Patent US1845008A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5038567A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5038567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and means for using a two-phase fluid for generating power in a rankine cycle power plant
Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-29
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for using a two-phase fluid includes separating the fluid into its two phases, oen of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; converting sensible heat in the liquid to sensible heat in a working fluid for producing preheated working fluid; and transferring latent heat in the gas to the preheated working fluid for vaporizing the same at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Alex Mortiz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:10
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/20; F03; F03G; F03G4/00; F03G4/074; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for using a two-phase fluid comprising the steps of: a) separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; b) transferring sensible heat in the hot liquid to sensible heat in a liquid working fluid for producing only preheated liquid working fluid; and c) transferring latent heat in the hot gas to the preheated liquid working fluid for vaporizing the working fluid at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for using a two-phase fluid comprising the steps of: a) separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy in the form of latent heat, and one of which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; b) transferring sensible heat in the hot liquid to sensible heat in a liquid working fluid for producing only preheated liquid working fluid; and c) transferring latent heat in the hot gas to the preheated liquid working fluid for vaporizing the working fluid at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the two-phase fluid is water dominated geothermal fluid, one phase of which is hot water, and the other phase of which is steam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the working fluid is an organic fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 3 including the steps of expanding the vaporized working fluid in a heat engine to obtain work and heat-depleted working fluid, condensing the heat-depleted working fluid to produce condensed working fluid, and using the condensed working fluid to provide said working fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transferring heat in the steam to the working fluid produces heat-depleted steam, and wherein the method further includes transferring heat in the heat-depleted steam to the working fluid for preheating the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of passing steam condensate, produced when the geothermal steam passes through said vaporizer, through said preheater.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for using a two-phase fluid in a Rankine cycle power plant of the type having a vaporizer for vaporizing a working fluid, a heat engine responsive to vaporized working fluid for producing work and heat-depleted working fluid, and a condenser for condensing the heat-depleted working fluid and producing condensate that is returned to the vaporizer as a liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a) separating the two-phase fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas that contains latent heat that is released when the gas condenses into a condensate, and one of which is a hot liquid that contains sensible heat; b) passing said gas through the vaporizer wherein the gas condenses thereby releasing latent heat to the working fluid in the vaporizer causing the working fluid to vaporize at a substantially constant temperature and pressure; and c) passing said hot liquid through a preheater interposed between the condenser and the vaporizer for preheating said condensate before it is returned to the vaporizer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for using a two-phase fluid in a Rankine cycle power plant of the type having a vaporizer for vaporizing a working fluid, a heat engine responsive to vaporized working fluid for producing work and heat-depleted working fluid, and a condenser for condensing the heat-depleted working fluid and producing condensate that is returned to the vaporizer as a liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a) separating the two-phase fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas that contains latent heat that is released when the gas condenses into a condensate, and one of which is a hot liquid that contains sensible heat; b) passing said gas through the vaporizer wherein the gas condenses thereby releasing latent heat to the working fluid in the vaporizer causing the working fluid to vaporize at a substantially constant temperature and pressure; and c) passing said hot liquid through a preheater interposed between the condenser and the vaporizer for preheating said condensate before it is returned to the vaporizer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the two-phase fluid is geothermal fluid obtained from a production well, the geothermal fluid having a liquid phase in the form of hot geothermal water, and a vapor phase in the form of geothermal steam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the steam condensate produced when the geothermal steam passes through the vaporizer, and the geothermal water that passes through the preheater, are disposed of by injection into a rejection well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for use with a hot two-phase fluid, comprising: a) a separator for separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy, in the form of latent heat, and the other which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; b) a working fluid; first means receiving said working fluid in liquid state for transferring sensible heat into the liquid working fluid thereby producing preheated liquid working fluid; and d) second means receiving said preheated liquid working fluid for transferring latent heat in the hot gas to the preheated liquid working fluid, said second means being constructed and arranged so that said working fluid is vaporized at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for use with a hot two-phase fluid, comprising: a) a separator for separating the fluid into its two phases, one of which is a hot gas containing energy, in the form of latent heat, and the other which is a hot liquid containing energy in the form of sensible heat; b) a working fluid; first means receiving said working fluid in liquid state for transferring sensible heat into the liquid working fluid thereby producing preheated liquid working fluid; and d) second means receiving said preheated liquid working fluid for transferring latent heat in the hot gas to the preheated liquid working fluid, said second means being constructed and arranged so that said working fluid is vaporized at substantially constant temperature and pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second means produces heat-depleted gas, and wherein means are provided for applying said heat-depleted gas to said second means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first means produces heat-depleted liquid and said second means produces heat-depleted gas, and wherein the heat-depleted fluids are disposed of.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including a heat engine responsive to vaporized working fluid for converting some of the heat therein into work and producing heat-depleted working fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a condenser for condensing the heat depleted working fluid to a liquid that is supplied to said first means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said two phase fluid is a water dominated geothermal fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second means is a vaporizer responsive to said hot gas for transferring latent heat in the gas to the working fluid thereby vaporizing the same.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said heat engine is a turbine responsive to vaporized working fluid produced by said vaporizer for producing .work and heat-depleted working fluid; said apparatus also including a condenser responsive to said heat-depleted working fluid for condensing the latter and producing working fluid condensate; and said first means is a preheater for receiving said condensate, and responsive to said hot liquid for transferring heat therefrom to the condensate and producing preheated working fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said two-phase fluid is a water dominated geothermal-fluid that has a liquid phase in the form of hot water and a vapor phase in the form of steam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said condenser is air cooled.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said condenser is water cooled.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said vaporizer includes means for venting noncondensable gases from the vaporizer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 in combination with a production well that produces a geothermal fluid, a rejection well for receiving rejected geothermal fluid, means for injecting into the rejection well said noncondensable gases vented from the vaporizer, and fluid exhausted from the vaporizer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 including means for applying condensate, produced from said hot gas as the hot gas passes through the vaporizer, to the preheater.
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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) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |