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A method of converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising the steps of providing a liquid working fluid with said thermal energy, substantially adiabatically compressing the working fluid, substantially adiabatically expanding the hot compressed working fluid by flashing to yield sa

A method of converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising the steps of providing a liquid working fluid with said thermal energy, substantially adiabatically compressing the working fluid, substantially adiabatically expanding the hot compressed working fluid by flashing to yield said other energy form in an expansion machine capable of operating with wet working fluid and of progressively drying said fluid during expansion, and condensing the exhaust working fluid from the expansion machine. Apparatus for converting thermal energy into another energy form is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising the steps of substantially adiabatically pressurizing a liquid working fluid, supplying thermal energy to said working fluid, substantially adiabatically expanding the hot working fluid by flashing to yield said other ener

1. A method of converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising the steps of substantially adiabatically pressurizing a liquid working fluid, supplying thermal energy to said working fluid, substantially adiabatically expanding the hot working fluid by flashing to yield said other energy form in an expansion machine capable of operating effectively with wet working fluid and of progressively drying said fluid during expansion, and condensing the exhaust working fluid received from the expansion machine. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein flashing is initiated prior to admission to the expansion machine. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the condensate is recirculated for recompression. 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the working fluid is adiabatically pressurized from a cold saturated state, and heated by heat transfer from a source of thermal energy. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the expansion machine is a rotary vane machine. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the expansion machine is a screw expander. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is an organic or suitable inorganic fluid. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said organic working fluid is selected from the group including refrigerants 11, 12, 21, 30, 113, 114, 115, toluene, thiophene, n-pentane, pyridene, hexafluorobenzene, FC 75, monochlorobenzene and water. 9. A method according to claim 3, wherein said working fluid is a mixture of a liquid, electrically-conducting substance and a volatile liquid and said working fluid is adiabatically expanded in a magneto-hydrodynamic duct. 10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of accelerating said flashing process by inducing turbulence in said working fluid upstream of the inlet of said expansion machine. 11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising adding seeding agents to promote nucleation points for vapour bubbles to form in the fluid upstream of the inlet of the expansion machine. 12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising adding wetting agents to reduce the surface tension of the working fluid and thereby accelerate the rate of flashing. 13. A method according to claim 1, comprising adding lubricants to the working fluid to improve the efficiency of the expansion machine. 14. A method of converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising substantially adiabatically pressurizing an organic working fluid in a cold, saturated state, heating the working fluid by heat transfer from the source of said thermal energy, initially flashing the working fluid and continuing flashing of the wet working fluid in an expander wherein the wet fraction is decreased and whereby shaft power is produced, condensing the exhaust from said expander and returning the condensate to the pressurizing stage. 15. A method of converting thermal energy into another form of energy, comprising the steps of providing a liquid working fluid to be exposed to the source of said thermal energy, substantially adiabatically pressurizing said working fluid in the cold, saturated, state thereof, heating the working fluid by heat transfer from said source at approximately constant pressure substantially to the boiling point of said working fluid, substantially adiabatically expanding the heated working fluid down to the approximate pressure thereof immediately prior to said pressurizing, said working fluid being thereby flashed from the liquid phase to the vapour phase, yielding energy, condensing said working fluid from the vapour phase to the liquid phase thereof and recirculating the condensed working fluid to the commencement of the pressurizing stage. 16. Apparatus for converting thermal energy into another energy form, comprising pump means for substantially adiabatically pressurizing a liquid working fluid, means for supplying said working fluid with said thermal energy, means connecting the pump outlet to said means for supplying thermal energy, expander means for substantially adiabatically expanding the hot working fluid by flashing to yield said other energy form, means connecting the outlet of said energy supply means to said expander means, said expander means being capable of operating with wet working fluid and of progressively drying said working fluid during expansion, and condenser means for condensing the exhaust working fluid from said expander means. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising means for initiating said flashing upstream of the expander means. 18. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising means for recirculating the condensate to the inlet of the pump means. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, comprising heat-exchange means for transferring said thermal energy from a source to the working fluid at a cold, saturated state. 20. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the expander means is a rotary vane machine. 21. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the expander means is a screw expander. 22. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the expander is a magneto-hydrodynamic duct. 23. Apparatus for converting thermal energy into electrical power comprising pump means for adiabatically pressurizing a cold, saturated, organic working fluid and delivering the compressed working fluid to a heat-exchanger, the hot pass of which receives a flow of geothermally or otherwise heated liquid, vapour or gas, a flashing chamber connected to said heat exchanger, wherein the heated working fluid is flashed to a degree such that a minor proportion of the overall expansion ratio is expanded therein, means for connecting said flashing chamber to an expander machine in which the flashing is substantially completed by adiabatic expansion of the working fluid, said expander machine being operable with the working fluid in an at least initially wet state, a condenser for condensing the exhaust from the expander machine and means for returning the condensate to the inlet of the pump means.