Patent CZ-302037-B6 (CZ)
Title: Process for producing electrical energy and apparatus for making the same
Inventor: ZERZANEK JAROMIR
IPC: F01K21/00
Filed: 2004-04-06
Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing electrical energy from heat of environment or from heat of any other source with low-temperature potential thermal energy, for example from heat of solar collectors, atmospheric air, water, soil or heat of technological processes where thermal energy is withdrawn at temperatures up to +25 degC. Head off-take from a low-temperature source is carried out within a generator (1) and namely by expelling carbon dioxide from a rich sorbent. Subsequently, carbon dioxide being in the form of superheated steam drives a first turbine (30) provided with a first electric generator (33) for producing electrical energy. After expansion downstream the first turbine, carbon dioxide is aftercooled in an ejector (21) and dissolved in an absorber (2) in a lean sorbent to thereby forming a rich sorbent. The rich sorbent is technologically aftercooled and then it is transported by a pump (52) via heat exchangers (13, 22) into the expeller (1) wherein absorption heat and a heat of external source are regenerative added back thereto in said heat exchangers (13, 22). The expelled carbon dioxide under working pressure and temperature of about +20 degC enters again the first turbine (30) closing thus working cycle. After leaving the expeller (1), the lean sorbent transfers heat to the rich sorbent and can also transfer pressure energy on a second turbine (42). Further, the lean sorbent participates through the mediation of the ejector (21) in aftercooling of carbon dioxide. Apparatus for generating electrical energy comprises an absorber, an expeller and at least one turbine driving an electric generator. The expeller (1) is connected with the absorber (2) through a distribution system (4) of a lean sorbent, a distribution system (5) of a rich sorbent and a distribution system (3) of carbon dioxide. The expeller (1) comprises a first heat exchanger (12) and a second heat exchanger (13). The first heat exchanger (12) is located on side adjacent the expeller (1) connection to the carbon dioxide distribution system (3) and the connection of rich sorbent distribution system (5). The second heat exchanger (13) is situated on side contiguous to the connection of the lean sorbent distribution system (4). A first absorber heat exchanger (22) forms part of the absorber (2), which is situated on side contiguous to the connection of the absorber (2) to the carbon dioxide distribution system (3) and to the connection of the absorber (2) to the lean sorbent distribution system (4), whereby at the same time the first heat exchanger (12) of the expeller (1) is provided with supply (121) of heat transferring medium of external environment and discharge (122) of the heat transferring medium into the external environment. A first turbine (30) for driving a first electric generator (33) is incorporated in said carbon dioxide distribution system (3), wherein said first turbine (30) inlet piping (31) is connected to the expeller (1) while the outlet piping (32) thereof is connected to the absorber (2). Said rich sorbent distribution system (5) is divided in the direction toward the expeller (1) into a branch of a rich sorbent first fraction and a branch of a rich sorbent second fraction. Said branch of the rich sorbent first fraction comprises a rich sorbent fourth pining (57) and a rich sorbent sixth piping (59) while said absorber first heat exchanger (22) is connected therebetween. Outlet side of said sixth piping (59) is connected with a first inlet (111) of the expeller (1). Said branch of the rich sorbent second fraction comprises a rich sorbent third piping (56) and a rich sorbent fifth piping (58), while the second heat exchanger (13) of the expeller (1) is connected therebetween. Outlet side of said fifth piping (58) is connected with a second inlet (112) of the expeller (1) and at the same time the inlet side of the rich sorbent fourth piping (57) and the inlet side of the rich sorbent third piping (56) are connected via a flow regulating element (55), preferably a three-way control valve, with said absorber (2) outlet.