Patent ID: 7021060
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: F01K

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: transforming a portion of thermal energy in a superheated vapor stream into usable energy to produce a spent stream; transferring thermal energy from an external heat source stream to a first vapor stream to form the superheated vapor stream and a first cooled external heat source stream; transferring thermal energy from the first cooled external heat source stream to a first mixed stream to form the first vapor stream and a second cooled external heat source stream; transferring thermal energy from the spent stream to a first pre-heated higher pressure, basic working fluid substream to form a partially condensed spent stream and a first heated, higher pressure, basic working fluid substream; transferring thermal energy from a third cooled external heat source substream to a second pre-heated higher pressure, basic working fluid substream to form a second heated, higher pressure, basic working fluid substream and a first cooled external heat source substream; combining the first and second heated, higher pressure basic working fluid substreams to form a combined heated, higher pressure basic working fluid stream; transferring thermal energy from a first portion of the second cooled external heat source stream to the combined heated, higher pressure basic working fluid stream to form a higher temperature, higher pressure, basic working fluid stream and the third cooled external heat source substream; separating the partially condensed spent stream into a separated vapor stream and a separated liquid stream; pressurizing a first portion of the separated liquid stream to a pressure equal to a pressure of the combined higher temperature, higher pressure basic working fluid stream to form a pressurized liquid stream; transferring thermal energy from a second portion of the second cooled external heat source stream to the pressurized liquid stream to form a second mixed stream and a fourth cooled external heat source substream; combining the second mixed stream with the combined higher temperature, higher pressure basic working fluid stream to form the first mixed stream; combining a second portion of the separated liquid stream with the separated vapor stream to from a lower pressure, basic working fluid stream; transferring thermal energy from the lower pressure, basic working fluid stream to a higher pressure, basic working fluid stream to form a pre-heated, higher pressure, basic working fluid stream and a cooled, lower pressure, basic working fluid stream; transferring thermal energy from the cooled, lower pressure, basic working fluid stream to an external coolant stream to from a spent external coolant stream and a fully condensed, lower pressure, basic working fluid stream; and pressurizing the fully condensed, lower pressure, basic working fluid stream to the higher pressure, basic working fluid stream.