METHOD FOR FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION AND APPLICATIONS TO THE PRODUCTION OF MECHANICAL OR THERMAL ENERGY FROM TWO LOW LEVEL HEAT SOURCES

摘要

A novel fractional distillation process and applications thereof to the production of thermal or mechanical energy from two low level heat sources wherein a mixture of two highly non-ideal reactive solutions such, for example, as of the water/ammonia type, is separated into its water and ammonia components in an apparatus comprising a cascade of condensers and evaporators operating respectively at the temperature of the cold source and at the temperature of the hot source and at staggered pressures. The residue and distillate formed are remixed in a mixing apparatus when it is desired to recover the thermal energy of dilution of the solutions. The invention is applicable, in particular, to the heating of buildings from low level thermal energy and from the thermal energy of "cold wind".