Thermal to mechanical energy conversion method using a rankine cycle equipped with a heat pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265392-A1
Application number	US-201415031416-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 17, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal to energy conversion method and system using a Rankine cycle equipped with a heat pump, wherein heat pump ( 2 ) is integrated in the Rankine cycle.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A thermal to mechanical energy conversion method comprising circulating a working fluid in a closed Rankine cycle circuit equipped with a heat pump for heating the working fluid vaporized in the Rankine cycle circuit, and circulating the working fluid of the Rankine cycle circuit in a circuit of the heat pump.

19 . A method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the vaporized working fluid is separated into two portions with a first portion being converted into mechanical energy by the Rankine cycle circuit and a second portion being circulated in the circuit of the heat pump.

20 . A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the first portion is mixed after conversion into mechanical energy in the Rankine cycle circuit with at least part of the second portion.

21 . A method as claimed in claim 18 , comprising:
a) vaporizing the working fluid by thermal exchange with a first heat source; b) separating the vaporized working fluid into two portions; c) heating a first portion by heat exchange with a previously compressed second portion; d) converting part of thermal energy contained in the first portion into mechanical energy; e) re-forming at least part of the working fluid by mixing at least part of the first and second portions with the second portion which was previously expanded; f) condensing at least part of the re-formed working fluid by heat exchange with a second heat source; and g) compressing the condensed working fluid.

22 . A method as claimed in claim 19 , comprising:
a) vaporizing the working fluid by thermal exchange with a first heat source; b) separating the vaporized working fluid into two portions; c) heating a first portion by heat exchange with a previously compressed second portion; d) converting part of thermal energy contained in the first portion into mechanical energy; e) re-forming at least part of the working fluid by mixing at least part of the first and second portions with the second portion which was previously expanded; f) condensing at least part of the re-formed working fluid by heat exchange with a second heat source; and g) compressing the condensed working fluid.

23 . A method as claimed in claim 20 , comprising:
a) vaporizing the working fluid by thermal exchange with a first heat source; b) separating the vaporized working fluid into two portions; c) heating a first portion by heat exchange with a previously compressed second portion; d) converting part of thermal energy contained in the first portion into mechanical energy; e) re-forming at least part of the working fluid by mixing at least part of the first and second portions with the second portion which was previously expanded; f) condensing at least part of the re-formed working fluid by heat exchange with a second heat source; and g) compressing the condensed working fluid.

24 . A method as claimed in claim 21 , compromising separating the second portion, upstream from re-forming part of the working fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase, mixing with the gas phase of the second portion with the first portion during partially re-forming the working fluid, and mixing the liquid phase of the second portion is mixed with the condensed working fluid.

25 . A method as claimed in claim 22 , compromising separating the second portion, upstream from re-forming part of the working fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase, mixing with the gas phase of the second portion with the first portion during partially re-forming the working fluid, and mixing the liquid phase of the second portion is mixed with the condensed working fluid.

26 . A method as claimed in claim 23 , compromising separating the second portion, upstream from re-forming part of the working fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase, mixing with the gas phase of the second portion with the first portion during partially re-forming the working fluid, and mixing the liquid phase of the second portion is mixed with the condensed working fluid.

27 . A method as claimed in claim 21 , comprising separating the partially re-formed working fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase with the the gas phase of the working fluid being condensed during the condensation stage and the liquid phase of the working fluid being mixed with the condensed working fluid.

28 . A method as claimed in claim 24 , comprising separating the partially re-formed working fluid into a liquid phase and a gas phase with the the gas phase of the working fluid being condensed during the condensation stage and the liquid phase of the working fluid being mixed with the condensed working fluid.

29 . A method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

30 . A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

31 . A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

32 . A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

33 . A method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

34 . A method as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the heat sources are seawater taken at different depths.

35 . A method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

36 . A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

37 . A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

38 . A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

39 . A method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

40 . A method as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the working fluid comprises ammonia.

41 . A thermal to mechanical energy conversion system comprising:
a closed circuit which circulates a working fluid comprising a Rankine cycle circuit equipped with a heat pump for heating the vaporized working fluid in the Rankine cycle circuit, with the working fluid of the Rankine cycle circuit circulating in the circuit of the heat pump.

42 . A system as claimed in claim 41 , wherein:
the closed circuit which circulates a first separator for separating the working fluid into two portions with a first portion being converted into mechanical energy by the Rankine cycle circuit and a second portion circulating the circuit of the heat pump.

43 . A system as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the closed circuit comprises:
a first mixer for mixing the first portion with at least part of the second portion which is downstream from means for conversion of energy in the Rankine cycle circuit into mechanical energy.

44 . A system as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the closed circuit comprises in succession:
a first heat exchanger for vaporizing the working fluid with a first heat source; a separator for separating the vaporized working fluid into two portions; a second heat exchanger for heating a first portion with a second portion compressed by a compressor; a turbine for converting part of the thermal energy contained in the first portion to mechanical energy; a first mixer for mixing at least part of the first and second portions to re-form at least part of the working fluid with the second portion being expanded by an expansion means; a third heat exchanger for

Assignees

• Ifp Energies Now

Inventors

• Mabile Claude

Classifications

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title

• F01K17/005 Primary

  by means of a heat pump (heat pumps systems per se F25B) · CPC title

• F01K23/02

  the engine cycles being thermally coupled · CPC title

• F01K7/16

  the engines being only of turbine type (the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure F01K7/32; the engines being of extraction or non-condensing type F01K7/34) · CPC title

• F01K11/02

  the engines being turbines · CPC title