Patent ID: 8646272

Claim:
A Rankine cycle system for generating electricity, comprising: an evaporator filled with a working fluid heated by heat supplied from a heat source and evaporating the working fluid so as to be converted into a high temperature and high pressure gaseous state; an expander connected to the evaporator and expanding the high-temperature and high-pressure working fluid flowing into the expander; a generator attached to the expander and generating electricity; a condenser directly connected to the expander by a pipe through which the expanded working fluid flows into the condenser, condensing the working fluid by heat-exchange with cooling water transferred from the outside so that the working fluid is converted into a low temperature and low pressure liquid state, and transferring the low temperature and low-pressure working fluid to the evaporator; a first pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first pipe being connected to an outlet of the evaporator; a first switch valve connected to the second end of the first pipe and permitting/interrupting the working fluid flowing from the evaporator to the expander; a second pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second pipe being connected to the first switch valve and the second end of the second pipe being connected to an inlet of the expander; a third pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third pipe being connected to an outlet of the expander and the second end of the third pipe being connected to an inlet of the condenser; a fourth pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fourth pipe being connected to the condenser; a second switch valve connected to the second end of the fourth pipe and equalizing a pressure between the condenser and the evaporator; a fifth pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fifth pipe being connected to the second switch valve and the second end of the fifth pipe being connected to an outlet of the evaporator; a sixth pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the sixth pipe being connected to the condenser; a third switch valve connected to the second end of the sixth pipe and permitting/interrupting the working fluid flowing from the condenser to the evaporator; a seventh pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end of the seventh pipe being connected to the third switch valve and the second end of the seventh pipe being connected to the evaporator; and wherein the condenser is installed at a higher position than a position of the evaporator so that the working fluid flows by gravity into the evaporator.