RANKINE SYSTEM WITH GRAVITY-DRIVEN PUMP

摘要

A gravity-driven pumping unit has an inlet valve connected to a condenser, an outlet valve connected to a boiler, and a staging zone between the inlet and outlet valves. The inlet valve, the outlet valve, the liquid line and entire path established between the condenser and boiler are oriented, sized and shaped to allow for the vapor refrigerant to freely move upward from the boiler to the condenser and to allow for the liquid refrigerant to freely drain downwards from the condenser to the boiler by gravity. A control system opens and closes the inlet and outlet valves in a proper sequence, which enables gravity-driven movement of liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the staging zone and then from the staging zone to the boiler, against a positive pressure differential between the boiler and condenser.