DE102021108558B4 - Process and device for converting low-temperature heat into technically usable energy - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for converting thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source with temperatures of a maximum of 200°C in a triangular process, hereinafter referred to as "Extended Trilateral Cycle" (E-TLC), into volume change work and subsequently technically usable energy characterized by:• A first process state (1) with a liquid working medium (51) and a liquid, chemically not identical to the working medium (55) under an identical first pressure at an identical first temperature • an isochoric increase in pressure and an isobaric increase in the temperature of the working medium and the heating medium at one identical second pressure and an identical second temperature without evaporation of the working fluid or the heating medium, the second pressure and the second temperature being higher than the first pressure and the first temperature• A second process state (3) with the second pressure and the working medium (52) and heating medium (56) heated to the second temperature • A polytropic flash evaporation of the working medium (52) initiated by pressure reduction with simultaneous supply of thermal energy from the heating medium (56) to the evaporating working medium (52) with complete evaporation of the working medium ( 52) with simultaneous performance of volume change work by the resulting working medium vapor (54) or volume increase of the working medium vapor already present • A third process state (5) with a working medium (54) which is under the first pressure, has completely evaporated and has been cooled to the first temperature and a heat medium (55) that has also been cooled to the first temperature and is under the first pressure and remains liquid • An isobaric condensation of the vaporized working medium (54) at the first temperature to form a liquid, cold working medium (51) with the removal of entropy, which restores the first process state is.

Description

The invention relates to methods and devices for converting low-temperature heat at a temperature of less than 200° C. into technically usable mechanical energy and subsequently electrical energy.

State of the art

Due to the small temperature difference between low-temperature heat sources and possible heat sinks such as water or ambient air and the resulting low theoretical efficiency, the most complete possible utilization of the theoretically usable thermal energy is desirable. This is made possible by implementing a Trilateral Cycle (TLC) process according to Smith U.S. 4,557,112 A ), which theoretically has the highest exergetic efficiency compared to other thermal power processes such as a steam power process or ORC process.

• - Isochore Druckerhöhung (Pkt. 1 - Pkt. 2)
• - Isobare Wärmezufuhr ohne Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels (Pkt. 2 - Pkt. 3)
• - Isentrope Entspannungsverdampfung bei kontinuierlicher Druckverringerung mit gleichzeitiger Volumenvergrößerung und Verrichten von Volumenarbeit (Pkt. 3 - Pkt. 5)
• - Isobare Wärmeabfuhr und Kondensation des verdampften Anteils des Arbeitsmittels (Pkt. 5 - Pkt. 1)

Der prinzipielle Aufbau einer Vorrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik ist in 2 dargestellt. Beginnend beim Punkt 1 wird ein Arbeitsmittel durch eine Druckpumpe unter Arbeitsdruck gesetzt, es wird in einem Wärmetauscher externe Wärme zugeführt, diese durch Teilverdampfung des Arbeitsmittels in einer Wärmekraftmaschine in eine Rotationsbewegung umgesetzt die einen Generator antreibt. Der entstandene Arbeitsmitteldampf wird nach Austritt aus der Wärmekraftmaschine kondensiert und der Kreislauf beginnt erneut.In the TLC process according to Smith (see 1 ) a tool goes through the following steps:

• - Isochoric pressure increase (point 1 - point 2)
• - Isobaric heat supply without evaporation of the working medium (point 2 - point 3)
• - Isentropic flash evaporation with continuous pressure reduction with simultaneous increase in volume and performance of volume work (point 3 - point 5)
• - Isobaric heat dissipation and condensation of the evaporated part of the working medium (point 5 - point 1)

The basic structure of a device according to the prior art is shown in 2 shown. Starting at point 1, a working medium is put under working pressure by a pressure pump, external heat is supplied in a heat exchanger, and this is converted into a rotary movement by partial evaporation of the working medium in a heat engine, which drives a generator. The resulting working medium vapor is condensed after exiting the heat engine and the cycle begins again.

The technical challenge of the TLC process lies in the implementation of the partial evaporation as a forced flash evaporation with a vertically falling evaporation curve (see Fig 1 , TS diagram, course from point 3 to point 5) through the wet vapor area of the working medium with a high proportion of liquid.

• • Reduktion des Arbeitsdruckes zur Initiierung der Entspannungsverdampfung des Arbeitsmittels
• • Volumenvergrößerung durch die Entspannungsverdampfung des Arbeitsmittels
• • Verrichten von Expansionsarbeit durch den entstehenden Dampf des Arbeitsmittel
• • im Nassdampfgebiet des Arbeitsmittels mit einem hohen Flüssigkeitsanteil

stellen hohe technische Anforderungen an die verwendete Vorrichtung.The continuous, simultaneous and spatial juxtaposition of:

• • Reduction of the working pressure to initiate flash evaporation of the working medium
• • Increase in volume due to flash evaporation of the working medium
• • Execution of expansion work by the resulting vapor of the working medium
• • in the wet steam area of the working fluid with a high liquid content

place high technical demands on the device used.

• • US 3 169 375 A benennt Rotationsmaschinen
• • US 4 557 112 A benennt Screw- und Vaneexpander
• • US 7 093 503 B1 und DE 10 2007 041 457 A1 nennen Turbinensysteme
• • WO 2007/ 115 769 A2 verweist auf Kolbenmaschinen

Die Fachliteratur benennt überdies Scrollexpander und weitere Varianten von Rotary-Vane-Expander als Expansionsmaschine.Various devices are known for implementing the flash evaporation of a TLC process:

• • U.S. 3,169,375 A names rotary machines
• • U.S. 4,557,112 A designates screw and vane expanders
• • U.S. 7,093,503 B1 and DE 10 2007 041 457 A1 call turbine systems
• • WO 2007/115 769 A2 refers to piston engines

The specialist literature also names scroll expanders and other variants of rotary vane expanders as expansion machines.

• • DE 34 20 293 A1 - ein Organic-Rankine-Cycle(ORC) System mit niedrigsiedenenden Arbeitsmittel bzw. -gemischen zur Gewinnung von Energie aus Niedertemperaturwärme
• • US 2012 / 0 112 473 A1 - ein System zur Meerwasserentsalzung mit solarer Niedertemperaturwärme und Energiegewinnung in einem Dampfkraftprozess bzw. Wasserkraftwerk
• • GB 280 926 A - ein System zur Gewinnung von Trockendampf durch eine Entspannungsverdampfung eines überhitzten Arbeitsmittels

Also known are:

• • DE 34 20 293 A1 - An Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system with low-boiling working fluids or mixtures to generate energy from low-temperature heat
• • U.S. 2012/0 112 473 A1 - a system for seawater desalination with solar low-temperature heat and energy generation in a steam power process or hydroelectric power plant
• • GB 280 926 A - a system for the production of dry steam by flash evaporation of a superheated working medium

• • Die p-V-Kennlinie der Vorrichtung entspricht nicht oder nur ungenügend der p-V-Verdampfungskennlinie des Arbeitsmittels, was zu Umwandlungsverlusten führt
• • Ein zu geringes Expansionsverhältnis von Volumen und Druck und dadurch kein vollständiges Durchlaufen der Verdampfungskurve, was zu ungenutzter thermischer Energie führt
• • hohe Spalt-Verluste an technisch bedingten Dichtflächen bei durch höhere Temperaturen bedingten höheren Arbeitsdrücken
• • Schlechte Anpassung der Vorrichtung an Veränderungen der Eingangstemperatur bzw. der Kondensationstemperatur aufgrund mechanisch vorgegebener Arbeitspunkte
• • Reibungsverluste
• • Z.T. hohe Drehzahlen der Vorrichtung, die zusätzliche, verlustbehaftete Getriebe erfordern
• • Aufwendig und teuer zu fertigende Spezialkomponenten (wie u.a. Turbinen, Screw-Expander)
• • Bauteilschädigungen durch Tröpfchenerosion, ausgelöst durch eine schnelle, schlagartige Entspannungsverdampfung

Ein weiterer Punkt, der in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur häufig betont wird, ist die notwendige Pumpleistung, um am Anfang des Prozesses den benötigten Arbeitsdruck für das kalte flüssige Arbeitsmittel zu erzeugen, für die ein nicht geringer Teil der zuvor erzeugten Energie benötigt wird.These devices were mostly developed as compression machines for the compression of gases or derived from machines for other thermal power processes and sometimes have unfavorable parameters for flash evaporation after the TLC process.
This includes:

• • The pV characteristic of the device does not correspond or only insufficiently to the pV evaporation characteristic of the working medium, which leads to conversion losses
• • An expansion ratio of volume and pressure that is too low and therefore not fully traversing the evaporation curve, resulting in wasted thermal energy
• • High gap losses on technically required sealing surfaces at higher working pressures caused by higher temperatures
• • Poor adjustment of the device to changes in the inlet temperature or the condensation temperature due to mechanically specified operating points
• • Friction losses
• • ZT high speeds of the device, which require additional, lossy gear
• • Special components that are complex and expensive to manufacture (such as turbines, screw expanders, etc.)
• • Component damage due to droplet erosion, triggered by rapid, sudden flash evaporation

Another point that is often emphasized in the scientific literature is the pump capacity required to generate the required working pressure for the cold liquid working medium at the beginning of the process, for which a not insignificant part of the previously generated energy is required.

object of the invention

• • die p-V-Kennlinie der Vorrichtung entspricht der p-V-Verdampfungskennlinie des Arbeitsmittels
• • Ein großes volumenbezogenes Expansionsverhältnis
• • Ein großes druckbezogenes Expansionsverhältnis
• • geringe Spaltverluste an technisch bedingten Dichtflächen
• • Vermeidung einer schlagartigen Entspannungsverdampfung und dadurch ausgelöster Tröpfchenerosion
• • Minimierung der zur Erzeugung des Arbeitsdruckes erforderlichen Pumpleistung
• • Leichte Anpassung an Veränderungen der thermischen Umgebungsparameter wie Temperatur der Wärmequelle bzw. der Kondensationstemperatur
• • Abdeckung eines großen Temperaturbereichs der Temperatur der NiedertemperaturWärmequelle und der Kondensationstemperatur

The aim of the present invention is a technical solution for converting low-temperature heat into technically usable energy while realizing flash evaporation similar to the TLC process 1 while eliminating the disadvantages of the previously known devices. This means that the new technical solution should have the following properties:

• • the pV characteristic of the device corresponds to the pV evaporation characteristic of the working medium
• • A large volumetric expansion ratio
• • A large pressure related expansion ratio
• • low gap losses on technically required sealing surfaces
• • Avoidance of a sudden decompression evaporation and the resulting droplet erosion
• • Minimization of the pump capacity required to generate the working pressure
• • Easy adaptation to changes in the thermal environment parameters such as the temperature of the heat source or the condensation temperature
• • Coverage of a large temperature range of the temperature of the low-temperature heat source and the condensation temperature

Explanation of the solution

• • Erste Wandlung: Umwandlung der thermischen Energie von Prozessmedien in potentielle Energie der Prozessmedien durch Anheben der Prozessmedien von einem unteren Niveau auf ein oberes Niveau unter Realisierung einer Entspannungsverdampfung nach dem Extended-TLC-Prozess
• • Zweite Wandlung: Umwandlung der potentiellen Energie der Prozessmedien in technisch nutzbare Energie durch Rückführung der Prozessmedien vom oberen auf das untere Niveau und Umwandlung des statischen Druckes der Prozessmedien in mechanische Energie, z.B. in einem Hydraulikmotor / -turbine

The object is achieved according to the invention as defined in the claims by a novel "extended TLC process", an energy conversion device and a method for converting ther mixed energy into potential energy and a device and method with a double energy conversion:

• • First conversion: Conversion of the thermal energy of process media into potential energy of the process media by raising the process media from a lower level to an upper level, realizing flash evaporation after the extended TLC process
• • Second transformation: Conversion of the potential energy of the process media into technically usable energy by returning the process media from the upper to the lower level and converting the static pressure of the process media into mechanical energy, eg in a hydraulic motor/turbine

• • Der „Extended-TLC“ Prozess
• • Die erste Energiewandlungsvorrichtung und das Verfahren zur Wandlung von thermischer Energie in potentielle Energie unter Realisierung einer Entspannungsverdampfung nach dem Extended-TLC-Prozess
• • Die Vorrichtung und das Verfahren der zweimaligen Wandlung unter Verwendung der neuartigen ersten Energiewandlungsvorrichtung

New are:

• • The "Extended-TLC" process
• • The first energy conversion device and the method for converting thermal energy into potential energy while realizing a flash evaporation according to the extended TLC process
• • The device and method of double conversion using the novel first energy conversion device

• - Der „Extended-TLC“ Prozess nachfolgend E-TLC Prozess genannt
• - die erste Energiewandlungsvorrichtung zur Wandlung von thermischer Energie in potentielle Energie nachfolgend „Erster Energiewandler“ genannt
• - die Vorrichtung mit zweimaliger Energiewandlung nachfolgend als „Gesamtsystem“ bezeichnet
• - der im Gesamtsystem realisierte thermodynamische Prozess mit zweimaliger Energiewandlung wird aufgrund seiner Ähnlichkeit zum bekannten TLC-Prozess und zur besseren Unterscheidung zum neuartigen E-TLC-Prozess nachfolgend als „E-TLC2-Prozess“ bezeichnet.

For better differentiation:

• - The "Extended-TLC" process hereinafter referred to as the E-TLC process
• - The first energy conversion device for converting thermal energy into potential energy hereinafter referred to as "first energy converter".
• - the device with double energy conversion is hereinafter referred to as the "overall system".
• - The thermodynamic process implemented in the overall system with double energy conversion is referred to below as the "E-TLC2 process" due to its similarity to the well-known TLC process and to better distinguish it from the new E-TLC process.

In the 1 The reference symbols used for the TLC process are used identically in representations of the E-TLC and the E-TLC2 process.

The new E-TLC process

• • die Verwendung eines zusätzlichen Wärmeträgermediums (nachfolgend vereinfacht Wärmemedium genannt) als interner Wärmespeicher
• • die vollständige Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels (vgl. TLC-Prozess: teilweise Verdampfung)
• • die Verdampfung in einer polytropen Verdampfung (vgl. TLC-Prozess: isentrope Verdampfung)

Wie später gezeigt wird, ergeben sich durch die Nutzung eines vollständig verdampfenden Arbeitsmittels und eines zusätzlichen Wärmemediums völlig neue Lösungswege für die technische Realisierung und Steuerung einer Vorrichtung zur Umwandlung von Niedertemperatur-Wärme in technisch nutzbare Energie.Key features of the novel E-TLC process (see 3 ) compared to the known TLC process 1 are:

• • the use of an additional heat transfer medium (hereinafter referred to simply as heat medium) as an internal heat accumulator
• • the complete evaporation of the working fluid (cf. TLC process: partial evaporation)
• • the evaporation in a polytropic evaporation (cf. TLC process: isentropic evaporation)

As will be shown later, the use of a completely evaporating working medium and an additional heating medium results in completely new solutions for the technical implementation and control of a device for converting low-temperature heat into technically usable energy.

Overall system with double energy conversion (E-TLC2 process)

Core component of the overall system 11 after 5 is the first energy converter 25.
In 4 the associated thermodynamic details of the two-stage E-TLC2 process for the overall system 11 and the associated TS and pV diagram are shown.
That at point 2 ( 5 bottom) working medium 51 under pressure and the heating medium 55 , which is also under pressure, are heated to the same temperature in a heat exchanger 31 by externally supplied thermal energy and fed to the first energy converter 25 .
In the first energy converter 25 for converting thermal energy into potential energy, the flash evaporation step (see 4 , TS diagram) from working point 3 with the maximum temperature to working point 5 with the minimum temperature. This will be a maximum achieved with the exergetic efficiency.
The working medium raised and completely evaporated by the first energy converter 25 is collected after exiting the first energy converter 25, the working medium vapor 54 is condensed, collected and returned to the lower level while performing mechanical work in a second energy converter 34.
The heat medium that remains liquid is also collected and returned to the lower level while mechanical work is performed in the second energy converter 34 . Deviating from the E-TLC process according to 3 In the two-stage E-TLC2 process, there is another point 7 between the thermodynamic points 1 and 2, at which the cold working medium 51 and the cold heat medium 55 have a higher pressure than is required at point 2 after the E-TLC process . This pressure difference between points 7 and 2 of the E-TLC2 process is converted into technically usable energy in the second energy converter 34 . At the same time, the pump required according to the state of the art for generating the necessary working pressure is no longer required.
The product of the pressure difference and the volume of the working medium and the heat medium corresponds to the thermal energy converted into potential energy in the first energy converter 25 .

The first energy converter

The physical and technical basis for the first energy converter 25 (see 6a ) are each delimited by two pistons 170 and filled with warm working medium AM and warm heat medium WM work areas AB.
A plurality of these working areas, separated by pistons 170, are arranged one above the other in an upwardly directed tube (see Fig 6b ).
Each working area is under a local working pressure pA, which is generated by the other working areas in the pipe above the respective working area.
Depending on the number of other working areas above an individual working area and the resulting local working pressure pA prevailing in an individual working area, the working medium AM is in flash evaporation - with a simultaneous increase in the volume of the working area - partially (lower and middle area) or completely (upper area). ) evaporated and cooled. The thermal energy required for the complete vaporization of the working medium is withdrawn from the heat medium so that it is also cooled (see Fig 4 and 6b ).

By adding new work areas (see 6b ) at the bottom level of the up pipe, the work areas above are raised to such an extent that the top work area at the top level exits the up pipe.
This reduces the local working pressure pA for all subsequent working areas.
This reduction in pressure leads to small expansion evaporations in all work areas in the tube and thus small increases in volume of each individual work area and consequently a lifting of all work areas located above.
The sum of these many small increases in volume results in a large increase in volume, which greatly increases the top working area (see 6b - resulting path change) and - after adding a new work area to the lower level - can also exit to the upper level.
In order for this process to be repeated continuously, new working areas with warm working fluid and warm heating medium are constantly fed in at the lower level under a dosing pressure pD.
In the 6a and 6b The strict separation of the heat medium and the work equipment shown serves to provide a comprehensible representation of the processes within a work area during the movement from the lower to the upper level. In reality, within a working area AB, the heating medium and working medium are mixed to form a working mixture AG (see Fig 6c ).
Due to the evaporation of the working medium during the movement from the lower to the upper level, the working mixture is subject to a constant change in the mixing ratio until the working medium has completely evaporated at the upper level and the heating medium remains only as a liquid.

Optimization of the overall system

The consideration of heat medium and working medium as a working mixture opens up the possibility of an advantageous optimization of the in 5 illustrated overall system 11 close.
In 7 the optimized overall system 12 with a mixing chamber 33 for producing the working mixture AG is already shown outside of the first energy converter.
The result of the optimization is only a one-piece second energy converter 34 and a one-piece heat exchanger 31 instead of two-part second energy converter and heat exchanger 5 necessary.

Further development of the first energy converter

This in 6 The principle of the first energy converter outlined above requires that the pipe pointing upwards be all the greater - in order to build up the maximum working pressure pA that increases with the temperature - the greater the temperature difference between the low-temperature heat source and the vapor condensation temperature (given by the temperature of the heat sink).
Heights of several hundred meters to more than 1000 meters can be necessary.
According to an advantageous further development of the first energy converter (see 10a-b ) can be avoided by inserting an additional weight area GB filled with a weight medium 60 between two work areas AB (see 10a ). The weight medium is - in contrast to the working medium and heat medium - not heated by the heat source.
The weight medium causes - with otherwise the same processes as above 6 described - due to its own weight, an increase in the working pressure pA on each working area AB in the upward-pointing pipe. This makes it possible - as will be shown - to significantly reduce the required height of the pipe leading upwards to build up the working pressure pA.
In 11 the overall system 15 is shown with a further developed first energy converter 26, the structure of which is largely identical to the overall system 11 5 is.
the inside 12 The structure of the overall system 16 shown, with a further developed first energy converter 26 and external production of a working mixture, is largely identical to the overall system 12 according to FIG 7 . What is new in both overall systems is the additional supply of weight medium 60 to the further developed first energy converter 26.
The thermodynamic processes of the E-TLC2 process 4 also apply to the overall systems 15 and 16 with the further developed first energy converter 26.

The reduced pressure difference between points 7 and 2 due to the lower height of the overall systems 15 and 16 is compensated for by a larger volume of working medium, heat medium and weight medium for the second energy converter 34 (see Fig 1 1+12, pV diagrams).
Varying the amount of the working mixture (heating medium and working medium) or the weight medium allows the overall system to be easily controlled.

It is of particular advantage that the further developed first energy converter can also be operated in an operating mode without a weight medium and the usable temperature range is thus extended towards lower temperatures.

Optimization of the advanced overall systems

As in 11 and 12 shown, the use of a weight medium in the overall systems 15 and 16 requires the use of a two-part second energy converter 34.
This can be achieved by using working mixture as a weight medium as in 13 shown to be avoided.

Further design variants of the overall system

Using the different densities of the working medium and the heat or weight medium, various design variants of the overall system for converting thermal energy into technically usable energy are possible. Depending on the area of application (source of low-temperature heat, heat sink, temperature difference), technical advantages can be achieved.
So can, as in 8th , 14 and 15 shown, the height of the overall system between the condensation device and the heat supply can be reduced to such an extent that the resulting liquid pressure of the working medium or the working mixture corresponds to the working pressure required at point 2. The pressure difference between points 7 and 2, which no longer exist, which was previously used to generate energy, disappears. The loss of potential energy of the working medium or working mixture is compensated by the larger usable volume of heat or weight medium. The sum of the technically usable amount of energy remains the same.
If the focus is on further reducing the height of the overall system, as in 9 and 16 shown, the use of an additional booster pump 35 is also possible.
However, this reduces the amount of technically usable energy to be delivered.

Increased performance through parallelization

The principle and the simple technology of the first energy converter 25 and the further developed first energy converter 26 for converting thermal energy into potential energy allows any number of upward-leading pipes to be built in parallel for energy conversion (see Fig 17 , shown as an example using the example of the entire system 12).
This has the advantage that even with low temperature differences between the low-temperature source and the vapor condensation temperature and the associated low efficiency, large amounts of heat can still be converted and technically usable energy can be obtained from this.
With parallelization, outputs well into the megawatt range can be achieved.

• • Erfolgt durch das Prinzip der frei beweglichen Kolben eine selbsttätige Anpassung der p-V-Kennlinie der ersten Energiewandler an die p-V-Verdampfungskennlinie des Arbeitsmittels
• • Ist eine stufenlose Volumenvergrößerung von mehr als 1:100 möglich (Ausgangsvolumen des flüssigen warmen Arbeitsmittels zu Endvolumen des verdampften gasförmigen Arbeitsmittels)
• • ist eine stufenlose Druckentspannung von mehr als 1:10 möglich (maximaler Arbeitsdruck auf dem unteren Niveau zu minimalem Arbeitsdruck auf dem oberen Niveau)
• • Wird durch einen sehr langsamen Druckabbau von mehreren Sekunden bis Minuten (Zeit zwischen Beginn und Ende der Entspannungsverdampfung des Arbeitsmittels) eine explosionsartige Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels und nachfolgende Tröpfchenerosion, die zu Bauteilzerstörungen führen kann, vermieden
• • Werden durch geringe Druckunterschiede von weit weniger als 0,001MPa (0,01bar) zwischen der Kolbenoberseite und der Kolbenunterseite die technischen Anforderungen an die Kolbendichtungen deutlich gesenkt und Spaltverluste weitestgehend reduziert
• • Sind durch mehrere parallel arbeitende erste Energiewandler Leistungen bis weit in den Megawatt-Bereich möglich
• • Ist durch Änderung der zugeführten Mengen des Arbeitsmittels, des Wärmemediums, des Gewichtsmediums oder der Betriebsweise im weiterentwickelten ersten Energiewandler eine einfache Anpassung an Veränderungen der externen Temperatur der Niedertemperaturwärmequelle und/oder der Temperatur der Dampfverflüssigung möglich
• • können bereits geringe Temperaturdifferenzen von 10°K zur Energiegewinnung ausgenutzt werden
• • ist ein flexibler Tag/Nacht-Betrieb sowie ein flexibler Sommer/Winter-Betrieb mit Anpassung an die sich verändernden Temperaturen der Niedertemperaturwärmequelle oder der Dampfverflüssigungstemperatur möglich

With the use of the new E-TLC process, the first energy converter according to the invention, the further developed first energy converter according to the invention and the parallelization of the first and the further developed first energy converter:

• • Due to the principle of the freely moving pistons, the pV characteristic of the first energy converter is automatically adapted to the pV evaporation characteristic of the working fluid
• • Is a stepless volume increase of more than 1:100 possible (initial volume of the liquid, warm working medium to final volume of the vaporized gaseous working medium)
• • a continuous pressure relief of more than 1:10 is possible (maximum working pressure on the lower level to minimum working pressure on the upper level)
• • Is an explosive evaporation of the working fluid and subsequent droplet erosion, which can lead to component destruction, avoided by a very slow pressure reduction of several seconds to minutes (time between the start and end of the flash evaporation of the working fluid).
• • The technical requirements for the piston seals are significantly lowered and gap losses are reduced to the greatest possible extent due to small pressure differences of far less than 0.001 MPa (0.01 bar) between the top and bottom of the piston
• • Are powers far into the megawatt range possible through several parallel working first energy converters
• • Is a simple adaptation to changes in the external temperature of the low-temperature heat source and/or the temperature of the vapor liquefaction possible by changing the supplied amounts of the working medium, the heat medium, the weight medium or the mode of operation in the further developed first energy converter
• • Even small temperature differences of 10°K can be used to generate energy
• • flexible day/night operation as well as flexible summer/winter operation with adjustment to the changing temperatures of the low-temperature heat source or the vapor condensation temperature is possible

• • die thermodynamisch anspruchsvollen Vorgänge der Wandlung der thermischen Energie nach dem E-TLC-Prozess in eine andere Energieform werden von der Wandlung in technisch nutzbare mechanische Energie entkoppelt (vergleichbar der Trennung von Dampferzeugung und Turbine in klassischen Wärmekraftwerken)
• • die technische Komplexität einer Vorrichtung zur Umwandlung thermischer Energie in technisch nutzbare Energie wird im Vergleich zum Stand der Technik deutlich reduziert, da jede der beiden Energiewandlungsstufen für ihre jeweilige Aufgabe optimiert werden kann
• • Der zu Prozessbeginn erforderliche Arbeitsdruck für das Arbeitsmittel, das Wärmemedium und ggf. das Gewichtsmedium wird verfahrens- und vorrichtungsintern ohne die nach dem Stand der Technik erforderliche Druckpumpe erzeugt
• • dies senkt die technisch bedingten Verluste, erhöht den technischen Wirkungsgrad und bringt ökonomische Vorteile
• • je nach Einsatzfall kann aus verschiedenen Bauweisen des Gesamtsystems die optimale Bauform zur Realisierung eines E-TLC2-Prozesses ausgewählt werden

The advantages of the two-stage E-TLC2 process according to the invention for converting thermal energy into technically usable energy according to the E-TLC2 process are:

• • The thermodynamically demanding processes of converting thermal energy into another form of energy according to the E-TLC process are decoupled from the conversion into technically usable mechanical energy (comparable to the separation of steam generation and turbines in classic thermal power plants)
• • The technical complexity of a device for converting thermal energy into technically usable energy is significantly reduced compared to the prior art, since each of the two energy conversion stages can be optimized for their respective task
• • The working pressure required at the start of the process for the working medium, the heating medium and, if applicable, the weight medium is generated internally in the process and device without the pressure pump required according to the prior art
• • This reduces the losses caused by the technology, increases the technical efficiency and brings economic benefits
• • Depending on the application, the optimal design for implementing an E-TLC2 process can be selected from various designs of the overall system

character list

• 1 - Thermodynamics of the prior art TLC process
• 2 - Basic structure of a system for using the TLC process according to the state of the art
• 3 - Thermodynamics of the novel E-TLC process
• 4 - Thermodynamics of the novel E-TLC2 process
• 5 - Representation of the entire system 11 after the E-TLC2 process
• 6 - Functional principle of the first energy converter 25
• 7 - Representation of optimized overall system 12 with mixing chamber 33
• 8th - Representation of the entire system 13 with the first energy converter 25 at a reduced height
• 9 - Representation of the entire system 14 with a reduced height and booster pump 35
• 10 - Functional principle of further developed first energy converter 26
• 11 - Representation of the entire system 15 with a further developed first energy converter 26
• 12 - Representation of the entire system 16 with a further developed first energy converter 26 and mixing chamber 33
• 13 - Representation of the overall system 17 with a further developed first energy converter 26 and working mixture as the weight medium
• 14 - Representation of the entire system 18 with a further developed first energy converter 26 at a reduced height
• 15 - Representation of the entire system 19 with a further developed first energy converter 26 and mixing chamber 33 at a reduced height
• 16 - Representation of the overall system 20 with a further developed first energy converter 26 and pressure booster pump 35 at a reduced height
• 17 - Representation of the overall system 12 with several parallel first energy converters 25
• 18 - Thermodynamics of the modified mE-TLC2 process
• 19 - Representation of the entire system 211 after the mE-TLC2 process with the first energy converter 25
• 20 - Representation of the overall system 212 after the mE-TLC2 process with the first energy converter 25 and working mixture
• 21 - Representation of the entire system 216 after the mE-TLC2 process with the first energy converter 26 and working mixture
• 22 - Representation of the entire system 219 after the mE-TLC2 process with the first energy converter 26 and working mixture at a reduced height
• 23 - Representation of the first energy converter 25
• 24 - Representation of the first energy converter 25 with the supply of the working mixture
• 25 - Representation of further developed first energy converter 26
• 26 - Representation of further developed first energy converter 26 with supply of working mixture
• 27 - Representation of the variation of possible operating states of the first energy converters 25 and 26 in the TS diagram
• 28 - Presentation of possible design variants of the pipe system on the lower and upper level

List of reference symbols and numbering used

Reference List

AWAY

Workspace

Inc

Working mixture of heat medium and working fluid, commonly used

AT THE

tools, commonly used

GB

weight range

H

drop height

WM

Heat medium, commonly used

pA

work pressure

pD

dosing pressure

pK

pressure piston stack

• • Ziffer ohne Zusatz kennzeichnet Zustandspunkt für das Arbeitsmittel
• • Zusatz „..wm” kennzeichnet Zustandspunkt für das Wärmemedium
• • Zusatz „..gm” kennzeichnet Zustandspunkt für das Gewichtsmedium
• • Zusatz „..ag” kennzeichnet Zustandspunkt für das Arbeitsgemisch aus Wärmemedium und Arbeitsmittel

Digits 1 - 7 --- points for certain thermodynamic states in TS and pV diagrams

• • A number without a suffix indicates the status point for the work equipment
• • The suffix "..wm" indicates the status point for the heating medium
• • The suffix "..gm" indicates the status point for the weight medium
• • The suffix "..ag" indicates the state point for the working mixture of heat medium and working medium

11

Gesamtsystem mit erstem Energiewandler 25 und interner Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches

12

Gesamtsystem mit erstem Energiewandler 25 und externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches

13

Gesamtsystem mit erstem Energiewandler 25, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches bei reduzierter Höhe

14

Gesamtsystem mit erstem Energiewandler 25, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches bei reduzierter Höhe und zusätzlicher Druckerhöhungspumpe 35

15

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, interner Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches und Wärmemedium als Gewichtsmedium

16

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches und Wärmemedium als Gewichtsmedium

17

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches und Arbeitsgemisch als Gewichtsmedium

18

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches mit Druckaufbau durch Arbeitsmittel und Wärmemedium als Gewichtsmedium bei reduzierter Höhe

19

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches mit Druckaufbau durch Arbeitsgemisch und Wärmemedium als Gewichtsmedium bei reduzierter Höhe

20

Gesamtsystem mit weiterentwickeltem erstem Energiewandler 26, externer Erzeugung eines Arbeitsgemisches, Wärmemedium als Gewichtsmedium sowie zusätzlicher Druckerhöhungspumpe 35 für das Arbeitsmittel bei reduzierter Höhe

25

Erster Energiewandler thermische zu potentielle Energie

26

Weiterentwickelter erster Energiewandler thermische zu potentielle Energie

31

Wärmetauscher zur Aufnahme von Wärmeenergie

32

Dampfverflüssiger für Arbeitsmitteldampf

33

Mischkammer für Arbeitsmedium und Wärmemedium

34

Zweiter Energiewandler, potentielle zu technisch nutzbare Energie

35

Druckerhöhungspumpe

40

Zuführungen, allgemein

41

Zuführung Gewichtsmedium

51

Arbeitsmittel, flüssig, kalt

52

Arbeitsmittel, flüssig, warm

53

Arbeitsmittel, dampfförmig, warm

54

Arbeitsmittel, dampfförmig, kalt

55

Wärmemedium, flüssig, kalt

56

Wärmemedium, flüssig, warm

58

Arbeitsgemisch aus Wärmemedium und Arbeitsmedium, kalt

59

Arbeitsgemisch aus Wärmemedium und Arbeitsmedium, warm

60

Gewichtsmedium, flüssig

Digits 10 - 99 --- Components of the overall system

11

Overall system with the first energy converter 25 and internal generation of a working mixture

12

Overall system with the first energy converter 25 and external generation of a working mixture

13

Overall system with the first energy converter 25, external generation of a working mixture at a reduced height

14

Overall system with the first energy converter 25, external generation of a working mixture at a reduced altitude and additional booster pump 35

15

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, internal generation of a working mixture and heat medium as a weight medium

16

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, external generation of a working mixture and heat medium as a weight medium

17

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, external generation of a working mixture and working mixture as a weight medium

18

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, external generation of a working mixture with pressure build-up by working medium and heat medium as a weight medium at a reduced height

19

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, external generation of a working mixture with pressure build-up by working mixture and heat medium as a weight medium at a reduced height

20

Overall system with further developed first energy converter 26, external generation of a working mixture, heat medium as a weight medium and additional booster pump 35 for the working medium at a reduced height

25

First energy converter thermal to potential energy

26

Advanced first energy converter thermal to potential energy

31

Heat exchanger for absorbing thermal energy

32

Steam liquefier for working medium steam

33

Mixing chamber for working medium and heating medium

34

Second energy converter, potential to technically usable energy

35

booster pump

40

Allocations, general

41

Feeding weight medium

51

Working fluid, liquid, cold

52

Working medium, liquid, warm

53

Working fluid, vaporous, warm

54

Working fluid, vaporous, cold

55

Heat medium, liquid, cold

56

Heat medium, liquid, warm

58

Working mixture of heating medium and working medium, cold

59

Working mixture of heat medium and working medium, warm

60

weight medium, liquid

110

Rohrbogen, unteres Niveau

120

Einbringvorrichtung, allgemein

121

Einbringvorrichtung für Arbeitsmittel und Wärmemedium bzw. Arbeitsgemisch

122

Einbringvorrichtung für Arbeitsmittel und Wärmemedium bzw. Arbeitsgemisch sowie Gewichtsmedium

125

Kolben-Stopvorrichtung

126

Dosiervorrichtung

130

Aufstiegsrohr

140

Rohrbogen, oberes Niveau

150

Separierungsvorrichtung zur Trennung von Flüssigkeiten und Arbeitsmitteldampf

160

Abstiegsrohr

170

Einzelkolben

171

Kolbenstapel

Digits 100 - 199 --- First and further developed first energy converter

110

Pipe bend, lower level

120

Introducer, general

121

Feeding device for working fluid and heat medium or working mixture

122

Feeding device for working medium and heating medium or working mixture as well as weight medium

125

Piston stopping device

126

dosing device

130

riser tube

140

Elbow, upper level

150

Separation device for separating liquids and working medium vapour

160

descent tube

170

single piston

171

piston stack

Detailed description of the E-TLC process

Essential feature of the new E-TLC process 3 compared to the known TLC process 1 is the use of a heating medium as well as the complete evaporation of the working medium in a polytropic evaporation curve.
Smith's TLC process uses the thermal energy absorbed by the working medium for evaporation. Since the amount of energy required for evaporation is greater than the amount of energy absorbed, this always leads to only partial evaporation of the working medium.
In the E-TLC process, a significant part of the thermal energy required for complete evaporation is supplied to the working fluid by the heated heat medium during the flash evaporation phase (see Fig 3 , TS diagram). The heat medium never turns into vapor and always remains in its liquid state.

The working fluid thus goes through a polytropic flash evaporation (cf. 1 , TLC process: isentropic flash evaporation). If one considers the sum of the amount of heat contained in the heated working fluid and heated heating medium - without taking into account the different heat capacities - this corresponds to the amount of energy converted in the evaporation of the working fluid. Ie in direct comparison of the TLC and E-TLC process, with the same amount of heat energy absorbed, the same amount of thermal energy is converted through the evaporation of working fluid.
However, the use of a separate heating medium with different, advantageous physical and chemical properties (e.g. density, heat capacity) and the targeted mixing of working medium and heating medium to form a working mixture result in completely new approaches for the technical realization of a device for converting low-temperature heat into a technically usable form of energy that would not be possible with the sole use of a working medium according to the TLC process.

Detailed description of the E-TLC2 process and the overall systems for converting thermal energy into technically usable energy

The following description represents the mode of operation of the overall system 11 ( 5 ) and the further developed overall system 15 ( 11 ) together.
Differences are discussed in the text. The description of the thermodynamic steps follows the course of the E-TLC2 process 4 .
The overall systems 12 ( 7 ) and 16 ( 12 ) are variations of the overall systems 11 and 15 using a working mixture AG consisting of working medium AM and heat medium WM. Their mode of operation corresponds to the overall systems 11 and 15.
For a better understanding are in the , , and the TS diagrams and the pV diagrams of the respective overall process, separated according to working medium (without index), heating medium (index “wm”), weight medium (index “gm”) or working mixture (index “ag”).
The hatched area in the pV diagram corresponds to the thermal energy of the respective medium converted into technically usable work. The sum of the converted thermal energy is the same for all overall systems with the same input parameters (amount of thermal energy absorbed).

The total systems 13,14 ( 8th , 9 ) and 17-20 ( 13-16 ) represent further advantageous variations of the overall systems 11 and 15. Their basic mode of operation corresponds to the overall systems 11 and 15. Differences are discussed in the text.

• • Einem Wärmetauscher 31 zur Erwärmung des unter Druck stehenden Arbeitsmittels 52, des Wärmemediums 55 bzw. des Arbeitsgemisches 58 durch eine Niedertemperaturwärmequelle ohne Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels
• • Einem ersten Energiewandler 25 zur Wandlung der aufgenommenen thermischen Energie in potentielle Energie
• • Einer Dampfverflüssigungsvorrichtung 32
• • Einem zweiten Energiewandler 34 zur Wandlung der potentiellen Energie des Arbeitsmittels 51, des Wärmemediums 55 bzw. des Arbeitsgemisches 58 in eine technisch nutzbare Energieform
• • Zuführungen 40 zur Verbindung der einzelnen Bestandteile
• • Zusätzlich weisen die Gesamtsysteme 12-14 eine Mischkammer 33 zur Herstellung eines Arbeitsgemisches 58 auf

The overall systems according to the invention 11-14 ( 5 , 7-9 ) for the conversion of thermal energy into technically usable energy consist of at least the following components:

• • A heat exchanger 31 for heating the pressurized working medium 52, the heat medium 55 or the working mixture 58 by a low-temperature heat source without evaporating the working medium
• • A first energy converter 25 for converting the absorbed thermal energy into potential energy
• • A vapor liquefaction device 32
• • A second energy converter 34 for converting the potential energy of the working medium 51, the heat medium 55 or the working mixture 58 into a technically usable form of energy
• • Leads 40 for connecting the individual components
• • In addition, the overall systems 12-14 have a mixing chamber 33 for producing a working mixture 58

• • Einem Wärmetauscher 31 zur Erwärmung des unter Druck stehenden Arbeitsmittels 51, des Wärmemediums 55 bzw. des Arbeitsgemisches 58 durch eine Niedertemperaturwärmequelle ohne Verdampfung
• • Einem weiterentwickelten ersten Energiewandler 26 zur Wandlung der aufgenommenen thermischen Energie in potentielle Energie
• • Einer Dampfverflüssigungsvorrichtung 32
• • Einem zweiten Energiewandler 34 zur Wandlung der potentiellen Energie des Wärmemediums, des Arbeitsmittels, des Gewichtsmediums bzw. des Arbeitsgemisches in eine technisch nutzbare Energieform
• • Zuführungen 40 zur Verbindung der einzelnen Bestandteile
• • Einer Zuführung 41 zur Zuführung von Gewichtsmedium 60 zum weiterentwickelten ersten Energiewandler 26
• • Zusätzlich weisen die Gesamtsysteme 16-20 eine Mischkammer 33 zur Herstellung eines Arbeitsgemisches 58 auf

The further developed overall systems 15-20 according to the invention ( 10-16 ) consist of at least the following components:

• • A heat exchanger 31 for heating the pressurized working medium 51, the heating medium 55 or the working mixture 58 by a low-temperature heat source without evaporation
• • A further developed first energy converter 26 for converting the absorbed thermal energy into potential energy
• • A vapor liquefaction device 32
• • A second energy converter 34 for converting the potential energy of the heat medium, the working medium, the weight medium or the working mixture into a technically usable form of energy
• • Leads 40 for connecting the individual components
• • A feed 41 for feeding weight medium 60 to the further developed first energy converter 26
• • In addition, the overall systems 16-20 have a mixing chamber 33 for producing a working mixture 58

• • Absaugung von nicht kondensierbaren Gasen
• • Filtersysteme zur Reinigung des Arbeitsmittels und des Wärmemediums von Fremdstoffen
• • Austreiber zur vollständigen Trennung von Arbeitsmittel und Wärmemedium
• • Meßsensoren sowie Prozess-Steuerungs- und Regeltechnik
• • Vorratsbehälter
• • Wärmespeicher

Various auxiliary systems are not shown in the illustrations, since their position and function can be solved in a variety of ways.
Auxiliary systems can be, for example:

• • Extraction of non-condensable gases
• • Filter systems for cleaning the working fluid and the heating medium from foreign matter
• • Expeller for the complete separation of working fluid and heating medium
• • Measuring sensors as well as process control and regulation technology
• • Storage tank
• • Heat accumulator

• • Schritt a: Isobares Erwärmen (4: Pkt.2 - Pkt.3) des unter Dosierdruck (pD) stehenden flüssigen Arbeitsmittels und des unter Dosierdruck (pD) stehenden flüssigen Wärmemedium (55) - die auch als Arbeitsgemisch (58) vorliegen können - aus einer Niedertemperaturwärmequelle ohne Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels
• • Schritt b: Polytrope Umwandlung (4: Pkt.3 - Pkt.5) der aufgenommenen thermischen Energie in mindestens einem ersten Energiewandler 25 oder 26 in potentielle Energie
• • Schritt c: Isobares Kondensieren (4: Pkt.5 - Pkt.1) des vollständig verdampften Arbeitsmittels
• • Schritt d: Isochore Umwandlung (4: Pkt.1 - Pkt.7) der gewonnenen potentiellen Energie über die Fallhöhe H in statischen Druck
• • Schritt e: Isochore Umwandlung (4: Pkt.7 - Pkt.2) eines Teils des statischen Druckes im zweiten Energiewandler 34 in technisch nutzbare mechanische Energie

In all overall systems 11-20, the thermal energy is converted into technically usable energy according to the E-TLC2 process (see 4 ) in the process steps:

• • Step a: Isobaric heating ( 4 : Point 2 - Point 3) of the liquid working medium under dosing pressure (pD) and the liquid heat medium (55) under dosing pressure (pD) - which can also be present as a working mixture (58) - from a low-temperature heat source without evaporation of the working medium
• • Step b: Polytropic conversion ( 4 : Pkt.3 - Pkt.5) of the thermal energy absorbed in at least one first energy converter 25 or 26 into potential energy
• • Step c: Isobaric condensation ( 4 : Point 5 - Point 1) of the completely evaporated working fluid
• • Step d: Isochoric conversion ( 4 : Point 1 - Point 7) of the gained potential energy over the drop height H in static pressure
• • Step e: Isochoric conversion ( 4 : Pkt.7 - Pkt.2) a part of the static pressure in the second energy converter 34 in technically usable mechanical energy

Thermodynamic point 2

The starting point of the energy conversion process is point 2 of the E-TLC2 process (see 4 , TS and pV diagram) in the lower area of the overall systems 11-20 ( 5 , 7-9 , 11-16 ).
The cold liquid working medium 51 and the cold heat medium 55 (overall system 11,15) or the cold working mixture (overall system 12-14,16-20) are under pressure and are fed to the heat exchanger 31 through feeds 40 to absorb thermal energy from the low-temperature heat source and heated therein without evaporation of the working medium.
In addition to geothermal heat, heat from the sea, solar heat, waste heat from technical processes (e.g. steel and plastics industry), heat from cooling processes (e.g. cold stores, data centers), heat from combustion processes (e.g. waste incineration, biogas) or residual heat from other processes (e.g. chemical industry) can be used as low-temperature heat sources. be used.

Depending on the temperature level and temperature difference between the low-temperature heat source used and the available condensation temperature, all organic and inorganic substances and mixtures of substances can be used as working fluids that cover the temperature range from the maximum temperature of the low-temperature heat source to the minimum temperature of vapor liquefaction as a liquid without thermal decomposition and cover without freezing.
When selecting the working fluid, it must be ensured that chemical reactions of the working fluid with individual components of the overall system are avoided.

The preferred heat medium is water due to its heat capacity. However, other temperature-stable substances that remain liquid in the intended temperature range cannot decompose or freeze and do not react chemically or otherwise interact with the work equipment. In addition, there should be no chemical reactions of the heating medium with individual components of the overall system.

Thermodynamic point 3

The working medium 52 and heating medium 56 (overall system 11, 15) or the heated working mixture (overall system 12-14, 16-20) that exit heat exchanger 31 and are heated to the same temperature then flow through thermally insulated feed lines 40 to the first energy converter 25 (overall system 11-14) or the further developed first energy converter 26 (overall system 15-20).
In the advanced overall systems 15-20 ( 11-16 ) additional cold weight medium 60 flows to the first energy converter 26 through feeds 41 .
The preferred weight medium is the heat medium, preferably water, due to its high density. However, a cold working mixture (see overall system 17), pure working medium or an additional liquid can also be used as a weight medium.
The latter variants are mentioned here as technically possible solutions, but are not explained further.

Thermodynamic points 4' and 4"

In the first energy converter 25 (overall system 11-14) or the further developed first energy converter 26 (overall system 15-20), the thermal energy absorbed by the warm working medium 52 and the warm heat medium 56 or the resulting warm working mixture 59 is appropriate
the E-TLC or E-TLC2 process ( 3 , 4 Points 4' and 4") are converted into potential energy by expansion evaporation of the working fluid while performing volume change work in the form of stroke work. The heating medium cools down by giving off heat to the working fluid.
The working medium and the heating medium or the weight medium (the latter only overall systems 15-20) are raised from the lower to the upper area.

Thermodynamic point 5

In the upper area of the first energy converter 25,26 is the working medium according to the E-TLC or E-TLC2 process ( 3 , 4 Point 5) completely evaporated and cooled.
The heat medium 55 that has remained liquid has also cooled down.
The vaporized and cooled working medium 54 and the liquid remaining cold heat medium 55 leave the first energy converter 25 (overall system 11-14) or the further developed first energy converter 26 (overall system 15-20) at the upper level.

In the further developed overall systems 15-20, the cold weight medium 60 mixes with the cold heat medium 55 and increases the volume of the heat medium 55.

Thermodynamic point 6

After leaving the first energy converter 25 or 26, the vaporized working medium 54 flows to the vapor liquefaction device 32 and is here reduced in entropy ( 3 , 4 TS diagram point 6) liquefied again.
Any non-condensable gases that have formed are extracted here.

Thermodynamic point 1

With the exit of the heat medium or the weight medium from the first energy converters 25 or 26 and the exit of the liquefied working medium from the vapor liquefaction device 32 at the upper level of the overall system, point 1 of the E-TLC or E-TLC2 process ( 3 , 4 Point 1) reached.
The cold working medium 51 and the cold heating medium 55 (including weight medium 60) are now cooled and under low pressure, the previously absorbed thermal energy has been converted into potential energy.
Depending on the design of the overall system 11-20, the working medium 51 and the heating medium 55 (including the weight medium 60) flow back to the lower level of the overall system in different ways, with the build-up of static pressure.
In the overall systems 12 and 17, a complete mixing of working medium and heating medium takes place beforehand in a mixing chamber 33, and in the overall systems 16 and 19 a partial mixing of working medium and heating medium to form a working mixture.

Thermodynamic point 7

The heat medium 55 , the working medium 51 or the working mixture 58 flow to a second energy converter 34 to convert the potential energy—present in the form of hydrostatic pressure—into technically usable energy. Here the liquid columns generate high pressure (pV diagram points 7, 7 _wm , 7 _gm , 7 _ag ). This pressure is partly converted into mechanical movement in the second energy converter 34, which is then converted into electrical energy, for example in a generator, but can also be used as mechanical energy to drive machines.
In overall systems 11, 15 and 16 ( 5 , 11 , 12 ) due to the different densities of the two liquids, the resulting pressure is different. This requires a two-part second energy converter 34.
In total systems 12-14 ( 7-9 ) and 17-20 ( 13-16 ) only a one-piece second energy converter 34 is required.

The overall systems 13, 18 and 19 are special.
These systems are characterized by a reduced overall height between the vapor liquefaction device 32 and the heat exchanger 31, which means that the resulting liquid pressure of the working medium 51 or the working mixture 58 at the lower level of the overall system corresponds to the working pressure required at point 2. This design reduces the technical complexity and costs.
The pressure difference between points 7 and 2, which was previously used to generate energy, thus disappears. The - apparent - loss of potential energy is compensated by the required larger volume of the weight medium to build up the working pressure pA in the first energy converter 25 or 26. That is, the sum of the technically usable amount of energy remains - with the same initial conditions - the same.

Thermodynamic point 2

After exiting the second energy converter 34, the cold working medium 51, the cold heating medium 55 (including the cold weight medium 60) and the cold working mixture 58 are under the same remaining residual pressure (point 2 of the E-TLC2 process).
This residual pressure is so high that the working medium 51 does not begin to evaporate when thermal energy is subsequently absorbed in the heat exchanger 31 .
The overall systems 14 and 20 are an exception. Here the height of the overall system was reduced to such an extent that the necessary working pressure at point 2 is not reached. An additional booster pump 35 is therefore required in order to achieve the required working pressure.
This solution can make sense for a variety of reasons, but worsens the overall technical efficiency.
This means that the starting point of the E-TLC2 process has been reached for all complete systems 11-20 and the cycle is closed.

Comparison of the overall system 11 and 15

When comparing the pV diagrams of the overall system 11 ( 5 ) with the first energy converter 25 and the overall system 15 ( 11 ) with the further developed first energy converter 26 it can be seen that in the overall system 15 the larger part of the technically usable energy is obtained from the larger volume of the heating medium 55 or weight medium 60 with a significantly reduced pressure difference between points 7 and 2. This is due to the volume of the weight medium 60 used and the resulting reduced overall height of the first energy converter 26, which is represented as the pressure difference between points 2 and 7 of the pV diagram.
With the same amount of thermal energy supplied, however, the same amount of technically usable energy is always generated in the overall systems 11 and 15 .

performance increase

To increase the performance of the overall systems 11 to 20, several first energy converters 25 (see an example 17 ) or further developed first energy converter 26 can be used in parallel. The number of energy converters 25,26 can be increased as desired.
A corresponding adjustment of the performance of the shared components heat exchanger 31, vapor condenser 32, mixing chamber 33 and second energy converter 34 is assumed.
By switching off individual first energy converters 25 or 26 by stopping the supply of working medium, heating medium or working mixture, it is possible to easily adapt the output of the first energy converters 25 or 26 to the amount of thermal energy available. An additional use of several energy converters 34 that can be switched off individually is advantageous.

Usable temperature range

The operation of the overall systems 11 to 20 is based only on the pressure difference between the vapor pressure at the maximum working temperature and the vapor pressure at the vapor condensing temperature. The overall systems 11-14 are particularly advantageous for small temperature differences, the overall systems 15-20 for higher temperature differences.
The range of use of the overall system 15 is significantly expanded, in particular because the further developed overall system 15 can be operated like an overall system 11 by appropriate control of the further developed first energy converter 26 .

Further use of the heat of condensation

Due to the wide usable and variable temperature range, further use of the condensation heat is possible with a corresponding temperature of the low-temperature heat source.
For example, at a maximum working temperature of 150°C and a condensation temperature of 70°C, the condensation heat can heat up heating water.
The amount of energy generated by the entire system decreases accordingly. The exergetic efficiency of the overall system changes according to the degree of utilization of the heat of condensation.

Description of the mE-TLC2 process and the overall systems 211, 212, 216 and 219 for using the mE-TLC2 process as special versions of the overall systems 11, 12, 16 and 19

Depending on the type of low-temperature heat source and the location where the low-temperature heat is provided, further special designs of the overall systems 11 to 20 are possible.
In 19 until 22 are shown preferred arrangements for the use of low-temperature heat from solar thermal heating, but also from flue gases or coolant vapors.
The overall systems are modified further developments of the overall systems 11, 12, 16 and 19 already explained above.
The common feature of the modified overall systems 211, 212, 216 and 219 is that the heat exchanger 31 for introducing the low-temperature heat is arranged between the lower and the upper level of the overall system and extends partially or completely over the head H. In the overall system 211 and 212, the working medium 51, heating medium 55 or working mixture 58 to be heated pass through the vertically arranged heat exchanger 31 with simultaneous pressure build-up and are fed to the second energy converter 34 as already heated liquids.
After the warm working medium or working mixture has exited the second energy converter 34, there is no evaporation due to the remaining high metering pressure pD.
The heated working medium, heat medium or working mixture is then fed directly to the first energy converter 25 .
In the overall system 216 and 219, only the working mixture 58 runs through the heat exchanger 31. The weight medium 60 runs directly to the second energy converter 34 without being heated.

In the overall system 216, the working mixture continues to the second energy converter 34 for the conversion of potential energy into technically usable energy. After the working mixture has exited the second energy converter 34, there is no evaporation of the working medium due to the remaining high metering pressure pD.
In the overall system 219 with a reduced height, the heated working mixture is fed directly to the first energy converter 26 while the metering pressure pD builds up.

• • Schritt a: Polytrope Umwandlung (3: Pkt. 4' und 4") der thermischen Energie des erwärmten Arbeitsmittels und des erwärmten Wärmemediums in einem ersten Energiewandler 25 oder 26 in potentielle Energie
• • Schritt b: Isobares Kondensieren (3: Pkt.5 - Pkt.1) des vollständig verdampften Arbeitsmittels
• • Schritt c: Isochores Erwärmen (3: Pkt.1 - Pkt.7) des flüssigen Arbeitsmittels und des flüssigen Wärmemediums bzw. des Arbeitsgemisches aus einer Niedertemperaturwärmequelle bei gleichzeitigem Aufbau von statischem Druck über die Fallhöhe H ohne Verdampfung des Arbeitsmittels
• • Schritt d: Isotherme Umwandlung (3: Pkt.7 - Pkt.3) eines Teils des statischen Druckes im zweiten Energiewandler 34 in technisch nutzbare mechanische Energie

In 18 is the one on the in 3 E-TLC process shown based and used in the overall systems 211, 212, 216 and 219 used modified two-stage extended tri-lateral cycle process (hereinafter referred to as mE-TLC2) shown.
The conversion of the thermal energy into technically usable energy takes place in the mE-TLC2 process in the process steps:

• • Step a: Polytropic conversion ( 3 : Point 4' and 4") of the thermal energy of the heated working fluid and the heated heat medium in a first energy converter 25 or 26 into potential energy
• • Step b: Isobaric condensation ( 3 : Point 5 - Point 1) of the completely evaporated working fluid
• • Step c: Isochoric heating ( 3 : Point 1 - Point 7) of the liquid working medium and the liquid heating medium or the working mixture from a low-temperature heat source with simultaneous build-up of static pressure over the drop height H without evaporation of the working medium
• • Step d: Isothermal conversion ( 3 : Pkt.7 - Pkt.3) of a part of the static pressure in the second energy converter 34 in technically usable mechanical energy

The point 2 of the original E-TLC2 process after 4 deleted and item 7 has a changed position in the new mE-TLC2 process (see 18 ).
The thermodynamic course of the mE-TLC2 process is compared to the E-TLC2 process 4 visually similar in the pV diagram, there are few changes in the course of the curve.
This is different in the TS diagram, where the missing point 2 and the changed position of point 7 represent the new arrangement of the heat exchanger and the thermodynamic course that has changed as a result.
Compared to the E-TLC2 process, the thermal energy converted into technically usable work in the mE-TLC2 process is the same with the same input parameters (amount of thermal energy absorbed).
The main distinguishing feature of the mE-TLC2 process is the changed position of the heat exchanger in the overall system and thus the changed application requirements for the heat exchanger 31 and the second energy converter 34.

Detailed description of the function of the first energy converter 25 or the further developed first energy converter 26 for converting thermal energy into potential energy

The following description represents the mode of operation of the first energy converter 25 ( 23 and 24 ) and the further developed first energy converter 26 ( 25 and 26 ) together. Differences are discussed in the text. The description follows the course of the E-TLC or E-TLC2 process 3 and 4 between points 3 and 5.

• • Einem geschlossenen, aufwärts gerichteten Rohrsystem mit einem Aufstiegsrohr 130 und einem Abstiegsrohr 160 verbunden durch einen unteren Rohrbogen 110 und einen oberen Rohrbogen 140
• • Einer großen Anzahl von, in dem Rohrsystem frei umlaufenden, nicht kippenden Kolben 170
• • Einbringöffnungen und einer Einbringvorrichtung 121 im unteren Bereich des Rohrsystems zum Einbringen von Wärmemedium 56 und Arbeitsmittel 52 (23) bzw. Arbeitsgemisch 59 (24)
• • Auslassöffnungen und einer Separierungsvorrichtung 150 auf dem oberen Niveau des Rohrsystems zum Auslassen des abgekühlten, flüssigen Wärmemediums 55 und des verdampften Arbeitsmittels 54

The first energy converter 25 ( 23 , 24 ) for the conversion of thermal energy into potential energy consists at least of the following components:

• • A closed, upward-pointing pipe system with an ascent pipe 130 and a descent pipe 160 connected by a lower elbow 110 and an upper elbow 140
• • A large number of non-tilting pistons 170 rotating freely in the pipe system
• • Introduction openings and an introduction device 121 in the lower area of the pipe system for introducing heating medium 56 and working medium 52 ( 23 ) or working mixture 59 ( 24 )
• • Outlet openings and a separating device 150 on the upper level of the pipe system for the outlet of the cooled, liquid heat medium 55 and the vaporized working medium 54

• • einer erweiterten Einbringvorrichtung 122 auf dem unteren Niveau des Rohrsystems zum zusätzlichen Einbringen eines Gewichtsmedium 60

The further developed first energy converter 26 ( 25 and 26 ) consists at least of the same components as the energy converter 25 and differs:

• • an extended introduction device 122 on the lower level of the pipe system for the additional introduction of a weight medium 60

• • Startvorrichtung zur initialen Inbetriebsetzung des Prozesses
• • Serviceeinrichtungen zum Befüllen der Energiewandler mit Kolben und Arbeitsmittel, Austausch defekter Kolben oder Reinigung des Arbeitsmittels (z.B. von Abrieb)
• • Austreiber zur vollständigen Trennung von Arbeitsmittel und Wärmemedium
• • Meßsensoren sowie Prozess-Steuerungs- und Regeltechnik
• • Wärmespeicher

Various auxiliary and additional systems are not shown in the illustrations, since their position and function can be solved in a variety of ways.
Auxiliary and additional systems can be, for example:

• • Starting device for the initial start-up of the process
• • Service facilities for filling the energy converters with pistons and working materials, replacing defective pistons or cleaning the working materials (e.g. to remove abrasion)
• • Expeller for the complete separation of working fluid and heat medium
• • Measuring sensors as well as process control and regulation technology
• • Heat accumulator

Step 1 - Bring in the media

The starting point for the conversion of thermal energy into potential energy is in the lower area of the pipe system - shown as an example in the lower pipe bend 110.
From the descent tube 160, pistons 170, which are under the pressure pK (generated by the weight of the following stack of pistons 171), are placed in the introduction devices 121 ( 23 , 24 ) or 122 ( 25 , 26 ) pushed.
The pressure pK is greater than the maximum working pressure pA generated by the areas in the riser tube 130 .
The introduction device 121 or 122 is supplied from the outside with the heated working medium 52, the heated heating medium 56 or the heated working mixture 59, which is at a metering pressure pD--which is also greater than the maximum working pressure pA.
In the introduction device 121 or 122, the heated working medium 52 and the heated heating medium 56 ( 23 , 25 ) or the heated working mixture 59 ( 24 , 26 ) introduced between two pistons 170. This area thus becomes a workspace.
For the overall systems 23 and 25 with the separate introduction of the heated working medium 52 and the heated heat medium 56, after the introduction, the two media are mixed with the internal formation of a working mixture 59.
In addition, in the delivery device 122 ( 25 , 26 ) of the further developed first energy converter 26 are introduced unheated weight medium between two work areas. An area filled with weight medium 60 thus becomes a weight area GB.
The amount of media supplied and the time of introduction are controlled by dosing devices 126 . For the safe introduction of the working medium or the weight medium, individual pistons 170 can be briefly stopped by a piston stop device 125 in the introduction devices 121 and 122 . After the stopped pistons 170 have been released, the introduced areas are pushed into the riser pipe 130 by the piston pressure pK of the following pistons or the next introduced areas.
The pistons 170 create a spatial and thermally insulated delimitation from the preceding and following areas for the heated working medium or the weight medium.
The targeted control of the introduction allows the further developed first energy converter 26 to also be operated in an operating mode without a weight medium and thus the usable temperature range is extended towards lower temperature differences.

• • Leichteres und sichereres Einbringen der Medien
• • Bessere Steuerungsmöglichkeiten des Energiewandlers
• • Messtechnische Aufgaben

In principle, it is not necessary for the further developed first energy converter 26 ( 24 , 25 ) to give the areas between two pistons a specific assignment to the work area or weight range. Any area between two pistons can be work area or weight area. From a technical point of view, however, it can make sense to design the pistons differently and thus explicitly assign the pistons to the work or weight range.
Possible reasons are, for example:

• • Easier and safer loading of media
• • Better control of the energy converter
• • Measurement tasks

Step 2 - Conversion of thermal energy into potential energy

After entry of the work areas AB or weight areas GB (the latter only in the further developed first energy converter 26) in the riser tube 130 begins, as in connection with 6 and 10 explained, a slow reduction of the working pressure pA on the upper piston. The preferred embodiment of the riser pipe 130 according to the invention is vertical without a change in direction. However, the general basic principle of the pressure build-up also allows an inclined, helical or other upward-pointing design of the riser pipe 130.

After falling below a working pressure pA dependent on the temperature and the vapor pressure curve of the working medium used, the warm working medium 52 contained in the working mixture 59 begins to to evaporate a flash evaporation, so that warm working medium vapor 53 is formed. This leads to an increase in volume of the working area with simultaneous cooling of the remaining working mixture. Due to this increase in volume, all work or weight areas (the latter only in the further developed energy converter 26) located above this work area are raised in the riser tube.
With a sufficiently large increase in volume, this leads to the escape of cold working medium vapor 54, cold heating medium 55 and, in the further developed energy converter 26, also weight medium 60 in the upper area of the pipe system - shown by way of example in the upper pipe bend 140 - into the separation device 150.

• • Austritt von Medien im oberen Bereich des Rohrsystems
• • eine dadurch initiierten Druckverringerung im Aufstiegsrohr 130
• • einer nachfolgenden Entspannungsverdampfung von Arbeitsmittel aus dem Arbeitsgemisch
• • Anheben der Bereiche im Aufstiegsrohr 130

wiederholt sich stetig durch Zuführung neuer Bereiche in den Einbringvorrichtungen 121 bzw. 122. Dadurch unterliegt das warme Arbeitsgemisch 59 während des Aufstiegs im Aufstiegsrohr 130 einer kontinuierlichen Entspannungsverdampfung des Arbeitsmittels bei gleichzeitiger Abkühlung des Arbeitsgemisches 59 und des bereits entstandenen Arbeitsmitteldampf 53.
Am Ende des Aufstiegs ist das Arbeitsmittel 52 aus dem Arbeitsgemisch 59 vollständig heraus verdampft und nur noch das Wärmemedium 55 flüssig verblieben. Das Wärmemedium ist bis auf Kondensationstemperatur abgekühlt, der entstandene Arbeitsmitteldampf 54 ist unter Volumenvergrößerung und Abkühlung bis auf Kondensationsdruck entspannt.The exit of the media into the separating device 150 reduces the remaining working pressure pA, which acts on the working and weight areas remaining in the riser tube 130 (the latter only in the further developed first energy converter 26). In the working areas AB still in the riser pipe 130, this leads to a further flash evaporation of the working mixture 59, an expansion of the already existing, still warm, pressurized working medium vapor 53, an associated increase in volume of the working areas and the lifting of all areas located above a single working area.
The process described

• • Media escaping in the upper area of the pipe system
• • a pressure reduction initiated thereby in the riser tube 130
• • a subsequent flash evaporation of working fluid from the working mixture
• • Raising the areas in riser tube 130

is repeated continuously by adding new areas in the introduction devices 121 or 122. As a result, the warm working mixture 59 is subject to continuous expansion evaporation of the working medium during the rise in the riser pipe 130, with simultaneous cooling of the working mixture 59 and the working medium vapor 53 that has already formed.
At the end of the ascent, the working medium 52 has completely evaporated from the working mixture 59 and only the heating medium 55 remains liquid. The heat medium is cooled down to the condensation temperature, the working medium vapor 54 that has formed is expanded to the condensation pressure with an increase in volume and cooling.

• • eine stufenlose Volumenvergrößerung von mehr als 1:100 - bezogen auf das Ausgangsvolumen des flüssigen warmen Arbeitsmittels 52 zum Endvolumen des vollständig verdampften kalten Arbeitsmittels 54 - sowie
• • eine stufenlose Druckentspannung von weit mehr als 1:10 - bezogen auf den maximalen Arbeitsdruck pA auf dem unteren Niveau des ersten Energiewandlers zum minimalem Arbeitsdruck (Kondensationsdruck) auf dem oberen Niveau des ersten Energiewandlers - möglich

Due to the principle of the freely movable piston 170, there is no mechanically predetermined pV characteristic of the first (25) and the further developed first energy converter (26). This means that the pV characteristic of the first energy converter is variable and automatically adapts to the pV evaporation characteristic of the working medium used in the temperature range used due to the self-regulating working pressure pA of each individual working area and the resulting forced expansion evaporation of the working medium.
The same is not possible with devices according to the state of the art.
Likewise with it

• • a stepless increase in volume of more than 1:100 - based on the initial volume of the liquid warm working medium 52 to the final volume of the completely evaporated cold working medium 54 - and
• • a continuous pressure relief of far more than 1:10 - based on the maximum working pressure pA at the lower level of the first energy converter to the minimum working pressure (condensation pressure) at the upper level of the first energy converter - possible

Step 3 - Media Separation and Deployment

After the working medium vapor 54, the cooled, liquid remaining heat medium 55 or weight medium 60 (the latter only in the further developed first energy converter 26) on the upper level - shown as an example the upper pipe bend 140 - has exited the pipe system, the media are separated in the separation device 150 .
The remaining liquid heat medium 55 is caught and collected. In the further developed energy converter 26 , the remaining liquid heat medium 55 is collected together with the weight medium 60 . The collected cold heat medium 55 - also the weight medium in the further developed first energy converter 26 - leaves the first energy converter 25 or 26 via feeds 40 and flows in each case depending on the design of the overall system of the mixing chamber 33, the second energy converter 34 or in the case of overall systems using the mE-TLC process - the heat exchanger 31.
The working medium vapor 54 is fed to the vapor liquefaction device 32 through feeds 40 . Any droplets of the heating medium entrained by the working medium vapor 54 are separated in the separation device 150 and fed to the collected heating medium.

Step 4 - Returning the Pistons

The pistons 170 , which have no function after the media have exited the upper pipe bend 140 , are guided further to the descent pipe 160 . There, the residual working medium vapor 54 is pressed through the outlet openings provided for this purpose out of the pipe system and into the separation device 150 by the piston's own weight.
The pistons 170 are brought together as a stack of pistons 171 and generate the piston pressure pK required in the introduction devices 121 and 122 through their own weight.

Further considerations

The inventive design of the first energy converters 25 and 26 as a closed pipe system with free-running pistons opens up the possibility of energy conversion from thermal to potential energy with a very large and variable working range with regard to the possible increase in volume and the working pressure to be reduced.
The stepless and variable flash evaporation of a working medium, which can be realized through the principle of individual small working areas, can only be compared with a very finely graduated turbine.

The particular advantage of the large number of individual working areas is the associated long time (compared to the prior art) from the beginning of the flash evaporation of the working medium to the outlet at the upper level (see 4 ff., point 3-5 of the TS diagram).
With a maximum number of 5 newly supplied working areas per second (ideally less than one working area per second) and a number of at least 10 working areas required to build up pressure in the pipe, the result is a relatively long time for flash evaporation of 2-10 seconds (at higher temperatures of the warm working fluid and the heating medium up to a few minutes due to the larger number of working areas), which cannot be achieved with devices according to the prior art.
Due to this long time of flash evaporation, an explosive formation of vapor bubbles, which represents a great danger in devices according to the state of the art due to droplet erosion, is avoided.
As a further advantage, the flash evaporation curve of the E-TLC or E-TLC2 process can be seen in the TS diagram 34 and 4 safely and completely from point 3 to point 5 and the previously absorbed thermal energy can be fully implemented.

• 27a - Verlauf unter Basis-Betriebsbedingungen (siehe gestrichelte Linien) definiert durch die Temperatur der Wärmequelle und der Dampfverflüssigungstemperatur
• 27b - Verlauf mit gegenüber den Basis-Betriebsbedingungen (siehe gestrichelte Linien) erhöhter Temperatur der Wärmequelle (Bsp.: Nutzung von Solarthermie als Wärmequelle im Sommer) Der Ausgangspunkt der Entspannungsverdampfung (Punkt 3) ist nach oben verschoben. Es wird mehr thermische Energie als unter Basis-Betriebsbedingungen umgesetzt.
• 27c - Verlauf mit gegenüber den Basis-Betriebsbedingungen (siehe gestrichelte Linien) erhöhter Dampfverflüssigungstemperatur (Bsp.: Nutzung von Erdwärme als Wärmequelle und Kühlung durch Umgebungsluft im Sommer) Die Kondensationslinie von Punkt 5 zu Punkt 1 ist nach oben verschoben. Die Entspannungskurve von Punkt 3 zu Punkt 5 ist verkürzt. Es wird weniger Energie als unter Basis-Betriebsbedingungen umgesetzt.
• 27d - Verlauf mit gegenüber den Basis-Betriebsbedingungen (siehe gestrichelte Linien) erhöhter Temperatur der Wärmequelle und erhöhter Dampfverflüssigungstemperatur (Bsp.: Nutzung von Solarthermie als Wärmequelle und Kühlung durch Umgebungsluft im Sommer) Je nach Temperaturdifferenz zwischen Punkt 2 und 3 kann mehr oder auch weniger thermische Energie als unter Basis-Betriebsbedingungen umgesetzt werden.

In 27 In addition, various scenarios are shown as a TS diagram of the work equipment in the E-TLC process.

• 27a - Trend under basic operating conditions (see dashed lines) defined by the temperature of the heat source and the vapor condensing temperature
• 27b - Course with increased temperature of the heat source compared to the basic operating conditions (see dashed lines) (e.g. use of solar thermal energy as a heat source in summer) The starting point of flash evaporation (point 3) is shifted upwards. More thermal energy is converted than under basic operating conditions.
• 27c - Course with increased vapor condensation temperature compared to the basic operating conditions (see dashed lines) (e.g. use of geothermal heat as a heat source and cooling by ambient air in summer) The condensation line from point 5 to point 1 is shifted upwards. The relaxation curve from point 3 to point 5 is shortened. Less energy is converted than under basic operating conditions.
• 27d - Course with increased temperature of the heat source and increased vapor condensation temperature compared to the basic operating conditions (see dashed lines) (e.g.: use of solar thermal energy as a heat source and cooling by ambient air in summer) Depending on the temperature difference between points 2 and 3, more or less thermal energy can be converted than under basic operating conditions.

Another important point is the design of the surrounding pipe system and the pistons.
The tubes for guiding the pistons are provided with a thermal inner insulation that slides well, such as PTFE or polyamide (PA).
The pistons themselves are provided on the sealing surfaces with a sealing and sliding material that matches the material of the inner insulation of the tube, which ensures both sealing of the areas and thermal insulation.
Within a working area, turbulence and intensive mixing of the media occurs as a result of the contact of the media with the tube wall and the scraping of the media from the tube wall by the piston. This promotes the heat distribution and thus the evaporation of the working fluid. This turbulence can be promoted by a suitable design of the piston and the piston seal.
In addition, the pistons preferably have a roughened, porous surface, which promotes the formation of bubbles when the working medium evaporates (comparable to the effect of small boiling stones).

Because of the construction of the first energy converters according to the invention, only very small pressure differences of less than 0.001 MPa (0.01 bar) occur on the pistons (pressure difference = piston weight/area), the main task of the piston seal is a support function to prevent the pistons from tilting in the pipe system to prevent. This is possible with a suitable piston design. Corresponding piston designs are known in the art.

The tube cross section supports the piston design. In addition to a circular cross-section, non-circular tube cross-sections (eg ellipse or oval) have advantages, for example in the design of the introduction device or the outlet openings and other tasks.
An execution of the lower and upper section of the circulating pipe system as a horizontal zone with constant pressure (examples see 27 ) in combination with a non-circular pipe cross section also facilitates the technical design of the introduction devices 120 and 121 or the separating device 150.

process examples

As shown in Table 1 as an example, with the overall system 11 or 15 ( 5 , 11 ) even small temperature differences of 10°K can be used.
The low pressure difference of only 0.033 MPa (0.33 bar) thermodynamically given due to the temperature difference between the maximum working pressure and the vapor condensation pressure in the first energy converter 25 or 26 according to the invention is converted into a pressure difference of at least 0, which can be used technically well by the second energy converter 34. 25 MPa (2.5 bar) for the working medium or at least 0.4 MPa (4.0 bar) for the heating medium. The same cannot be achieved with devices according to the state of the art.

With such small temperature differences, the entire system should preferably 17 after 13 with a cold working mixture 58 as the weight medium 60. Compared to the overall system 15, this has a further reduced overall height and only requires a one-piece second energy converter 34 or one-piece heat exchanger 31.

The inventive use of the advanced energy converter 26 after 25 or. 26 with additional weight ranges, the technically necessary height to build up the maximum working pressure pA between the lower and the upper level significantly reduces at higher inlet temperatures, as already explained in the explanation 10 until 12 set forth.
Table 2 shows an example of a comparison of the overall systems 11 (without weight medium) and 15 (with weight medium) with otherwise the same input parameters. The use of the further developed first energy converter 26 with a weight medium brings about a reduction in the overall height of the overall system by approximately 85%.
As can be seen from the values for overall system 15, when using a weight medium, the minimum required differential pressure (see 11 pV diagram: difference between point 7 and 2) of the working medium for the second energy converter 34 to the limiting factor for the overall height of the first energy converter (0.25 MPa in the example).
A use of a complete system 17 ( 13 ) with a working mixture reduces the overall height of the entire system by approx. 20%.

Table 3 shows the working parameters of an overall system 18 with a further developed first energy converter 26 at different working temperatures.
The temperature scenario shown (increase in the maximum working temperature from 40 to 100 °C) corresponds to the daily course of an energy converter with solar thermal heat supply and liquefaction of the working medium vapor by ambient air with increasing ambient temperature (increase in the condensation temperature from 20 to 40 °C).
The changing operating parameters depending on the change in the maximum working temperature and the condensation temperature can be clearly read.
The influence of the condensation temperature on the achievable output is shown as an example in the last column. The lower the condensation temperature, the higher the theoretical efficiency and thus the achievable performance.

Assuming a rate of one new workspace added per second, the number of total workspaces in the riser is equal to the number of seconds it takes for one workspace to travel from the bottom to the top of the overall system.
Also listed is the number of work zones where the work fluid goes through the flash evaporation curve from thermodynamic point 3 to point 5 of the E-TLC2 process. The influence of the condensation temperature is also clearly visible here. Table 1: Example values for the implementation of the E-TLC process with devices 11, 12 and 17 at a temperature difference of 10° between the inlet and condensation temperature input parameters Unit device 11 device 15 device 17 Max working temperature °C 40 condensation temperature °C 30 average Efficiency according to Carnot % 1.62 pipe diameter m 0.1 Working fluid / density - / kg/m2 N - pentane / 605.76 Max working pressure MPa 0.115 condensation pressure MPa 0.082 amount of work equipment kg 0.10 Starting height of work equipment m 0.021 heat medium / density - / kg/m2 water / 998 amount of heat medium kg 0.82 amount of weight medium kg 0 0.6 1.6 result parameters High working medium vapor m 5.23 relaxation ratio AM 1:249 Necessary tube height m 74 48 32 Number of workspaces - 30 19 13 Useful differential pressure between points 7 and 2 of the pV diagram work equipment MPa 0.41 0.253 - heat/weight medium MPa 0.687 0.433 - working mix MPa - - 0.26 Work done per work area kWs -0.6 area performance kW/ ^m2 ~75 Table 2: Example values for reducing the height of the entire system by using weight medium at an inlet temperature of 100°C and a condensation temperature of 40°C input parameters Unit Overall system 11 Overall system 15 Overall system 17 Design of the first energy converter - 25 26 Max working temperature °C 100 condensation temperature °C 40 Mean efficiency according to Carnot % 8.74 pipe diameter m 0.1 Working fluid / density - / kg/m2 n - pentane / 605.76 Max working pressure MPa 0.59 condensation pressure MPa 0.115 amount of work equipment kg 0.1 Starting height of work equipment m 0.024 heat medium / density - / kg/m2 water / 998 amount of heat medium kg 0.081 Weight Medium / Density - / kg/m2 water / 998 amount of weight medium kg 0 4.5 9 result parameters High working medium vapor m 3.8 relaxation ratio - 1:158 Necessary tube height m 880 124 100 Number of workspaces - 915 79 40 Differential pressure of working fluid between points 7 and 2 MPa 4.7 0.25 - Differential pressure heat / weight medium between points 7 and 2 MPa 8.1 0.72 - Differential pressure working mixture between points 7 and 2 --- - 0.26 Work done per work area kWs ~3.1 Area performance at a working range / sec kW/ ^m2 395 Table 3 Example spread of working parameters for solar thermal heating and cooling by ambient air input parameters Unit Total system 18 Operating mode of the first energy converter - energy converter 26 Max working temperature °C 40 60 80 100 100 condensation temperature °C 20 30 40 20 Mean efficiency according to Carnot % 3.3 4.7 6 8.74 12.0 pipe height m 90 pipe diameter m 0.1 Working fluid / Density @20°C - / kg/m2 N - pentane / 625.76 Max working pressure MPa 0.115 0.214 0.368 0.59 condensation pressure MPa 0.056 0.082 0.115 0.056 Amount of warm working medium kg 0.1 Starting height of work equipment m 0.0210 0.0215 0.227 0.24 0.24 Heat medium / density @20°C - / kg/m2 water / 998 amount of heat medium kg 0.39 0.155 0.081 0.052 Height of heat medium m 0.05 0.02 0.0106 0.0067 Weight Medium / Density @20°C - / kg/m2 water / 998 amount of cold weight medium kg 1.4 2.2 3.5 8.7 15.8 Height weight medium m 0.18 0.28 0.45 1:12 2.0 result parameters High working medium vapor m 7.37 5.23 3.78 3.78 7.37 relaxation ratio - 1:350 1:243 1:166 1:157 1:307 Total number of work areas / work areas with evaporation - 180 / 20 126 / 36 93 / 49 43/41 28/27 Work done per work area kWs 1.2 1.71 2:13 3.1 4.4 Area performance at a working range / sec kW/ ^m2 155 218 270 395 566

Claims (32)

Process for converting thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source with temperatures of a maximum of 200°C in a triangular process, hereinafter referred to as “Extended Trilateral Cycle” (E-TLC), into volume change work and subsequently technically usable energy, characterized by : A first process state (1) with a liquid working medium (51) and a liquid heat medium (55) that is not chemically identical to the working medium under an identical first pressure at an identical first temperature • An isochoric increase in pressure and an isobaric increase in the temperature of the working medium and the heat medium at one identical second pressure and an identical second temperature without evaporation of the working fluid or the heating medium, the second pressure and the second temperature being higher than the first pressure and the first temperature • A second process state (3) with the second pressure and the working medium (52) and heating medium (56) heated to the second temperature • A polytropic flash evaporation of the working medium (52) initiated by pressure reduction with simultaneous supply of thermal energy from the heating medium (56) to the evaporating working medium (52) with complete evaporation of the working medium ( 52) with simultaneous performance of volume change work by the resulting working medium vapor (54) or volume increase of the working medium vapor already present • A third process state (5) with a working medium (54) which is under the first pressure, has completely evaporated and has been cooled to the first temperature and a heat medium (55) that has also been cooled to the first temperature and is under the first pressure and remains liquid • An isobaric condensation of the vaporized working medium (54) at the first temperature to form a liquid, cold working medium (51) with the removal of entropy, which restores the first process state is. According to energy converter (25) for converting thermal energy into potential energy while realizing a polytropic flash evaporation of a working fluid claim 1 characterized by at least the components: • A closed, thermally insulated, upward-pointing pipe system with an ascent pipe (130) and a descent pipe (160), connected by pipe bends (110, 140) • A number of at least 10 pistons freely rotating in the closed pipe system (170) • Introduction openings and an introduction device (121) on the lower level of the pipe system for introducing a working medium (52) heated by contact with a heat source and a heated heat medium (56), which can also be present as a working mixture (59), into a work area (AB ) between two pistons (170) • Outlet openings in the casing of the tube on the upper level for discharging the completely vaporized working medium (54) and the liquid, cooled heating medium (55) from the tube system • A separating device (150) for separating the vaporized working medium ( 54) and the liquid, cold heat medium (55). Energy converter (26) after claim 2 characterized by at least the components: • Additional insertion openings and an insertion device (122) on the lower level of the pipe system for introducing a weight medium (60) into a weight area (GB) between two work areas (AB), the weight medium (60) not being through the heat source has been heated • Outlet openings on the upper level for jointly discharging the completely vaporized working medium (54), the remaining liquid heating medium (55) and the weight medium (60) from the pipe system • A separating device (150) for separating the vaporized working medium (54) from the liquid remained cold heat medium (55) and the liquid weight medium (60). Energy converter (26) after claim 3 , characterized in that by appropriate control after an operating mode without weight medium claim 2 is possible. Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 4 , characterized in that the pipe system is dimensioned in such a way that at least 10, preferably more than 20 independent, individual work areas (AB) are provided. Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 5 , characterized in that the pipe system is dimensioned in such a way that the movement of a single working area (AB) takes at least 2 seconds, preferably more than 10 seconds, from the introduction at the lower level to the reaching of the upper level. Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 6 , characterized in that there are pressure differences of less than 0.001 MPa at the seal of the pistons (170) between the individual working areas (AB) or working areas (AB) and weight areas (GB). Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 7 , characterized in that the pistons (170) have a roughened, porous surface which promotes the formation of bubbles in the working medium. Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 8th , characterized in that the relaxation of the working pressure (pA) of the working areas (AB) takes place steplessly. Energy converter according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 9 , characterized in that the increase in volume of the working areas (AB) is stepless. Device for converting the thermal energy of a low-temperature heat source with temperatures of a maximum of 200°C in two steps into technically usable mechanical energy, characterized by • at least one first energy converter according to one of the preceding ones claims 2 - 10 , which produces a working fluid (AM) and a heating medium (WM) using thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source with a maximum temperature of 200°C by realizing flash evaporation according to the E-TLC process claim 1 lifts from a lower level to an upper level and the thermal energy absorbed by the working medium (AM) and the heat medium (WM) into potential energy of the working medium (AM) and the heat medium (WM) converts • a second energy converter (34), which is under Returning the working medium (AM) and the heat medium (WM) from the upper to the lower level releases the potential energy gained as technically usable mechanical energy. Device (11) after claim 11 , characterized in that it comprises at least the following components: • A heat exchanger (31) for transferring the thermal energy of a low-temperature heat source with temperatures of at most 200°C to a liquid working medium (51) under metering pressure (pD) and to a metering pressure ( pD) stagnant liquid heating medium without evaporation of the working medium or the heating medium • Thermally insulated feeds (40) in order to supply the working medium (52) heated in the heat exchanger (31) and the heated heating medium (56) to a first energy converter (25) according to one of claims 2 - 9 supply • At least a first energy converter (25) after one of claims 2 - 9 for converting the thermal energy of the working medium (52) and the heat medium (56) into potential energy • Feeds (40) in order to feed the working medium (54), which has been completely evaporated in the first energy converter (25), to a vapor liquefaction device (32) • A vapor liquefaction device (32 ) for liquefying the vaporized working fluid (54) • Feeds to supply the liquid, cold heat medium (55) and the condensed liquid working fluid (51) to a second energy converter (34) • A two-part second energy converter (34) to convert the potential energy of the des Working medium (51) and the heat medium (55) into technically usable energy • Feeds to the working medium (51) still under dosing pressure (pD) and the heat medium (55) under dosing pressure (pD) from the second energy converter back to the heat exchanger ( 31) to be supplied. Device (211) according to claim 11 , characterized in that it comprises at least the following components: • At least one first energy converter (25) according to one of claims 2 - 10 for converting the thermal energy of a working medium (52) under dosing pressure (pD) and a heating medium (56) under dosing pressure (pD) into potential energy • Feeds (40) in order to convert the working medium (54 ) a vapor liquefaction device (32) • A vapor liquefaction device (32) for liquefying the vaporized working medium • Feeds (40) to supply the liquid cold working medium (51) and the liquid cold heat medium (55) to a heat exchanger (31) • A two-part heat exchanger ( 31) for the transfer of thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source with a maximum temperature of 200°C to the working medium (51) and the heating medium (55) without evaporation of the working medium or the heating medium while simultaneously building up a high static pressure • Thermally insulated feeds around the heated and supplying high-pressure working fluid (52) and the heated and high-pressure heat medium (56) to a second energy converter (34) • A two-part second energy converter (34) for converting the potential energy of the heated working fluid (52) or heated heating medium (56) into technically usable energy • Thermally insulated feeds (40) around the working medium (52) that has been heated and is still under dosing pressure (pD) after leaving the second energy converter (34) and the working medium (52) that has been heated and is still under metering pressure (pD) after leaving the second energy converter Metering pressure (pD) standing heat medium (56) back to the first energy converter (25). device (12-14,16-20, 212,216,219) according to claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the working medium (AM) and the heat medium (WM) before being fed to the first energy converter (25,26) in a mixing chamber (33) in a process-specific ratio to form a working mixture (AG) are brought together. Device (15-20, 216.219) according to one of Claims 11 until 14 , characterized in that in addition to the working medium (52) and the heating medium (56), a weight medium (60) is lifted from the lower to the upper level. device after claim 15 , characterized in that the weight medium (60) is unheated heat medium or unheated working fluid or a mixture of unheated working fluid and unheated heat medium. Device (11-20, 211,212,216,219) according to one of Claims 11 – 16 , characterized in that several of the first energy converters (25,26) according to one of claims 2 until 10 are arranged in parallel, which the other listed components share. device (11-20, 211, 212, 216, 219). Claim 17 , characterized in that the plurality of first energy converters (25, 26) can be switched on or off individually. device (11-20, 211, 212, 216, 219). Claim 18 , characterized in that it has a control and regulation system which controls the number of switched on or off first energy converters (25,26) and adapts it to changes in the temperature of the low-temperature heat source, the condensation temperature or the available amount of energy from the low-temperature heat source. Device (11-20, 211,212,216,219) according to any of the above Claims 12 - 19 , characterized in that it has a control and regulation system which regulates the amount of the fed heated working medium (52), the heated heating medium (56) and the weight medium (60) and to changes in the temperature of the low-temperature heat source, the condensation temperature or the available Adjusts the amount of energy of the low-temperature heat source. procedure after claim 1 for converting the thermal energy of a working fluid (52) heated by the thermal energy of a low-temperature heat source to a maximum temperature of 200°C and a heating medium (56) heated to the same temperature by the thermal energy of the low-temperature heat source into potential energy of the working fluid and of Heat medium comprising the steps • The warm, liquid working medium (52) and the warm, liquid heat medium (56) are in an energy converter (25,26) according to one of claims 2 - 10 introduced • The warm, liquid working medium and the warm, liquid heat medium are performed as a working mixture (AG) in the first energy converter (25,26) in a piston (170) spatially delimited work area (AB) • The work areas (AB) with the warm The working mixture (59) is raised from a lower level to an upper level in the first energy converter (25, 26), the working mixture being raised to the upper level by polytropic conversion of the thermal energy of the working medium (52) and the heat medium (56) into Lifting work by a complete flash evaporation of the working fluid (52) after the E-TLC process claim 1 he follows. procedure after Claim 21 , characterized in that in addition to the heated working medium (52) and heat medium (56), a non-heated weight medium (60) is lifted from the lower to the upper level. procedure after Claim 22 , characterized in that the weight medium (60) is transported to the upper level, thermally insulated from the heated working medium (52) and the heated heat medium (56) in weight regions (GB) spatially delimited by pistons (170). Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 23 , characterized in that the thermal energy of the working medium (52) and the heat medium (56) is converted into potential energy in the first energy converter (25, 26) in at least 10, preferably more than 20, individual working areas (AB) that are independent of one another . Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 24 , characterized in that the conversion of the thermal energy of the working medium (52) and the heat medium (56) into potential energy in the first energy converter runs continuously and steplessly. Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 25 , characterized in that an automatic adjustment of the PV characteristic of the first energy converter (25,26) after claim 2 - 10 to the pV evaporation characteristic of the working fluid used. Method for converting the thermal energy of a low-temperature heat source with a maximum temperature of 200°C in a closed circuit into technically usable mechanical energy, characterized in that the conversion takes place in at least the following steps: • the thermal energy of the low-temperature heat source is in a first step in a procedure according to claims 21 - 26 converted into potential energy • In a second step, the potential energy is converted into technically usable mechanical energy. Procedure (E-TLC2 process) according to Claim 27 with at least the following process steps: • Step a: Isobaric heating of a liquid working medium (51) under metering pressure (pD) and a liquid heating medium (55) under metering pressure (pD) - which can also be present as a working mixture (58) - from a Low-temperature heat source without evaporation of the working fluid • Step b: Polytropic conversion of the thermal energy absorbed claim 1 in at least one, preferably several first energy converters (25,26) according to claim 2 - 10 into potential energy of the working medium and the heating medium • Step c: Isobaric condensation of the vaporized working medium (54) • Step d: Isothermic conversion of part of the potential energy gained from the working medium and the heating medium - which can also be present as a working mixture (58) - into at least a second energy conversion device (34) into technically usable mechanical energy. Procedure (mE-TLC2 process) according to Claim 27 with at least the following process steps: • Step a: Polytropic conversion of the thermal energy of a heated working medium (52) under metering pressure and a heated heating medium (56) under metering pressure - which can also be present as a working mixture (58) - after claim 1 in at least one, preferably several first energy converters (25,26) according to claim 2 - 10 into potential energy of the working fluid and the heat medium • Step b: Isobaric condensation of the vaporized working fluid (54) • Step c: Isochoric heating of the liquid working fluid (51) and the liquid heat medium (55) - which can also be present as a working mixture (58) - with simultaneous increase in pressure from a low-temperature heat source (31) without evaporation of the working fluid • Step d: Isothermal conversion of part of the potential energy gained from the working fluid (52) and the heat medium (56) in at least one second energy converter (34) into technically usable mechanical energy without Evaporation of the working fluid. Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 29 , characterized in that by varying the amount of the heated working medium (52), the heated heat medium (56) and optionally the weight medium (60) there is a continuous adaptation to changes in the temperature of the low-temperature heat source. Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 30 , characterized in that by varying the amount of the heated working medium (52), the heated heat medium (56) and optionally the weight medium (60) there is a continuous adjustment to changes in the condensation temperature. Method according to any of the above Claims 21 - 31 , characterized in that by varying the amount of the heated working medium (52), the heated heat medium (56) and optionally the weight medium (60) there is a continuous adjustment to changes in the available amount of energy of the low-temperature heat source.

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