Patent ID: 7010920

Claim:
A method for producing power to drive a load using a working fluid circulating through a system that includes a prime mover having an inlet, an accumulator containing discharge fluid from the prime mover, the method comprising the steps of: expanding a high velocity stream of heated vaporized fluid at relatively high pressure through the prime mover to a lower pressure discharge side of the prime mover where discharge fluid exits the prime mover; vaporizing the discharge fluid by passing the discharge fluid through an expansion device across a pressure differential to a lower pressure than the pressure at the prime mover discharge side; transferring latent heat of condensation from discharge fluid being discharged from the prime mover to the discharge fluid that has passed through the expansion device; heating and vaporizing discharge fluid to which heat has been transferred from fluid being discharged from the prime mover; and returning the heated vaporized fluid to the prime mover inlet.