Patent ID: 8567195

Claim:
A method of deriving efficient air conditioning and electrical power generation in tropical and sub-tropical island and coastal environments, for area-wide air conditioning systems and related electrical generation facilities having a waste heat output, which comprises (a) extracting sea water from substantial ocean depths to obtain low temperature sea water at temperatures not substantially above 47.5° F., (b) directing said low temperature sea water in a first stage through a first heat exchanger, (c) directing a heat transfer fluid from said air conditioning system through said first heat exchanger to be cooled by said low temperature sea water in said first stage, (d) in a subsequent stage, directing sea water heated by and discharged from said first heat exchanger to a subsequent heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of cooling fluid circulating in said subsequent heat exchanger, (e) providing a closed cycle low temperature Organic Rankine Cycle or Kalina Cycle turbine generator including a low temperature evaporator and a low temperature condenser, (f) utilizing waste heat output from said electrical generation facilities to heat a working fluid for said closed cycle turbine generator in said evaporator for driving said turbine generator to generate electrical power, and (g) directing cooling fluid from said subsequent heat exchanger to said condenser for condensing the working fluid of said closed cycle turbine generator.