Patent ID: 8794001

Claim:
A power generation apparatus comprising: an evaporator that evaporates a liquid working medium by heating the working medium using a thermal medium; an expander that expands the gaseous working medium and produces power as a result; a condenser that condenses the gaseous working medium by cooling the working medium using a coolant medium; a pump that circulates the working medium; a closed-loop circulating channel in which said evaporator, said expander, said condenser, and said pump are connected in series; a first on/off valve provided in said circulating channel between said evaporator and said expander; a bypass channel connected between an area in said circulating channel between said evaporator and said first on/off valve and an area between said expander and said condenser; a second on/off valve provided in said bypass channel; a third on/off valve provided in said circulating channel between said pump and said evaporator; and a controller comprising: means for starting said pump, means for stopping said pump, means for closing said first and third on/off valves, and for opening said second on/off valve, upon stopping said pump, means for determining if a predetermined condition has been met after the time of opening said second on/off valve, and means for closing said second on/off valve when the predetermined condition has been met after the time of opening said second on/off valve.