Claims
- 1. A power generating system, comprising:
a heat source; an incremental vapor generator system operatively associated with said heat source, said incremental vapor generator system comprising:
a first heating section, said first heating section receiving a mixed working fluid and generating a first heated working fluid stream comprising a vapor portion and a liquid portion; a second heating section operatively associated with said first heating section, said second heating section receiving the liquid portion from said first heated working fluid stream, said second heating section generating a second heated working fluid stream comprising a vapor portion; and an energy conversion device operatively associated with said incremental vapor generator system, said energy conversion device converting into useful work heat energy contained in the vapor portions of the first and second heated working fluid streams.
- 2. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:
a condensing system operatively associated with said energy conversion device, said condensing system receiving an exhaust stream from said energy conversion device and condensing the exhaust stream to form a condensed mixed working fluid; and a pump system operatively associated with said condensing system and said incremental vapor generator system, said pump transferring the condensed mixed working fluid from said condensing system to said incremental vapor generator system.
- 3. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising a first separator system having an inlet, a vapor outlet, and a liquid outlet, the inlet of said first separator system being operatively associated with said first heating section, the liquid outlet of said first separator system being operatively associated with said second heating section, said first separator system separating the vapor portion and the liquid portion of said first heated working fluid stream.
- 4. The power generating system of claim 3, further comprising a second separator system having an inlet, a vapor outlet, and a liquid outlet, the inlet of said second separator being operatively associated with said second heating section.
- 5. The power generating system of claim 4, further comprising a vapor mixer having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet of said vapor mixer being operatively associated with the vapor outlet of said first separator system, the second inlet of said vapor mixer being operatively associated with the vapor outlet of said second separator system, the outlet of said vapor mixer being operatively associated with said power conversion system.
- 6. Tile power generating system of claim 5, further comprising a third heating section operatively associated with said heat source, the outlet of said vapor mixer, and said energy conversion device, said third heating section additionally heating the first and second vapor streams.
- 7. The power generating system of claim 4, wherein said first and second separator systems comprise an integral system wherein the vapor portion of said first heated working fluid stream from said first separator system at least partially condenses in said second separator system the liquid portion from said second heated working fluid stream.
- 8. The power generating system of claim 7 further comprising a third heating section operatively associated with said heat source, said integral first and second separator systems, and said energy conversion device, said third heating section additionally heating the first and second vapor streams.
- 9. A method for generating power from a mixed working fluid, comprising:
incrementally heating the mixed working fluid to produce a first vapor stream and a second vapor stream; and converting into useful work heat energy contained in the first and second vapor streams.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of incrementally heating comprises:
heating the mixed working fluid to produce a first heated working fluid stream comprising a vapor portion and a liquid portion; separating the vapor portion and the liquid portions of the first heated working fluid stream, the separated vapor portion forming the first vapor stream; and additionally heating the liquid portion from the first heated working fluid stream to produce the second vapor stream.
- 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising combining the first and second vapor streams into a combined vapor stream.
- 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising additionally heating the combined vapor stream to produce a superheated vapor-stream.
- 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the vapor portion from the first heated working fluid stream to condense on the liquid portion from the second heated working fluid stream and to produce additional portions of the vapor portion from the first heated working fluid stream.
- 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising combining the additional portions of the vapor portion from the first heated working fluid stream and the second vapor streams to form a combined vapor stream.
- 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising additionally heating the combined vapor stream to produce a superheated vapor stream.
- 16. A power generating system, comprising:
a heat source; incremental vapor generating means operatively associated with said heat source for incrementally generating a first vapor stream and a second vapor stream from a mixed working fluid; and power conversion means operatively associated with said incremental vapor generating means for converting into useful work heat energy contained in said first and second vapor streams.
- 17. The power generating system of claim 16, further comprising separator means operatively associated with said incremental vapor generating means for separating the first and second vapor streams from a heated working fluid stream from said incremental vapor generating means.
- 18. The power generating system of claim 17, further comprising means for combining said first vapor stream and said second vapor stream to form a combined vapor stream, the combined vapor stream being directed to said power conversion means.
- 19. The power generating system of claim 17 wherein said separator means comprises means for using a portion of the first vapor stream to condense on a liquid portion from the heated mixed working fluid.
- 20. The power generating system of claim 16, further comprising:
condensing means operatively associated with said power conversion means for condensing a vapor exhaust from said power conversion means into a condensed mixed working fluid; and recirculating means operatively associated with said condensing means for recirculating condensed mixed working fluid to said incremental vapor generating means.
- 21. An incremental vapor generator system for vaporizing a mixed working fluid, comprising:
a first heating section operatively associated with a heat source, said first heating section receiving the mixed working fluid and generating a first heated working fluid stream comprising a vapor portion and a liquid portion; a separator system operatively associated with said first heating section, said separator system separating the vapor portion and the liquid portion of the first heated working fluid stream; and a second heating section operatively associated with the heat source and said separator system, said second heating section receiving the liquid portion from the first heated working fluid stream, said second heating section generating a second heated working fluid stream comprising a vapor portion.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DEAC36-99GO10337 between the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a division of the Midwest Research Institute.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/22773 |
7/19/2001 |
WO |
|