Closed circuit operating according to a rankine cycle and method using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closed circuit operating according to a Rankine cycle, comprising a circulation and compression pump (12) for a working fluid in liquid form, a heat exchanger (20) swept by a hot source (22) for evaporation of said fluid, expansion means (28) for expanding the fluid in vapour form and a cooling exchanger (32) for condensation of this fluid, traversed by a cooling fluid between an inlet face (38) and an outlet face (40).According to the invention, this circuit comprises thermopiles (44) for capturing and converting (42) the calorific energy coming from cooling exchanger (32) to electric energy and said thermopiles are arranged in the heated cooling fluid stream coming from outlet face (40) of the cooling exchanger.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a closed circuit operating according to a Rankine cycle.[0002]It more particularly relates to such a circuit with a device allowing the calorific energy coming from this circuit to be recovered and converted to another energy.[0003]As it is well known, a Rankine cycle is a closed-circuit thermodynamic cycle whose specific feature is to involve a (liquid / vapour) phase change of a working fluid.[0004]This cycle is generally broken down into a stage wherein the working fluid used, generally water in liquid form, is compressed in an isentropic manner, followed by a stage where this compressed liquid water is heated and vaporized on contact with a source of heat. This water vapour is then expanded, in another stage, in an isentropic manner in an expansion machine, then, in a last stage, this expanded vapour is cooled and condensed on contact with a cold source.[0005]To carry out these various stages, the circuit comprises a com...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The major drawback of this device is that a great temperature difference is required for this conversion to be achieved.

The temperature and the pressure of the water vapour at the condenser inlet therefore have to be raised, but to the detriment of the efficiency of the steam turbine this power plant is provided with.

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