Noncommunicating Heat Transferring Motive Fluid System (e.g., Cascade, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/655)
  • Patent number: 8572972
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system including a compression train with a compressor path, a storage volume configured to store compressed air, a compressed air path configured to provide passage of compressed air egressing from the compression train to the storage volume, and a heat recovery system coupled to at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path and configured to draw heat from at least one of the compressor path and the compressed air path to a first liquid. The compression train is configured to provide passage of compressed air from a first compressor to a second compressor. The heat recovery system includes a first evaporator configured to evaporate the first liquid to a first gas and a first generator configured to produce electricity based on an expansion of the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Johannes Frey, Matthias Finkenrath, Gabor Ast, Stephanie Marie-Noelle Hoffmann, Matthew Lehar, Richard Aumann
  • Patent number: 8537961
    Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Keller
  • Patent number: 8459030
    Abstract: A process fluid cooler can extract thermal energy from a process fluid including carbon dioxide. An absorber can transfer carbon dioxide from the process fluid to a removal fluid. A reboiler can heat the removal fluid so as to cause carbon dioxide to be released from the removal fluid and outputted as part of a reboiler output stream. The reboiler can also output a heating fluid. A stripper condenser can extract thermal energy from the reboiler output stream so as to cause condensation of water associated with the reboiler output stream and to remove carbon dioxide therefrom. A compression system can remove thermal energy from carbon dioxide received from the stripper condenser. A heat engine can be configured to operate according to an organic Rankine cycle, receiving thermal energy from the heating fluid and/or extracted at the process fluid cooler, at the stripper condenser, and/or at the compression system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Gabor Ast, Michael Adam Bartlett, Vittorio Tola
  • Patent number: 8438849
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine, in which the high pressure turbine receives high pressure working fluid vapor, the low pressure turbine receives low pressure working fluid vapor and the high pressure turbine also supplies low pressure working fluid vapor to the low pressure turbine. A recuperator receives working fluid vapor from the low pressure turbine. The recuperator produces heated condensate, at least a portion of which is provided to a high pressure vaporizer. The high pressure vaporizer is configured to receive from a high temperature heat source and produces high pressure working vapor used to power the high pressure turbine. The remaining condensed fluid is provided to a low pressure vaporizer which is configured to receive heat from a low-temperature heat source, thereby producing low pressure working fluid vapor used to power the low pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Kaplan, Joseph Sinai, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 8341960
    Abstract: For operating a multi-heat source power plant, including a thermal collector having access to heat from a solar collector as a first heat source for heating a first fluid to a first temperature, a topping power generation cycle using the first fluid as a motive fluid, and a geothermal second heat source for heating a second motive fluid, which is different from said first motive fluid, to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, a heat exchanger transfers heat from the first fluid to the second fluid to raise the temperature of the second fluid to a higher temperature. A bottoming power generation cycle uses said second fluid, heated to the higher temperature, as a motive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dov Berger, Joseph Shinai, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 8196405
    Abstract: An energy storage system is provided which includes an electrolyser a hydrogen gas storage and a power plant. The electrolyser is connected to the hydrogen gas storage and the hydrogen gas storage is connected to the power plant. Furthermore, a method for storing and supplying energy is provided which includes delivering electrical energy to an electrolyser; decomposing water into oxygen and hydrogen gas by means of the electrolyser; storing the hydrogen gas; supplying the stored hydrogen gas to a power plant; and producing electrical energy via of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erik Wolf
  • Patent number: 8171733
    Abstract: A system comprises a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operative to receive steam from a source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a second HRSG operative to receive steam from the source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a first water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the first HRSG to the source of steam, and a second water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the second HRSG to the source of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gordon Raymond Smith
  • Patent number: 8141362
    Abstract: A closed cycle heat transfer device comprising a boiler (10) and a condenser (13), the condenser being used to recover useful heat by latent heat evaporation. A circuit defined by the boiler (10), condenser (13) and ducts (12, 15) is to be liquid-filled at a pressure just above atmospheric pressure. An expansion device (16) maintains the working pressure in the circuit but will receive excess condensate in a liquid phase to compensate for expansion of the working fluid vapor which passes from the boiler (10) to the condenser (13). The expansion chamber contains a movable or flexible member which, when working liquid is received in the chamber, is displaced to compress a gas in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Energetix Genlec Limited
    Inventors: Russell Benstead, Simon James Redford
  • Patent number: 8118895
    Abstract: A process of generating power utilizing a low level heat from a raw syngas produced in a quench gasifier is disclosed. The process includes a first stage that includes: producing raw syngas at the quench gasifier, making 150 psi saturated steam from the produced raw syngas, superheating the saturated steam, and using the superheated saturated steam in a low pressure steam turbine to generate power. The process includes a second stage that includes: providing the raw syngas and a process condensate stream to a thermal fluid vaporizer to vaporize an organic thermal fluid, and using the vaporized organic thermal fluid in an expander turbine to generate power via an organic Rankine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bechtel Power Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey Wen, Rattan K. Tawney
  • Patent number: 8096128
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system, method and device executes a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Brian F. Hume
  • Patent number: 8056350
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling, comprising: a liquid pump for transport of fluid through a heating cycle, an external heat source for heating the fluid in the heating cycle, for example a solar heater directly connected to the heating cycle or connected through a heat exchanger, an expander with an expander inlet and an expander outlet, the expander inlet having a fluid connection to the external heat source for receiving fluid in the gas phase to drive the expander by expanding the fluid, a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, the compressor being driven by the expander for compressing working fluid from a low pressure compressor inlet gas to a high pressure compressor outlet gas, a first heat exchanger with a fluid connection to the compressor outlet and connected to the expander inlet for transfer of heat from the high pressure compressor outlet gas to the fluid in the heating cycle, a second heat exchanger with a condenser for condensing the working fluid from the expander by energy trans
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: AC-Sun ApS
    Inventors: Gunnar Minds, Søren Minds, John Steen Jensen
  • Patent number: 8042498
    Abstract: A superheated steam generator includes an introduction section for introducing saturated steam into hollow pipe members arranged as steam flow passages and acting as inductively heated elements, and a discharge section for discharging superheated steam from the flow passages, wherein a turbulence generator is disposed in each of the steam flow passages to accelerate heat transfer to the steam in the pipe members, wherein the turbulence generator is a zigzag bent member disposed in the steam flow passage, and a zigzag bending pitch of the bent member changes from rough to minute from the introduction section to the discharge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dai-Ichi High Frequency Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Hirayama, Yoshimasa Hiramatsu, Takashi Kogin
  • Patent number: 8028527
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to power generation systems and methods for converting naturally occurring moist air into power and water, enabling generation of power without carbon combustion and without the release of green-house gasses which usually accompany thermodynamic power generation. According to one embodiment, a compressor module is used to greatly compress enriched water vapor drawn from the surrounding moist air. The compressed water vapor is then condensed into output water by a working fluid, while the heated working fluid is used in a Rankine-cycle power generation loop to turn a turbine and thereby create transmittable electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Robert J. Vidmar
  • Patent number: 7971424
    Abstract: A high-efficiency heat cycle system including a compressor, a first turbine, first and second heat exchangers 7 and 8, a first pump, and an expander, and a composite heat cycle power generator using the high-efficiency heat cycle system. Working gas Fg compressed in the compressor (C) drives a first turbine (S) and is thereafter cooled by passing through a heat dissipating side of a first heat exchanger (7) and then raised in pressure by a first pump (P) to form high-pressure working liquid Fe, the high-pressure working liquid is expanded and evaporated in an expander (K) to form working gas Fg, said working gas Fg is heated by passing through a heat receiving side 82 of the second heat exchanger before being introduced into the compressor C. A heat dissipating side 81 of the second heat exchanger comprises a heat dissipating portion of a refrigerating machine or a heat dissipating portion for waste heat from a heating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Noboru Masada
  • Patent number: 7942001
    Abstract: A pair of organic Rankine cycle systems (20, 25) are combined and their respective organic working fluids are chosen such that the organic working fluid of the first organic Rankine cycle is condensed at a condensation temperature that is well above the boiling point of the organic working fluid of the second organic Rankine style system, and a single common heat exchanger (23) is used for both the condenser of the first organic Rankine cycle system and the evaporator of the second organic Rankine cycle system. A preferred organic working fluid of the first system is toluene and that of the second organic working fluid is R245fa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: UTC Power, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Radcliff, Bruce P. Biederman, Joost J. Brasz
  • Publication number: 20110099972
    Abstract: A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Virginia Wen-Chi Yang, Gordon Raymond Smith
  • Publication number: 20110072820
    Abstract: A process fluid cooler can extract thermal energy from a process fluid including carbon dioxide. An absorber can transfer carbon dioxide from the process fluid to a removal fluid. A reboiler can heat the removal fluid so as to cause carbon dioxide to be released from the removal fluid and outputted as part of a reboiler output stream. The reboiler can also output a heating fluid. A stripper condenser can extract thermal energy from the reboiler output stream so as to cause condensation of water associated with the reboiler output stream and to remove carbon dioxide therefrom. A compression system can remove thermal energy from carbon dioxide received from the stripper condenser. A heat engine can be configured to operate according to an organic Rankine cycle, receiving thermal energy from the heating fluid and/or extracted at the process fluid cooler, at the stripper condenser, and/or at the compression system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Gabor Ast, Michael Adam Bartlett, Vittorio Tola
  • Publication number: 20100319346
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system includes at least two integrated rankine cycle systems coupled to at least two separate heat sources having different temperatures. The first rankine cycle system is coupled to a first heat source and configured to circulate a first working fluid. The second rankine cycle system is coupled to at least one second heat source and configured to circulate a second working fluid. The first and second working fluid are circulatable in heat exchange relationship through a cascading heat exchange unit for condensation of the first working fluid in the first rankine cycle system and evaporation of the second working fluid in the second rankine cycle system. At least one recuperator having a hot side and a cold side is disposed in the first rankine cycle system, second rankine cycle system, or combinations thereof. The at least one recuperator is configured to desuperheat and preheat the first working fluid, second working fluid, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Thomas Johannes Frey, Pierre Sebastien Huck, Herbert Kopecek
  • Patent number: 7827792
    Abstract: This invention reduces the fuel consumption of the modern day power plant by lowering the main steam condenser operating pressure. The main steam condenser is a heat exchanger located in the power plant steam system for condensing steam. The main steam enters the main steam condenser, flowing around the tubes with the coolant flowing thru the tubes, condensing the steam. This invention replaces the present condenser once thru cooling water system with a refrigerant cooling system. The much lower normal temperature and greater high heat absorption rate of the refrigerant, lowers the main steam condenser operating pressure much below that of the present cooling water system. The lower condenser pressure increases steam flow, extracting more energy from the steam, increasing the plant-operating efficiency. This invention combines the conventional steam cycle with the conventional refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressor is driven by the main steam turbine which creates the binary cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Francis Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7658072
    Abstract: A high-efficient heat cycle device formed by combining a heat engine with a refrigerating machine, wherein steam generated in a boiler is cooled by a condenser after driving turbine, built up by a pump, and circulated into the boiler in the form of high-pressure condensate. Refrigerant gas compressed by a compressor is passed through the radiating side of a heat exchanger for cooling after driving the turbine to output a work, and built up by a pump to form high-pressure refrigerant liquid. The high-pressure refrigerant liquid drives a reaction water-turbine to output a work and is expanded and vaporized to form refrigerant gas. The refrigerant gas is led into the compressor after being passed through the heat absorbing side of the heat exchanger and the condenser for heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Noboru Masada
  • Patent number: 7550218
    Abstract: Water is generated onboard of a craft such as an aircraft or in a self-contained stationary system by partially or completely integrating a water generating unit into a power plant of the craft or system. The water generating unit includes one or more high temperature fuel cells which partially or completely replace the combustion chamber or chambers of the power plant. A reformer process is integrated into the high temperature fuel cell which is arranged between, on the one hand, a fan (30) and power plant compressor stages (31, 32) and, on the other hand, power plant turbine stages (33, 34). These power plant stages may be provided in such redundant numbers that safety and redundancy requirements are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7493764
    Abstract: An electric power generation/hydrogen production combination plant comprises a feed water pump, a feed water heater arranged upstream relative to the feed water pump to heat feed water, a reformer for producing formation gas containing hydrogen by processing at least one raw material selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and dimethylether, using steam, an intermediate loop for circulating a thermal medium in order to supply the heat of steam generated by a steam generator to the reformer, an intermediate heat exchanger for transmitting the heat of the steam by way of the intermediate loop and a heating outlet pipe of intermediate heat exchanger connected to the heating outlet of the intermediate heat exchanger and the feed water heater to heat feed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsushi Isokawa, Kazuo Hisajima
  • Patent number: 7284363
    Abstract: A closed cycle turbine system is provided for the generation of power in a light, high altitude airborne vehicle. The closed cycle turbine system may operate according to either the Brayton or the Rankine cycles. The working fluid for the closed cycle may be alternately heated by the combination of an external burner and heat exchanger and cooled by expansion and radiation. The use of the external burner operating at near the atmospheric pressure may eliminate the requirement for a compressor to compress large amounts of low density, ambient air for use in the turbine. Additional ambient air may be provided to the burner by either using a fan to concentrate the ambient air or pressurizing the fuel stream so as to entrain the ambient air therein. The external burner may use a gaseous fuel such as hydrogen or liquid fuel such as jet fuel to provide heat for the closed cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ru-Li Kung, Mike S. Koemer, Tom Iles
  • Patent number: 7211906
    Abstract: An electrical output power generation system is provided. A gas turbine engine rotor spool with at least one alternator rotor and steam turbine rotor are integrated and within a engine body having a combustor or external heat source having fluid communication with the bladed compressor rotor and a gas turbine bladed rotor of the said rotor spool. The alternator rotor has permanent magnets retained and positioned in close proximity and co-axial to the electrical stator having iron laminat and electrical wires. Relative rotational motion between the electrical stator and alternator rotor cause magnetic flux and subsequent electricity to be generated. The steam energy to drive the said rotor spool integrated steam turbine rotor can be from the gas turbine engine exhaust waste heat and or thru external heat energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: TMA Power, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Teets, Jon William Teets
  • Patent number: 7096665
    Abstract: Cascading Closed Loop Cycle (CCLC) and Super Cascading Closed Loop Cycle (Super-CCLC) systems are described for recovering power in the form of mechanical or electrical energy from the waste heat of a steam turbine system. The waste heat from the boiler and steam condenser is recovered by vaporizing propane or other light hydrocarbon fluids in multiple indirect heat exchangers; expanding the vaporized propane in multiple cascading expansion turbines to generate useful power; and condensing to a liquid using a cooling system. The liquid propane is then pressurized with pumps and returned to the indirect heat exchangers to repeat the vaporization, expansion, liquefaction and pressurization cycle in a closed, hermetic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: WOW Energies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel H. Stinger, Farouk Aslam Mian
  • Patent number: 7036314
    Abstract: Water for use in a self-contained water using unit, such as an aircraft, watercraft, ground conveyance, or stationary unit, is treated so that water of different qualities can be distributed to different use locations in the self-contained unit. The treatment is performed by a process using a combined high temperature fuel cell (1) operating at temperatures above 500° C. and a turbine (6) with a reformer process (2) integrated into the fuel cell. The reformer process is operated by the heat of the fuel cell which uses a hydrocarbon fuel to which contaminated and/or fresh water is admixed. The heat of the fuel cell is used for a water purification process. Purified water is filtered in an active charcoal filter and distributed by a distribution system. At least a portion of the purified water available for distribution is automatically salified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
  • Patent number: 7007473
    Abstract: Evaporator temperature control means (U) that, in order to make the temperature of steam generated by heating water using exhaust gas of an engine coincide with a target temperature, controls the amount of water supplied to the evaporator based on the flow rate of the exhaust gas, the temperature of the exhaust gas, the temperature of the water, and the temperature of the steam. Calculating an exhaust gas flow rate (Gmix) based on a fuel injection quantity, an air/fuel ratio, and a rotational speed of the engine improves the precision and the responsiveness of the calculation. Controlling the amount of water supplied to the evaporator based on this exhaust gas flow rate (Gmix) therefore improves the accuracy with which the steam temperature is controlled so as to make it coincide with the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nagatani, Tsuyoshi Baba, Shigeru Ibaraki, Akihisa Sato, Susumu Maeda
  • Patent number: 6986251
    Abstract: In a waste heat recovery system wherein an organic rankine cycle system uses waste heat from the fluids of a reciprocating engine, provision is made to continue operation of the engine even during periods when the organic rankine cycle system is inoperative, by providing an auxiliary pump and a bypass for the refrigerant flow around the turbine. Provision is also made to divert the engine exhaust gases from the evaporator during such periods of operation. In one embodiment, the auxiliary pump is made to operate simultaneously with the primary pump during normal operations, thereby allowing the primary pump to operate at lower speeds with less likelihood of cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: UTC Power, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Radcliff, Duane McCormick, Joost J. Brasz
  • Patent number: 6913076
    Abstract: A high temperature heat pump comprising a low temperature heat exchanger to produce vapor of a first fluid from heat transferred from a second fluid to a mixture of liquid and vapor of the first fluid; a compressor to increase the pressure and temperature of the produced vapor; a high temperature heat exchanger to heat the second fluid to useful, high temperatures from the condensation of the first fluid; and an expander to lower the pressure and temperature of the first fluid producing a mixture of vapor and liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Energent Corporation
    Inventor: Lance G. Hays
  • Patent number: 6820421
    Abstract: A new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream from an external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a high boiling component. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by mixing into an intermediate liquid stream an enriched liquid stream from which the energy from the external source stream is extracted in a vaporization step and converted to energy in an expansion step. The new thermodynamic process and the system for accomplishing it are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kalex, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 6742337
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system comprising ducting to which hot gas is communicated, means to supply lower temperature diluent gas to the ducting, to mix with the hot gas, and produce a reduced temperature mixed gas stream, a vaporizer in communication with the ducting, to receive the stream and to transfer heat from the stream to a working fluid in the vaporizer to vaporize said fluid, and a blower operating to displace the stream through the vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Energent Corporation
    Inventors: Lance G. Hays, Duane Bergmann
  • Patent number: 6691514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating power is provided. Nitrogen gas is compressed by a compressor so as to provide liquid nitrogen of a predetermined temperature. A gaseous refrigerant is passed through the compressed nitrogen so as to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant is passed through the ambient air having a predetermined temperature such that the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant increase. The expansion of the refrigerant in a turbine drives a generator that, in turn, generates power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Richard D. Bushey
  • Patent number: 6629413
    Abstract: A closed cycle thermodynamic apparatus (10) is provided for powering a combustion machine. The apparatus (10) has a compressor (12) for compressing a working medium from a reservoir (14) at temperature T1. The temperature of the working medium increases during compression and reaches temperature T2 when leaving the compressor (12). It is then expanded in an expander (16) for turning the machine. In this manner mechanical work is extracted from the working medium. The apparatus (10) has a first heat exchanger (18) and a second heat exchanger (20) connected to the compressor (12) and the expander (16) in a closed cycle. It also has a burner (22) and a third heat exchanger (24). Air, as a Heat transfer medium, at ambient temperature T5 is induced into the second exchanger (20) to cool the working medium by receiving heat therefrom. The temperature of the working medium decreases from T4 to T1 before entering the compressor (12) for repeating the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: The Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
    Inventors: Michael Noel Wendt, Patrick Joseph Glynn
  • Patent number: 6170263
    Abstract: Low grade heat recovered from various sections of an integrated gasification system is used to drive an absorption chilling cycle. In an exemplary embodiment, the recovered low grade heat is used to heat a two component working solution that is pumped through a closed cycle absorption chilling system. The heated working solution is separated into a rich stream and a lean stream. The rich stream is condensed to produce a liquid rich stream that is throttled to reduce its temperature and then evaporated to produce a cooling load. The cooling load may be used for auxiliary cooling needs in the integrated gasification system. The rich vapor stream produced by the evaporating step is mixed with the lean stream to produce a mixed stream, which is cooled in an absorber to produce the working solution for the cycle to be repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Cedric Chow, Ashok Kumar Anand, Jatila Ranasinghe, David Andrew Stats
  • Patent number: 6167706
    Abstract: An externally fired gas turbine system according to the present invention has a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, an air heat exchanger for heating the compressed air to produce heated compressed air, a turbine for expanding the heated compressed air to produce heat depleted expanded air, and a generator connected to the turbine for generating electricity. According to the present invention, the system also includes combustible products producing apparatus for processing fuel to produce combustible products that include combustible gases and an external combustion chamber for burning the combustible products and transferring heat to the air heat exchanger and producing heat depleted combustion products. The system also includes a closed Rankine cycle steam power plant having a water heat exchanger for vaporizing water and producing steam using heat contained in the heat depleted combustion products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Daniel Goldman, Joseph Sinia
  • Patent number: 6076355
    Abstract: A vapor-driven piston-type engine having multiple stages that may be constructed as a single block or unit. Each stage has its own separate vapor power source and the fluids in each stage are different and have different heat/temperature characteristics such that the waste heat from one engine can be used to drive a succeeding engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventors: Livien D. Ven, Andre R. Vincent
  • Patent number: 6035643
    Abstract: A control system capable of responding to temperature sensors detecting changes in available external ambient cooling temperature, and adjusting turbine cycle thermodynamic medium exhaust pressure and temperature, as it completes its circulation path through the turbine cycle, to what best saturation pressure conditions are needed to correspond with the temperature detected as the coldest currently available saturation temperature in the condenser. Such a system permits condensation of the exhaust to occur at whatever the lowest saturation temperature and pressure available at the time happens to be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Joel H. Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 5970714
    Abstract: A geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal fluid includes a primary separator for separating the geothermal fluid into two channels, one containing high pressure steam and the other containing high pressure liquid. A primary steam turbine in the high pressure steam channel is responsive to high pressure steam for generating electricity and producing heat depleted high pressure steam. A secondary separator separates the heat depleted high pressure steam into a steam component and a liquid component. A primary heat exchanger is responsive to the high pressure liquid and the steam component for transferring heat to said steam component thereby producing low pressure steam and cooled high pressure liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Nadav Amir, Yoel Gilon
  • Patent number: 5946916
    Abstract: A vapor-driven piston-type engine having multiple stages that may be constructed as a single block or unit. Each stage has its own separate vapor power source and the fluids in each stage are different and have different heat/temperature characteristics such that the waste heat from one engine can be used to drive a succeeding engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Livien D. Ven, Andre R. Vincent
  • Patent number: 5860279
    Abstract: The cooling of a hot fluid is effected using a heat exchanger (11) adapted to receive the hot fluid and liquid coolant for cooling the hot fluid such that the liquid coolant is vaporized. A turbine (12), having an output shaft (19) connected to a fan (18), is responsive to vaporized coolant which expands in the turbine (12) for driving the fan (18) to move a mass of air, and produce vaporized coolant. A condenser (13) receives the expanded vaporized coolant and is responsive to air blown by the fan (18), for condensing the expanded vaporized coolant thereby cooling the same and producing coolant condensate which is then returned to the heat exchanger (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Joseph Sinai, Nadav Amir
  • Patent number: 5839282
    Abstract: A method for using a two-phase fluid includes separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; converting sensible heat in the liquid to sensible heat in a working fluid for producing preheated working fluid; and transferring latent heat in the gas to the preheated working fluid for vaporizing the same at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ormai Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Nadav Amir, Alex Moritz, Asher Elovic
  • Patent number: 5822990
    Abstract: Converting heat in a primary fluid (e.g., steam) to useful energy by multistage expansion of the primary fluid, heating of a multicomponent working fluid in a separate closed loop using heat of the primary fluid, and expansion of the multicomponent working fluid. The primary fluid in a vapor state is expanded in a first stage expander to obtain useful energy and to produce a partially expanded primary fluid. The partially expanded primary fluid stream is then separated into liquid and vapor components and split into a vapor stream (which is expanded in a second stage expander) and a further primary stream (which used to heat the multicomponent working fluid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Exergy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander I. Kalina, Lawrence B. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 5816048
    Abstract: A method for utilizing acidic geothermal fluid (e.g., fluid having a pH of less than about 3.5) containing non-condensable gases in a geothermal power plant includes separating the geothermal fluid into steam and brine, applying the steam to a device from which power and steam condensate is produced. Such device can be a back-pressure steam turbine whose exhaust can be cooled by organic fluid to produce organic vapor that is expanded in an organic vapor turbine. Alternatively, the steam can be applied to the steam-side of an indirect contact heat exchanger containing a liquid organic working fluid for producing steam condensate and vaporized working fluid. In such case, the steam condensate produced by the heat exchanger is less acidic than the brine. The vaporized working fluid is expanded in an organic vapor turbine for producing electricity and expanded working fluid, and the expanded working fluid is condensed for producing condensed organic fluid which is preheated and supplied to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uri Kaplan, Moshe Grassiani
  • Patent number: 5813215
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system (WHRS) and combined cycle power plant (CCPP) uses waste heat from an open cycle gas turbine primary stage having a combustion chamber for generating heated exhaust gas. A primary turbine is driven by the heated exhaust gas. A generator is driven by the primary turbine. A primary compressor is driven by the primary turbine for pressurizing the heated exhaust gas for driving the primary turbine. A first closed cycle helium turbine stage incorporates a first closed helium loop. A first heat exchanger (HX) is coupled between the hot exhaust gas from the open cycle gas turbine primary stage and the first closed helium loop for transferring heat to the first closed helium loop. A first turbine is driven by the helium heated in the first closed helium loop. A generator is driven by the first turbine. A first compressor in the first closed helium loop upstream from the first HX pressurizes helium gas through the first HX for driving the first turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Arthur M. Weisser
  • Patent number: 5809782
    Abstract: A modular power plant operating from a source of geothermal fluid that produces geothermal steam containing non-condensable gases such as hydrogen sulfide, and geothermal brine, includes a steam module and an organic fluid module. The steam module has a steam turbine coupled to a generator for expanding the geothermal steam and producing electrical power, low pressure steam, and condensed steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Naday Amir, Uri Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5809791
    Abstract: A process that converts heat energy to kinetic energy comprising at least two fluid cycles thermally joined in which these fluids act as refrigerants. An initiating cycle capable of performing reversed Carnot refrigeration is the major source of heat energy driving the process, and does so by giving off heat energy largely obtained through evaporating and superheating its fluid by condensing its fluid to a reclaiming cycle by causing said reclaiming cycle to boil its fluid, and this boiled fluid expands and moves invoking kinetic energy with the use of a turbine or similar means which is utilized by applicably selected means. The fluid in the reclaiming cycle is then condensed by giving off remaining heat energy and may comprise options of being recycled in the process, rejected out of the process, or used to drive additional reclaiming cycles, or another Remora II process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas Ray Stewart, III
  • Patent number: 5799490
    Abstract: An externally fired gas turbine system according to the present invention has a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, an air heat exchanger for heating the compressed air to produce heated compressed air, a turbine for expanding the heated compressed air to produce heat depleted expanded air, and a generator connected to the turbine for generating electricity. According to the present invention, the system also includes combustible products producing apparatus for processing fuel to produce combustible products that include combustible gases and an external combustion chamber for burning the combustible products and transferring heat to the air heat exchanger and producing heat depleted combustion products. The system also includes a closed Rankine cycle steam power plant having a water heat exchanger for vaporizing water and producing steam using heat contained in the heat depleted combustion products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Daniel Goldman, Joseph Sinia
  • Patent number: 5715682
    Abstract: A combined-cycle power generation system using waste matter as a fuel, which can be expected to improve in power generation efficiency without using an additional fuel. The system has a corrosive exhaust gas source (waste exhaust gas source) (1), a closed-cycle gas turbine (2), and a Kalina-cycle steam turbine (3). A ceramic heat exchanger (6) for the closed-cycle gas turbine (2) is disposed on a high-temperature side of the corrosive exhaust gas source (1). A heat exchanger (7) heats a mixed ammonia water fluid (11) for the Kalina-cycle steam turbine (3) by a high-temperature side exhaust gas from the closed-cycle gas turbine. A heat exchanger (9) evaporates a condensate of the mixed ammonia-water fluid (11) by heat remaining in the exhaust gas from the closed-cycle gas turbine. A heat exchanger (10) for the Kalina-cycle steam turbine is disposed on a low-temperature side of the corrosive exhaust gas source (1) to evaporate the mixed ammonia-water fluid (11) by heat remaining in the waste exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Nakata
  • Patent number: 5687570
    Abstract: An externally fired gas turbine system according to the present invention has a compressor for compressing ambient air and producing compressed air, an air heat exchanger for heating the compressed air to produce heated compressed air, a turbine for expanding the heated compressed air to produce heat depleted expanded air, and a generator connected to the turbine for generating electricity. According to the present invention, the system also includes combustible products producing apparatus for processing fuel to produce combustible products that include combustible gases and an external combustion chamber for burning the combustible products and transferring heat to the air heat exchanger and producing heat depleted combustion products. The system also includes a closed Rankine cycle steam power plant having a water heat exchanger for vaporizing water and producing steam using heat contained in the heat depleted combustion products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Daniel Goldman, Joseph Sinia
  • Patent number: 5660042
    Abstract: A method for using a two-phase fluid includes separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; converting sensible heat in the liquid to sensible heat in a working fluid for producing preheated working fluid; and transferring latent heat in the gas to the preheated working fluid for vaporizing the same at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Nadav Amir, Alex Moritz, Asher Elovic