Adsorbing heat exchanger

An apparatus and corresponding method for heat exchange. The heat exchange apparatus may include an adsorber device. The adsorber device is configured to draw heat from a first heat reservoir and transfer heat to a first heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the adsorber device by the working fluid. The heat exchanger transfers heat to a second heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include an expansion device fluidly connected to the heat exchanger by the working fluid. The expansion device expands the working fluid, and exchanges heat with a second heat reservoir. The expansion device includes a turbine device for converting at least a part of an exergy of the working fluid during expansion into mechanical work. The heat exchange apparatus may include the adsorber device being fluidly connected to the expansion device by the working fluid.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for drawing heat from a first heat reservoir and a second heat reservoir and transferring heat to a first heat sink and a second heat sink using a working fluid.

Adsorption heat exchange systems, in particular adsorption refrigeration systems, often use solid adsorbent beds to adsorb and desorb an adsorbate depending on the temperature. A basic adsorption refrigeration system can contain four main components: a solid adsorbent bed, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The solid adsorbent bed may desorb a refrigerant when heated and adsorb it when cooled. In this manner, the bed may be regarded as a thermal compressor. The refrigerant vapor is cooled and condensed to liquid in the condenser. The refrigerant condensate then expands to a lower pressure through an expansion device. The low pressure condensate vaporizes in an evaporator by drawing heat from a process medium or a medium to be cooled. When further heating no longer produces desorbed refrigerant from the adsorbent bed, the bed is isolated and allowed to return to the adsorption conditions. When the adsorption conditions are established in the bed, the refrigerant vapor from the evaporator is reintroduced to the bed to complete the cycle.

To ensure a continuous and stable operation, two or more adsorbent beds are used. A cycle time refers to a time for the completion of a full cycle of adsorption and desorption. The heating and cooling steps are reversed when the beds reach the desired upper and lower temperature limits. A cooling efficiency or coefficient of performance (COP) can be described by the ratio of a cooling effect to an energy input. A compactness of the system is reflected by specific cooling power (SCP), which is defined as the ratio of the cooling energy to the cycle time and adsorbent weight.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment of the invention may include a heat exchange apparatus. The heat exchange apparatus may include an adsorber device. The adsorber device adsorbs a working fluid in an adsorption temperature range or desorbs the working fluid in a desorption temperature range. The desorption temperature range is above the adsorption temperature range. The adsorber device is configured to draw heat from a first heat reservoir and transfer heat to a first heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the adsorber device by the working fluid. The heat exchanger transfers heat to a second heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include an expansion device fluidly connected to the heat exchanger by the working fluid. The expansion device expands the working fluid, and exchanges heat with a second heat reservoir. The expansion device includes a turbine device for converting at least a part of an exergy of the working fluid during expansion into mechanical work. The heat exchange apparatus may include the adsorber device being fluidly connected to the expansion device by the working fluid.

An embodiment of the invention may include a heat exchange method. The heat exchange method may adsorb the working fluid. The heat exchange method may desorb the adsorbed working fluid by heating the working fluid using heat from a first heat reservoir. The heat exchange method may cool the desorbed working fluid in a heat exchanger. The heat exchange method may expand and heat the cooled working fluid in an expansion unit. The heat exchange method may convert at least a part of an exergy of the expanding working fluid into a mechanical work.

Similar or functionally similar elements in the figures have been allocated the same reference signs if not otherwise indicated. Elements of the figures are not necessarily to scale and are not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. For clarity and ease of illustration, dimensions of elements may be exaggerated. The detailed description should be consulted for accurate dimensions. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a working fluid, in particular water, can flow between two elements that are fluidly connected to each other. In the following, heat can be transferred between two elements that are thermally coupled to each other. Each of the two elements thermally coupled to each other may contain a process fluid in a fluid circuit. The fluid circuits of the thermally coupled elements can be separated by a solid wall that prevents the process fluids of different fluid circuits from mixing with each other.

In the following, an interconnection of two or more items refer to either one of the items or multiple items.

FIG. 1shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an adsorption heat exchanger10.

The adsorption heat exchanger10contains an adsorber device11, a heat exchanger12and an expansion device13. A fluid line14fluidly connects the adsorber device11, the heat exchanger12and the expansion device13to one another in series. An arrow F indicates a flow direction of a working fluid W. The heat exchanger12is arranged downstream of the adsorber device11. The expansion device13is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger12. An outlet of the expansion device13is connected to an inlet of the adsorber device11, and, as a result, a closed circuit for the working fluid W is provided. Preferably, the working fluid W contains water.

A first heat reservoir1and a first heat sink2are thermally coupled to the adsorber device11. The first heat reservoir1preferably is a heat source and can include or be connected to, for example, a solar thermal collector, hot water storage or waste heat supply. The solar thermal collector can be configured to heat a fluid, e.g. water or oil, by absorbing thermal radiation from the sun. The hot water storage may be adapted to store and feed water at a temperature of 60° C. or above. The waste heat supply can be configured to collect waste heat, i.e. heat dissipated to surroundings, from the adsorption heat exchanger10for a re-use. Preferably, the first heat reservoir1supplies the adsorber device11with heat for the desorption of the working fluid W. For example, the first heat reservoir1allows for a temperature increase to at least 60° C., preferably at least 80° C. and more preferably at least 90° C.

The first heat sink2preferably is a heat sink and can include or be connected to, for example, an ambient water storage tank, a cooling tower, or incoming utility water. Preferably, the first heat sink2supplies the adsorber device11with cooling for the adsorption of the working fluid W. For example, the first heat reservoir1allows for a temperature decrease to at least 55° C., preferably at least 50° C. and more preferably at least 45° C.

The adsorber device11contains an adsorber chamber in which solid adsorbent beds are provided. The adsorbent beds may include zeolites, active carbon or silica. The first heat reservoir1and the first heat sink2may be required to be coupled to the adsorber device11in an alternating manner, since the adsorber device needs to be alternately heated and cooled. For this purpose, the adsorber device may be oscillated or repeatedly moved between the first heat reservoir1and the first heat sink2. Alternatively or additionally, the adsorber device11may have ports that are alternately connected to the first heat reservoir1or to the first heat sink2. InFIG. 1, the first heat reservoir and sink1,2are depicted as being separately coupled to the adsorber device11. It does not exclude that the first heat reservoir and sink1,2use a common fluid path for transferring heat to/from the adsorber device11, and a valve alternately connects the first heat reservoir1and first heat sink2to the adsorber device11.

Heat may be transferred from the first heat reservoir1to the adsorber device11, or to the heat reservoir from12, by conducting a first process fluid, e.g. water, from the first heat reservoir1, or the first heat sink, through the adsorber chamber in a fluid circuit, e.g. a tube. Preferably, a solid wall separates the fluid circuit from the adsorber chamber for preventing the process fluid of the heat reservoir, or heat sink, from mixing with the working fluid W in the adsorber device11. Optionally, the fluid circuit in the adsorber chamber may have one or more curves, branches or windings inside the adsorber chamber for increasing a surface for heat transfer. Optionally, the fluid circuit may contain a plurality of fins for increasing a surface for heat transfer.

A second heat sink4is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger12. The second heat sink4may include a cooling tower, a cooling circuit, a coolant or a cooling system for dissipating heat from the working fluid W. For example, the second heat sink4contains ambient air at 20° C.-60° C.

For example, the heat exchanger12may be formed as a cooling tower. The working fluid W may be conducted in a tube through the cooling tower. The tube may have multiple curves, windings or branches inside the heat exchanger12for increasing a surface for heat transfer. Optionally, a plurality of fins may be attached to the tube. The second heat sink4may be provided by an ambient air. A fan or ventilator device may support a convection of the ambient air through the heat exchanger12.

A second heat reservoir3is thermally coupled to the expansion device13. A temperature of the second heat reservoir3can be below a temperature of the first heat reservoir. In particular, the second heat reservoir3contains a process medium or a medium to be cooled. For example, the temperature of the second heat reservoir3is at most 30° C., preferably at most 20° C. and more preferably at most 12° C.

In particular, the second heat reservoir3may be ambient air to be cooled. A third fluid circuit, for example a tube, may run through the expansion device13. A third process fluid, e.g. water, steam or vapor, may be conducted in the third fluid circuit that transfers heat from the second heat reservoir3to the expansion device13. The third fluid circuit may have multiple curves, windings or branches. Further, a plurality of fins may be attached to the third fluid circuit.

Each of the first and second heat reservoirs1,3as well as the first and second heat sinks2,4may contain a fluid circuit for transferring heat and be thermally coupled to the adsorber device11, heat exchanger12and expansion device13, respectively.

The adsorber device11is configured to adsorb and desorb the working fluid W depending on a temperature in the adsorber device11. Preferably, the adsorber device11adsorbs in an adsorption temperature range TA and desorbs in a desorption temperature range TD, with the adsorption temperature range TA being below the desorption temperature range TD. Due to these adsorption/desorption characteristics of the adsorber device11, the adsorber device11can be employed as a thermal compressor, i.e. that increases a pressure or a density of the working fluid W depending on the temperature.

For example, the desorption temperature range TD can be 60° C. or higher, and the adsorption temperature range TA may lower than 60° C. In particular, an increasing amount of the working fluid W may be adsorbed by the adsorber device11when the temperature is reduced. An increasing amount of the working fluid W may be desorbed by the adsorber device11when the temperature is increased. For example, the adsorber device11can contain one or more adsorbent beds with zeolites, active carbon or silica as adsorbents.

In particular, the adsorber device11is configured to draw heat from the first heat reservoir1, thereby heating and desorbing the working fluid W. Further, the adsorber device can be configured to transfer heat to the first heat sink2, thereby cooling and adsorbing the working fluid W.

The working fluid W, being desorbed by the adsorber device11, flows to the heat exchanger12. The heat exchanger12can be configured to cool the working fluid W by drawing heat from the working fluid W and transferring it to the second heat sink4.

The working fluid W flows along the fluid line14from the heat exchanger12to an expansion device13. The expansion device13is configured to heat or expand the working fluid W. In particular, the expansion device13is further configured to evaporate the working fluid W. The expansion device13contains a turbine device15configured to convert at least a part of an exergy of the working fluid into a mechanical work. Here, the exergy of the working fluid W can refer to an amount of available energy which can be converted to work during a given process. For example, the exergy depends on a temperature gradient, a pressure gradient, volumetric expansion, chemical potential, etc.

For example, at least a part of a kinetic or volumetric energy of the working fluid W is converted to a mechanical work by the turbine device15. At the same time, heat from the second heat reservoir3is transferred to the working fluid W inside the expansion device13, thereby supporting the expansion and heating of the working fluid W. Further, the heat transfer from the second heat reservoir3to the working fluid W may prevent the working fluid W from condensing.

Accordingly, the expansion device13may convert a volumetric, expansion work of the working fluid W to a mechanical work in an isentropic process and transfer heat to the expanding working fluid W in an isothermal process. The expansion device13may thereby be regarded as an isothermal/isentropic expansion engine.

After passing through the expansion device13, a temperature and pressure of the working fluid W can be reduced. For example, the temperature of the working fluid W after the expansion device13may be 1° C.-30° C., preferably 5° C.-20° C.

The working fluid W is then transported from the expansion13to the adsorber device11. In total, a closed circuit for the working fluid W is provided including the adsorber device11, the heat exchanger12and the expansion device13connected to one another in series. The working fluid W can be adsorbed by the adsorber device11in an adsorption temperature range TA.

Optionally, an additional heating circuit may be thermally coupled to the adsorber device11for pre-heating or for increasing a pressure of the adsorber device11and the working fluid W. Further, the additional heating circuit may be thermally coupled to the heat exchanger12and transfer the heat released at the heat exchanger12to the adsorber device11, thereby at least partly a heat dissipation to the second heat sink4.

FIG. 2shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the expansion device13.

For example, the expansion device13has a rotationally symmetrical shape with respect to an axis21. The expansion device13includes a wall22that surrounds a cone-shaped channel23. A diameter D between the axis21and the wall22increases from a fluid inlet23atoward a fluid outlet23b. A cylindrical shaft24extending from the fluid inlet23ato the fluid outlet23bmay be arranged at the center of the channel23. As a result, the channel23has a ring-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis21. A radial expansion, i.e. an expansion perpendicular to the axis21, increases from the fluid inlet23atoward the fluid outlet23b.

The working fluid W passes a plurality of microchannels25before entering the channel23through the fluid inlet23a. The microchannels may have a diameter of 10−7m to 10−3m and be configured to divide the working fluid W into small volumes, thereby increasing a surface of the working fluid W. Additionally, the microchannels25can be attached by heating element configured to heat the working fluid W. The working fluid W can expand toward the fluid outlet23b. In particular, a vapor quality, i.e. a mass fraction of vapor in a vapor-liquid mixture of the working fluid W, increases up to 1 (or 100%) while expanding from the fluid inlet23atoward the fluid outlet23b.

A plurality of rotors26may be attached to the shaft24. The rotors26may be arranged in a plurality of plains perpendicular to the axis21. Further, the planes may be spaced from one another by a constant distance. Each plane may include multiple rotors26arranged in a symmetrical manner with respect to the axis21. For example, one of the planes may include three rotors26that are arranged in an angle of 120° from one another. InFIG. 2, the rotors26are arranged in seven planes. In particular, the rotors26are configured to convert the volumetric work or the kinetic energy of the working fluid W into a mechanical work by being driven by a pressure gradient. The expanding working fluid W may impinge onto the rotors26and thereby propel the shaft24.

A plurality of stators27may be arranged in a plurality of planes perpendicular to the axis21. Each stator may extend from the wall22toward the shaft24. In particular, the stators27are shaped as blades arranged in a flow direction of the working fluid W. At least a part of the stators27may be fluidly connected to an isothermal heat circuit28that thermally couples the second heat reservoir3and the expansion device13to each other. In particular, multiple fins may be attached to at least a part of the plurality of stators27for increasing a surface and a heat exchange between the working fluid W and the isothermal heat circuit28.

The pressure and temperature of the working fluid W may be reduced during the expansion process in the channel23. The isothermal heat circuit28can be configured to transfer heat from the second heat reservoir3to the working fluid W, thereby heating the working fluid W additionally and preventing it from condensing.

For example, the pressure of the working fluid W can be 180 mbar to 220 mbar at the fluid inlet23a. At the fluid outlet23b, the pressure of the working fluid W may be reduced to 1-30 mbar. For example, the temperature of the working fluid W may be reduced from 30° C.-50° C. at the fluid inlet23ato 1° C. to 30° C. at the fluid outlet23b.

As a result, at least a part of the exergy of the working fluid W can be converted into the mechanical work using the expansion device13.

FIG. 3shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an adsorption heat exchanger30. Unless otherwise noted, components fromFIG. 3that are identically numbered to those inFIG. 1retain the same description and meaning as what was set forth inFIG. 1.

The adsorption heat exchanger30contains the adsorber device11, the heat exchanger12, the expansion device13and a valve device31fluidly connected to one another in series by the fluid line14. A flow direction of the working fluid W is indicated by the arrow F. The first heat reservoir1and the first heat sink2are coupled to the adsorber device11. The second heat reservoir3is thermally coupled to the expansion device13. The second heat sink4is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger12.

Preferably, the adsorber device11includes a first absorption unit11aand a second absorption unit11beach containing one or more adsorbent beds for adsorbing and desorbing the working fluid W in the absorption temperature range TA and in the desorption temperature range TD, respectively.

The first adsorption unit11amay be heated by drawing heat from the first heat reservoir1and desorb the working fluid W. The desorbed working fluid W flows toward a first valve31aof the valve device31. The first valve31aconnects the first absorption unit11ato the fluid line14such that the working fluid W desorbed by the first absorption unit11amay flow to the heat exchanger12.

When the desorption by the first adsorption unit11ais completed, the first valve31amay shut the connection between the first absorption unit11a. In the meanwhile, the second adsorption unit11bmay be heated up and desorb the working fluid W. Then the first valve may connect the second absorption unit11bto the fluid line14. As a result, the adsorption heat exchanger30may be continuously operated. Optionally, a valve device between the first and second adsorption units11a,11bmay allow for a heat or mass transfer between the first and second heat adsorption units11a,11b.

The desorbed working fluid W is cooled and in particular condensed in the heat exchanger12and flows to the expansion device13. The isothermal heat circuit28thermally couples the expansion device13and the second heat reservoir3to each other. An expansion work and driving the rotors26of the turbine device15may be an adiabatic process, whereby the thermal coupling of the second heat reservoir3with the expansion device13allows for an isothermal process.

As described above, the turbine device15can be configured to convert at least a part of the exergy of the working fluid W into the mechanical work. Further the turbine device can be configured to couple the mechanical work into a generator device32. The generator device32is configured to convert the mechanical work from the turbine device15into an electrical power.

The second valve31bleads the working fluid W alternately to the first absorption unit11aor to the second absorption unit11b. Preferably, the working fluid W, after passing through the expansion device13, is led to the adsorption unit11a,11bthat has completed a desorption process and is ready for adsorption. Further, the second valve31bmay be configured to connect the fluid line14to the first absorption unit11awhile the first valve31aconnects the second absorption unit11bto the fluid line14, and vice versa.

The adsorption heat exchanger30may further contain a heat valve device33for controlling a thermal coupling of the first heat reservoir1and the first heat sink2to the adsorber device11. The heat valve device33may contain a plurality of heat valves33a-33dconfigured to alternately couple the first heat reservoir1to the first adsorption unit11aor the second adsorption unit11bor the first heat sink2to the first adsorption unit11aor the second adsorption unit11b. For example, the heat valves33a,33bmay thermally couple the first heat reservoir1to the first adsorption unit11afor heating the first adsorption unit11a. At the same time, the first heat sink2may be decoupled, or the heat valves33c,33dmay thermally couple the first heat sink2to the second adsorption unit11bfor cooling. After the desorption process of the first adsorption unit11a, the heat valves33c,33dmay thermally couple the first heat sink2to the first adsorption unit11afor cooling, and the heat valves33a,33bmay thermally couple the first heat reservoir1to the second adsorption unit11bfor heating. The cooling and heating processes can support the adsorption and desorption processes, respectively, by the adsorber device11.

Additionally, the fluid flow F of the working fluid W in the fluid line14and through the devices of the adsorption heat exchanger30may be generated, or at least supported, by one or more pump devices. Moreover, further process fluids may be used for heat transfer between the adsorber device11and the first heat reservoir1or between the heat exchanger12and the second heat sink4. The further process fluids or a process fluid in the isothermal fluid circuit28may be supported by the one or more pump devices. Preferably, the pump devices may be driven at least partly by the electrical power generated by the generator device32.

FIG. 4shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an adsorption heat exchanger40. Unless otherwise noted, components fromFIG. 4that are identically numbered to those inFIG. 3retain the same description and meaning as what was set forth inFIG. 3.

The adsorption heat exchanger40contains the adsorber device11, the heat exchanger12, the expansion device13and the valve device31fluidly connected to one another in series by the fluid line14. The first heat reservoir1and the first heat sink2are thermally coupled to the adsorber device11. In particular, the heat reservoir1may be a heat source. The second heat reservoir3is thermally coupled to the expansion device13. The second heat sink4is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger12.

The expansion device13includes the turbine device15that is configured to convert a part of the exergy of the working fluid W into the mechanical work and transfer it to the generator device32. The generator device32is configured to generate the electrical power from the mechanical work.

The valve device31with the first and second valves31a,31bis configured to alternately connect the first and second adsorption units11a,11bto the fluid line14. The heat valve device33with the first and second heat valves33a,33bis configured to alternately connect the first heat reservoir1or the first heat sink2to the first or second adsorption units11a,11b. The functions and structures of the elements, units and devices of the adsorption heat exchanger40are similar to those of the apparatuses10,30.

In addition, the adsorption heat exchanger40contains a compressor device41configured to adiabatically compress the working fluid W, thereby increasing the temperature of the working fluid W. Here, an adiabatic process does not completely exclude heat transfer between the working fluid W and its surroundings. Further, the adsorption heat exchanger40contains an auxiliary heat exchanger42configured to transfer heat from the working fluid W compressed by the compressor device41to an auxiliary fluid WA, for example water, in an auxiliary fluid line43. The auxiliary fluid line43may be thermally coupled to the adsorber device11, for example, for reducing an amount of heating energy extracted from the heat reservoir1required to reach the desorption temperature range TD.

The compressor device41may be configured to receive at least a part of mechanical work from the turbine device15. For example, the compressor device41and the turbine device15may be connected via a prolongation of the shaft24, thereby utilizing an inertia of the rotating shaft24and the rotors26.

For example, the pressure of the working fluid W can be increased by 30 mbar-70 mbar. The temperature of the working fluid W may be increased by 70° C.-130° C.

The auxiliary heat exchanger42may be configured to heat the auxiliary fluid WA in the fluid line43which transports the heated auxiliary fluid WA to a junction44. At the junction44, heat from the auxiliary fluid WA can be transferred to the adsorber device11. In this manner, the pressure of the working fluid W can be increased to allow for reusing the heat contained in the working fluid W. In addition, the pressure of the desorbed working fluid W can be reduced with respect to the apparatuses10,30. As a result, the amount of the desorbed working fluid W can be increased. Further, the temperature of the working fluid W during the desorption can be increased, thereby reducing a heat input required for driving the adsorber device11, i.e. supporting the first heat reservoir1and reducing an energy input of the adsorption heat exchanger40. Increasing the pressure of the working fluid W further can lead to a higher exergy of the working fluid W in the expansion device13, and therefore a higher power yield at the turbine device15.

FIG. 5shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an adsorption heat exchanger50. Unless otherwise noted, components fromFIG. 5that are identically numbered to those inFIG. 4retain the same description and meaning as what was set forth inFIG. 4.

The adsorption heat exchanger50contains the adsorber device11, the heat exchanger12, the expansion device13and the valve device31fluidly connected to one another in series by the fluid line14. The first heat reservoir1, in particular a heat source, and the first heat sink2are thermally coupled to the adsorber device11. The second heat reservoir3is thermally coupled to the expansion device13. The second heat sink4is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger12.

The expansion device13includes the turbine device15that is configured to convert a part of the exergy of the working fluid W into the mechanical work and transfer it to the generator device32. The generator device32is configured to generate the electrical power from the mechanical work.

The valve device31with the first and second valves31a,31bis configured to alternately connect the first and second adsorption units11a,11bto the fluid line14. The heat valve device33with the first and second heat valves33a,33bis configured to alternately connect the first heat reservoir1or the first heat sink2to the first or second adsorption units11a,11b. The functions and structures of the elements, units and devices of the adsorption heat exchanger50are similar to those of the apparatuses10,30,40.

In addition, the adsorption heat exchanger50contains a compressor heat exchanger51and an auxiliary heat exchanger52that are thermally coupled to each other by an auxiliary fluid circuit53. The compressor heat exchanger51includes a compressor device54configured to compress the working fluid W. Simultaneously, heat from the working fluid W after being compressed is transferred to the auxiliary fluid circuit53which further transfers the heat from the compressor device54to the auxiliary working fluid WA, for example water, in the auxiliary fluid line43. The heat exchange between the auxiliary fluid circuit53and the auxiliary fluid line43may take place inside the auxiliary heat exchanger52. The auxiliary fluid line43is thermally coupled to the adsorber device11as described inFIG. 4.

The compressor device54may be configured to receive at least a part of mechanical work from the turbine device15. For example, the compressor device54and the turbine device15may be connected via a prolongation of the shaft24, thereby utilizing an inertia of the rotating shaft24and the rotors26. The compressor device54is configured to compress the working fluid adiabatically. The compression may be a formed in multiple steps, for example by increasing the pressure of the working fluid W using a plurality of rotating rotors, and heat exchanger units may be arranged between at least two of the compression steps for drawing heat from the adiabatically compressed working fluid W and transferring it to the auxiliary closed circuit53. Accordingly, a heat exchange takes place during the adiabatic compression of the working fluid W, and the heat from the compressed working fluid W can be re-used for increasing an efficiency of the adsorption heat exchanger50.

For example, the pressure of the working fluid can be increased by 40° C.-100° C. during the compression in the compressor device54. The auxiliary working fluid WA may reach a temperature of 100° C.-160° C. after drawing heat from the compressor heat exchanger51. The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable other of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated but fall within the scope of the appended claims.