Combined heat and power cycle system

Abstract

A combined heat and power cycle system includes a heat generation system having at least two separate heat sources having different temperatures. The combined heat and power cycle system includes a first rankine cycle system coupled to a first heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a first working fluid. A second rankine cycle system is coupled to at least one second heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a second working fluid. The first and second working fluids are circulatable in heat exchange relationship through a cascaded heat exchange unit for condensation of the first working fluid in the first rankine cycle system and evaporation of the second working fluid in the second rankine cycle system. At least one heat exchanger is disposed at one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system, second rankine cycle system, or combinations thereof.

1 . A combined heat and power cycle system including at least two integrated rankine cycle systems, the combined heat and power cycle system comprising:
 a heat generation system comprising at least two separate heat sources having different temperatures;   a first rankine cycle system coupled to a first heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a first working fluid; wherein the first rankine system is configured to remove heat from the first heat source;   a second rankine cycle system is coupled to at least one second heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a second working fluid, the at least one second heat source comprising a lower temperature heat source than the first heat source, wherein the second rankine cycle system is configured to remove heat from the at least one second heat source; and   a cascaded heat exchange unit, wherein the first and second working fluids are circulatable in heat exchange relationship through the cascaded heat exchange unit for condensation of the first working fluid in the first rankine cycle system and evaporation of the second working fluid in the second rankine cycle system; and   at least one heat exchanger disposed at one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system; second rankine system, or combinations thereof; wherein the first working fluid, second working fluid, or combinations thereof are circulatable in heat exchange relationship with a third fluid through the at least one heat exchanger for heating the third fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the third fluid comprises water, or water mixed with anti-corrosive agent, or water mixed with anit-freezing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the second working fluid comprises a second organic working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the second organic working fluid comprises propane, butane, pentafluoro-propane, pentafluoro-butane, pentafluoro-polyether, oil, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the second rankine cycle system comprises a condenser coupled to the at least one second heat source selected from a group comprising an oil heat exchanger, an engine jacket, a water jacket heat exchanger, a lower temperature intercooler, a higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises one or more locations between the plurality of second heat sources. 
     
     
         7 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the at least one second heat source and the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         8 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the cascaded heat exchange unit and an expander. 
     
     
         9 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between an expander and the condenser. 
     
     
         10 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the lower temperature intercooler and the higher temperature intercooler are provided respectively to an upstream side and a downstream side of the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         11 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the cascaded heat exchange unit and the high temperature intercooler. 
     
     
         12 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the high temperature intercooler and an expander. 
     
     
         13 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one second heat source is configured to partially evaporate the second working fluid before entering the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         14 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 5 , further comprising a partial evaporator; wherein the condenser is coupled to the oil heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the water jacket heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the lower temperature intercooler, the higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof through the partial evaporator configured to partially evaporate the second working fluid before entering the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         15 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises one or more locations between the partial evaporator and the oil heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the water jacket heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the lower temperature intercooler, the higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the partial evaporator and the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         17 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the second rankine cycle system is configured to remove heat from the first heat source through a third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the cascaded heat exchange unit and the third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more locations in the second rankine cycle system comprises a location between the third heat exchanger and an expander. 
     
     
         20 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the first working fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         21 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the first working fluid comprises a first organic working fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the first organic working fluid comprises cyclohexane, cyclopentane, thiophene, ketones, aromatics, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system comprises a location between an evaporator and an expander. 
     
     
         24 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system comprises a location between an expander and the cascaded heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         25 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is selectively activated and deactivated depending on the amount of heat required for heating the third fluid. 
     
     
         26 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rankine cycle system and the second rankine cycle system are selectively activated and deactivated depending on the amount of power required. 
     
     
         27 . A combined heat and power cycle system including at least two integrated organic rankine cycle systems, the combined heat and power cycle system comprising:
 a combustion engine comprising one heat source comprising an engine exhaust unit; and at least one other heat source selected from a group comprising an oil heat exchanger, an engine jacket, a water jacket heat exchanger, a lower temperature intercooler, a higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof;   a first organic rankine cycle system coupled to the engine exhaust unit and configured to circulate a first organic working fluid; wherein the first organic rankine system is configured to remove heat from the engine exhaust unit;   a second organic rankine cycle system coupled to the at least one other heat source selected from the group comprising the oil heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the water jacket heat exchanger, the lower temperature intercooler, the higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof; and configured to circulate a second organic working fluid, the one heat source comprising a higher temperature heat source than the at least one other heat source, wherein the second organic rankine cycle system is configured to remove heat from the at least one other heat source; and   a cascaded heat exchange unit, wherein the first and second organic working fluids are circulatable in heat exchange relationship through the cascaded heat exchange unit for condensation of the first organic working fluid in the first organic rankine cycle system and evaporation of the second organic working fluid in the second organic rankine cycle system; and   at least one heat exchanger disposed at one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system; second rankine cycle system, or combinations thereof, wherein the first working fluid, second working fluid, or combinations thereof are circulatable in heat exchange relationship with a third fluid through the at least one heat exchanger for heating the third fluid.   
     
     
         28 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the third fluid comprises water, or water mixed with anti-corrosive agent, or water mixed with anti-freezing agent. 
     
     
         29 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the first organic rankine cycle system further comprises an evaporator coupled to the engine exhaust unit. 
     
     
         30 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 29 , wherein the evaporator is coupled to the engine exhaust unit through a thermal oil heat exchanger, an exhaust economizer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system comprises one or more locations between the evaporator and the thermal oil heat exchanger, the exhaust economizer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the second rankine cycle system comprises a condenser coupled to the at least one other heat source selected from the group comprising the oil heat exchanger, the engine jacket, the water jacket heat exchanger, the lower temperature intercooler, the higher temperature intercooler, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is selectively activated and deactivated depending on the amount of heat required for heating the third fluid. 
     
     
         34 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 27 , wherein the first organic rankine cycle system and the second organic rankine cycle system are selectively activated and deactivated depending on the amount of power required. 
     
     
         35 . A combined heat and power cycle system including at least two integrated rankine cycle systems, the combined heat and power cycle system comprising:
 a heat generation system comprising at least two separate heat sources having different temperatures;   a first rankine cycle system coupled to a first heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a first working fluid; wherein the first rankine system is configured to remove heat from the first heat source;   a second rankine cycle system coupled to at least one second heat source among the at least two separate heat sources and configured to circulate a second working fluid, the at least one second heat source comprising a lower temperature heat source than the first heat source, wherein the second rankine cycle system is configured to remove heat from the at least one second heat source; and   a cascaded heat exchange unit, wherein the first and second working fluids are circulatable in heat exchange relationship through the cascaded heat exchange unit for condensation of the first working fluid in the first rankine cycle system and evaporation of the second working fluid in the second rankine cycle system; wherein the second rankine cycle is configured to preheat and/or partially evaporate the second working fluid before entering the cascaded heat exchange unit;   at least one heat exchanger disposed at one or more locations in the first rankine cycle system; second rankine cycle system, or combinations thereof; wherein the first working fluid, second working fluid, or combinations thereof are circulatable in heat exchange relationship with a third fluid through the at least one heat exchanger for heating the third fluid.   
     
     
         36 . The combined heat and power cycle system of  claim 36 , wherein the third fluid comprises water, or water mixed with anit-corrosive agent, or water mixed with anti-freezing agent.