Supercritical Fluids, Systems and Methods for Use

Abstract

A supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species. The proportion of carbon dioxide to the at least one disorder-inducing species in the supercritical fluid may be sufficient to induce disorder in the fluid. Power generation systems and thermal energy storage systems configured to use the supercritical fluid are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a circulatory fluid flow path having:   (a) a compressor configured to accept a working fluid and increase the pressure of the working fluid, wherein said working fluid is a supercritical fluid mixture comprising carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species;   (b) a heat exchanger downstream of the compressor, said heat exchanger adapted to accept said working fluid from said compressor and provide heat to said working fluid; and   (c) a power generator downstream of the heat exchanger, said power generator adapted to generate power upon the flow of said working fluid through said power generator, and direct said working fluid to said compressor,
 wherein said system:
 (i) circulates said working fluid along said circulatory fluid flow path, and 
 (ii) increases the pressure and/or temperature of said working fluid to above the critical pressure and critical temperature of said working fluid. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an another circulatory fluid flow path for circulating an another working fluid, said another fluid flow path comprising:
 (a) an another heat exchanger for providing energy to said another working fluid;   (b) a pump downstream of said another heat exchanger, said pump adapted to accept an another working fluid and increase the pressure of said another working fluid; and   (c) said heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger accepts said another working fluid and transfers energy from said another working fluid to said working fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an energy source in thermal communication with said another heat exchanger, wherein said energy source provides energy to said another heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said energy source is a combustion system, nuclear reactor or solar concentrator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said another working fluid comprises a supercritical fluid mixture comprising carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising (d) an another heat exchanger downstream of said power generator, said another heat exchanger adapted to (i) accept said working fluid from said power generator, (ii) remove heat from said working fluid and (iii) direct said working fluid to said compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one disorder-inducing species is selected from the group consisting of an alkane, alkene, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether, ester, water, fluorinated hydrocarbons, nitromethane, aromatic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said compressor increases the pressure of the working fluid at or above a critical pressure of the working fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger increases the temperature of the working fluid at or above a critical temperature of the working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a circulatory fluid flow path having:   (a) a first heat exchanger adapted to accept a working fluid and provide energy to said working fluid, wherein said working fluid is a supercritical fluid mixture comprising carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species;   (b) a pump downstream of said first heat exchanger, wherein said pump accepts said working fluid from said first heat exchanger and increases the pressure of said working fluid; and   (c) a second heat exchanger downstream of said pump, said second heat exchanger adapted to accept said working fluid from said pump and transfer energy from said working fluid to a secondary fluid,
 wherein said system circulates said working fluid along said circulatory fluid flow path. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an energy source in thermal communication with said first heat exchanger, wherein said energy source provides energy to said first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said energy source is a combustion system, nuclear reactor of solar concentrator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said system maintains the pressure and temperature of said working fluid at a supercritical pressure and supercritical temperature, respectively, of said working fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one disorder-inducing species is selected from the group consisting of an alkane, alkene, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether, ester, water, fluorinated hydrocarbons, nitromethane, aromatic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         15 . A thermal energy storage fluid, comprising carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species, wherein the proportion of carbon dioxide to said at least one disorder-inducing species in said thermal energy storage fluid is sufficient to induce disorder in said thermal energy storage fluid at or above a critical point of said thermal energy storage fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal energy storage fluid of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one disorder-inducing species is selected from the group consisting of an alkane, alkene, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether, ester, water, fluorinated hydrocarbons, nitromethane, aromatic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal energy storage fluid of  claim 15 , wherein said thermal energy storage fluid has a heat capacity of at least about 25 KJ/Kg*K. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal energy storage fluid of  claim 15 , wherein said proportion is at least about 0.5:1. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal energy storage fluid of  claim 15 , wherein said proportion is at least about 1:1. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal energy storage fluid of  claim 15 , wherein said proportion is at least about 2:1. 
     
     
         21 . A method for forming a thermal energy storage fluid, comprising providing a fluid mixture having carbon dioxide and at least one disorder-inducing species in a vessel at a proportion of carbon dioxide to said at least one disorder-inducing species that is selected to induce disorder in said thermal energy storage fluid at or above a critical point of said thermal energy storage fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one disorder-inducing species is selected from the group consisting of an alkane, alkene, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether, ester, water, fluorinated hydrocarbons, nitromethane, aromatic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said thermal energy storage fluid has a heat capacity of at least about 25 KJ/Kg*K. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said proportion is at least about 0.5:1. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said proportion is at least about 1:1. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said proportion is at least about 2:1.