Patent ID: 6948315
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: F01K

Abstract:
1. A method for converting heat to useable mechanical energy and/or electrical energy by continuously and concurrently generating a super-ambient temperature heat source and a sub-ambient temperature heat sink, whose temperature differential is sufficient to develop and sustain a heat flow capable of fueling the operation of an incorporated heat engine, within a thermal power plant, one which recycles much of its own waste heat, without utilizing an external heat sink, also said sub-ambient temperature heat sink captures for reuse much of the waste heat rejected by said incorporated heat engine, further said sub-ambient temperature heat sink has a temperature sufficiently low enough to extract replenishment heat from an external environmental heat source, or sources, sufficient to fuel the operation of said thermal power plant, comprising the steps of: a. flowing in a conjoined flow circuit, a volatile, sub-cooled, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, liquid stream of a cfc working fluid, separates within a cfc flow divider, into two unequal streams, while passing through an ambient conditions datum, at a point common to said conjoined flow circuit, a motive flow circuit, a suction flow circuit, and a cfd fluid import/export device which provides fluid communication between said conjoined flow circuit and a cfc safety/service device, which is interposed between said cfd fluid import/export device and an sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device; b. leading a greater stream of said two unequal streams leaving said cfc flow divider to an mfc fluid transfer device in said motive flow circuit; c. pressurizing, at substantially constant entropy, said greater stream has both its pressure and temperature elevated to super-ambient values, thus increasing the specific enthalpy of an mfc working fluid of said greater stream; d. leading said greater stream leaving said mfc fluid transfer device to an mfc fluid filtering device; e. filtering, said greater stream has suspended particulate matter removed as it flows through said mfc fluid filtering device; f. leading said greater stream leaving said mfc fluid filtering device to an mfc fluid flow-regulating device; g. regulating the flow of said greater stream, said mfc fluid flow-regulating device automatically acts to maintain an adjustable, substantially constant fluid flow, within said motive flow circuit; h. leading said greater stream leaving said mfc fluid flow-regulating device to a cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device within said conjoined flow circuit; i. entering said cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device via a cspgd motive flow inlet; j. leading said greater stream leaving said cspgd motive flow inlet to a cspgd conjoined flow discharge, in so doing said greater stream will expand, at substantially constant entropy, decreasing its pressure energy or head and/or specific enthalpy, and utilizing the pressure energy and/or specific enthalpy given up by said greater stream, to lead the vapor of said lesser stream, supplied via a cspgd suction flow inlet to said cfc conjoined flow discharge, and consequently, to increase the pressure energy or head of the vapor of said lesser stream, by compressing said lesser stream, at substantially constant entropy, such that the sub-ambient pressure vapor supplied by said lesser stream condenses, thoroughly mixing together with said greater stream, distributing much of said lesser stream's latent heat of vaporization to said greater stream, to form a super-ambient pressure, super-ambient temperature liquid, or low quality saturated mixture, thus said cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device combines an mfc working fluid liquid flow with an sfc working fluid vapor flow to produce a cfc working fluid liquid flow, or low quality saturated mixture flow, heated effluent; k. leading said cfc working fluid liquid flow, or low quality saturated mixture flow, heated effluent leaving said cspgd conjoined flow discharge to a cfc super-ambient temperature heat source; l. flowing within said cfc super-ambient temperature heat source, said cfc working fluid liquid flow, or low quality saturated mixture flow, heated effluent supplies heat to an incorporated heat engine flow circuit, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices, substantially cooling the working fluid, while simultaneously, decreasing its pressure, at substantially constant entropy; m. leading the substantially cooled, ambient temperature liquid of said cfc working fluid leaving said cfc super-ambient temperature heat source to said cfc flow divider, thus said cfc working fluid is returned to said ambient conditions datum; n. leading a lesser stream of said two unequal streams leaving said cfc flow divider to an sfc fluid flow-regulating device; o. regulating the flow of said lesser stream, said sfc fluid flow-regulating device automatically acts to maintain an adjustable, substantially constant fluid flow, within said suction flow circuit; p. leading said lesser stream leaving said sfc fluid flow-regulating device to an sfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device; q. flowing through said sfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device, said lesser stream rejects excess sensible heat to a heat source flow circuit, thus lowering the temperature of an sfc working fluid, while simultaneously, decreasing its pressure, at substantially constant entropy; r. leading said lesser stream leaving said sfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device to said sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device; s. entering said sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device via an ssftd sfc working fluid inlet; t. leading said lesser stream leaving said ssftd sfc working fluid inlet to an ssftd working fluid discharge, in so doing said lesser stream will expand, at substantially constant entropy, decreasing its pressure energy or head and/or specific enthalpy, and utilizing the pressure energy and/or specific enthalpy given up by said lesser stream, to lead the excess liquid of an shrd working fluid, supplied via an ssftd shrd excess working fluid inlet to said ssftd working fluid discharge, and consequently, to increase the pressure energy or head of said shrd working fluid, by pressurizing said shrd working fluid, at substantially constant entropy, such that the sub-ambient pressure liquid, supplied by said ssftd shrd excess working fluid inlet, thoroughly mixes together with said lesser stream, to form a sub-ambient pressure, sub-ambient temperature, low quality saturated mixture, marginally above the freezing point of an ssftd working fluid discharged from said ssftd working fluid discharge, thus said sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device combines an sfc working fluid liquid flow with an shrd excess working fluid liquid flow to produce a secondary saturated mixture; u. leading said secondary saturated mixture leaving said ssftd working fluid discharge to an sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink; v. flowing within said sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink, said secondary saturated mixture, absorbs heat from said incorporated heat engine flow circuit, at substantially constant temperature, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices, and as it does so the quality of said secondary saturated mixture increases; w. exiting the heat exchange passages of said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device of said sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink, said secondary saturated mixture separates into a secondary vapor component and a secondary liquid component; x. leading said secondary vapor component leaving said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device to an ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device; y. regulating the internal pressure of said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device, said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device automatically acts to maintain an adjustable, substantially constant pressure, which also effectively maintains the internal temperature, at a substantially constant, sub-ambient value; z. leading said secondary vapor component leaving said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device to an sfc heat replenishment device; aa. leading said secondary liquid component leaving said ssths ihefc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device to said sfc heat replenishment device; ab. flowing within an shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device of said sfc heat replenishment device, the sub-ambient temperature, sub-ambient pressure, saturated liquid of said secondary liquid component, discharged from said sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink, absorbs heat from said heat source flow circuit, at a substantially constant temperature, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices, and as it does so, a portion of said secondary liquid component evaporates, thus producing a tertiary saturated mixture; ac. exiting the heat exchange passages of said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device of said sfc heat replenishment device, said tertiary saturated mixture, separates to produce a tertiary vapor component and a tertiary liquid component; ad. leading the excess liquid of said tertiary liquid component leaving said sfc heat replenishment device to said sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device; ae. entering said sfc shrd-ssths fluid transfer device via an ssftd shrd excess working fluid inlet; af. combining at the discharge of said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device of said sfc heat replenishment device, said secondary vapor component and said tertiary vapor component, thoroughly mix together, to produce a homogeneous vapor, thus reforming said lesser stream, as a sub-ambient pressure vapor, marginally above the saturation temperature for the internal pressure of the heat transfer device; ag. leading said homogenous vapor leaving said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device to an shrd hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device; ah. flowing through said shrd hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device, said homogeneous vapor, absorbs heat from said heat source flow circuit, via one, or more indirect heat transfer devices, and as it does so the temperature of said homogeneous vapor increases; ai. leading said homogenous vapor leaving said shrd hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device to a shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device; aj. regulating the internal pressure of said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device, said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device automatically acts to maintain an adjustable, substantially constant pressure, which also effectively maintains the internal temperature, at a substantially constant, sub-ambient value; ak. leading the super-heated vapor of said homogeneous vapor leaving said shrd hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device pressure-regulating device to said cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device; al. entering said cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device via said cspgd suction flow inlet, to supply working fluid in vapor form, to said cfc sub-ambient pressure generating device, thus reuniting said greater stream with said lesser stream; am. interposing said cfc super-ambient temperature heat source and said sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink, said incorporated heat engine flow circuit receives a sustained heat flow from the heat source, driven by the temperature differential between the heat source and the heat sink; an. converting a portion of said sustained heat flow, by utilizing devices such as a pressure expanding device or a thermoelectric device, said incorporated heat engine flow circuit, produces useable mechanical energy and/or electrical energy; ao. rejecting unused waste heat to said sfc sub-ambient temperature heat sink, returning an ihefc working fluid to its initial conditions and starting point, thus said incorporated heat engine flow circuit completes its thermodynamic cycle, and much of that portion of said sustained heat flow that is not converted to useable mechanical energy and/or electrical energy is captured, and is then returned to said cfc super-ambient temperature heat source, for reuse; ap. utilizing the mechanical energy produced by said incorporated heat engine flow circuit, a mechanical load, or loads, is/are driven directly or indirectly via a mechanical output device to perform useful mechanical work, and/or the generation of electrical energy; aq. flowing, an hrfc working fluid enters an hrfc ventilation motive device, wherein its velocity is increased; ar. leading said hrfc working fluid leaving said hrfc ventilation motive device to an hrfc machinery space, and the working fluid is contained within said machinery space by a hermetic envelope formed by the thermally-insulated exterior surfaces of the machinery space; as. absorbing heat, at substantially constant pressure, said hrfc working fluid captures much of the heat that leaks from a warm exterior surfaces of said motive flow circuit, said conjoined flow circuit, said suction flow circuit, said incorporated heat engine flow circuit, said mechanical output device, said heat recovery flow circuit, and said heat source flow circuit; at. having absorbed heat, that portion of said hrfc working fluid in close contact with said warm exterior surfaces experiences a decrease in density, thus producing a buoyant force, causing the working fluid to rise toward the ceiling of said hrfc machinery space; au. collecting the warmed fluid of said hrfc working fluid near the ceiling of said hrfc machinery space an hcdd working fluid inlet leads the working fluid, to one, or more, channels, of an hcdd distribution device; av. distributing an hcdd working fluid, said hcdd distribution device leads said hcdd working fluid, to one, or more, heat generating devices in said hrfc machinery space that require a cooling medium to remain within allowable operating temperature limits; aw. absorbing heat, said hcdd working fluid captures much of the waste heat that leaks out of said heat generating devices in said hrfc machinery space; ax. having absorbed heat while in close contact with said heat generating devices in said hrfc machinery space, said hcdd working fluid experiences a decrease in density, thus producing a buoyant force, causing the working fluid to rise to the upper regions of said hrfc machinery space via an hcdd machinery cooling exhaust collection device; ay. entering an hrfc heat recycling heat transfer device, said hrfc working fluid rejects heat, via an indirect heat transfer device, to an hhrhtd working fluid; az. leading the substantially cooled fluid of said hrfc working fluid leaving said hrfc heat recycling heat transfer device to the inlet of said hrfc ventilation motive device, thus returning said hrfc working fluid to its point of origin; ba. absorbing heat from said hrfc working fluid flowing through an hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling evaporative heat transfer device of an hrfc heat recycling heat transfer device, at substantially constant temperature, said hhrhtd working fluid evaporates to produce a vapor; bb. leading said vapor leaving said hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling evaporative heat transfer device to an hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling condensing heat transfer device; bc. condensing in an hhrhtd heat recycling condensing heat transfer device, said vapor rejects its latent heat of vaporization to said heat source flow circuit; bd. draining out of said hhrhtd heat recycling condensing heat transfer device, the condensed liquid component of said hhrhtd working fluid collects in an hhrhtd working fluid storage device; be. leading said hhrhtd working fluid leaving said hhrhtd working fluid storage device to said hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling evaporative heat transfer device, thus returning said hhrhtd working fluid to its point of origin; bf. flowing, an hsfc working fluid enters an hsfc fluid transfer device; bg. pressurizing, at substantially constant entropy, said hsfc working fluid has both its pressure and temperature elevated, thus increasing the specific enthalpy of the working fluid in said heat source flow circuit; bh. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc fluid transfer device to an hsfc fluid filtering device; bi. filtering, said hsfc working fluid has suspended particulate matter removed as it flows through said hsfc fluid filtering device; bj. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc fluid filtering device to an hsfc fluid import/export device; bk. flowing through said hsfc fluid import/export device, the quantity of working fluid in said heat source flow circuit may be adjusted; bl. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc fluid import/export device to an hsfc heat source heat transfer device; bm. absorbing heat, while simultaneously, at substantially constant entropy, experiencing a decrease in pressure and an increase in temperature, said hsfc working fluid extracts replenishment heat, from one, or more, external heat sources, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices within said hsfc heat source heat transfer device; bn. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc heat source heat transfer device to an hsfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device; bo. absorbing heat, while simultaneously, at substantially constant entropy, experiencing a decrease in pressure and an increase in temperature, said hsfc working fluid extracts excess sensible heat from said sfc working fluid flowing through said sfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices within said hsfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device; bp. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc sfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device to an hsfc hrfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device; bq. absorbing heat, while simultaneously, at substantially constant entropy, experiencing a decrease in pressure and an increase in temperature, said hsfc working fluid extracts latent heat from said hhrhtd working fluid flowing through said hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling condensing heat transfer device, via one, or more, indirect heat transfer devices within said hhrhtd hrfc-hsfc heat recycling condensing heat transfer device; br. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc hrfc-hsfc heat recycling heat transfer device to an hsfc hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device; bs. rejecting heat, while simultaneously, at substantially constant entropy, experiencing a decrease in pressure and a decrease in temperature, said hsfc working fluid supplies super-heat to said lesser stream flowing through said shrd hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device, via one, or more indirect heat transfer devices within said hsfc hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device; bt. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc hsfc-sfc super-heat heat transfer device to an hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device; bu. rejecting heat, while simultaneously, at substantially constant entropy, experiencing a decrease in pressure and a decrease in temperature, said hsfc working fluid supplies latent heat to said secondary liquid component flowing through said hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device, via one, or more indirect heat transfer devices within said hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device; bv. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc hfsc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device to an hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device working fluid discharge temperature-regulating device; bw. regulating the discharge temperature of said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device, said hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device working fluid discharge temperature-regulating device automatically acts to maintain an adjustable, substantially constant temperature, which also effectively regulates the fluid flow rate within said heat source flow circuit; bx. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc hsfc-sfc evaporative heat transfer device working fluid discharge temperature-regulating device to an hsfc fluid return device; by. flowing through said hsfc fluid return device said hsfc working fluid receives any working fluid that may be released by an hssd overpressure relief device, should an overpressure condition warrant such action, said hssd overpressure relief device is interposed between said hsfc fluid import/export device and said hsfc fluid return device; and bt. leading said hsfc working fluid leaving said hsfc fluid return device to said hsfc fluid transfer device, thus returning said hsfc working fluid to its point of origin, whereby a substantial portion of the replenishment heat extracted from an external environmental heat source, or sources, is converted to useable mechanical energy and/or electrical energy, without utilizing an external heat sink, and heat loss is reduced to a minimum due to the substantial portion of waste heat that is recycled by this invention.