US4079263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power producing system
Assignee: Japan Kinoko Research Center Foundation
•
Filing: 1975-03-18
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1995-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A power-producing system in which a turbine and generator are hermetically sealed in a housing which can be pressurized to regulate at optimum evaporation conditions of a low-boiling fluid which is circulated through the turbine in a closed cycle including the heat exchanger for vaporizing the fluid and utilizing low thermal power such as solar power, waste heat and terrestrial heat. The cycle also includes, where necessary, a pump which may be received in the hermetically sealed housing and a further heat exchanger acting as a condenser.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:06
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K25/00; F01K25/08; F02; F02G; F02G5/00; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/025; F03G7/0252; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement defined in claim 1, further including a pump for feeding the working fluid in said condenser into said evaporator and enclosed hermetically in said receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being closed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, and means for introducing a gas into said receptacle so as to maintain the pressure therein at a given value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being closed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, and means for introducing a gas into said receptacle so as to maintain the pressure therein at a given value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-buten, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chlorie, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluorethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, and means for controlling the flow of said evaporated working fluid to said turbine in response to a signal derived at the output of said generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-buten, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chlorie, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluorethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, and means for controlling the flow of said evaporated working fluid to said turbine in response to a signal derived at the output of said generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchange interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorofluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said surface of the evaporator in contact with said working fluid comprising a porous layer of a thermally conductive metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchange interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorofluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said surface of the evaporator in contact with said working fluid comprising a porous layer of a thermally conductive metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source being a waste-heat recovery unit of an industrial plant, incinerator or internal combustion engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source being a waste-heat recovery unit of an industrial plant, incinerator or internal combustion engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alchohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source using solar heat, and including a water boiling system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alchohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source using solar heat, and including a water boiling system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source utilizing terrestrial heat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a system for producing electric power including an evaporator for heating a working fluid, a turbine adapted to receive and be driven by the evaporated working fluid, a generator drivingly connected to said turbine for generating electric power and a condenser for cooling the working fluid admitted from said turbine; said evaporator, turbine and said condenser being connected to form a closed loop flow path for the working fluid, the improvement wherein said evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger interface contacted on one surface with said working fluid and on the other surface with a fluid heated by a low thermal energy source, said working fluid being a fluid of a boiling point lower than that of water and being selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane, said turbine and said generator being enclosed hermetically in a tightly closed receptacle, said low thermal energy source utilizing terrestrial heat.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating a power-producing system which comprises a gas turbine, an electrical generator connected to said turbine and driven thereby, and a closed working-fluid cycle connected to said turbine, said cycle including an evaporator ahead of said turbine and a condenser downstream of said turbine, said method comprising the steps of: circulating through said cycle a working fluid selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane; vaporizing said working fluid by heat exchange with a low-temperature thermal-power source selected from the group which consists of solar heat, terrestrial heat and industrial waste heat to produce a vapor; enclosing said turbine and said generator in a hermetically sealed housing; driving said turbine in said hermetically sealed housing with said vaporized working fluid; and condensing said working fluid subsequent to the driving of said turbine therewith.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating a power-producing system which comprises a gas turbine, an electrical generator connected to said turbine and driven thereby, and a closed working-fluid cycle connected to said turbine, said cycle including an evaporator ahead of said turbine and a condenser downstream of said turbine, said method comprising the steps of: circulating through said cycle a working fluid selected from the group which consists of 3-methyl-1-butene, 1,2-butadiene, ethylene oxide, vinyl bromide, azeotropic mixture of ethyl alcohol and dimethylbutane, methyl chloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, dichlorohexafluorobutane and dibromotetrafluoroethane; vaporizing said working fluid by heat exchange with a low-temperature thermal-power source selected from the group which consists of solar heat, terrestrial heat and industrial waste heat to produce a vapor; enclosing said turbine and said generator in a hermetically sealed housing; driving said turbine in said hermetically sealed housing with said vaporized working fluid; and condensing said working fluid subsequent to the driving of said turbine therewith.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of pressurizing said housing with a gas other than vapor of said fluid to establish predetermined operating pressure conditions of said working fluid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |