Arrangement for obtaining electrical energy from low temperature heat or waste heat

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for obtaining electrical energy from low temperature or waste heat. The heat energy is then converted into electrical energy. Two heat exchangers ( 1, 2 ) are configured as two pressure vessels and are connected to a gas-pressure machine ( 4 ) built into a pressure vessel ( 3 ). Process gas is introduced into the heat exchangers ( 1, 2 ) at a pressure of 20 to 200 MPa and thereafter, simultaneously, heat is introduced via a flow channel ( 7 ) into the heat exchanger ( 1 ) and the cold is introduced into the heat exchanger ( 2 ) via a flow channel ( 8 ).

1 . An arrangement for obtaining electrical energy from low temperature heat or exhaust heat, the arrangement comprising:
 first and second flow channels;   first and second heat exchangers disposed in corresponding ones of said first and second channels;   a pressure vessel; and,   a gas-pressure machine built into said pressure vessel and being connected to said first and second heat exchangers.   
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second mediums disposed in corresponding ones of said first and second flow channels so as to cause said first and second heat exchangers to be externally surrounded by said first and second mediums, respectively. 
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein said first medium is warm and said second medium is cold. 
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein a process gas is disposed in said first and second heat exchangers and in said gas-pressure machine with said process gas being at a pressure lying in the range of 20 MPa to 200 MPa. 
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein said first medium is a warm medium for imparting heat to said first heat exchanger and said second medium is a cold medium for imparting cold to said second heat exchanger and said second medium is colder than said first medium; and, said pressure vessel is adapted to introduce said process gas into said gas-pressure machine and into said first and second heat exchangers at a pressure lying in the range of 20 to 200 MPa. 
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein said pressure lies in the range of 20 to 50 MPa. 
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric generator driven by said gas-pressure machine. 
   
   
       8 . A method for operating an arrangement for obtaining electrical energy from low temperature heat or exhaust heat, the arrangement including: first and second flow channels; first and second heat exchangers disposed in corresponding ones of said first and second channels; a pressure vessel; a gas-pressure machine built into said pressure vessel and being connected to said first and second heat exchangers; first and second mediums disposed in corresponding ones of said first and second flow channels so as to cause said first and second heat exchangers to be externally surrounded by said first and second mediums, respectively; and, said first medium being a warm medium and said second medium being a cold medium; the method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a process gas into said first and second heat exchangers and into said gas-pressure machine at a pressure in the range of 20 to 200 MPa; and,   then introducing heat from said first medium into said first heat exchanger via said first channel and introducing cold from said second medium into said second heat exchanger via said second channel.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said pressure lies in a range of 20 to 50 MPa.