Abstract

An optimized Rankine thermodynamic cycle system and method include utilizing a working fluid including a base component and an effective amount of a lower boiling point component, where the effective amount is sufficient to raise a power utilization efficiency of the systems by up to 10%, without changing a weight of the fluid reducing turbine efficiency for the particular base component and for optimizing output control valves for adjusting the working fluid composition and temperature sensors measuring an initial temperature of a coolant medium and a final temperature of a heat source stream to computer control valves to continuously adjust a pressure and a flow rate of a working fluid stream to be vaporized so that a heat utilization of the system is about 99% increasing output by approximately 3% to 6% on a sustained and permanent yearly basis.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/08 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours
• F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids
• F01K 23/04 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled condensation heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle

Abstract

An optimized organic thermodynamic cycle system and method include temperature sensors measuring an initial temperature of a coolant medium and a final temperature of a heat source stream to computer control valves to continuously adjust a pressure and a flow rate of a working fluid stream to be vaporized so that a heat utilization of the system is about 99% increasing output by approximately 3% to 6% on a sustained and permanent yearly basis.

IPC Classes  ?

• F25B 49/00 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• F25B 30/06 - Heat pumps characterised by the source of low potential heat

Abstract

A power systems utilizing at least two heat source streams with substantially different initial temperatures, where the systems include a simple vaporization, separation, and energy extraction subsystem, a recycle subsystem, and a condensation and pressurization subsystem and methods for making and using same.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature

Abstract

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems and methods utilizing the systems are disclosed for producing a useable form of energy utilizing warm surface seawater and cold seawater from depths up to 2 miles below the surface and utilizing a multi-component working fluid. The systems and methods are designed to maximize energy conversion per unit of cold seawater, the limited resource, achieving relative net outputs compared to a Rankine cycle using a single component fluid by at least 20% and even as high as about 55%.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature
• F03G 7/05 - Ocean thermal energy conversion, i.e. OTEC

Abstract

Simple thermodynamic cycles, methods and apparatus for implementing the cycles are disclosed, where the method and system involve once or twice enriching an upcoming basic solution stream, where the systems and methods utilize relatively low temperature external heat source streams, especially low temperature geothermal sources.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 4/00 - Devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy
• F24J 3/08 - using geothermal heat (devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy F03G 4/00)
• F03G 4/02 - Devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy with direct fluid contact

Abstract

A new method, system and apparatus for power system utilizing flue gas streams and a multi-component working fluid is disclosed including a heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) subsystem, a multi-stage energy conversion or turbine subsystem and a condensation thermal compression subsystem (CTCSS), where the CTCSS receives a single stream from the turbine subsystem and produces at least one fully condensed stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 23/10 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
• F01K 25/08 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours
• F01K 17/04 - Use of steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plant for specific purposes other than heating
• F01D 15/10 - Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• F02C 6/18 - Plural gas-turbine plantsCombinations of gas-turbine plants with other apparatusAdaptations of gas-turbine plants for special use using the waste heat of gas-turbine plants outside the plants themselves, e.g. gas-turbine power heat plants

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for converting heat into a usable form of energy, where the system and method are designed to utilize at least two separate heat sources simultaneously, where one heat source stream has a higher initial temperature and a second heat source stream has a lower initial temperature, which is transferred to and a multi-component working fluid from which thermal energy is extracted.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 7/00 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
• F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature

Abstract

Solar trough apparatuses are disclosed, where a heat transfer fluid conduit remains fixed in a focal of a solar trough as the solar trough tracks the sun. The support structures can be ring or arcuate structures, where rotation is about their central axis and the trough is support in them so that the focal zone is coincident with the axis of rotation and the conduit is situated in the focal zone eliminating the need for articulated or flexible conduit.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24J 2/14 - semi-cylindrical or cylindro-parabolic
• F24J 2/54 - specially adapted for rotary movement
• F24J 2/24 - the working fluid being conveyed through tubular heat absorbing conduits
• F24J 2/10 - having reflectors as concentrating elements

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods for the efficient conversion of solar energy into a useable form of energy using a solar collector subsystem and a heat conversion subsystem. The systems and methods transfer solar energy directly to an intermediate solution and a working solution and indirectly to and between a basic rich solution, a condensing solution, a lean solution and a rich vapor solution. The systems and methods also include condensing the basic rich solution using an external coolant. The systems and methods support a closed thermodynamic cycle.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 6/00 - Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
• F01K 7/00 - Steam engine plants characterised by the use of specific types of enginePlants or engines characterised by their use of special steam systems, cycles or processesControl means specially adapted for such systems, cycles or processesUse of withdrawn or exhaust steam for feed-water heating
• F24J 2/42 - Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for
• F24J 2/04 - Solar heat collectors having working fluid conveyed through collector
• F03G 6/06 - Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means

Abstract

The present invention discloses systems and methods for converting heat from external heat source streams or from solar energy derived from a solar collector subsystem. The systems and methods comprise a thermodynamic cycle including three internal subcycles. Two of the subcycles combine to power a higher pressures turbine and third or main cycle powers a lower pressure turbine. One of the cycles increases the flow rate of a richer working solution stream powering the lower pressure turbine. Another one of the cycles is a leaner working solution cycle, which provides increased flow rate for leaner working solution stream going into the higher pressure turbine.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 27/00 - Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
• F01K 23/02 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled
• F24J 2/04 - Solar heat collectors having working fluid conveyed through collector
• F01K 19/04 - Regenerating by compression in combination with cooling or heating

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for the combined production of power and heat from an external heat source stream, where the system utilizes four basic stream of different compositions to co-generate power and to heat an external heat absorber stream from an external heat source stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/00 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for
• F01K 27/00 - Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
• F01K 23/02 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled

Abstract

A direct heat exchange method and apparatus for recovering heat from a liquid heat source is disclosed, where the method includes contacting a liquid heat source stream with a multi-component hydrocarbon fluid, where the hydrocarbon fluid compositions has a linear or substantially linear temperature versus enthalpy relationship over the temperature range of the direct heat exchange apparatus.

IPC Classes  ?

• F25B 1/00 - Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
• F25B 41/00 - Fluid-circulation arrangements
• F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids
• F25B 49/02 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for converting waste heat from cement plant into a usable form of energy are disclosed. The methods and systems make use of two heat source streams from the cement plant, a hot air stream and a flue gas stream, to fully vaporize and superheat a working fluid stream, which is then used to convert a portion of its heat to a usable form of energy. The methods and systems utilize sequential heat exchanges stages to heat the working fluid stream, first with the hot air stream or from a first heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream and second with the flue gas stream from a second heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream.

IPC Classes  ?

• C04B 7/36 - Manufacture of hydraulic cements in general

Abstract

System and method is disclosed to increase the efficient of internal combustion engines using to generate electric power, where the system and method converts a portion of thermal energy produced in the combustion process to a usable form of energy.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for converting thermal energy into power from three different compositional streams of a multi-component working fluid, one of the streams being a lean working fluid stream pressurized into its super-critical state before being vaporized in a heat recovery vapor generator, another stream is a rich working fluid steam and the third stream is an intermediate working fluid stream, where the system and process has increased overall efficiency.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids

Abstract

A condensation system is disclosed where a multi-component fluid is condensed to form a condensate, a portion of which is sub-cooled and mixed with non-condensable vapor in the system to reduce the accumulation of non-condensable vapor and to improve the stability and efficiency of the condensation system.

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids
• F01K 9/00 - Steam engine plants characterised by condensers arranged or modified to co-operate with the engines