Cascaded condenser for multi-unit geothermal orc

Abstract

A pair of organic rankine cycle systems are connected in series with the geothermal fluid passing first through an evaporator of the first system and then through an evaporator of the second system before returning to a sink. Similarly, the cooling tower is arranged to provide cooling water to pass first through the condenser in one system and then through the condenser of the other system, to reduce the total flow required and the size of associated cooling hardware.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]This invention relates generally to vapor expansion systems and, more particularly, to additional efficiency improvements to a cascaded organic rankine cycle systems.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002]The well known closed rankine cycle comprises a boiler or evaporator for the evaporation of a motive fluid, a turbine fed with vapor from the boiler to drive the generator or the load, a condenser for condensing exhaust vapors from the turbine and a means such as a pump, for recycling the condensed fluid to the boiler.[0003]Such rankine cycle systems are commonly used for the purpose of generating electrical power that is provided to a power distribution system, or grid, for residential and commercial use across the country. A source of heat to the boiler can be of any form such as fossil fuel, nuclear power, or waste heat from internal combustion engines, for example. Because of recent concerns for the environment, and because of the rapid rise in the price of pe...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The parasitic power cost of this process is proportional to the amount of fluid used and the relation ship of cooling temperatures to the environmental conditions in the case of the cooling tower.

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