Heat Engine System with a Supercritical Working Fluid and Processes Thereof

摘要

Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide heat engine systems and methods for generating electricity. In one configuration, a heat engine system contains a working fluid circuit having high and low pressure sides and containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2). The system further contains a power turbine configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, a motor-generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electricity, and a pump configured to circulate the working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The system further contains a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream to the working fluid, a recuperator configured to transfer thermal energy from the low pressure side to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a condenser (e.g., air- or fluid-cooled) configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid within the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit.

主权项

1. A heat engine system for generating electricity, comprising:
a working fluid circuit comprising a working fluid; a power turbine disposed in the working fluid circuit and configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy by a pressure drop in the working fluid; a motor-generator coupled to the power turbine and configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy; a pump coupled to the power turbine and configured to circulate and pressurize the working fluid within the working fluid circuit; a heat exchanger disposed in the working fluid circuit, configured to be fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a heat source stream, and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source stream to the working fluid; and a recuperator fluidly coupled to a condenser in series in the working fluid circuit, the recuperator configured to discharge a first portion of the working fluid to the heat exchanger via the working fluid circuit and configured to discharge a second portion of the working fluid to the condenser via the working fluid circuit, and wherein:
the recuperator is disposed in the working fluid circuit downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger, and is disposed in the working fluid circuit downstream of the power turbine and upstream of the condenser; andthe condenser is disposed in the working fluid circuit downstream of the recuperator and upstream of the pump and configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid.