System and apparatus for conversion of thermal energy into mechanical and electrical power

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of subjecting said first, second, and third streams to multiple distillation operations to generate a liquid working fluid includes subjecting said first, second, and third streams to multiple distillation operations to generate a vapor stream and a liquid stream; mixing the liquid stream with the spent working fluid; and condensing the vapor stream to generate the liquid working fluid.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of subjecting said first, second, and third streams to multiple distillation operations to generate a liquid working fluid includes subjecting said first, second, and third streams to at least two distillation operations.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of subjecting said first, second, and third streams to multiple distillation operations to generate a liquid working fluid includes subjecting said first, second, and third streams to at least three distillation operations.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of subjecting said first, second, and third streams to multiple distillation operations to generate a liquid working fluid includes the steps of: dividing the condensed stream into first and second substreams; increasing the pressure of the first substream to form a first pressurized substream; increasing the pressure of the second substream to form a second pressurized substream, the pressure of the second pressurized substream being greater than the pressure of the first pressurized substream; partially evaporating the first pressurized substream to form a partially evaporated stream; separating the partially evaporated stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; increasing the pressure of the liquid stream to the same level as the second pressurized substream to form a stream having a lower percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream; mixing the vapor stream with a portion of the first pressurized substream to form a composite stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream; condensing the composite stream to form a condensed composite stream; increasing the pressure of the condensed composite stream to a level equal to that of the second pressurized substream to form a pressurized condensed composite stream; and; heating the second pressurized substream and the pressurized condensed composite stream to form, respectively, a stream having the same composition as the condensed stream and a stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream.

Claim 7

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working fluid to transform its energy into useable form and generating a spent stream; a condenser for condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream; means for generating from the condensed stream a first stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream, a second stream having a lower percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream, and a third stream having the same percentage of a low boiling component as is included in the condensed stream; and multiple distillation means for distilling said first, second, and third streams to generate a liquid working fluid; and a boiler for evaporating the liquid working fluid to generate the gaseous working fluid.

Claim 8

Apparatus for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising: means for expanding a gaseous working fluid to transform its energy into useable form and generating a spent stream; a condenser for condensing the spent stream producing a condensed stream; means for generating from the condensed stream a first stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream, a second stream having a lower percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream, and a third stream having the same percentage of a low boiling component as is included in the condensed stream; and multiple distillation means for distilling said first, second, and third streams to generate a liquid working fluid; and a boiler for evaporating the liquid working fluid to generate the gaseous working fluid.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said multiple distillation means comprises means for generating a vapor stream and a liquid stream, and said apparatus further comprises a stream mixer for mixing the liquid stream with the spent working fluid and a condenser for condensing the vapor stream to generate the liquid working fluid.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a stream separator for dividing the condensed stream into first and second substreams; a first pump for increasing the pressure of the first substream to form a first pressurized substream; a second pump for increasing the pressure of the second substream to form a second pressurized substream having a pressure greater than the pressure of the first pressurized substream; a first heat exchanger for partially evaporating the first pressurized substream to form a partially evaporated stream; a separator for separating the partially evaporated stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; a third pump for increasing the pressure of the liquid stream to the same level as the second pressurized substream to form a stream having a lower percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream; a stream mixer for mixing the vapor stream with a portion of the first pressurized substream to form a composite stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream; a second condenser for condensing the composite stream to form a condensed composite stream; a fourth pump for increasing the pressure of the condensed composite stream to a level equal to that of the second pressurized substream to form a pressurized condensed composite stream; and; a second heat exchanger for heating the second pressurized substream and the pressurized condensed composite stream to form, respectively, a stream having the same composition as the condensed stream and a stream having a higher percentage of a low boiling component than is included in the condensed stream.