Method and system for generating high pressure steam

Abstract

A method and system of generating high pressure steam from a low pressure low energy steam is described and includes providing providing a low pressure steam source; dividing the source into at least two streams. A first stream driving a turbine/expander coupled to a steam compressor of a steam generator. The steam compressor is fed by the second stream of the low pressure steam source, and the mass flow rate of the first stream is sufficient to raise the pressure of the second stream to a desired pressure. At steady state operating conditions the first and the second stream respectively acts as the driving force for the steam compressor and the inlet feed to the steam compressor generating the high pressure steam. In another embodiment the steam driven generator includes a thermocompressor and may include an organic thermal fluid Rankine cycle.

1 . A method of generating high pressure steam at a desired flowrate and a desired pressure from a low pressure steam source, the method comprising:
 providing the low pressure steam source,   dividing the low pressure steam source into at least a first stream and a second stream,   coupling the first stream to drive a turbine, the turbine linked to and driving a steam compressor of a steam generator, and   feeding the second stream to the steam compressor wherein the steam compressor generating the high pressure steam,   wherein the first stream has a mass flow rate sufficient to raise the pressure of the second stream to the desired pressure, and   wherein at steady-state operating conditions the steam generator the low pressure steam source acts as a driving force and steam input for generating the high pressure steam.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam compressor is at least a two-stage steam compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low pressure steam source may be made up of several low pressure steam sources. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low pressure steam source is produced by a quick-steam boiler. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding water to the high pressure steam to obtain the high pressure steam stream at the desired level of superheat. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the first stream to the turbine comprises
 feeding the first stream to the turbine to drive the compressor.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the first stream to the turbine comprises
 feeding the first stream to an evaporator,   vaporizing a thermal fluid within the evaporator,   feeding the vaporized thermal fluid to the turbine to drive the compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising
 recirculating the thermal fluid to a condenser, condensing the thermal fluid to liquid,   pumping the condensed thermal fluid to the evaporator.   
     
     
         9 . A system for generating a high pressure steam comprising
 a low pressure steam source divided into at least a first stream and a second stream, and   a steam generator comprising   a turbine/expander and   a steam compressor driven by the turbine/expander,   wherein the first stream is coupled to the turbine/expander driving the compressor, and the second stream is the input of the compressor, and   wherein the first stream has a first mass flowrate and second stream has a second mass flowrate, wherein the first mass flowrate is sufficient to raise the steam pressure of the second mass flowrate to that of the high pressure steam.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the steam compressor is at least a two-stage steam compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a quick-steam generator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising several low pressure steam sources connected to the low pressure source. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a water source at the outlet of the high pressure steam compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first stream is coupled to the turbine through an evaporator feeding a vaporized thermal fluid to the turbine to drive the compressor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising
 a thermal fluid condenser connected to the outlet of the turbine,   a pump connected to the condenser returning the thermal fluid to the evaporator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam generator comprises a thermocompressor, using the high pressure steam from the steam compressor as a motive force. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the steam generator comprises a thermocompressor using high pressure steam from the steam compressor as a motive force.