Device and method for generating steam with a high level of efficiency

Abstract

Steam is produced from a working medium of a steam generator, e.g., a waste heat steam generator, a Kalina steam generator or an ORC steam generator, using a thermal generator mounted upstream from the steam generator. To evaporate the working medium, the steam generator uses a hot heat transmitting medium that is heated in the thermal generator before being supplied to the steam generator, thereby increasing the efficiency of the steam generator. The residual or waste heat of an industrial plant or a geothermal plant using geothermal energy is used, for example, as a heat source for the thermal generator

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 increasing a first temperature of a heat transfer medium in a thermal generator before the heat transfer medium is fed to a heat exchanger in a steam generator;   transferring, after said increasing, thermal energy from the heat transfer medium to an operating medium in the heat exchanger of the steam generator; and   evaporating, in the steam generator, the operating medium of steam.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 increasing a second temperature of an additional heat transfer medium in a residual or waste heat-producing industrial plant by utilizing residual or waste heat; and   feeding the additional heat transfer medium to the thermal generator after said increasing of the temperature of the additional heat transfer medium.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 increasing the temperature of an additional heat transfer medium in a geothermal plant by utilizing geothermal heat; and   feeding the additional heat transfer medium to the thermal generator after said increasing of the temperature of the additional heat transfer medium.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the second temperature of the additional heat transfer medium which is fed to the thermal generator is lower than the first temperature of the heat transfer medium which is fed to the heat exchanger of the steam generator. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second temperature of the additional heat transfer medium which is fed to the thermal generator is lower than the first temperature of the heat transfer medium which is fed to the heat exchanger of the steam generator. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the steam generator is one of a waste heat steam generator, a Kalina steam generator, and an organic Rankine cycle steam generator. 
     
     
         14 . A device supplying a heat transfer medium to a heat exchanger of a steam generator that evaporates an operating medium in the steam generator, comprising:
 a thermal generator increasing a temperature of the heat transfer medium by utilizing thermal energy of an additional heat transfer medium.   
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the temperature of the additional heat transfer medium is increased in a residual or waste heat-producing industrial plant by utilizing the residual or waste heat before the additional heat transfer medium is fed to said thermal generator. 
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the temperature of the additional heat transfer medium is increased in a geothermal plant by utilizing geothermal heat before the additional heat transfer medium is fed to said thermal generator. 
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the steam generator is one of a waste heat steam generator, a Kalina steam generator, and an organic Rankine cycle steam generator.