Patent ID: 6923000

Claim:
A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising the steps of: transforming thermal energy from a first vapor stream at a first pressure into a usable energy form to produce a first spent stream; transforming thermal energy from a second vapor stream at a second pressure into a usable energy form to produce a second spent stream; separating a first mixed stream into a first liquid stream and the second vapor stream; changing a pressure of the first liquid stream to a pressure of the first spend stream; transferring thermal energy from the first spent stream and the first liquid stream to a first condensed stream and a second condensed stream to form a first heated stream and a second heated stream and a second mixed stream; separating the second mixed stream into a second liquid stream and a third vapor stream; changing a pressure of the second liquid stream to a pressure of the second spent stream and adding the second liquid stream to the second spent stream; transferring thermal energy from the second spent stream to an external coolant stream to form a third condensed stream; changing a pressure of the third condensed stream to a pressure of the third vapor stream and combining the third condensed stream and the third vapor stream to form a third mixed stream; transferring thermal energy from the third mixed stream to an external coolant stream to form a third condensed stream; dividing the third condensed stream into the first and second condensed streams; and changing a pressure of the first condensed stream to the first pressure and a pressure of the second condensed stream to the second pressure.