대표
청구항
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1. A system for generating electric power, comprising: a main turboexpander;a condenser coupled to the main turboexpander, for condensing a gas fed from the main turboexpander, to produce a condensed liquid;a thermal pump coupled to the condenser via a liquid pump, wherein the thermal pump comprises: a first channel for receiving the condensed liquid from the condenser through a first valve;a second channel to circulate a portion of the gas from the main turboexpander through a second valve, in heat exchange relationship with the condensed liquid to vapo...
1. A system for generating electric power, comprising: a main turboexpander;a condenser coupled to the main turboexpander, for condensing a gas fed from the main turboexpander, to produce a condensed liquid;a thermal pump coupled to the condenser via a liquid pump, wherein the thermal pump comprises: a first channel for receiving the condensed liquid from the condenser through a first valve;a second channel to circulate a portion of the gas from the main turboexpander through a second valve, in heat exchange relationship with the condensed liquid to vaporize the condensed liquid, at a constant volume of the condensed liquid and generate a pressurized gas;a third channel for discharging a portion of the pressurized gas to a buffer chamber through a check valve; anda fourth channel for discharging a further portion of the pressurized gas through a third valve;an auxiliary turboexpander coupled to the thermal pump via a fourth channel for receiving and expanding the further portion of the pressurized gas; anda first generator coupled to the auxiliary turboexpander, for generating electric power. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to the buffer chamber, for heating the portion of the pressurized gas from the buffer chamber. 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pump coupled to the liquid pump, for receiving a portion of the condensed liquid, pressurizing the portion of the condensed liquid, and feeding a pressurized portion of the condensed liquid to the heat exchanger, wherein a heat exchanger is used to heat the pressurized portion of the condensed liquid to generate a vapor. 4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second generator coupled to the main turboexpander, for generating electric power. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors for sensing temperature of the thermal pump, temperature of the condenser, pressure of the thermal pump, pressure of the buffer chamber, pressure of the condenser, and pressure of the gas in an inlet of the auxiliary turboexpander. 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to control at least one of: the first valve based on a predefined temperature of the thermal pump, and a temperature equilibrium state between the condenser and the thermal pump;the second valve based on the temperature equilibrium state between the condenser and the thermal pump, and a predefined pressure of the thermal pump;the check valve based on the predefined pressure in the thermal pump, and a first pressure equilibrium state between the thermal pump and the buffer chamber; andthe third valve based on the first pressure equilibrium state, and a second pressure equilibrium state between the condenser and an inlet of the auxiliary turboexpander. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a by-pass channel provided with a fourth valve, for bypassing at least some of the further portion of the pressurized gas fed from the thermal pump, wherein the control unit is configured to control the fourth valve. 8. A system for generating electric power, comprising: a buffer chamber;a turboexpander;a generator coupled to the turboexpander and configured to generate electric power; anda plurality of thermal pumps comprising a first thermal pump and a second thermal pump disposed in a series arrangement,wherein the first thermal pump is coupled to a first fluid source, a second fluid source, the second thermal pump, and to the turboexpander, wherein the first thermal pump is configured to:receive a portion of a first fluid from the first fluid source and a portion of a second fluid from the second fluid source, circulate the portion of the second fluid in heat exchange relationship with the portion of the first fluid to heat the portion of the first fluid at a constant volume of the portion of the first fluid and generate a pressurized gas, discharge a portion of the pressurized gas to the second thermal pump until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump, and discharge a further portion of the pressurized gas to the turboexpander until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first fluid source and an inlet of the turboexpander; andwherein the second thermal pump is further coupled to the buffer chamber, the turboexpander, and the second fluid source, wherein the second thermal pump is configured to:receive a further portion of the second fluid from the second fluid source, circulate the further portion of the second fluid in heat exchange relationship with the portion of the pressurized gas to heat the portion of the pressurized gas at a constant volume of the portion of the pressurized gas and generate a heated portion of the pressurized gas, discharge a portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the second thermal pump and the buffer chamber, and discharge a further portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander. 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a compression device for receiving a further portion of the first fluid from the first fluid source, pressurizing the further portion of the first fluid, generating a pressurized portion of the first fluid, and feeding the pressurized portion of the first fluid to the buffer chamber, wherein the further portion of the first fluid comprises a gaseous medium. 10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a pump for receiving a further portion of the first fluid from the first fluid source, pressurizing the further portion of the first fluid, generating a pressurized portion of the first fluid, and feeding the pressurized portion of the first fluid to a heat exchanger, wherein the further portion of the first fluid comprises a liquid medium. 11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a cooling unit coupled to the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump, wherein the cooling unit is configured for cooling the portion of the pressurized gas before feeding to the second thermal pump. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the buffer chamber is used to store the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas and feed the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to a heat exchanger. 13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of sensors for sensing a temperature of the first thermal pump, a temperature of the second thermal pump, a temperature of the first fluid source, a temperature of the pressurized gas, a pressure of the first thermal pump, a pressure of the second thermal pump, a pressure of the buffer chamber, a pressure of the first fluid source, a pressure of the pressurized gas in the inlet of the turboexpander, and a pressure of the heated portion of the pressurized gas in the inlet of the turboexpander respectively. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first thermal pump comprises: a first valve coupled to a first channel and configured to feed the portion of the first fluid through the first channel until a temperature equilibrium state is established between the first thermal pump and the first fluid source;a second valve coupled to a second channel and configured to circulate the portion of the second fluid directly from the second fluid source through the second channel;a check valve coupled to a third channel and configured to discharge the portion of the pressurized gas to the second thermal pump through the third channel; anda third valve coupled to a fourth channel and configured to discharge the further portion of the pressurized gas to the turboexpander through the fourth channel. 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the first valve, the second valve, the third valve, and the check valve, wherein the control unit is configured to control at least one of: the first valve based on a predefined temperature of the first thermal pump and the temperature equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the first thermal pump;the second valve based on the temperature equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the first thermal pump, and a predefined pressure of the first thermal pump;the check valve based on the predefined pressure of the first thermal pump and the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump; andthe third valve based on the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump, the second thermal pump, and the pressure equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second thermal pump comprises: a first valve coupled to a first channel and configured to feed the portion of the pressurized gas through the first channel until a temperature equilibrium state is established between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump;a second valve coupled to a second channel and configured to circulate the further portion of the second fluid directly from the second fluid source through the second channel;a check valve coupled to a third channel and configured to discharge the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to the buffer chamber through the third channel; anda third valve coupled to a fourth channel and configured to discharge the further portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to the turboexpander through the fourth channel. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the first valve, the second valve, the third valve, and the check valve, wherein the control unit is configured to control at least one of: the first valve based on a predefined temperature of the second thermal pump and the temperature equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump;the second valve based on the temperature equilibrium state between the first thermal pump, the second thermal pump, and a predefined pressure of the second thermal pump;the check valve based on the predefined pressure of the second thermal pump and the pressure equilibrium state between the second thermal pump and the buffer chamber; andthe third valve based on the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump, the buffer chamber, and the pressure equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander. 18. A method for generating electric power, comprising: receiving a portion of a first fluid from a first fluid source and a portion of a second fluid from a second fluid source, by a first thermal pump of a plurality of thermal pumps;circulating the portion of the second fluid in heat exchange relationship with the portion of the first fluid to heat the portion of the first fluid at a constant volume of the portion of the first fluid and generate a pressurized gas;discharging a portion of the pressurized gas from the first thermal pump to a second thermal pump of the plurality of thermal pumps, until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump, wherein the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump are disposed in a series arrangement;discharging a further portion of the pressurized gas from the first thermal pump to a turboexpander until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first fluid source and an inlet of the turboexpander;receiving a further portion of the second fluid from the second fluid source by the second thermal pump;circulating the further portion of the second fluid in heat exchange relationship with the portion of the pressurized gas to heat the portion of the pressurized gas at a constant volume of the portion of the pressurized gas and generate a heated portion of the pressurized gas;discharging a portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas from the second thermal pump to a buffer chamber until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the second thermal pump and the buffer chamber;discharging a further portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas from the second thermal pump to the turboexpander until a pressure equilibrium state is established between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander; andexpanding at least one of the further portion of the pressurized gas and the further portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas, in the turboexpander for driving a generator to generate electric power. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a further portion of the first fluid from the first fluid source, pressurizing the further portion of the first fluid, generating a pressurized portion of the first fluid, and feeding the pressurized portion of the first fluid to the buffer chamber, by a compression device, wherein the further portion of the first fluid comprises a gaseous medium. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a further portion of the first fluid from the first fluid source, pressurizing the further portion of the first fluid, generating a pressurized portion of the first fluid, and feeding the pressurized portion of the first fluid to a heat exchanger, by a pump, wherein the further portion of the first fluid comprises a liquid medium. 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising cooling the portion of the pressurized gas before feeding to the second thermal pump, by a cooling unit, wherein the cooling unit is coupled to the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump. 22. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas in the buffer chamber and feeding the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to a heat exchanger. 23. The method of claim 18, further comprising sensing temperature of the first thermal pump, a temperature of the second thermal pump, a temperature of the first fluid source, a temperature of the pressurized gas, a pressure of the first thermal pump, pressure of the second thermal pump, a pressure of the buffer chamber, a pressure of the first fluid source, a pressure of the pressurized gas in the inlet of the turboexpander, and a pressure of the heated portion of the pressurized gas in the inlet of the turboexpander, by using a plurality of sensors respectively. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising controlling at least one of: a first valve based on a predefined temperature of the first thermal pump and a temperature equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the first thermal pump, to feed the portion of the pressurized gas through a first channel;a second valve based on the temperature equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the first thermal pump and a predefined pressure of the first thermal pump, to circulate the portion of the second fluid directly from the second fluid source through a second channel;a check valve based on the predefined pressure in the first thermal pump and the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump, to discharge the portion of the pressurized gas to the second thermal pump through a third channel; anda third valve based on the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump and the pressure equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander, to discharge the further portion of the pressurized gas to the turboexpander through a fourth channel. 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising controlling at least one of: a first valve based on a predefined temperature of the second thermal pump and a temperature equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump, to feed the portion of the pressurized gas through a first channel;a second valve based on the temperature equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the second thermal pump and a predefined pressure of the second thermal pump, to circulate the further portion of the second fluid directly from the second fluid source through a second channel;a check valve based on the predefined pressure in the second thermal pump and the pressure equilibrium state between the second thermal pump and the buffer chamber, to discharge the portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to the buffer chamber through a third channel; anda third valve based on the pressure equilibrium state between the first thermal pump and the buffer chamber and the pressure equilibrium state between the first fluid source and the inlet of the turboexpander, to discharge the further portion of the heated portion of the pressurized gas to the turboexpander through a fourth channel.
