Rankine cycle multicomponent working fluid heated by geothermal liquid and condensing geothermal steam

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 comprising superheating the liquid working stream following evaporation using 15 heat produced by cooling geothermal liquid to form the gaseous working stream.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein the difference between the boiling temperature of the second substream and the temperature of the geothermal liquid is greater than the difference between the boiling temperature of 5 the first substream and the temperature of the condensed spent working stream.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of: expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal 10 stream; condensing the spent geothermal stream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and combining the spent geothermal stream with the geothermal liquid. 15

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of: expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; dividing the spent geothermal stream into first 20 and second geothermal substreams; condensing the first geothermal substream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; combining the first geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid; 25 expanding the second geothermal substream, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal substream; condensing the spent geothermal substream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and 30 combining the spent geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid. 264 - 16 -

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 wherein the difference between the boiling temperature of the second substream and the temperature of the geothermal liquid is greater than the difference between the boiling temperature of the first substream and the temperature of the condensed 30 spent working stream. 264 70 - 17 -

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 comprising the steps of: expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; 5 condensing the spent geothermal stream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and combining the spent geothermal stream with the geothermal liquid.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 comprising the steps 10 of: expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; dividing the spent geothermal stream into first 15 and second geothermal substreams; condensing the first geothermal substream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; combining the first geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid; 20 expanding the second geothermal substream, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal substream; condensing the spent geothermal substream to heat and partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and 25 combining the spent geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid.

Claim 13

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working stream, 30 transferring its energy into usable form and producing a spent stream; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent stream and for transferring heat from the spent 2647 - 18 - stream to an oncoming multicomponent liquid working stream; a separator for separating geofluid into geothermal liquid and geothermal steam; and a multiplicity of heat exchangers for cooling geothermal liquid and condensing geothermal steam, and for transferring heat from the geothermal liquid and geothermal steam to evaporate the liquid working stream and form the gaseous working stream.

Claim 14

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working stream, 30 transferring its energy into usable form and producing a spent stream; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent stream and for transferring heat from the spent 2647 - 18 - stream to an oncoming multicomponent liquid working stream; a separator for separating geofluid into geothermal liquid and geothermal steam; and a multiplicity of heat exchangers for cooling geothermal liquid and condensing geothermal steam, and for transferring heat from the geothermal liquid and geothermal steam to evaporate the liquid working stream and form the gaseous working stream.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 comprising a heat exchanger for cooling geothermal liquid and transferring heat from the geothermal liquid to superheat the liquid working stream and form the gaseous working stream.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 comprising: a stream separator for dividing the heated liquid working stream into first and second substreams; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent working stream and transferring heat from the spent working stream to partially evaporate the first substream; a heat exchanger for cooling the geothermal liquid and transferring heat from the cooled geothermal liquid to partially evaporate the second substream; and a stream mixer for combining the partially evaporated first and second substreams.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 comprising: means for expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; a heat exchanger for condensing the spent geothermal stream and transferring heat from the spent St 6 4 7 - 19 - geothermal stream to partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and a stream mixer for combining the spent geothermal stream with the geothermal liquid. 5

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 comprising: means for expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; a stream separator for dividing the spent 10 geothermal stream into first and second geothermal streams; a heat exchanger for condensing the first geothermal substream and transferring heat from the first geothermal substream to partially evaporate the liquid 15 working stream; a stream mixer for combining the first geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid; means for expanding the second geothermal substream, transforming its energy into usable form and 20 producing a spent geothermal substream; a heat exchanger for condensing the spent geothermal substream and transferring heat from the spent geothermal substream to partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and 25 a stream mixer for combining the spent geothermal W' substream with the geothermal liquid.

Claim 19

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working stream, 30 transferring its energy into usable form and producing a spent stream; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent stream and for transferring heat from the spent 7

Claim 20

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working stream, 30 transferring its energy into usable form and producing a spent stream; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent stream and for transferring heat from the spent 7

Claim 21

Bf - 20 - stream to an oncoming multicomponent liquid working stream; a separator for separating geofluid into geothermal liquid and geothermal steam; 5 a stream separator for dividing the heated liquid working stream into first and second substreams; a heat exchanger for partially condensing the spent working stream and transferring heat from the spent working stream to partially evaporate the first 10 substream; a heat exchanger for cooling the geothermal liquid and transferring heat from the cooled geothermal liquid to partially evaporate the second substream; a stream mixer for combining the partially 15 evaporated first and second substreams; a multiplicity of heat exchangers for cooling geothermal liquid and condensing geothermal steam, and for transferring heat from the geothermal liquid and geothermal steam to evaporate the liquid working stream; 20 and a heat exchanger for cooling geothermal liquid and transferring heat from the geothermal liquid to superheat the liquid working stream and form the gaseous working stream. 25 17. The apparatus of claim 16 comprising: means for expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; a heat exchanger for condensing the spent 30 geothermal stream and transferring heat from the spent geothermal stream to partially evaporate the liquid working stream; and a stream mixer for combining the spent geothermal stream with the geothermal liquid. 264705 - 21 -

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 comprising: means for expanding geothermal steam, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal stream; 5 a stream separator for dividing the spent geothermal stream into first and second geothermal streams; a heat exchanger for condensing the first geothermal substream and transferring heat from the first 10 geothermal substream to partially evaporate the liquid working stream; a stream mixer for combining the first geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid; means for expanding the second geothermal 15 substream, transforming its energy into usable form and producing a spent geothermal substream; a heat exchanger for condensing the spent geothermal substream and transferring heat from the spent geothermal substream to partially evaporate the liquid 20 working stream; and a stream mixer for combining the spent geothermal substream with the geothermal liquid.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 1 or claim 7 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

Claim 24

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Claim 25

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.