Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of converting heat energy to mechanical energy comprising: vaporizing a power fluid containing two or more substances in a heat exchanger supplied with a hot fluid; expanding said vaporized power fluid into a two-phase region in an expander so that one or more of the substances in the power fluid are partially or totally condensed at the output of the expander; condensing the power fluid vapor in a condenser; recirculating the condensed power fluid to the heat exchanger.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of converting heat energy to mechanical energy comprising: vaporizing a power fluid containing two or more substances in a heat exchanger supplied with a hot fluid; expanding said vaporized power fluid into a two-phase region in an expander so that one or more of the substances in the power fluid are partially or totally condensed at the output of the expander; condensing the power fluid vapor in a condenser; recirculating the condensed power fluid to the heat exchanger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power fluid composition is selected to maximize the benefits of the expansion into the two-phase region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the power fluid contains at least one substance at its saturation point with respect to the operating temperature and the partial pressure of said substance at the expander inlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the said saturated substance is steam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power fluid mixture is selected to maximize the mechanical energy output of said expander.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said power fluid mixture is selected to minimize the condensing duty of said condenser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said expander can tolerate mist formation in its exhaust outlet without significant loss of expansion efficiency.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of converting heat energy to mechanical energy comprising: means of vaporizing a power fluid, said power fluid contains two or more substances; means of expanding said vaporized power fluid into the two-phase region wherein liquid and vapor are present at the expander outlet; means of condensing the vapor portion of the expanded power fluid and cooling the liquid portion of the expanded power fluid; means of circulating a portion or all of the power fluids to the said vaporizing means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of converting heat energy to mechanical energy comprising: means of vaporizing a power fluid, said power fluid contains two or more substances; means of expanding said vaporized power fluid into the two-phase region wherein liquid and vapor are present at the expander outlet; means of condensing the vapor portion of the expanded power fluid and cooling the liquid portion of the expanded power fluid; means of circulating a portion or all of the power fluids to the said vaporizing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said heat exchange means is a direct contact heat exchanger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said power fluid contains saturated steam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said expansion means is a radial inflow type expander.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said power fluid contains at least one hydrocarbon component and at least one component containing no carbon atoms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said power fluid mixture contains at least one hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative components and at least one component characterized by a higher or lower boiling point than said first component.