EP1075630A1 - Systemes et procedes de transformation de l'energie thermique - Google Patents

Systemes et procedes de transformation de l'energie thermique

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Publication number
EP1075630A1
EP1075630A1 EP97946553A EP97946553A EP1075630A1 EP 1075630 A1 EP1075630 A1 EP 1075630A1 EP 97946553 A EP97946553 A EP 97946553A EP 97946553 A EP97946553 A EP 97946553A EP 1075630 A1 EP1075630 A1 EP 1075630A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
working fluid
cooling
vaporizer
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97946553A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1075630A4 (fr
Inventor
Jeffrey Stephen Sterling
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1075630A1 publication Critical patent/EP1075630A1/fr
Publication of EP1075630A4 publication Critical patent/EP1075630A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K25/00—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for
    • F01K25/08—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours
    • F01K25/10—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K25/00—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for
    • F01K25/08—Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy

Definitions

  • the present invention is in the field of heating and cooling systems, more particularly in the field of solar-powered heating and cooling systems.
  • Solar energy is a prime source of thermal energy.
  • the total energy radiated to the earth by the sun is 180,000 trillion watts.
  • Lawrence Rocks, et al The Energy Crisis (Crown Publishers, Inc. New York 1972).
  • the use of solar energy to produce mechanical power is almost non-existent.
  • this prodigious total power output to the earth is dispersed over a very broad area, so that the power density is very low.
  • solar cells have been used on an experimental scale to turn sunlight into electricity, the cost of power from solar cells is completely uneconomical. In addition, the power must still be stored for use at night.
  • the total oil heritage of the United States is about 200 billion barrels. Of this total, over fifty percent has been recovered and burned.
  • the discovery ratio of natural gas to oil is a nearly constant 6,000 cubic feet per barrel of oil.
  • the United States faces a dangerous loss of energy self-sufficiency, since the majority of the world's oil is contained in the politically unstable Middle East.
  • both oil and gas are finite resources, which may last only a few more decades at present consumption rates.
  • Coal is the giant of the fossil fuels, accounting for ninety-six percent of all available energy from the fossil sources.
  • Deep coal mining is dangerous to life, hazardous to health, and expensive.
  • Many coal miners suffer from the debilitating "black lung" disease.
  • Deep coal mining has given way to the faster and cheaper method of strip mining.
  • strip mining is often disastrous environmentally, as it is prohibitively expensive for a mining company to replace the overburden. Without the overburden, erosion of the land is very rapid, and water supplies are polluted by earth and mineral laden runoff.
  • burning coal produces noxious pollutants such as S02, which are hazardous both to the environment and human health.
  • Atomic energy once thought to be a viable energy solution in the United States and around the world, is now falling into disfavor as a long-term energy solution.
  • the disasters at Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island notwithstanding, there is still no commercially viable way to dispose of nuclear wastes.
  • the U.S. Department of Energy currently has 1.8 tons of technetium, a radioactive by-product of nuclear fission.
  • the by-product has a half-life of over two hundred thousand years.
  • the waste must be stored safe from accident, leaching into ground water, and terrorism. The expense is daunting even projected to the next twenty years, let alone the next twenty thousand.
  • the present invention provides systems and methods for obtaining mechanical, electrical and cooling power from a high temperature heat source, which may be intermittent, and an ambient temperature heat source.
  • a working fluid passes through a fluid circuit including a first vaporizer, an vaporized liquid, a heat exchanger for cooling the vaporized liquid, a reservoir for collecting, by gravity, the vaporized liquid, a first valve leading to a second heat exchanger for further cooling the liquid, leading by gravity flow to a second valve, allowing the cool, low pressure liquid to drain back by gravity to the first vaporizer.
  • the first vaporizer is heated by a high temperature heat source, and the expansion device provides mechanical power to an electric generator.
  • the expansion device of the first embodiment is connected mechanically to a refrigeration compressor fluid circuit through which the working fluid flows.
  • the compressor compresses and thereby heats a working fluid, which then flows to an ambient temperature heat exchanger.
  • the ambient temperature heat exchanger cools the compressed liquid, which then flows through a flow restrictor.
  • the flow restrictor allows the working fluid to expand and cool, and the fluid then flows through a heat exchanger thermally connected with a heat sink, thereby cooling the heat sink.
  • the working fluid then flows back to the compressor, completing the circuit.
  • a second heat exchanger in the heat sink circulates a liquid through a pipe, providing cooling to any apparatus or space in thermal connection with the circuit.
  • a third embodiment of the invention is a combination of the first and second embodiments, but further includes a third, ambient temperature circuit.
  • a working fluid in a vaporizer is heated by an ambient temperature heat source.
  • the vaporized liquid passes into an expansion device, producing useful mechanical energy, which may be used to power an electric generator.
  • the vaporized working fluid then flows to a heat exchanger, then to a reservoir, then to a first valve, then to a heat exchanger, then to a second valve, then to the second vaporizer.
  • the heat exchanger, reservoir, first valve, heat exchanger and second valve are all in thermal connection with a low temperature heat sink. This low temperature heat sink can be made cool by the heat exchanger in the heat sink of the second embodiment of the invention.
  • a fourth embodiment of the invention has a first circuit and component arrangement similar to the third embodiment.
  • a parallel circuit as described in the second embodiment, is used to both add heat to the vaporizer and to cool the heat sink.
  • the juxtaposition of the first heat exchanger of the parallel circuit to the vaporizer of the first circuit allows for the liquid of the parallel circuit to cause, or aid in, the vaporization of the liquid of the first circuit.
  • a fifth embodiment of the invention is a combination of the elements of the first and the third embodiments of the invention.
  • the working fluid After the working fluid is vaporized in the high temperature vaporizer and passes through an expansion device, it then passes through a three-way valve. If the valve is opened one way, the working fluid passes through a high temperature circuit, meaning it passes through a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, a second valve and back to the vaporizer. If the three-way valve is opened the other way, the working fluid passes through an ambient temperature circuit. This means the working fluid passes through a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, and a second valve, all in thermal connection with a heat sink, and then back to the vaporizer.
  • This embodiment can therefore operate with a high temperature heat source, or with an ambient temperature heat source, with a turn of the three-way valve.
  • a sixth embodiment of the invention has elements similar to the second embodiment of the invention, except that the ambient temperature heat exchanger is located in thermal connection with the first vaporizer. This arrangement helps to vaporize the working fluid.
  • the chilled pipe is in thermal connection with the heat exchangers of the first embodiment. Therefore the device can work with either a high temperature heat source or an ambient temperature heat source.
  • either the high temperature heat source, the ambient temperature heat source, or both are in thermal connection with one or more thermal storage tanks. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methods to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic of a first embodiment of the invention, showing a high temperature fluid circuit.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic of a second embodiment of the invention, showing a compressor fluid circuit and its mechanical connection to the expansion device.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic of a third embodiment of the invention, showing an ambient temperature fluid circuit.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic of a fourth embodiment of the invention, showing an ambient temperature fluid circuit in which a heat exchanger assists in the vaporization of the working fluid.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic of a fifth embodiment of the invention in which vaporized working fluid, after doing mechanical work in the expansion device, can be shunted to either a high temperature circuit, if a high temperature heat source is available, or an ambient temperature circuit, if only an ambient temperature heat source is available.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic of a sixth embodiment of the invention, in which both a high temperature heat source or an ambient temperature heat source can be used.
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a working fluid passes through a fluid circuit including a first vaporizer, an expansion device for providing useful mechanical power from the vaporized liquid, a heat exchanger for cooling the vaporized liquid, a reservoir for collecting, by gravity, the vaporized liquid, a first valve leading to a second heat exchanger for further cooling the liquid, leading by gravity flow to a second valve, allowing the cool, low pressure liquid to drain back by gravity to the first vaporizer.
  • the first vaporizer is heated by a high temperature heat source, and the expansion device provides mechanical power to an electric generator.
  • ambient temperature heat source means a heat source at an operating temperature at or slightly above that of the air surrounding the vaporizer.
  • High temperature heat source means a heat source at an operating temperature well above that of the air surrounding the vaporizer.
  • two objects are “in thermal connection” if they can transfer heat to one another.
  • two objects are “in mechanical connection” if they can transfer mechanical power to one another, for instance, by levers, gears, or pulleys.
  • two objects are “in fluid connection” if the fluid in the interior of one can flow into the interior of the other. For example, the liquid in the compressor circuit is separate from, and not in fluid connection, with another circuit or circuits.
  • the expansion device of the first embodiment is connected mechanically to a refrigeration compressor fluid circuit through which a working fluid flows.
  • the compressor compresses and thereby heats the working fluid, which then flows to an ambient temperature heat exchanger.
  • the ambient temperature heat exchanger cools the compressed liquid, which then flows through a flow restrictor.
  • the flow restrictor allows the working fluid to expand and cool, and the fluid then flows through a heat exchanger thermally connected with a heat sink, thereby cooling the heat sink.
  • the working fluid then flows back to the compressor, completing the circuit.
  • a second heat exchanger in the heat sink circulates a liquid through a pipe, providing cooling to any apparatus or space in thermal connection with the circuit.
  • a third embodiment of the invention is a combination of the first and second embodiments, but further includes a third, ambient temperature circuit.
  • a working fluid in a second vaporizer is heated by an ambient temperature heat source.
  • the vaporized liquid passes into an expansion device, producing useful mechanical energy, which may be used, for example, to power an electric generator.
  • the vaporized working fluid then flows to a heat exchanger, then to a reservoir, then to a first valve, then to a heat exchanger, then to a second valve, then to the second vaporizer.
  • the heat exchanger, reservoir, first valve, heat exchanger and second valve are all in thermal connection with a low temperature heat sink. This low temperature heat sink can be made cool by the heat exchanger in the heat sink of the second embodiment of the invention.
  • a fourth embodiment of the invention has a first circuit and component arrangement similar to the third embodiment.
  • a parallel circuit as described in the second embodiment, is used to both add heat to the vaporizer and to cool the heat sink.
  • the juxtaposition of the first heat exchanger of the parallel circuit to the vaporizer of the first circuit allows for the liquid of the parallel circuit to cause, or aid in, the vaporization of the liquid of the first circuit.
  • a fifth embodiment of the invention is a combination of the elements of the first and the third embodiments of the invention. After the working fluid is vaporized in the high temperature vaporizer and passes through an expansion device, it then passes through a three-way valve.
  • the working fluid passes through a high temperature circuit, meaning it passes through a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, a second valve and back to the vaporizer.
  • the three-way valve is opened the other way, the working fluid passes through an ambient temperature circuit. This means the working fluid passes through a heat exchanger, a reservoir, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, and a second valve, all in thermal connection with a heat sink, and then back to the vaporizer.
  • This embodiment can therefore operate with a high temperature heat source, or with an ambient temperature heat source, with a turn of the three-way valve.
  • a sixth embodiment of the invention has elements similar to the second embodiment of the invention, except that the ambient temperature heat exchanger is located in thermal connection with the first vaporizer.
  • the chilly pipe is in thermal connection with the heat exchangers of the first embodiment. Therefore the device can work with either a high temperature heat source or an ambient temperature heat source.
  • either the high temperature heat source, the ambient temperature heat source, or both are in thermal connection with one or more thermal storage tanks.
  • FIG. 7 An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7.
  • the invention permits a working fluid 100 to be transported in a closed fluid circuit from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure, and back to the area of high pressure, without the loss of useful pressure from the high pressure area. This is accomplished without the use of a pump, by a surprisingly clever arrangement of valves and piping. This also occurs in a continuous cycle.
  • the vaporizer 10 turns the fluid into a vapor at high pressure.
  • the first heat exchanger 40 cools and condenses the vapor back into liquid and some vapor.
  • the first valve 60 is opened, allowing the liquid to flow down by gravity.
  • the first valve 60 is closed.
  • the liquid now flows through a second heat exchanger 260, becoming an ambient pressure, ambient temperature fluid.
  • the second valve 70 is now opened, allowing the fluid to flow back to the vaporizer 10 by gravity.
  • the second valve 70 is now closed, and the cycle starts all over again.
  • the liquid Once the liquid has passed through the expansion device, the liquid is no longer at high temperature and pressure. Liquid flowing through the second heat exchanger becomes ambient temperature. If the liquid was already at ambient temperature, there is no need to incorporate a second heat exchanger. There could be a direct connection, essentially bypassing the second heat exchanger.
  • An expansion device may be placed between the vaporizer 10 and the first heat exchanger 40, to do useful work with the vaporized working fluid 100.
  • the invention can be used as a motorless refrigeration pump, or in a motorless air conditioning and refrigeration cycle, including one which operates on a conventional heat or power source.
  • the invention can also be used as a replacement for the return pump in a Rankine cycle engine. When used as such, it can be used with a steam engine, or for the purification of water by freezing, and for the production of ice by refrigeration. It may also be used for the recovery of cleaning fluid in the dry cleaning chemical process.
  • This system does not require a refrigerant to be absorbed in order to move the working fluid from the low pressure state to the high pressure state, or the use of a carrier fluid other than the working fluid.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, the first circuit 160, which is a high temperature fluid circuit.
  • the direction of fluid and vapor flow is given by the arrows.
  • a high temperature heat source 80 is in thermal connection 240 with a vaporizer 10, which contains a working fluid 100.
  • the working fluid can be any liquid which can be vaporized by the heat sources available. These liquids include, but are not limited to, water, ammonia, and various chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and azeotropic blends. Suitable working fluids may be found, for example, at page 336 of A. D. Althouse, et al, Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Goodheart- Willcox Co., Inc.
  • the working fluid 100 is vaporized and passes through the pipe 20 at high pressure and temperature, to an expansion device 30, where the vaporized working fluid does useful mechanical work.
  • the expansion device 30 can take many forms, including, but not limited to, a steam engine, a turbine, a piston, or an ejector for producing a refrigeration effect.
  • mechanical connection 190 connects the expansion device 30 to an electric generator 90.
  • the vaporized working fluid 100 then travels through pipe 20 to first heat exchanger 40, where it condenses into liquid in reservoir 50. There may be no need for reservoir 50 in some embodiments.
  • the pipe 20 itself can serve as such a reservoir.
  • First valve 60 is then opened, the fluid flows by gravity downward, and first valve 60 is then closed.
  • First valve 60 is located at the outlet of the reservoir 50.
  • the now condensed working fluid 100 flows through a second heat exchanger 260 where it is cooled and is a low pressure, ambient temperature liquid.
  • Second valve 70 is then opened, allowing the working fluid to flow by gravity back to the vaporizer 10.
  • Second valve 70 is then closed.
  • the high temperature source 80 can be, for example, a solar collector or a geothermal heat source.
  • the valves 60 and 70, and thus the fluid flow may be controlled manually, or be part of a computerized monitoring and actuating system.
  • the valves 60 and 70 are operated so as to not cause substantial drop in the internal pressure of the vaporizer 10.
  • a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2.
  • the second embodiment adds a second fluid circuit 170, a refrigeration compressor circuit, to the first fluid circuit 160, shown in Figure 1.
  • a compressor 110 is mechanically connected to expansion device 30 of the first embodiment of the invention, through mechanical connection 190.
  • Working fluid 100 is compressed in the compressor 110, increasing the temperature and pressure of the working fluid.
  • This working fluid 100 need not be the same type of fluid as the working fluid in the first fluid circuit 160.
  • the working fluid 100 flows in the direction of the arrows through the pipe 20 to heat exchanger 270, which is at ambient temperature, where the working fluid 100 cools.
  • the working fluid 100 then flows in the direction of the arrows, through flow restrictor 220, where both the temperature and pressure of the working fluid drop.
  • Working fluid 100 then flows through heat exchanger 280 which is in thermal connection with heat sink 120, cooling the liquid in the heat sink.
  • Working fluid 100 then flows from the heat exchanger 280, in thermal connection with heat sink 120, back to the compressor 110, completing the cycle.
  • the heat exchanger 290, in thermal connection with heat sink 120, is in a separate fluid circuit. Liquid flowing through that heat exchanger 290 is cooled, causing the pipe 250 to become chilled.
  • This chilled pipe 250 can be used to cool a room, a space, or a material surrounding the pipe.
  • Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention. It adds a third fluid circuit 180, an ambient temperature circuit, to the second circuit 170.
  • working fluid 100 is vaporized in a vaporizer.
  • vaporizer 210 an ambient temperature vaporizer.
  • the vapor flows through pipe 20 through expansion device 30, which performs useful mechanical work to power electric generator 90 through mechanical connection 190.
  • Working fluid 100 flows from expansion device 30, through pipe 20, through first heat exchanger 40, then reservoir 50, through first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, second valve 70, and down again to vaporizer 210.
  • first heat exchanger 40, reservoir 50, first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, and second valve 70 are all in thermal connection with heat sink 120.
  • Second vaporizer 210 is heated by an ambient temperature source 130, in thermal connection 240 with the second vaporizer.
  • Cooling the heat sink is heat exchanger 280, shown in fluid connection with compressor 110 and ambient temperature heat exchanger 270, as in Fig. 2. Because the heat sink 120 reduces the temperature of first heat exchanger 40 and second heat exchanger 260, an ambient temperature heat source 130 can power the expansion device of Figure 3. Also shown in Figure 3 is a refrigerant metering device 140, shown between the flow restrictor 220 and heat exchanger 280, in fluid connection with both.
  • the working fluid 100 in first fluid circuit 160, second fluid circuit 170 and third, ambient temperature fluid circuit 180 may be the same type of fluid, or all of the fluids may be of different types. Since the third fluid circuit 180 is at ambient temperature, it may be useful to maintain a partial vacuum within the third fluid circuit, so that the working fluid 100 will vaporize at the lower temperature.
  • Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • an ambient temperature heat source 130 vaporizes a working fluid 100 in the vaporizer 210 by means of the thermal connection 240.
  • the working fluid 100 vaporizes and passes through pipe 20 to expansion device 30.
  • the working fluid 100 in vapor form, again follows the direction of the arrows and passes through first heat exchanger 40, reservoir 50, first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, second valve 70, all in thermal connection with heat sink 120.
  • the low temperature, low pressure condensed working fluid 100 passes by gravity back into vaporizer 210.
  • the heat exchanger 270 from the compressor circuit 170 is in thermal connection with the vaporizer 210, assisting it in vaporizing working fluid 100.
  • a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5. It consists of both a high temperature circuit 160 and an ambient temperature circuit 180. If a high temperature heat source 80 is available, through thermal connection 240 it vaporizes working fluid 100 in the vaporizer 10. The vaporized working fluid 100 travels through pipe 20 and through expansion device 30. There the working fluid 100 performs useful mechanical work on the generator 90 and on the compressor 110 through mechanical connections 190. The vapor then passes up into three-way valve 150. The three-way valve 150, if high temperature heat source 80 is available, will be opened toward high temperature circuit 160. Therefore the vaporized working fluid 100 will pass through first heat exchanger 40, reservoir 50, first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, second valve 70, then back through pipe 20 back into vaporizer 10.
  • three-way valve 150 is turned so as to open ambient temperature circuit 180. In that case, the path of the vapor and liquid will be through expansion device 30, three-way valve 150, then on to the first heat exchanger 40, reservoir 50, first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, second valve 70, all in thermal connection with heat sink 120. Then the working fluid 100 will flow back into the vaporizer 10. As before, the heat sink 120 is cooled by refrigerant compressor circuit 170, which includes the compressor 110, ambient temperature heat exchanger 270, flow restrictor 220, and heat exchanger 280. The compressor 110 is mechanically connected to expansion device 30 through mechanical connection 190.
  • the temperature source can be stored ice or stored heated fluid or other stored forms of energy.
  • the amount of ice necessary to to power the system can be calculated and enough ice can be kept or stored to power the system during times of little or no sunshine. For example, at night, the system can be powered by the stored heated fluid or stored ice. When the sunshine or solar energy returns, the compressor circuit can be used again. Use of the compressor circuit can be facilitated by use of a solar sensor that monitors the solar energy available. Using the compressor when the sun is shining is not the most efficient way to use the system.
  • the system can also be powered by storage of heated fluid. Such heated fluids can be a solar pond or tank of heated fluid.
  • Figure 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • a high temperature heat source 80 When a high temperature heat source 80 is available, it is connected through thermal connection 240 to vaporizer 10.
  • Working fluid 100 is vaporized and travels through pipe 20 to expansion device 30, where it performs useful mechanical work, such as on generator 90 through mechanical connection 190.
  • the working fluid 100 then travels through pipe 20, again through first heat exchanger 40, reservoir 50, first valve 60, second heat exchanger 260, second valve 70, and back into vaporizer 10.
  • first heat exchanger 40 When only an ambient temperature heat source 130 is available, it is connected through thermal connection 240 to vaporizer 10, and the working fluid 100 follows the same course.
  • refrigeration compressor 110 is then operated through mechanical connection 190 to expansion device 30. This causes working fluid 100 to flow through refrigerator compressor 110, where it is compressed to higher temperature and pressure.
  • Working fluid 100 in this compressor fluid circuit 170, then flows through pipe 20 to heat exchanger 270, which is in thermal connection with vaporizer 10, assisting in the vaporization of working fluid 100.
  • Working fluid 100 flows from third heat exchanger 270 through pipe 20 and flow restrictor 220.
  • the working fluid 100 continues to flow through heat exchanger 280 and heat sink 120, where it cools the liquid in the heat sink, flowing back into compressor 110 to complete the cycle.
  • a third circuit has fluid 100 in pipe 20 and this fluid flows through the pipe 20 in the heat sink 120 and valve 230, cooling first heat exchanger 40 and second heat exchanger 260.
  • Heat sink 120 may be surrounded by thermal insulation, or any other methods known to provide insulation.
  • either one or both of possible vaporizers are in thermal connection with one or more thermal storage tanks.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des dispositifs et des procédés qui permettent d'obtenir de l'énergie mécanique, électrique et de refroidissement à partir d'une source (80) de chaleur à température élevée, laquelle peut être intermittente, et d'une source (130) de chaleur à la température ambiante. Dans une réalisation, le fluide caloporteur (100) parcourt un circuit comprenant un premier évaporateur (10), un dispositif d'expansion (30) pour l'obtention d'énergie mécanique utile à partir de la vapeur, un premier échangeur thermique (40) assurant le refroidissement de la vapeur haute pression, un réservoir de condensation recueillant (50), par gravité, la vapeur haute pression, une première soupape débouchant sur un second échangeur thermique (260), qui peut être ou non nécessaire, d'où le liquide rejoint par gravité une seconde soupape (70) par où le liquide froid basse pression retourne au premier évaporateur par gravité. Dans cette réalisation, le premier évaporateur est chauffé par une source de chaleur à la température élevée et le dispositif d'expansion fournit de l'énergie mécanique pour l'entraînement d'une génératrice d'électricité.
EP97946553A 1997-11-10 1997-11-10 Systemes et procedes de transformation de l'energie thermique Withdrawn EP1075630A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1997/020229 WO1999024766A1 (fr) 1997-11-10 1997-11-10 Systemes et procedes de transformation de l'energie thermique

Publications (2)

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EP1075630A1 true EP1075630A1 (fr) 2001-02-14
EP1075630A4 EP1075630A4 (fr) 2003-05-02

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EP (1) EP1075630A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU5170498A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999024766A1 (fr)

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AT503167B1 (de) * 2006-02-06 2007-10-15 Siegfried Prugner Anordnung zum umwandeln von strömungsenergie
GR20080100271A (el) * 2008-04-17 2009-11-19 Παυλος Μανωλουδης Κρυογονικη μεθοδος και συσκευη κλειστου ενεργειακου βρογχου υποβοηθουμενης υποψυξης
WO2010019990A1 (fr) * 2008-08-18 2010-02-25 Renewable Energy Systems Limited Système de collecte d'énergie solaire et système de génération d'énergie comprenant un système de collecte d'énergie solaire
GB2508193A (en) * 2012-11-23 2014-05-28 Mark Trebilcock Heat pump arrangement with an expander for extracting work from heat energy input

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AU5170498A (en) 1999-05-31
WO1999024766A1 (fr) 1999-05-20

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