Environmentally friendly power generation process

Abstract

A new power generation process where thermal energy can be taken from the air, bodies of water or other heat sources and converted to mechanical energy without generating environmentally harmful emissions is disclosed. This process is based on the use of turbo-expanders, compressors, wet working gases and liquid heat sinks. This process does not employ the Rankine cycle; it does not require the use of a boiler, evaporator or condenser. This process can be practiced from a fixed location or while mobile.

1 . A method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy, the steps comprising:
 a) introducing a liquid having a temperature below that of an external heat source into a wet gas compressed by at least one compressor to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at sea level, the output thereof being a liquid-enriched wet gas having a predetermined temperature;   b) introducing said liquid-enriched wet gas into at least one turbo-expander for expanding said liquid-enriched wet gas, the output thereof being mechanical energy and a cooler wet gas having a temperature lower than said predetermined temperature;   c) introducing said cooler wet gas into at least one gas-liquid separator to separate said cooler wet gas into cold liquid and cold wet gas;   d) extracting said cold liquid from said at least one gas-liquid separator and introducing at least a portion thereof into at least one heat exchanger;   e) extracting cold wet gas from said at least one gas-liquid separator and introducing at least a portion thereof into at least one of said at least one compressor, the output thereof being compressed wet gas.   
     
     
         2 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said extracting step (d) is performed with at least one recirculating liquid pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said liquid in said introducing step (a) has a temperature at least approximately −200° F. 
     
     
         4 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said pressure in said introducing step (a) is a pressure at least approximately 200 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said cooler wet gas in said introducing step (b) has a temperature at least approximately −300° F. 
     
     
         6 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of said compressed gas in said extracting step (e) is at least approximately 100 psi less than that in said introducing step (a). 
     
     
         7 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said introducing step (a) is performed at at least two locations downstream of said compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said extracting step (d) is performed at at least two locations downstream of said turbo-expander. 
     
     
         9 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said liquid-enriched wet gas, said cooler wet gas, and said cold wet gas, and compressed gas comprises a noble gas. 
     
     
         10 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said liquid having a predetermined temperature and said cold liquid comprises at least one liquid chosen from the group: isobutene, propene, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the mechanical energy produced in said step (b) is applied to at least one device for generating another type of energy. 
     
     
         12 . The method of converting energy in a fluid to mechanical energy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one turbo-expander, one compressor and one device for producing another type of energy are sealed in a common container to prevent the loss of fluid to the environment.