Patent ID: 9410449
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: F01K,F22B

Claim Text:
1. A method for starting a turbopump in a working fluid circuit, comprising: circulating a working fluid in the working fluid circuit with a starter pump, the working fluid comprising carbon dioxide and the starter pump being in fluid communication with a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat source; transferring thermal energy to the working fluid from the heat source in the first heat exchanger; expanding the working fluid in a drive turbine in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein the turbopump comprises the drive turbine operatively coupled to a main pump; driving the main pump with the drive turbine; diverting the working fluid discharged from the main pump into a first recirculation line disposed in the working fluid circuit, the first recirculation line having a first bypass valve arranged therein; closing the first bypass valve as the turbopump reaches a self-sustaining speed of operation; circulating the working fluid discharged from the main pump through the working fluid circuit; deactivating the starter pump and opening a second bypass valve arranged in a second recirculation line disposed in the working fluid circuit; and diverting the working fluid discharged from the starter pump into the second recirculation line.