WO2002088544A1

WO2002088544A1 - Vapour pressure power plant

Info

Publication number: WO2002088544A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001590
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ibrahim Omran Liguery
Original assignee: Science-Logic Company Limited; Ghoweri, Omar, Omran
Priority date: 2001-05-02
Filing date: 2002-04-03
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: GB0110813D0; GB0329185D0; GB2393221A

Abstract

Energy sources build to enable reusing the added heat after reaching steady state phenomenon; where an apparatus for the efficient production of energy comprising a plurality of energy production units connected in series, a source of heat F for heating the first production unit in the series B1, each unit comprising a turbine T1 coupled to generator for the output of useful energy, and the second and each subsequent energy production unit (B1-Bn) having heat exchange means (H1-Hn) for heat exchange between said energy production unit and the preceding energy production unit in the series.

Description

ENERGY DOUBTS AND THOUGHTS

This invention relates to the efficient production of energy by reusing heat added to a steady state system.

If we go directly to the subject and ask ourselves very difficult and challenging questions:

1- Is Carnot cycle playing a major role in our world of energy sources?

2- Is Carnot efficiency a real barrier which we are not allowed even to discuss?

3- What is the major role, heat is playing in the world of physical changes?

The main objective of this work is to build vapor pressure power plants with a very high efficiency. Successful building of these plants will give direct practical answers to these questions and open so many others in the Science of thermodynamics.

The present invention provides apparatus for the efficient production of energy comprising a plurality of energy production units connected in series, each unit comprising a turbine coupled to a generator for the output of useful energy, and the second and each subsequent energy production unit having heat exchange means for heat exchange between said energy production unit and the preceding energy production unit in the series, the ideal energy production units being connected substantially adiabatically such that a unit of heat energy provided to the first energy production unit in the series will lead to the output of useful work from the generator of said first energy production unit and each other energy production unit in the series.

A clear understanding of the invention will be gained from the followed description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example only with reference to the following drawings and tables in which:

Table 1 provides the water vapor pressure for the energy production units of the preferred embodiment and the associated driving pressure; Table 2 provides information how this work operate in relation to the existing understanding to the relation between heat and work;

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure- 1 A is a schematic diagram of vapor pressure power plant (real data as example only), F- (Heat source as starter), 374*^90 °C (Boilers' temperature), 217.72 -^ 0.69 Bar (Boilers' vapor pressure), 33.65 ^•> 27.94 Bar (Turbines' driving pressure).

Figure 2 is a details schematic representation of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;

Figures 3a-3h are graphs showing heat and pressure build-up until apparatus reach steady state conditions;

Figures 4a-4h are graphs demonstrating how certain amount of heat added to the first boiler to generate work will be reused to generate the same amount of work from the other boilers in the series until heat reached the last heat exchanger where the mentioned amount of added heat must be terminated;

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the apparatus incorporated into an engine;

Figure 1 shows a complex (chain) of vapor pressure power units, referred to hereinafter as vapor pressure power plants (cells) whose heat comes from one source of energy at or from the first boiler (B l). Each vapor pressure power cell is a simple cycle. The cycle is different from Rankine cycle, or any other similar cycles rely on the objective and the construction. The main objective from each boiler of each cell, is to build a certain driving vapor pressure (ΔP), via the coordination with other boilers. Apart from the generators (Gl^Gn), the general construction must be targeting to minimize any heat losses, from the system to the atmosphere. The only section from the chain requested, or allowed to drain heat to the atmosphere (stage one), or to the next heat exchanger (stage two), is the last heat exchanger (Hn). 1- Boilers:-

In the example given, all the boilers (Bl -^Bn) are identical in their size, but different size could be used. Their ability to stand the inside pressure, will be depend on their position in the chain. The boilers will be adiabatic to each other and to the surroundings. They have sufficient volume to contain the required suitable working fluid, suitable heat exchanger, and suitable turbine (mounted at enough height inside the boiler). The only channels allowed boilers to exchange heat through are the related heat exchangers.

2- Turbines :-

The main job of the turbines(Tl ^Tn), is to transfer a certain pressure (ΔP), of suitable working fluid to mechanical force. The working conditions (temperature and pressure) of the turbines will depend on their position in the chain. For the next explained reasons, at least now, I, would suggest mounting each turbine, at suitable position near the roof inside each boiler.

I- From this position, each stage of the concern turbine stages, can be feed directly from the boiler (Figure-2).

II- Eliminate any pressure drop related to heat losses.

III- Inside the boilers the turbine will be under only the driving pressure (ΔP), and as result of this the weight of turbines will be reduced dramatically.

3- Heat Exchangers :-

The heat exchangers (Hl *^Hn-l), have multiple jobs (heat sink and heat source at the same time); heat sink for working fluid coming from the boiler before through its turbine, and as heat source for working fluid inside the boiler they are in. For the last heat exchanger [(Hn) at stage one], its role to drain heat to the atmosphere (or the surroundings in general). Designing and construction of heat exchangers is targeting :-

I- To minimize any pressure drop related to gas expansion [this matter is well known, and may be a positive fact for the existing steam power plants (see temperature-entropy diagrams related to this matter)]. II- Minimizing the negative back pressure, which I, believe is coming as result of using any type of heat exchangers which have single or limited number of inlet and outlet gates.

III- The sudden liquefying of the stream of vapor, which is coming from the boiler before through its turbine. The liquefaction can be achieved by the effect of the working fluid own pressure, and the temperature of the boiler containing the concerned heat exchanger. The sudden liquefaction (phase change) can be accomplished by maximizing the heat exchanger (Figure-2) surface area, while keeping the total inlet and outlet cross section, of the heat exchanger and the concerned turbine are the same.

4- Pumps :-

As usual the role of Pumps(l "^n), is to inject the back working fluid (liquid phase) to its boiler. In this system, the pressure requested from the pumps to overcome is only the pressure difference (ΔP) between the pressure of the boiler, they are injecting liquid to, and pressure similar to the pressure of the boiler, which the injected working fluid is coming through.

5- Generators :-

The generators (Glr^Gn) role is to transfer the related turbines mechanical force to electric energy.

6- Heat Source:-

The starting heat source (F) is any suitable heat source (nuclear, fossil fuels, solar, etc.).

Operating:-

For successful operation I, think the Operator needs most:-

I- Easy and efficient controlling (regulating) system for the outlet stream of vapor coming out from each concerned turbine.

II- Easy and efficient controlling system for the heat feeding (heat source) to the first boiler (Bl). III- Chart table for the used turbines (Tl^Tn) working pressures as function of temperature.

By now may be it is clear enough to the interested, this Invention is intending to reuse (as much as it worth) the effective heat we add to the first boiler(Bl). For this reason, I, have to stress again, not to waste any heat from the complex, before it reach the last heat exchanger (Hn). Let's assume that a Chain of Vapor Pressure Power Cells (Plants) of the general schematic diagram figure 1 is built with the help of very professional and expert people taking in their consideration the mentioned positive points of this work. For three reasons, still water is the most reliable working fluid we have to suggest:

I- Water is harmless (its part from us and our environment).

II- Water got very high critical vapor pressure at reliable critical temperature [about 3200 psi (218 atm) at about 705°F (374°C)].

Ill- The normal boiling point for water is about 212°F (100°C), this will make it easier for natural heat draining from the last heat exchanger (Hn) to the surroundings.

The most important and critical job, for the Operator(s) is, how they can start driving the system easily and safely until the whole complex (cells) reach the steady state conditions following the steps explained via Figιιres-3a to 3h, where the complex able to achieve the required pressure from each used boiler [B1*^B7 (Bn)] and the power requested from each used generator. (As Inventor I'm ready to give a lot of help and advice in reaching the steady state conditions).

Discussion

Stage Qne:-

By now the whole complex (Figure 1) are at steady state (Figure-3h). Also taking into consideration the data available (table- 1), we will fined that, we have Seven Boilers (B1- B7), able to drive Seven Turbines (T1-»T7), by average effective pressure (ΔP) of about 457.087 psi (31.1 atm) for each turbine. After reaching the steady state, the only heat required from the heat source, is that, heat which able to keep a constant driving pressure (ΔP). As example only from Table 1, we will see the heat needed after reaching the steady state phenomenon, is only the heat required to keep (ΔP1) constant at 494.52 psi (33.65 atm). This pressure (ΔP1) is representing the driving pressure for turbine number one (TI), which is equivalent to the vapor pressure difference between boiler number one (Bl) and boiler number two (B2), also the required heat represent the temperature difference between boiler (Bl) and boiler (B2), which is in this particular case equal only to 25.2° F (14°C).

Therefore now we have seven running turbines, producing the required power (mechanical or electrical power depending only on our needs). If we are in position to calculate the efficiency by our standard of today, and we take the average efficiency of each one of the seven turbines by 30%. Then the overall (total) efficiency of the complex is 7 (seven) multiplied by 30% (thirty percent), this equal to 210% (two hundred and ten percent).

7 (turbines) X 30% (the efficiency for each cycle) = 210%

Also we have to notice that, and by comparison with the existing power plants today, this new Scientific Invention (stage one), will use only a fraction (about 1/7) of the fuel which, the energy sources of today is consuming to produce the same power.

*Its very important to the reader to come to conclusion that, the efficiency (2.1 times) of our Vapor Pressure Power Plant have achieved, is representing indirect answer to question- 1, and the biggest practical challenge to Carnot Efficiency (question-2).

Let us assume that at the steady state conditions, we follow (fιgures-4a to 4h) a certain amount of heat (represented by shaded ball) added to the first boiler (Bl). The amount of heat added and we are going to follow, must keep (ΔP1) constant for certain time.

Therefore certain amount of heat added to the first boiler (B l) causing turbine (TI) to run by (ΔP1) [fιgure-4a], and the heat transferred (by vapor pressure difference) to boiler (B2), enabling turbine (T2) to run by (ΔP2) [figure-4b), this process will continue (through all the boilers), until the amount of heat added to the first boiler (Bl), will reach the last boiler (B7), where it (the accounted heat) will keep the vapor pressure to continue, to run the last turbine (T7) by (ΔP7), and after this point the heat has negative effect on our vapor pressure power plant, so the added heat (after the steady state) must be drained somewhere to the surroundings, via ordinary suitable heat exchanger.

* After taking into consideration, any compensating of unavoidable heat losses from the power chain, if we come to conclusion that, the same amount of heat we add or feed to the first boiler (after reaching the steady state), we have to drain (to get rid of). This conclusion will justify a Theory annoying me for long time, and may be this theory was playing the major factor behind this work.

Theory Number Three

Heat is only a catalyst which enables (activate), suitable working fluids to do a useful work.

A successful practical proof to this theoiy, will give a direct answer, to (question-3) the major role heat is playing in the world of physical changes. Also this successful proof will satisfy us to replace any statement (phrase) in the world of thermodynamics saying; heat converted or transferred to work by, heat will lead to work.

Stage Two:-

After successful building to this invention (Figure 1), we will have every right to rethink again, about the very old and was impossible dream of using the heat pumps to recycle heat used by the heat engines. In the light of this work, recycling heat, where heat to be re injected (re-added) to the first boiler (Bl), will be no longer impossible, and from now on, its matter of comparison (which is much easier and more efficient stage two or stage three as we will see).

Reconsidering the data available (Table 1 or any other similar data), will make us thinking that, using heat pumps to carry the added heat all the way from boiler (B7) back to boiler (Bl), is not an easy task. This will need a group of heat pumps and suitable working fluids to be operated in a way, where they will be able to carry and concentrate heat in a high temperature manner, where heat can be re-transferred to boiler (Bl). The mentioned difficulties and their related consumed energy can be reduced a lot by shortening the number of used boilers (by one, two or even three boilers if proven its a useful). By this technique, water can be used as heat carrier, for the first journey which will be completed by another suitable working fluid (the last heat carrier must has a critical temperature higher than boiler (Bl)'s temperature like Phenol). There is no need to give more time to this stage, and unlikely the mentioned techniques will be chosen after paying attention to stage three.

Stage Three :-

Our main objective in this stage is not, how to recycle the added heat to the first boiler(Bl) after it is finishing its job by reaching the last boiler, but is there a way, where we can continue running our Vapor Pressure Plant (Figure 1), without continuing using our main heat source after reaching the steady state phenomenon. We will try to achieve this big objective by simply, equipping the first boiler (Bl) by suitable electrical heaters, and after reaching the steady state explained before we start feed the first boiler (Bl) by the needed energy using some of the electricity produced by our Vapor Pressure Plant (complex), as explained before.

Stage Four:-

Via this stage we will try to modify this Invention (Figure 1), to be able to have a suitable size, and able to produce the required mechanical and electrical force. This can be achieved by e.g. building the boilers on a circle shape(Figure 5), and by keeping the turbines required for producing mechanical force, on the inner side of the circle, and the turbines required for generating electricity on the outer side of the circle. The mechanical force producing turbines should built on a way, they are able to coordinate all together, to rotate a central shaft, this shaft can be comiected to a gear box, and by this, the Vapor Pressure plant, can be used as an engine for driving our vehicles, trains, ships and all other engines using tools, and with all mentioned and not mentioned advantages of this Invention. Sub-Discussion

This section is made to cover the exist understanding of the relation between heat and work (heat will be transferred or converted to work), and from this understanding we assume that the average efficiency (30%) mentioned in stage one, will represent the percentage of heat that transferred or converted to work. And from this point of view we assume that, after building the chain of vapor pressure power plants (Figure 1) and reaching the steady state (Figure 3h), we start adding certain amount of heat [e.g. 100 British Thermal Unit (BTU)] to the first boiler (B-l), and we will follow this fixed amount of added heat and it's decreasing as it pass from one boiler to the next (Figures-4a-4h).

* After taking into consideration, any compensating of unavoidable heat losses from the power chain, and even if we come to conclusion that, is in favor of the exist relation between heat and work. Table-2 show this Invention will make more than 90% of the used heat is available to be transferred or converted to work.

Boiler No. Temperature Pressure Effective Pressure(ΔP)

B(x) °F (°C) psi (atm) psi (atm)

Bl 705.2 (374) 3199.613 (217.72)

B2 680 (360) 2705.093 (184.07)

PI - P2 (ΔP)1 494.52 (33.65)

B3 651.2 (344) 2227.179 (151.55)

P2 - P3 (ΔP)2 477.914 (32.52)

B4 617.0 (325) 1748.971 (119.01)

P3 - P4 (ΔP)3 478.208 (32.54)

B5 575.6 (302) 1281.638 (87.21)

P4 - P5 (ΔP)4 467.333 (31.8)

B6 525.2 (274) 848.929 57.77

P5 - P6 (ΔP)5 432.709 (29.44)

B7 449.6 (232) 420.717 (28.63)

P6 - P7 (ΔP)6 428.212 (29.14)

B8 194 (90) 10.167 (0.69)

P7 - P8 (ΔP)7 410.55 (27.94)

Table- 1, The Water Vapor Pressure for the Seven used Boilers as function of temperature, and the effective driving Pressure (ΔP) for the Seven Turbines.

Boiler No. Added Used Heat Unus

Heat Heat

B(x) BTU BTU BTU

Bl 100 30 70

B2 70 21 49

B3 49 14.7 34.3

B4 34.3 10.29 24.01

B5 24.01 7.203 16.807

B6 16.807 5.0421 11.7649

B7 11.7649 3.52947 8.23543

B8 8.23543 8.23543

Total Heat 100 91.76457 8.23543

Table-2, After reaching steady state, following 100 BTU added to Boiler(Bl), and the amount of heat used and left for the rest Boilers [B2-B7(Bn)] are calculated on our exist understanding to the relation between heat and work (Sub-Discussion).

Claims

CLAIMSENERGY DOUBTS AND THOUGHTSIntroduction* When I started demonstrating the theoretical side of the work published under international application No. WO 96/02750 on 1st February 1996, 1 was continuously asking myself one serious and demanding Question:During the high temperature period (e.g. day time) the working fluid absorbs say z amount of heat from the surrounding (e.g. the atmosphere) and as result of this x mass of water pushed to the top reservoir. The water comes down from this reservoir GENERATING ENERGY before it will be collected in the middle reservoir.During the low temperature period (e.g. night time) the column of water coming down from the middle reservoir will force the working fluid to change phase and emitting the same amount of heat (z) back to the surrounding (the atmosphere) and as result of this; the same mass (x) of water accumulated again in the lower reservoir ready for the next period.As result of the mentioned periods and their stable conditions the same amount of heat Gained or absorbed by the working fluid from the surrounding during the high temperature period will be equal the same amount of heat regained back by the surrounding during the low temperature period. Assuming the high temperature period and low temperature period are always have a constant temperatures and from here the mentioned demanding Question rise very high:THENFROMWHERE DOES THE GENERATED ENERGY COMEFROM?!* ' By the time I finished building successfully the Prototype representing the published work, the answer to this question is crystal clear in my mind. This answer will comes only from a new understanding to Heat and Energy which is 180 degree opposite to our existing understanding in the last 250 Years or so. Because of the important of this subject and the role heat is plying in the world of energy sources, we must ask our selves two more basic and simple questions:* We all know from the general physical properties of matter, the basic simple fact that and in general all material expand by increasing temperature and contract by decreasing temperature. The simple useful technique of this property is the thermostat. When for example an electrical circuit has been opened or closed going back to it's previous state as result of increasing or decreasing temperature.Is there anyone in this world able to say or claim and prove that, some of the heat (regardless how small this amount of heat is) has been consumed (transferred or converted to work) by the metal doing this useful work (switching on and off the electric circuit) ?* Let's pay attention to the uncommon physical properties of water below the range of 3.6 °C and ask ourselves about the work taking place when someone forgotten a bottle of glass full of water in his freezer longer than suppose to be and when he remembered his bottle and come to collect it, he found that his glass has been smashed by the common and well known phenomenon of water below 3.6 °C.Here there is a work has been achieved (regardless if this work is positive or negative) while the system (water) achieving this work, this system was losing some of its heat to the freezer. Then;From where does water consumed its energy to do its useless (damaging) work?The answer to the fundamental question regarding the energy generated in the work explained in the International Application No. PCT/US95/08872 (Energy Sources), are summarized under this work (energy doubts and thoughts) and has the next claims.

1. Energy Sources, comprising of building and producing economical, clean, and efficient energy.

2. A text, a meaning and a method of theory number three that is outlined by way of nine pages of description, two tables and six pages of drawings of preferred embodiment, given by way of example only under the title energy doubts and thoughts, utilizing the proper understanding of heat to do a useful work.

3. A text according to claim 2, comprising of, heat is only a catalyst which enables (activate), suitable working fluids to do a useful work.

4. A meaning according to claim 2, comprising of, heat will lead to work.

5. A meaning according to claim 2, the existing common energy sources of today (Piston, Turbine and Jet Engines) would be explained as fuel (sold, liquid or gas) combustion will lead to products and heat.

6. A meaning according to claims 2 and 5, utilizing the heat comes as a result of fuel combustion contained or restricted only in providing the right temperatures (well above the critical temperatures of the of the products of the combustion) where the products of combustion will be able to produce the right pressures enabling the concerned engine to produce the required mechanical force.

7. A meaning according to claims 2, 5 and 6, utilizing the existing common energy sources of today designing, imposed the continuation of consumption of the fuels; where each time the heat produced will be flashed to the surrounding (normally the atmosphere) by direct way (via the exhaust) or by indirect way (via the body of the engine and the cooling system) with the products of the combustion produced with and at the same time.

8. A meaning according to claims 2, 5, 6 and 7, utilizing existing steam turbines was going to be step in the right direction if the designing people have not adapted the existing wrong understanding to heat (heat will be converted or transferred to work).

9. A meaning according to claims 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, utilizing heat recovered by working fluid (normally water or steam) from heat source (nuclear reactor, fossil fuels combustion chamber or else) where steam will be heated higher than the critical temperature of water (supper heated steam and outside the vapor pressure zone phenomenon) and refereeing wrongly the drop in the temperature after generating the mechanical force to the existing understanding, that heat has been converted or transferred to work.

10. A meaning according to claims 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, comprising the drop in temperature after the mechanical generating tool (turbine) comes as result of the cooling system designing and the sudden expansion of the steam, where the vapor pressures coming back from the water in the cooling system are very low and not as a result of the heat has been converted or transferred to work as the existing understanding trying to explain.

11. A meaning according to claims 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, utilizing the supper heated steam in the existing energy sources will be explained as a way only of avoiding the condensation (droplets) and not as a way of supplying the system with more heat to make it more efficient via the existing understanding where more heat will be transferred or converted to work.

12. A method according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, comprising of, building energy sources to enable reusing the added heat after reaching steady state phenomenon; where an apparatus for the efficient production of energy comprising a plurality of energy production units connected in series, a source of heat for heating the first production unit in the series, each unit comprising a turbine coupled to generator for the output of useful energy, and the second and each subsequent energy production unit having heat exchange means for heat exchange between said energy production unit and the preceding energy production unit in the series.

13. A method according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12, apparatus incorporated into an engine.

14. A method according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 13, utilizing some of the produced energy to feed the first production unit after the complete system has reached the steady state phenomenon.

15. A meaning according to claim 14, the steady state phenomenon comprising each unit in the series reached the required temperature and pressure.

16. A meaning according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, comprising heat is the mystery of the universe where heat will lead to work and work could be converted or transferred to heat.

17. A meaning according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 16, comprising that the amount heat of the universe are increasing as function of time and may be this someday will explain the expansion of the universe.