a rotating mechanical power output shaft, and (iii) a working fluid outlet in working fluid sending communication with the working fluid inlet of the condenser;
• wherein the system is configured to
• a) communicate heat energy (i) from the first source of heat energy to a working fluid via the first and third working fluid heat exchangers and (ii) from the second source of heat energy via the second working fluid heat exchanger;
• b) expand the working fluid in the first expander to generate mechanical power at the rotating mechanical power output shaft of the first expander;
• c) further expand the working fluid in the second expander to generate mechanical power at the rotating mechanical power output shaft of the second expander;
• d) cool the working fluid in the condenser;
• and
• e) communicate cooled working fluid from the condenser to the one or more heat exchangers via the one or more working fluid pumps.

A system for converting heat energy into mechanical power, the system comprising:

• A. a working fluid;
• B. more than one source of heat energy;
• C. more than two heat exchangers, each heat exchanger configured to (i) receive heat energy from at least one of the more than one sources of heat energy and (ii) communicate said heat energy to the working fluid, wherein at least two of the more than two heat exchangers each receive a separate portion of heat energy from the same source of heat energy;
• D. more than one mechanically independently expander, wherein each expander comprises a working fluid outlet, further comprises a working fluid inlet in working fluid receiving communication with at least one of the more than two heat exchangers, and is configured to convert energy in the working fluid into mechanical power, and wherein the working fluid outlet of at least one of the more than one expanders is in working fluid sending communication with the working fluid inlet of at least one other of the more than one expanders;
• E. at least one working fluid condenser in working fluid receiving communication with at least one of the more than one working fluid expanders;
• and
• F. one or more working fluid pump(s) in working fluid receiving communication with the condenser and in working fluid sending communication with the more than two heat exchangers.