Patent ID: 8176724

Claim:
A method of extracting heat from a hot gas to generate electricity using atmospheric air as a working fluid, comprising the steps of: directing atmospheric air, to be used as working fluid, to the inlet of a compressor; pressuring said gaseous working fluid in said compressor; lowering the temperature by evaporative cooling, and increasing the volume, of said working fluid by spraying water into said working fluid; heating said working fluid with added water in a recuperator; lowering the temperature by evaporative cooling, and further increasing the volume of, said working fluid which has been heated in said recuperator by spraying water into said working fluid; heating said working fluid which has been heated in said recuperator and into which water has been added following said heating in said recuperator in a heater, said heater comprising a heat exchanger using said hot gas that supplies heat to said working fluid and arranged in counter-flow to said working fluid; wherein said hot gas is generated by combustion of a solid fuel in a three-chambered combustor, using a portion of said low-pressure working fluid with added vaporized water emerging from said recuperator to supply heat and/or combustion air to each chamber of said three-chambered combustor; adding solid fuel to a first chamber of said three-chambered combustor; adjusting the amount of said portion of low-pressure working fluid introduced into said first chamber in accordance with the energy output demands of the system, and at least partially combusting or pyrolizing said solid fuel; conducting the partially combusted gaseous products from said first chamber into the second chamber of said three-chambered combustor; adjusting the amount of said portion of low-pressure working fluid introduced into said second chamber to maintain an optimum temperature of combustion; conducting the combustion products from said second chamber into the third chamber of said three-chambered combustor; adjusting the amount of said portion of low-pressure working fluid introduced into said third chamber to maintain the maximum allowable temperature consistent with equipment specification; expanding said working fluid which has been heated in said heater by combustion of a solid fuel in said three-chambered combustor by expansion through a turbine, and using the work of said turbine to generate electricity; cooling the low-pressure working fluid emerging from said turbine in said recuperator, which is arranged in counter-flow to said high-pressure working fluid from said compressor; releasing said working fluid with added vaporized water to the atmosphere.