Patent ID: 7019412
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: F01K,F22B,F24H,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies, comprising the steps of: using a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi; using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor, as received from the thermal generator, against a low pressure subatmospheric sink in order to produce a mechanical work energy; using said mechanical work energy to rotate a shaft coupled with an electrical generator to produce electrical power; using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander; using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F. and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%; using a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; using a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber; using a regenerator consisting of a heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse; and using a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator, wherein the method generates mechanical energy at high efficiencies.