A method is provided for utilizing sensible heat energy supplied by a high-temperature heating fluid, employing a multi-component working fluid thermodynamic cycle, wherein a solution rich in a lower boiling component is heated in a vapor generator in counter-current heat exchange with the heating fluid to produce a vapor-fluid mixture which is separated in a rectifier into a lean solution and a vapor mixture; the enthalpy of the vapor mixture is optionally increased in a superheater by counter-current heat exchange with said heating fluid at its highest temperature; the vapor mixture is then expanded thereby to perform the function of the cycle; and the spent vapor mixture is dissolved in said lean solution in an absorber so as to regenerate the rich solution; characterized in that the rich solution leaving the absorber is compressed and divided into a first and second parts; the first part is heated by counter-current heat exchange with said lean solution drawn from the rectifier, whereafter said first part of the rich solution is recycled to the vapor generator; whereas the second part of the rich solution extracts additional heat from the heating fluid leaving the vapor generator, by counter-current heat exchange, and is then fed into the rectifier for counter-current mass and heat exchange with the vapor-liquid mixture formed in the vapor generator.
A method is provided for converting sensible heat energy of a heating fluid supplied by a high-temperature heat source to work, by means of a thermodynamic cycle employing a multi-component working fluid, wherein a "rich solution" having a higher concentration of lower boiling component, or components, is heated in a vapor generator in counter-current heat exchange with the heating fluid to produce a vapor-liquid mixture which is introduced into a lower zone of a rectifier and separated therein into a "lean solution" having a higher concentration of said lower boiling component, or components, and a vapor mixture; the enthalpy of the vapor mixture is increased by passing it through a superheater in counter-current heat exchange with said heating fluid at its highest temperature; the vapor mixture is then expanded in a first turbine to an intermediate pressure level thereby to generate work and subsequently in a second turbine to a low pressure level to generate additional work; the spent vapor mixture is then recycled to an absorber wherein it is dissolved in said lean solution so as to regenerate said rich solution. The cycle is characterized mainly in that a portion of said lean solution emerging from the rectifier, is decompressed, by means of an expansion device, into a so-called flash drum wherein the lean solution separates into a yet leaner solution and a vapor mixture which is expanded in a turbine to produce additional work.
A thermal power generator includes a high heat source pump, and cold working fluid pumps. An evaporator heat exchanges a high heat source fluid and a warmed working fluid. A liquid-vapor separator is connected to the evaporator. A first stage turbine is connected to the liquid-vapor separator. A second stage turbine is connected to the first stage turbine. A heater is connected to the first stage turbine, and receives remaining vapor working fluid, and the cold-working fluid to heat exchange the fluids. A tank stores and mixes the working fluids discharged from the heater, and supplies the stored working fluid to the first cold working fluid pump. A regenerator receives the liquid working fluid from the separator, and the cold working fluid, and forms a regenerated working fluid, and a warmed working fluid discharged to the evaporator. An absorber is connected to the second stage turbine and the regenerator. A reducing valve is located between the absorber and regenerator. A low heat source pump supplies a low heat source fluid to a main condensation tank, to perform a heat exchange to recondense the vapor working fluid. An auxiliary condensation tank receives an absorbed working fluid, the recondensed working fluid, and the low heat source fluid. A storage tank is connected to the auxiliary condensation tank. The cold-working fluid is fed from the storage tank to the heater, regenerator and evaporator, respectively.
The invention is a system for heating hydrocarbon flows with three heat exchangers, wherein the first heat exchanger transfers heat from compressed heated air to a pressurized heat exchange fluid; wherein the second heat exchanger transfers heat from the pressurized heat exchange fluid to a hydrocarbon flow and increases the hydrocarbon flow temperature between 50% and 900%; wherein the third heat exchanger receives the pressurized heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger and cools the fluid using at least one fan located in the third heat exchanger; and the system also has a vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the pressurized heat exchange fluid and at least one pump for transporting fluid through the system.
The invention is a method for operating a heat exchanger in a power plant by pumping a heat exchange fluid around a set of tubes in the first heat exchanger; increasing the heat exchange fluid temperature and cooling the compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third heat exchanger and a vessel; injecting a hydrocarbon flow into the set of tubes in the second heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid into the second heat exchanger transferring heat from the heated heat exchange fluid to the hydrocarbon flow whose temperature increases between 90% and 500%; flowing the cooled heat exchange fluid to the vessel; flowing the heated fluid from the first heat exchanger to a third heat exchanger and cooling the excess heated heat exchange fluid; and using the vessel to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid.
Work is recovered from a first process stream in a high temperature range by heating and vaporizing a condensate-containing mixed component working fluid, expanding the vapor in an expansion turbine to generate work, and condensing the turbine exhaust by indirect heat exchange with a second process stream in a low temperature range to provide the condensate-containing mixed component working fluid. The composition of the working fluid is changed in response to a change in the high temperature range, a change in the low temperature range, or changes in both temperature ranges in order to maintain the efficiency of the work recovery step. The working fluid can be a mixture of ammonia and water. The first and second process streams can be process streams in a combined cycle power generation system or an ammonia synthesis plant.
