Patent ID: 8250847

Claim:
A power generation system comprising: a first power generator; a first turbine operable to drive the first power generator; a vaporizer operable to vaporize a working fluid, wherein the vaporized working fluid turns the first turbine; a condenser operable to condense the vaporized working fluid exiting the first turbine, wherein the condenser is coupled to the vaporizer such that the condensed working fluid is vaporized in the vaporizer; a second power generator; a second turbine operable to burn a fuel to drive the second power generator; a switch to selectively operate the second turbine independently of the first turbine, wherein operation of the first turbine is independent of operation of the second turbine; and a heat exchanger coupled to the second turbine to receive flue gas from the second turbine when operated, wherein heat is transferred in the heat exchanger from the flue gas to the vaporized working fluid after the vaporized working fluid exits the vaporizer and prior to the vaporized working fluid entering the first turbine; wherein the condenser comprises: a first pump operable to pump cold water from within a body of water to near a surface of the body of water; and a condenser heat exchanger coupled to the first pump and to the first turbine to receive the cold water and the vaporized working fluid, wherein heat is transferred in the condenser heat exchanger from the vaporized working fluid to the cold water to condense the working fluid; and wherein the vaporizer comprises: a vaporizer heat exchanger coupled to the condenser heat exchanger to receive the condensed working fluid; and a second pump operable to pump hot water from the surface of the body of water through the vaporizer heat exchanger such that heat from the hot water is transferred in the vaporizer heat exchanger to the condensed working fluid to vaporize the working fluid.