Patent ID: 8240149

Claim:
An organic rankine cycle system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature, the organic rankine cycle system comprising: a heat source configured to convey a waste heat fluid; a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source, the heat exchanger comprising: an evaporator configured to receive the waste heat fluid from the heat source and vaporize the working fluid, the evaporator further configured to promote heat exchange between the waste heat fluid and the vaporized working fluid at an elevated temperature and further produce an evaporator outlet flow comprising a lower temperature waste heat fluid; a superheater configured to receive the lower temperature waste heat fluid from the evaporator, the superheater further configured to allow heat exchange between the lower temperature waste heat fluid and a relatively higher temperature working fluid contained in the superheater and further produce a superheater outlet flow comprising an elevated temperature waste heat fluid; and a preheater configured to receive the elevated temperature waste heat fluid from the superheater and allow heat exchange with a relatively lower temperature working fluid in a liquid state contained in the preheater.