Noncommunicating Heat Transferring Motive Fluid System (e.g., Cascade, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/655)
  • Patent number: 5640842
    Abstract: A seasonally configurable combined cycle cogeneration plant of the type having a gas turbine unit for producing power and hot exhaust gases, includes a heat recovery water heater for receiving the exhaust gases. The heat recovery water heater contains an indirect contact heat exchanger for exchanging heat in the exhaust gases with water in the heat exchanger which produces hot water as a result. The plant further includes a hot water utilization device responsive to hot water supplied thereto for utilizing heat in the hot water in an amount that varies seasonally. Also included is an organic Rankine cycle converter having a vaporizer responsive to hot water supplied thereto for producing organic vapor, an organic vapor turbine for expanding the organic vapor and producing expanded organic vapor and power, an organic vapor condenser for condensing the expanded organic vapor and producing condensate, and means for returning the condensate to the vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 5628191
    Abstract: For expanding highly pressurized natural gas, use is made of a turbo generator (13) having a heat exchanger (12) connected at its upstream side. Heat supply to the heat exchanger (12) is performed by at least one block-type thermal power station (16) comprising a gas-fired internal combustion engine and a generator. The heat exchanger preheats the gas to be expanded before the gas is supplied to the turbo generator for expansion. Both the block-type thermal power station (16) and the turbo generator (13) generate electric energy which is fed into the power supply network (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignees: Energieversorgung Leverkusen GmbH, Piller GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Kueck, Heinz Siefen, Wolf-Ruediger Canders
  • Patent number: 5607011
    Abstract: A condensing heat exchanger for removing acidic vapors and recovering residual waste heat energy normally rejected into the atmosphere from a fossil fueled boiler flue gas stream, wherein the waste heat energy in the boiler flue gas is recovered by multiple evaporative and condensing heat exchangers and by a heat pump refrigeration system to recover heat energy from the flue gas stream and to preheat the boiler combustion air stream and boiler feed water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Fawzy T. Abdelmalek
  • Patent number: 5603218
    Abstract: Conversion of heat from high-temperature off-gases into useful work is accomplished with a process having first and second stages. The first stage comprises preheating feed water with heat from the off-gases, converting this into steam, passing the steam into a steam expander which drives a first machine, condensing the low pressure exhaust from the expander, and returning the condensate to the preheater to repeat the cycle. The second stage comprises preheating liquid fluorocarbon working fluid, passing the working fluid through a separator and then through the steam condenser, from which a liquid/gas mixture of the working fluid is routed back to the separator, superheating the gaseous working fluid by off-gases, passing the gaseous working fluid into an expander which drives a second machine, condensing the low pressure exhaust from the expander, and returning the liquid fluorocarbon working fluid to the preheater to repeat the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Frank C. Hooper
  • Patent number: 5598706
    Abstract: Power is produced from geothermal fluid containing non-condensable gases whose main constituent is carbon-dioxide. The geothermal fluid is separated into steam and geothermal liquid, the steam being applied to a steam turbine which produces power. The steam exiting the turbine indirectly condensed by an organic fluid liquid which is vaporized and used to run at least one organic vapor turbine for producing power. Organic vapor exiting the organic vapor turbine is condensed and preheated by the steam condensate. Heat extracted from the geothermal liquid is used to run another organic vapor turbine producing power and cooled geothermal liquid which is combined with the cooled steam condensate to form a mixture to which the non-condensable gases are added to form an effluent that is injected into a re-injection well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Moshe Grassiani, Nadav Amir
  • Patent number: 5582011
    Abstract: A power plant operating on geothermal steam containing more than about 5% non-condensable gases includes a topping steam turbine for expanding the steam to produce power and from which exhaust steam is extracted at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and an indirect contact heat exchanger containing clean water for condensing the exhaust steam at a pressure above atmospheric pressure to produce geothermal steam condensate, and for consequently vaporizing the clean water to produce clean steam. The non-condensable gases contained in the geothermal steam are extracted from the heat exchanger and, being at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, can be injected, without being further pressurized, directly into the ground. The clean steam produced by the heat exchanger is applied to a bottoming steam turbine which expands the clean steam to produce power and from which clean exhaust steam is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Dan Batsha
  • Patent number: 5526646
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing from a source of geothermal fluid that contains a mixture of high pressure steam, brine and noncondensable gases includes a heat exchanger for receiving geothermal fluid and transferring heat to water thereby vaporizing the same to produce steam. At least one power plant module is involved, the module having a steam turbine responsive to steam produced by the heat exchanger for producing work, a steam condenser containing an organic fluid and responsive to low pressure steam that exits the steam turbine for condensing the steam into a liquid and vaporizing the organic fluid. The module also contains an organic vapor turbine responsive to vaporizer organic fluid for producing work, and an organic vapor condenser responsive to the low pressure organic fluid that exits the organic vapor turbine condensing the organic vapor to a liquid that is returned to the steam condenser. The cooled geothermal fluid leaving the primary heat exchanger is conducted to a rejection well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Nadav Amir, Moshe Grassiani
  • Patent number: 5497624
    Abstract: A power plant operating on steam for producing electric power including a plurality of integrated power plant unit modules each having a steam turbine responsive to the steam and producing heat depleted steam, a steam condenser associated with the steam turbine operating at a pressure no less than atmospheric pressure for collecting non-condensable gases and condensing the heat depleted steam and vaporizing organic fluid applied to the condenser, a closed organic Rankine cycle turbine operating on the organic fluid and a single electric generator driven by the steam turbine and the organic Rankine cycle turbine for producing electric power, and also including means for supplying in parallel the steam to each steam turbine in each of the modules. A method for producing electric power using steam is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadav Amir, Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 5485728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for recovering energy from low-grade fuels such as industrial, municipal and agricultural waste, low-grade carbonaceous fuels such as lignite and similar solid fuels in which the fuel is comminuted into small particles and slurried in water. The alkali content of the slurry is adjusted to be at least about equal to the chemical equivalent of the halogen content of the slurry and, following pressurization of the slurry, it is heated sufficiently so that the substantial portion of chemically bound oxygen in the fuel separates therefrom as carbon dioxide, leaving a slurry including char particles and dissolved impurities such as halogen salts. The char particles are removed from the slurry and reslurried with just enough halogen-free water to provide the slurry with the needed viscosity to maximize the energy density thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: EnerTech Environmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman L. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 5448889
    Abstract: A method for producing power comprises compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time; storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir; and supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine during a second period of time to produce electric power. The first period of time may coincide with periods of off-peak demand for electricity, such as at night. In such case, the said second period of time is during the day. The compressed gas supplied to the gas turbine may be heated in a combustion chamber wherein fuel is burned, and/or a solar collector. The solar collector may comprise a receiver positioned at the top of a tower for receiving the compressed gas, and tracking reflectors for focusing solar on said receiver and heating the gas therein. The solar radiation receiver may comprise a rotatable ceramic member for transferring heat from solar radiation to the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Ormat Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 5440882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle that includes: (a) expanding a gaseous working stream, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent working stream; (b) heating a multicomponent oncoming liquid working stream by partially condensing the spent working stream; and (c) evaporating the heated working stream to form the gaseous working stream using heat produced by a combination of cooling geothermal liquid and condensing geothermal steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Exergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 5437157
    Abstract: The cooling of a hot fluid is effected using a heat exchanger adapted to receive the hot fluid and liquid coolant for cooling the hot fluid such that the liquid coolant is vaporized. A turbine, having an output shaft connected to a fan, is responsive to vaporized coolant which expands in the turbine for driving the fan to move a mass of air, and produce vaporized coolant. A condenser receives the expanded vaporized coolant and is responsive to air blown by the fan, for condensing the expanded vaporized coolant thereby cooling the same and producing coolant condensate which is then returned to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Lucien Bronicki
  • Patent number: 5431016
    Abstract: A closed-loop Brayton cycle (topping system) takes in heat energy at very high temperatures and rejects heat energy as input heat energy to a closed-loop Rankine cycle (base system). Heat energy input to the base system comes partially or solely from the high-temperature topping system. Materials having high strength at high temperatures enable the topping system to extract significant mechanical energy from thermal energy contained in high temperature working fluid and discharge waste energy from the topping system to the base system at temperatures sufficiently high to be fully useable input to the base system. In the preferred embodiment, closed-loop Brayton-cycle operates at maximum temperatures greatly in excess of maximum temperatures of a conventional steam Rankine-cycle. Consequently, a high-temperature closed-loop Brayton cycle topping system of significant output and efficiency can act as an addition to a conventional steam power-generating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Loral Vought Systems Corp.
    Inventor: William E. Simpkin
  • Patent number: 5421157
    Abstract: A low temperature engine system has an elevated temperature recuperator in the form of a heat exchanger (12) having a first inlet connected to an extraction point (45) at an intermediate position between the high temperature inlet and low temperature outlet (14) of a turbine heat engine (8, 10) and an outlet connected by a conduit (47) to a second inlet to the turbine between the high and low temperature ends thereof and downstream of the extraction point (45). In the recuperator (12) thermodynamic medium vapor from extraction point (45) is in heat exchange relationship with thermodynamic medium conducted from the low temperature exhaust end (14) of the turbine unit (8, 10) through a water cooled condenser (6) and in heat exchange relationship in a refrigerant condenser (2) with a refrigerant flowing in an absorption-refrigeration subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Joel H. Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 5327726
    Abstract: A pyrolyzer unit and two-staged furnaces are provided in a compact furnace assembly for combusting coal to generate power. Coal is reacted in the pyrolyzer to produce a clean hot fuel gas and char. The hot fuel gas is combusted in the first-stage furnace, which contains a high-temperature heat exchanger utilized to heat a pressurized air stream for expansion in a gas turbine and a heat exchanger for superheating steam for expansion in a steam turbine to produce power. Char is combusted in the second-stage furnace and the resulting combustion products are mixed with primary combustion gas from the first-stage furnace to product a secondary combustion gas and preheat the pressurized air stream, and also to superheat steam. The heated air stream is expanded in a gas turbine to produce shaft power to drive an air compressor and an electric power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest L. Daman, Francis D. Fitzgerald, Robert J. Zoschak
  • Patent number: 5319934
    Abstract: A power generating system for processing and converting low grade coal to electrical power comprises apparatus for grinding a stream of coal into fine powder, separating the coal into high grade coal and low grade coal, a suspension burner for burning the high grade coal and generating heat for powering a gas turbine, a circulating fluidized burner for burning the low grade coal for generating heat, and a combination of heat exchangers combining a portion of the heat from the suspension burner with the heat from the circulating bed burner for generating steam for powering a steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Pyropower Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Parker, III, T. Gerry Wells, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5272878
    Abstract: The azeotrope assisted power system is a double cycle engine with condenser at an available low temperature and which uses a refrigerant of low boiling point as working fluid, with its boiler held at an elevated constant temperature for good operating efficiency by thermal contact between the boiler and the condenser of an efficient azeotrope assisted heat pump. The efficiency of the heat pump cycle is increased by the use of an azeotrope mixture of two refrigerants which shows a vapor pressure versus temperature less steep than the similar curves for the separate component refrigerants. These are closed cycles with no mixing of fluids between the cycles. The heat pump compressor draws its required power from the engine cycle, leaving some useable energy. The efficiency of the engine cycle is helped by having a stable temperature in the boiler, and the over all efficiency is maintained by preheating the working fluid fed to the boiler by heat exchange with condensate leaving the condenser of the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventor: Ralph C. Schlichtig
  • Patent number: 5241825
    Abstract: Electrical energy is produced from solid fuels in an ACFBC steam generator with two gas turbines and a steam turbine. The fuel is pyrolyzed in a fluid pyrolysis bed (34) with a hot partial flow of the bed material from the ACFBC steam generator (30), which together with the formed pyro coke is returned to the generator (30) as a fuel. The formed pyro gas (35) is combusted in one of said gas turbines (10), the exhaust gas (16) from which is used for steam generation (17). The other gas turbine (20) is operated with compressed air from its high pressure compressor (22) partially heated in a heat exchanger (51) in a fluid bed (50) with a controlled partial flow of hot bed material from said generator (30). The compressed air is finally heated by burning (24) fuel directly therein, and the exhaust gas from the power turbine part (22) is used as combustion air in the generator (30) which produces super heated high pressure steam for the steam turbine (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventors: Per Collin, Mans Collin
  • Patent number: 5146755
    Abstract: Acidic vapors from hot flue gases are condensed and collected. The waste heat therefrom is recovered and used to produce additional electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Fawzy T. Abdelmalek
  • Patent number: 5111662
    Abstract: In a gas/steam power station plant, which consists essentially of at least one fossil-fired internal combustion engine (2), at least one steam circuit (1) and at least one heat exchanger (3), the heat exchanger (3) connected downstream of the internal combustion engine (2) is fed with exhaust gases (27) from the internal combustion engine (2). Together with a number of steam turbines (12, 13), the steam circuit 1 has a generator (14), a series of other auxiliary units (15, 16) and a water-cooled reactor (11) which produces an amount of saturated steam (B) from an amount of preheated feed water (C) treated in the heat exchanger (3) and fed to it. This amount of saturated steam is thereupon fed to a superheat stage (A) in the heat exchanger (3), where the actual final treatment of the steam takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventors: Curt Nicolin, Hans-Ulrich Frutschi, Giacomo Bolis
  • Patent number: 5025631
    Abstract: Cogeneration of at least electricity and refrigeration with low NO.sub.x combustion of fuel gas supplied at high pressure involves expanding the gas, after preheating, in a turbo-expander which drives a centrifugal compressor for the refrigerant vapor of a refrigeration system. The expanded fuel gas admixed with a limited amount of air is fed to a porous fiber burner to effect flameless combustion on the outer surface of the burner and yield a flue gas with a very low content of NO.sub.x and other pollutants. Combustion heat is used to produce high-pressure steam which is fed to a steam turbine that drives an electric generator. The flue gas can be passed through an absorption system for the recovery of carbon dioxide, part of the steam being utilized in the absorption system. When desired, recovered carbon dioxide can be liquefied with refrigeration produced by the cogeneration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Paul W. Garbo
  • Patent number: 4995234
    Abstract: LNG is pumped to high pressure, vaporized, further heated and then expanded to create rotary power that is used to generate electrical power. A reservoir of carbon dioxide at about its triple point is created in an insulated vessel to store energy in the form of refrigeration recovered from the evaporated LNG. During peak electrical power periods, liquid carbon dioxide is withdrawn therefrom, pumped to a high pressure, vaporized, further heated, and expanded to create rotary power which generates additional electrical power. The exhaust from a fuel-fired combustion turbine, connected to an electrical power generator, heats the high pressure carbon dioxide vapor. The discharge stream from the CO.sub.2 expander is cooled and at least partially returned to the vessel where vapor condenses by melting stored solid carbon dioxide. During off-peak periods, CO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Kooy, John S. Andrepont, Roger F. Gyger, Lewis Tyree, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4942736
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for producing power from solar energy wherein a solar collector heats gas supplied to a gas turbine; compressors compress the gas, the gas being compressed and stored gas during a first period of time, with the stored compressed gas being supplied to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power by driving an electric generator. Preferably, the first period of time is during periods of off-peak electricity, which normally occur at night. The second period of time is during the day. The solar collector preferably comprises tracking reflectors for focusing solar radiation and a receiver for receiving the focused solar radiation and also heating the gas. The solar radiation receiver preferably comprises a rotating ceramic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Ormat Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4907410
    Abstract: A method of utilizing the thermal energy of environmental fluids to produce mechanical work or electricity by an energy conversion system wherein: the source fluid gives heat to the working fluid of a prime mover through a first heat exchange means and is cooled thereby; the cooled source fluid effluent from the said first heat exchange means is further cooled by passing it through a further cooling system which includes either a turbine or an expansion device or both; the further cooled source fluid is employed to cool the expanded working fluid of the prime mover, and the source fluid effluent from the energy conversion system may be used for other cooling and refrigeration processes, such as desalination of seawater, cooling of superconductors, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventor: Yan P. Chang
  • Patent number: 4827723
    Abstract: The system includes a circulating fluidized bed combustor coupled at its outlet to a separator. A vertical return channel is provided for conveying separated solid particles from the separator back to the combustion chamber. A gas turbine cycle is provided, including a gas compressor, a heat transfer means directed to a first duct to the compressor for heating the compressed oxidizing gas, a gas turbine connected through a second duct to the heat transfer means for power generation and a third duct for conveying expanded oxidizing gas from the turbine to the combustion chamber. The heat transfer means includes tubes disposed inside the vertical return channel for indirect heat transfer between the compressed gas and the dense suspension of separated particles flowing downwardly in the vertical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Folke Engstrom, Juhani M. Isaksson
  • Patent number: 4779574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power plant for combustion of a fuel, for example carbon, in a combustion chamber (2) in a bed (10) of fluidized particulate material, primarily a PFBC power plant. The plant includes a multi-stage steam turbine (13) and an intermediate superheater (12) for superheating steam between the turbine stages. The combustion chamber (2) is divided into a first and a second part (2a, 2b) by a wall (4) having one or more openings (42, 43) which takes up a minor part of the cross-section in the bed region and makes possible a limited exchange of bed material. The first part (2a) includes a nest of boiler tubes (11) for generating steam. The second combustion chamber part (2b) includes a nest of boiler tubes (12) for intermediate superheating of steam between the turbine stages. The combustion chamber parts (2a, 2b) are each connected to a fuel supply system (20, 21, 22 and 23, 24, 25, respectively).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: ASEA AB
    Inventors: Karl-Johan Nilsson, Krishna Pillai
  • Patent number: 4733537
    Abstract: A turbine power plant consisting of a closed loop steam turbine system and a closed loop exhaust turbine system. An external fuel source is used to drive the steam turbine system. The heat energy of the hot exhaust fluid of the steam turbine system is transferred to the exhaust turbine system, therefore driving the exhaust turbine system. The turbines used in this invention are designed to allow a heat exchange relationship between the closed loop cycle of the steam turbine system and the closed loop cycles of the exhaust turbine system. In the closed loop steam turbine system, the hot exhaust fluid of the steam turbine system flows through a conduit where it gives up heat energy to the turbines of the exhaust turbine system, prior to reaching a condenser. The working fluid, now in a liquid phase, flows through a pump and then collects heat energy from the exhaust fluid of the turbines in the exhaust turbine system, preheating the working fluid prior to reaching a heater and the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: Demos Papastavros
  • Patent number: 4729226
    Abstract: A process of mechanical power generation including a binary cycle whose primary cycle works with a mixture of water and another substance of much lower volatility substantially immiscible with water. In the primary cycle, at least part of the vaporization of the water is accomplished by means of the heat yielded simultaneously by condensation at variable temperature of the substance of high boiling point. This binary cycle allows obtaining much higher efficiencies than conventional cycles in small power plants (up to 50 MWe), thanks to the diminishing energy losses in the heat absorption, optmising the expansion efficiencies with simple turbines and substantially eliminating the vacuum in the installation. The proposed cycle has better partial load efficiency and lower response time than conventional cycles, with similar cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Inventor: Serafin M. Rosado
  • Patent number: 4702081
    Abstract: The plant has a steam generator connected to a multi-part steam turbine which drives an electrical generator and has intermediate superheaters between the turbine parts. It is driven by steam supplied at supercritical pressure by the steam generator. A second electrical generator is driven by a multi-part gas turbine with multiple expansion and intermediate heating of the turbine gases. The heated turbine gases issuing from the gas turbine are fed to heating surfaces in the steam generator and to a preheater, connected to the latter, for the condensate flowing in the steam circuit back to the steam boiler. The turbine gas heaters integrated with the intermediate superheaters in the steam circuit are formed in a boiler fired with fossil fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: TCH Thermo-Consulting-Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Mucic Vinko
  • Patent number: 4700543
    Abstract: A plurality of independent, closed Rankine cycle power plants, each of which has a vaporizer, is operated by serially applying a medium or low temperature source fluid to the vaporizers of the power plants for producing heat depleted source fluid. A preheater is provided for each vaporizer; and said heat depleted source fluid is applied to all of the preheaters in parallel. The heat depleted source fluid thus serves to heat the operating fluid to the evaporization temperature, while the source fluid applied to the vaporizers supplies the latent heat of vaporization to the operating fluid of the power plant. The present invention is advantageous, as compared to a conventional cascaded power plant of the type described, because the temperature drop of the source fluid can be increased without reducing the efficiency. Alternatively, the temperature drop can be maintained but the efficiency can be increased. In either case, the power produced by the power plant according to the present invention is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines (1965) Ltd.
    Inventors: Zvi Krieger, Alex Moritz
  • Patent number: 4637212
    Abstract: The hot air exchanger in the steam generator is connected to the outlet of the air compressor and the inlet of the hot air turbine for driving the compressor. A presuperheater in the waste air boiler receives steam from the water-steam separator which, in turn, delivers the steam to the steam turbine for an electricity generator. An air preheater is disposed to preheat the incoming combustion air by means of the flue gases from the steam generator. A branch line from the exhaust air boiler may also use the waste air for preheating the incoming combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Emile Aguet
  • Patent number: 4624109
    Abstract: A thermodynamic method and engine is provided for extracting natural thermal energy from ambient atmospheric air and converting it into mechanical work. The extraction process is accomplished by isentropically expanding ordinary air at atmospheric pressure into a thermally insulated vacuum chamber maintained at low pressure. By employing sufficiently high expansion ratios, a large portion of the air can be made to undergo a spontaneous phase transformation into the solid state at cryogenic temperature. This results in a substantial reduction of the specific volume of the condensed air which enables the vacuum environment of the chamber to be maintained by expending less mechanical work than that gained from the initial expansion. Thus, the net amount of mechanical work generated therefrom is positive. Substantial additional mechanical work is generated by harnessing the thermal potential difference between the low temperature condensed air and the ambient environment via additional cryogenic engine stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventor: Michael A. Minovitch
  • Patent number: 4622472
    Abstract: A hybrid power system comprises a first energy converter operating on a closed Rankine cycle and including a vapor generator for vaporizing an organic working fluid in response to heat furnished from a heat source associated with a vapor generator, a turbo-generator responsive to vaporized working fluid for generating electrical power, and a condenser responsive to vapor exhausted from the turbo-generator for converting said vapor to a condensed liquid which is returned to the vapor generator. The system also includes a second energy converter including a thermo-electric generator having a junction, a heat source for heating said junction whereby said thermo-electric generator generates electrical power, and a heat pipe for conveying heat from said last mentioned heat source to the vapor generator of the first energy converter and to the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines Ltd.
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4582327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for power recovery from thermal input. A turbine is disclosed as employing two rotors for two gas cycles, one using a high boiling point fluid and the other using a low boiling point fluid such as steam and butane, respectively. Separation of the fluids is accomplished through mutual collection and selective withdrawal from accumulator tanks. Seals are also disclosed which employ both air and the higher boiling point fluid as a means for preventing the contamination of bearing lubricants by the low boiling point fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: Judson S. Swearingen
  • Patent number: 4578953
    Abstract: A plurality of independent, closed Rankine cycle power plants, each of which has a vaporizer, is operated by serially applying a medium or low temperature source fluid to the vaporizers of the power plants for producing heat depleted source fluid. A preheater is provided for each vaporizer; and said heat depleted source fluid is applied to all of the preheaters in parallel. The heat depleted source fluid thus serves to heat the operating fluid to the evaporization temperature, while the source fluid applied to the vaporizers supplies the latent heat of vaporization to the operating fluid of the power plant. The present invention is advantageous, as compared to a conventional cascaded power plant of the type described, because the temperature drop of the source fluid can be increased without reducing the efficiency. Alternatively, the temperature drop can be maintained but the efficiency can be increased. In either case, the power produced by the power plant according to the present invention is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Ormat Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Krieger, Alex Moritz
  • Patent number: 4573321
    Abstract: The present invention is a multi-step process for generating energy from a source heat flow. Such a process comprises passing a heated media having a mixture of a low volatility component and a high volatility component into a phase separator. The vaporous working fluid is withdrawn from the phase separator and passed into a work zone, such as a turbine, wherein the fluid is expanded. The expanded vaporous working fluid is withdrawn from the work zone and passed into a direct contact condenser or absorber. The separated weak solution is withdrawn from the phase separator and passed into counter-current heat exchange relationship in an interchanger with a portion of media from the direct contact condenser or absorber. The media from the direct contact condenser or absorber is withdrawn and passed into a fluid pressurizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: EcoEnergy I, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kent S. Knaebel
  • Patent number: 4571949
    Abstract: A cogeneration and sludge drying system is provided using air first to generate power in a gas turbine, second in drying the sludge, and third in a boiler to make steam. Heat is recovered from the water vapor evaporated from the sludge and from hot air. The system utilizes conventional equipment and may be retrofitted to existing sludge drying processes at minimal expense and complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Inventor: Harold C. Moke
  • Patent number: 4566278
    Abstract: A thermodynamic method and system is described and claimed for up-grading the quality of digester methane gas by removing substantially all of the non-combustible carbon dioxide gas from the digester gas in a scrubbing system operated by the waste heat of an internal combustion engine utilizing the up-graded methane gas as its fuel source and driving a generator to produce electric power. In accordance with the invention, raw digester gas is compressed and blended with relatively cold water (absorbent). The compressed gas-water mixture is scrubbed in a contact tower with the result that an absorbent-condensed gas stream (primarily water and condensed carbon dioxide) is formed. The absorbent-condensed gas stream is removed from the tower, heated and expanded to release the carbon dioxide component of the stream as product CO.sub.2 gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Inventor: Louis W. Force
  • Patent number: 4542625
    Abstract: A geothermal power plant for operating on geothermal fluid includes an open cycle power plant responsive to the geothermal fluid for producing power and producing heat depleted geothermal fluid. Associated with the open cycle power plant is a closed Rankine cycle organic fluid power plant for producing power. Heat from the geothermal fluid is transferred to the closed cycle power plant; and heat depleted geothermal fluid is injected into a rejection well. The open cycle power plant includes a condenser that operates at a pressure greater than or equal to about atmospheric pressure with the result that the condenser is directly vented to the rejection well. Uncondensible gases contained in the geothermal fluid are thus passed directly into the rejection well making the power plant environmentally acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Lucien Y. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4503682
    Abstract: An improved engine system is provided which includes a synthetic low temperature sink that is developed in conjunction with an absorbtion-refrigeration subsystem having inputs from an external low-grade heat energy supply and from an external source of cooling fluid. A low temperature engine is included which has a high temperature end that is in heat exchange communication with the external heat energy source and a low temperature end in heat exchange communication with the synthetic sink provided by the absorbtion-refrigeration subsystem. By this invention, it is possible to vary the sink temperature as desired, including temperatures that are lower than ambient temperatures such as that of the external cooling source. This feature enables the use of an external heat input source that is of a very low grade because an advantageously low heat sink temperature can be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Synthetic Sink
    Inventor: Joel H. Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 4503681
    Abstract: A state-of-the-art power plant in which the heat from solid or low quality fuels is utilized to heat indirectly a motive stream composition of a mixture of steam and gases to drive a gas turbine. The thermal energy from the burning of the solid or low quality fuels is also utilized to generate steam which powers a steam turbine. Excess steam may be generated to be utilized as process steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David M. Willyoung, Ashok K. Anand
  • Patent number: 4492085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas turbine power plant wherein the gas turbine is driven by gases and steam heated indirectly through a heat exchanger by the burning of corrosive fuels. One of the main improvements in the present invention is to utilize a state-of-the-art gas turbine in the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Stahl, Archie H. Perugi
  • Patent number: 4479355
    Abstract: A power plant is disclosed in which a steam turbine/coal-fired steam boiler is integrated with an air turbine via using the convection section of the boiler to heat compressed air for the turbine, by indirect heat exchange with the flue gas, the hot turbine exhaust being sent to the boiler as preheated combustion air. In this way, only clean air reaches the turbine and not combustion products which would result from direct firing of fuel in compressed air, whereby coal may be burned instead of premium quality fuels. Platens in the radiant section of the boiler are used both to regulate flue gas temperature and take over some of the usual convection section services to release it for compressed air heating service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: John J. Guide, Joseph E. Carey, Jr., Paul D. Eichamer, George Claypole, George V. Yenetchi
  • Patent number: 4479350
    Abstract: Power is recovered from the vaporization of natural gas by warming the natural gas against a multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure and is warmed against one or more streams of propane which are cooled and liquefied. The warmed multicomponent stream is heated, expanded through a generator loaded expander and recycled. The liquefied propane is pumped to an elevated pressure in single or multi-staged streams, vaporized, expanded through a second generator loaded expander and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Newton, Dennis L. Fuini
  • Patent number: 4475343
    Abstract: In a method for the generation of heat using a heat pump in which a heat carrier fluid is heated by a heat exchanger and compressed with temperature increase in a subsequent compressor, heat is delivered therefrom to a heat-admitting process; the fluid is then expanded in a gas turbine, producing work, and afterwards its residual heat is delivered to a thermal power process, the maximum temperature of the energy sources of which, that provide work for the compressor, lies below the temperature of heat delivery. The main heat source can consist of an exothermic chemical or nuclear reaction and the heat-admitting process can be a coal gasification process. The work in the compressor is furnished essentially by the gas turbine and the thermal power process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Bercwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Dibelius, Reinhold Pitt
  • Patent number: 4467609
    Abstract: Halides of tungsten and molybdenum are described for use as working fluids in power plants. Specifically, tungsten pentachloride, tungsten hexachloride, molybdenum hexafluoride and molybdenum hexachloride are used as working fluids in power plants. These working fluids can be used alone in a single cycle. However, they are preferably used in one or two loops of a binary system. The working fluids can be used in combination with other known working fluids in a binary system. Specifically useful, working fluids would include water-Hg, aluminum iodide, water, and nitrogen tetroxide. The use of the novel boiler fluids of the present invention provide numerous advantages, particularly, improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Robert G. Loomis
  • Patent number: 4466249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to gas turbine systems for generating high-temperature process heat. To simplify the primary circuit and to eliminate the necessity of using the same circulation means for the primary and drive circuits in gas turbine systems, a system of this type is designed so that the medium heated in the secondary part of a heat exchanger is divided into a portion of drive gas for operating the drive circuit and a portion of process gas for the actual generation of process heat in the secondary circuit. After the process heat has been given off in a process-heat consumer part, the process gas is then expanded in an expansion turbine and thereafter recycled to the drive circuit. Thereupon, the combined drive gas and process gas, which is compressed in at least one compressor located in the drive circuit, is preheated in a recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hansulrich Frutschi
  • Patent number: 4444015
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering effective energy as power between liquefied natural gas and a high temperature source by cascading two kinds of Rankine cycles when the liquefied natural gas is re-gasified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Chiyoda Chemical Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Matsumoto, Ichizo Aoki
  • Patent number: 4437312
    Abstract: Power is recovered from the vaporization of liquefied natural gas by warming and vaporizing the liquefied natural gas against a first multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The liquefied multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure and is warmed and vaporized against a second multicomponent stream which is cooled and liquefied. The warmed first multicomponent stream is heated, expanded through a generator loaded expander and recycled. The liquefied second multicomponent stream is pumped to an elevated pressure, heated, vaporized and expanded through a second generator loaded expander and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Newton, Dennis L. Fuini
  • Patent number: RE31697
    Abstract: Gas and combined gas/steam power cycles in which chemical energy is stored in a gaseous working fluid by radiolytic dissociation at a temperature below the temperature of thermodynamic macroscopic dissociation, such that the dissociated portion of the working fluid exists under conditions of macroscopic thermal non-equilibrium. The dissociated fluid components are then recombined with the energy of recombination adding heat to the working fluid for extraction in the power cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: KMS Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry J. Gomberg, John G. Lewis, John E. Powers