A system for high efficiency energy conversion cycle by recycling latent heat of vaporization

Abstract

An electric power generation apparatus (system) and method for high efficiency energy conversion cycle by recycling latent heat of vaporization is disclosed. In one implementation, the present invention enables to achieve an improved efficiency by reducing the amount of waste heat that is rejected into the atmosphere in existing plant cycle designs by creating multiple turbine cycles where the latent heat of vaporization of the first cycle is injected into the input stage of the second cycle and the waste heat (latent heat of vaporization) of the second cycle into the input stage of the third cycle and so on. Only the waste heat of the final cycle is rejected into the atmosphere.

1 . A multi stage electric power generation apparatus with at least two stage latent heat (waste heat) exchange mechanism, the electric power generation apparatus comprising:
 a first stage power cycle comprising a first working fluid, and configured for electric power generation, and thereby generating a turbine exit vapour containing energy of latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation (waste heat);   a second stage power cycle comprising a second working fluid, and configured for electric power generation; WHEREIN   the second working fluid absorbs the latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation (waste heat) generated from the first stage power cycle for electric power generation.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first working fluid is heated to a vapour and the second working fluid is heated to a vapour having an operating temperature and pressure independent of the first working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first stage power cycle comprises:
 a first means configured to pass the first working fluid at a high pressure;   a second means configured to:
 receive the first working fluid at the high pressure; and 
 heat the first working fluid to a high temperature, to generate a heated fluid/vapour; 
   a third and fourth means configured to receive the heated fluid/vapour, and expand it till it drops to a certain temperature and pressure, thereby passing the heated fluid with dropped temperature and pressure to a waste heat exchange mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprises a heat exchanger mechanism, wherein the heat exchanger mechanism is configured to:
 transfer the waste heat generated from the first stage power cycle to the second working fluid in the second stage power cycle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second stage power cycle, comprises:
 a fifth means configured to:
 receive the second working fluid in liquid or vapour form at a high temperature and pressure; and 
 heat the second working fluid in vapour form to the preferred operating temperature; 
   a sixth means configured to:
 receive the heated vapour at the high temperature and pressure, and 
 generate electric power from the vapours which exit the power generation device at a low temperature and pressure and enters another heat exchanger to either transfer its waste heat to a third stage power cycle or ejected to the atmosphere; 
   a seventh means configured to pass the second working fluid at a high pressure;   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein heat exchanger mechanism is configured to:
 receive, during the first stage power cycle, the first working fluid vapours from the fourth means, and cool it till it is converted to liquid form, and pass it to the first means; or   receive, during the second stage power cycle, the second working fluid vapours from the sixth means, and cool it till it is converted to liquid form, and pass it to the seventh means.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all the working fluids are selected from a group of fluids suitable for use as a working fluid and are operated at pressures and temperatures independent of each other and therefore different pressures and temperatures can be used in all stages as required. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein preferably, different working fluids are used for different stages and are physically isolated and cannot mix. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the latent heat of vaporization of the first stage is transferred to the second stage at a pressure and temperature sufficiently high causing a significant increase in temperature and energy content and a phase change from liquid to vapour or supercritical vapour of the second working fluid and in the process the vapour of the first stage is converted to liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the phase change from liquid to vapour or supercritical vapour of the second working fluid is a complete phase change or a partial phase change. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluids are chosen with physical properties allowing for easy transfer of latent heat energy from one stage to the next in the latent heat exchange mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the waste heat exchange mechanism adapted to be used with all heat based power systems even if the final output is some form of non electrical output. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein any of the individual stages are adapted to operate at sub critical, critical, or super critical temperatures and pressures as desired. 
     
     
         14 . A method for generating an electrical power using an electric power generation apparatus with at least two stage power cycle, the method comprising:
 generating, in a first stage power cycle comprising a first working fluid, the electrical power, and a turbine exit vapour containing waste heat (latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation);   generating, in a second stage power cycle comprising a second working fluid, the electrical power generation, and waste heat (latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation); WHEREIN   the second working fluid absorbs the waste heat (latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation) generated from first stage in a heat exchange mechanism for generating electrical power.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprises:
 passing, by a first means, the first working fluid at a high pressure;   receiving, by a second means, the first working fluid at the high pressure;   heating, by the second means the first working fluid to a high temperature;   receiving, by a third means, the heated fluid, and expanding it till it drops to a certain temperature and pressure, thereby passing the heated fluid with dropped temperature and pressure to the second means for reheating the fluid with dropped temperature and pressure, wherein the heated fluid with dropped temperature and pressure is reheated;   generating, by a fourth means, the electrical power from the vapours generated at a high temperature and low or intermediate pressure; and   generating, by a fourth means, a low temperature and pressure exit vapour containing energy of latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprises exchanging, using a heat exchanger mechanism, the latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation generated from the first stage power cycle to the second working fluid in the second stage power cycle, and converts the second working fluid into a heated fluid undergoing phase change or vapour. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprises:
 receiving, using a fifth means, the second working fluid in heated fluid undergoing phase change or vapour form, from the heat exchanger mechanism, at a high temperature and pressure;   heating, using the fifth means, the second working fluid in vapour form to the required temperature;   receiving, using a sixth means, heated vapour at the high temperature and pressure, and generating the electrical power from the vapours generated and exiting the sixth means at a low temperature and pressure, containing a latent heat of vaporization and/or condensation;   passing, using a seventh means, the second working fluid at a high pressure.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprises:
 receiving, using heat exchanger mechanism, during the first stage power cycle, the first working fluid vapours from the fourth means, and cool it till it is converted to liquid form, and pass it to the first means; or   receive, using a heat exchanger mechanism, during the second stage power cycle, the second working fluid vapours from the sixth means, and cool it till it is converted to liquid form, and pass it to the seventh means; and   emitting or transferring to the next stage, using heat exchanger mechanism, the latent heat of vaporization after the second stage power cycle.