Apparatus for efficient fuel to mechanical energy conversion

Abstract

An energy conversion apparatus is disclosed having one or more drive units for driving respective loads, such as an electric motor or a centrifugal compressor. The energy conversion device comprises at least one heat exchange co-flow heat exchanger for heating pre-compressed carbon dioxide to be fed to the drive unit by heat generated by the drive unit itself, and a compression and pumping unit for compressing the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is also supplied by the fluid source auxiliary equipment set.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device that can be used for power generation, the device is based on a thermodynamic cycle, for mechanically driven applications and / or multiple generator sets. The thermodynamic cycle operates by using a fluid (such as carbon dioxide) to transfer the energy generated by the combustion of the fuel. The conversion is efficient. Background Art

[0002] In the field of power generation, fossil fuels are still mainly used. However, it is well known that fossil fuels have the serious disadvantage of producing more carbon dioxide (CO2) and other emissions. This is one of the causes of so-called global warming, which is considered to be potentially dangerous and the cause of natural disasters in the future.

[0003] Currently, alternative energy production systems do not have the capacity to replace fossil fuel combustion, at least in the short term. In particular, electricity production using such alternative methods cannot meet the consumption needs of the evolving population.

[0004] Based on the above, research in the field is striving to improve known electricity production systems based on fossil fuels or biomass in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere while maintaining high energy efficiency.

[0005] Furthermore, the known electricity production systems based on fossil fuels or biomass are costly compared to other systems. In fact, capital expenditures and maintenance costs increase the total production cost per MW. Therefore, the design trend is to achieve the decarbonization of mechanically driven production operations with lower capital expenditures.

[0006] Therefore, an improved fuel to mechanical energy conversion device that can increase efficiency and thus reduce carbon dioxide produced per kilowatt while using the oral carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere would be technically welcome. Summary of the invention

[0007] In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device. The energy conversion device has a fluid feedback line for supplying a fluid (particularly carbon dioxide) and a compression and pumping unit for compressing and increasing the pressure of the fluid feedback line. The energy conversion device also has a plurality of drive units, each of which is connected to drive a related load, such as a compressor or a generator, by burning fuel and expanding the fluid. The energy conversion device includes one or more heat exchange recuperators, which are connected between the fluid feedback line and the drive unit and between each drive unit and the compression and pumping unit. Each heat exchange recuperator is arranged to heat the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line and compressed by the compression and pumping unit by exchanging the heat of the expanded exhaust fluid from the drive unit to feed the drive unit. The energy conversion device also has a fluid source auxiliary device group connected to the compression and pumping unit to recover and supply additional fluid to the fluid feedback line.

[0008] On the other hand, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fluid source auxiliary equipment group including one or more equipment fluid capture units capable of producing fluid and a compressor connected to a fluid derived from an equipment carbon dioxide capture unit and a compression and pumping unit. The compressor is capable of compressing a fluid derived from one or more equipment carbon dioxide capture units. In addition, the fluid source auxiliary equipment group includes an additional source capable of producing fluid and a compressor connected to a fluid derived from an additional source and a compression and pumping unit. The compressor is capable of compressing a fluid derived from an additional source.

[0009] In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to each drive unit including a burner burning a fuel, an expander operatively connected to the burner, and a rotating shaft connected to a load (ie, for example, a compressor or a generator) driven by the expander.

[0010] On the other hand, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to the fact that the compression and pumping unit comprises a separation unit for separating water from the fluid coming from the drive unit after cooling by at least one heat exchange recuperator, a compressor for compressing and increasing the pressure of the dehumidified fluid, a heat exchanger, and a pump for increasing the pressure of the fluid. The pump is inserted between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line.

[0011] In a further aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to an energy conversion device having one or more fluid extraction lines for extracting fluid under pressure. The extraction line may be connected upstream of a fluid feedback line or a pump.

[0012] In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fuel to mechanical energy conversion apparatus having a plurality of drive units, each drive unit being connected to an associated load, wherein the load may be a generator and / or a centrifugal compressor and / or a generator connected to a centrifugal compressor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete appreciation thereof will be readily obtained as the disclosed embodiments of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a fuel to mechanical energy conversion device according to a first embodiment; and

[0015] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an energy conversion device according to a second embodiment;

[0016] In the various figures, similar components will be indicated by the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the field of power generation using fossil fuels, there is a demand to reduce the production of carbon dioxide, which is known to be dangerous. There are some power production layouts that are able to use a transmission fluid to recover heat in order to save energy. The fluid used can be carbon dioxide. According to one aspect, the subject matter relates to a layout of an energy conversion device, which includes a plurality of drive units for driving related loads, all of which operate based on the recovery of heat generated by the combustion of fossil fuels transported by carbon dioxide. Moreover, the energy conversion device is also able to recover carbon from other devices or systems, which are not the case.

[0018] Now referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 A fuel to mechanical energy conversion device, or energy conversion device for short, is shown according to a first embodiment and is indicated as a whole by reference numeral 1 .

[0019] Specifically, the energy conversion device 1 basically includes: a plurality of drive units 2, each of which is connected to a corresponding load, which will be better explained below; a plurality of heat exchange recuperators 3, each of which is connected to a relevant drive unit 2; a compression and pumping unit 4, which is connected to the heat exchange recuperator 3; a fluid or carbon dioxide feedback pipeline 5, which is connected between the output of the compression and pumping unit 4 and the heat exchange recuperator 3; and a carbon dioxide (or any other fluid) source auxiliary equipment group 6.

[0020] Continue to refer Figure 1The energy conversion device 1 specifically includes three driving units, namely a first driving unit 21 , a second driving unit 22 and a third driving unit 23 .

[0021] The first drive unit 21 comprises in particular a burner 211 and an expander 212 connected to the burner 211. The burner 211 has a fuel inlet 214 for introducing the fuel to be burned, an oxidant inlet 215 for introducing additional fluids, namely carbon dioxide and pure oxygen, for the case described, and a fluid inlet 216 for supplying the fluid to be recovered, as further explained below.

[0022] More specifically, with reference to the oxidant inlet 215, the fluid may consist of pure oxygen or a mixture of pure oxygen and carbon dioxide, taken from the described circuit in solution. Pure oxygen is produced using industrially available production methods, for example, ASU - Air Separation Unit or any other available system.

[0023] The rotating shaft 213 is also driven by the expander 212. Each drive unit 2 is capable of converting fuel and carbon dioxide as input to the burner 211 into mechanical energy.

[0024] Still referring to the first drive unit 21, the first drive unit is connected to the motor E, which is connected to the expander 212 via the rotating shaft 213. Then, in this case, the motor E is the load of the first drive unit 21. Therefore, with this configuration, the first drive unit 21 is able to convert the chemical energy obtained by burning the fuel and expanding the carbon dioxide (the fluid used) into electrical energy, possibly introduced into the mains (not shown in the figure).

[0025] Now referring to the second drive unit 22, the second drive unit also includes a burner 221 and an expander 222, but in this case, the second drive unit is connected to a centrifugal compressor C, which is a mechanical load in this case, via an associated rotating shaft 223. Of course, different mechanical loads can be provided according to needs, requirements or circumstances. The expander 222 also has a fuel inlet 224, an oxidant inlet 225 and a fluid inlet 226.

[0026] Likewise, similar to the first drive unit 21 and the second drive unit 22, the third drive unit 23 includes a burner 23 and an expander 232. The expander 232 has a fuel inlet 234, an oxidant inlet 235 and a fluid inlet 236. The fluid expander 232 is connected to another centrifugal compressor C via a rotating shaft 233, which also serves as a mechanical load in this case.

[0027] pass Figure 1 In the layout shown, the energy conversion device 1 drives a generator E to generate electrical energy and drives two mechanical loads, namely a centrifugal compressor C.

[0028] In some embodiments, a gear box may be included between the drive units 21, 22, and 23 and the associated loads connected to the associated rotating shafts 213, 223, and 233. The conversion ratio of the gear box varies according to design requirements.

[0029] In other embodiments, a different number of drive units 2 is foreseeable, depending on the number and type of loads to be driven.

[0030] For each drive unit 2, i.e. the first drive unit 21, the second drive unit 22 and the third drive unit 23, there is an associated heat exchange recuperator 3. Each heat exchange recuperator 3 has a first inlet 31 and a first outlet 32, the first inlet being connected to the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, through which high-pressure, low-temperature carbon dioxide enters each heat exchange recuperator 3, and the first outlet being connected to the burner 211 of the associated drive unit 2, and specifically to the fluid inlet 216, through which the high-pressure and high-temperature carbon dioxide is introduced into the burner of the associated drive unit 2, for example, with reference to the first drive unit 21, is introduced into the burner 211.

[0031] In addition, each heat exchange recuperator 3 has a second inlet 33 and a second outlet 34, the second inlet being connected to the expander of the relevant drive unit 2 via the turbine exhaust stream, for example, referring to the first drive unit 21, connected to the expander 212, at the turbine exhaust stream, where the low-pressure and high-temperature carbon dioxide used as fluid enters the heat exchange recuperator 3, and the second outlet being connected to the compression and pumping system 4 (as further explained below), at which the low-pressure and low-temperature fluid (carbon dioxide) is extracted from the heat exchange recuperator 3.

[0032] The heat exchange recuperator 3 is configured to heat the high pressure (details are given below about the pressure and temperature operating range of the fluid (i.e. carbon dioxide) before being introduced into the drive unit 2 and expanded by combustion of the fuel, so as to drive the load connected thereto, i.e. the generator E or the centrifugal compressor C. The heat exchange recuperator 3 heats the carbon monoxide from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 by means of the heated carbon monoxide of the exhaust stream of the associated drive unit 2. In other words, the heat exchange recuperator 3 cools the fluid (carbon dioxide), transfers its heat to the high pressure fluid from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5, which is then introduced into the drive unit 2.

[0033] The heat exchange recuperator 3 may comprise one or more heat exchangers to allow for improved extraction of heat from the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 .

[0034] Still reference Figure 1It can be seen that the compression and pumping unit 4 is connected between the second outlet 34 of each drive unit 3 and the carbon dioxide feedback line 5. The compression and pumping unit 4 has the function of separating water and generally wet parts from the fluid and increasing the pressure of the fluid, which is then reheated by the heat exchange recuperator 3.

[0035] Figure 1 The compression and pumping unit 4 shown in the first embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 comprises a separation unit 41, a compressor 42, a heat exchanger 43 and a pump 44 connected in series.

[0036] In other embodiments, there may also be multiple sets of compressors and pumps, possibly operating in parallel.

[0037] The separation unit 41 includes an inlet 411 at which the exhaust stream from each drive unit 21, 22 and 23 is collected and an outlet 412. After being cooled by the heat exchange recuperator 3, the separation unit 41 separates the liquid water from the exhaust stream from each drive unit 21, 22 and 23 and from the carbon dioxide source auxiliary equipment group 6, as further explained below.

[0038] After the fluid is dehumidified by the separation unit 41, the compressor 42 connected to the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41 compresses the fluid, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid.

[0039] The fluid then passes through the heat exchanger 43 so that the temperature of the fluid reaches the ambient temperature.

[0040] Finally, the fluid passes through a pump 44 which increases the pressure of the fluid before introducing it into the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 which is connected to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchange recuperator 3 as described above.

[0041] In addition, the carbon dioxide feedback line 5 comprises a carbon dioxide extraction line 51, whereby pressurized carbon dioxide can be extracted from the apparatus 1. The advantages and operation of the extraction line 51 will be further explained below.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the CO2 source auxiliary equipment group 6 comprises a CO2 capture unit, indicated by reference numeral 61, which produces or collects CO2, has a compressor 611 to compress the CO2 originating from the equipment CO2 capture unit, and is connected to the outlet 412 (or alternatively to the inlet 411) of the separation unit 41. The CO2 source auxiliary equipment group 6 also comprises an additional CO2 source, indicated as a whole by reference numeral 62, which is connected downstream to an associated compressor 621 to compress the CO2 originating from a general other CO2 source 621, and is connected to the outlet 412 (or alternatively to the inlet 411) of the separation unit 41.

[0043] Further carbon dioxide capture units 61 or generally additional carbon dioxide sources 62 may be added.

[0044] Specifically, the carbon dioxide capture unit 61 or carbon dioxide source 62 may include, for example, a (CO2) source from a blue hydrogen (H2) plant (e.g.: autothermal reforming), an acid gas removal unit in an LNG or gas processing process, a direct air capture plant and / or a (CO2) residue from an ASU unit of an oxygen (O2) plant.

[0045] The operation of the energy conversion device 1 is as follows.

[0046] The fuel and the fluid (i.e., in the case described, carbon dioxide) enter the burner of each drive unit 2 through the fuel inlet, the oxidant inlet, and the fluid inlet. In particular, the fuel and carbon dioxide enter the burner 211 of the first drive unit 21, the burner 221 of the second drive unit 22, and the burner 231 of the third drive unit 23. The expander of each drive unit 2 then drives the associated load. More specifically, the expander 212 of the first drive unit 21 drives the generator E, while the expander 222 of the second drive unit 22 and the expander 232 of the third drive unit 23 drive the associated centrifugal compressor C (or multiple compressors).

[0047] From each expander 212, 222 and 232, carbon dioxide is introduced into the second inlet 33 of the heat exchange recuperator 3, now expanded but at a high temperature in view of the combustion reaction. In particular, in the energy conversion device 1 according to the first embodiment, the temperature is comprised between 500° C. and 700° C., and the pressure is comprised between 20 bar and 40 bar. Different temperature ranges can be foreseen depending on the type of drive unit 2 installed and the load at which each unit is operated.

[0048] Then, the fluid is cooled after passing through the heat exchange recuperator 3 so that the temperature reaches about the ambient temperature while the pressure is almost the same. The fluid (i.e., carbon dioxide) comes out of the heat exchange recuperator 3 and reaches the inlet 411 (or outlet 412) of the compression and pumping unit 4. In particular, water is extracted from the fluid through the separation unit 41 and discharged through the drain pipe 45.

[0049] The fluid is at ambient temperature and at a nearly constant pressure, i.e. maintained at about 20 to 40 bar, before being compressed by the compressor 42, while the temperature depends on the cooling temperature of the cooling medium. As previously mentioned, the additional carbon dioxide is added to the streams coming from the compressors 611 and 621 of the carbon dioxide source auxiliary equipment group 6, which are generated by the equipment carbon dioxide capture unit 61 and the carbon dioxide source 62, reaching the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41.

[0050] The carbon dioxide collected at the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41 enters the compressor 42. After the compressor 42, the temperature of the fluid depends on the architecture of the compressor 42 (the compressor 42 may be intercooled or not), while the pressure increases to 60 to 100 bar.

[0051] The fluid then passes through a heat exchanger 43, after which the fluid is at the same pressure of 60 to 100 bar and returns to cooling fluid / room temperature.

[0052] Finally, the pressure of the fluid is increased to 250 to 350 bar by pump 44, and the temperature depends on the architecture of pump 44. In fact, in some embodiments, pump 44 can be equipped with an intercooler (or not), depending on the pump design. The fluid at ambient temperature and 250 to 350 bar pressure is then introduced into the carbon dioxide feedback pipeline 5.

[0053] As mentioned above, before entering the heat exchanger 3, the feedback line 5 has an extraction line 51 capable of extracting part of the carbon dioxide (CO2) directly under pressurized and pure conditions. The amount of carbon dioxide extracted is such that the header pressure of the feedback line 5 remains relatively constant (between 250 and 350 bars), while this amount is affected by the load at which the plant is operating. In other words, the carbon dioxide extracted from the extraction line 51 is directly related to the fuel consumed by the plant 1.

[0054] In other embodiments, the extraction line 51 may also be placed before (upstream of) the pump 44 suction, where possible other end users / applications require a carbon dioxide product at a lower pressure. Thus, the fuel-to-mechanical energy conversion device 1 has the additional advantage of having the functionality to produce pure carbon dioxide at possibly different pressures. Furthermore, more than one extraction line may be provided in the energy conversion device 1, connected in different areas or points of the carbon dioxide circuit, to extract carbon dioxide at different pressures, as required.

[0055] As mentioned above, the feedback line 5 connects the pump 44 to the first inlet 31 of the heat exchange recuperator 3. Passing through the heat exchange recuperator 3, the carbon dioxide undergoes an increase in temperature, maintaining the same pressure. In this way, before entering each drive unit 21, 22 or 23, the fluid has a pressure of 250 to 350 bar and a temperature between 500°C and 700°C.

[0056] Obviously, the energy conversion device 1 can drive three different loads, even loads different from each other, with low emissions of carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide being used as a fluid to be compressed and whose temperature is increased, using a thermodynamic cycle in which a heat exchange recuperator 3 recovers part of the heat generated by the drive unit 2 and in particular by the expander.

[0057] In this way, direct capture of carbon dioxide in pressurized form is obtained while maintaining a high efficiency of the plant 1 , which also reduces capital expenditures for maintaining the energy conversion plant 1 itself.

[0058] Thanks to the integration of the CO2 source auxiliary equipment group 6, and the negligible flow adjustment of the compression and pumping units, it is possible to compress all the CO2 streams and send them to the storage device of the plant. This design approach minimizes the CAPEX of the solution, as it requires fewer compressor trains, while also increasing the availability of the plant, as the capture system is dependent on the main power generation cycle of the plant itself. Any upset of the CO2 stream (system shutdown or unavailability) will not affect the cycle operation, as the flow changes are minimal.

[0059] Reference now Figure 2 , a second embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 can be seen. In particular, the layout of the device 1 is identical to that of the first embodiment, but only one drive unit 21 is provided.

[0060] In addition, the compressors 611 and 621 of the carbon dioxide source auxiliary equipment group 6 can be connected to the outlet 412 of the separation unit 41, similar to Figure 1 , or connected to the inlet 411 of the separation unit 41 (see the solid line of the compressors 611 and 612), or connected to the inlet 411 of the separation unit 41 (see the dotted line of the compressors 611 and 612). In the latter case, the compressed carbon dioxide is collected together with the carbon dioxide from the second outlet 34 of the recuperator 3.

[0061] Likewise, in a variation, the motor E may be connected to the rotating shaft 223, and the centrifugal compressor C may be connected downstream of the motor E. With this arrangement, the generator / motor E can operate as an auxiliary motor as well as a generator for the centrifugal compressor C. The motor E is actually connected to an electrical conversion unit (not shown here for simplicity) that allows the motor E to operate both as an auxiliary motor and as a generator in the event that the expander 212 has some excess power, which can be converted into electrical energy.

[0062] The operation of the power generation device 1 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0063] An advantage of this solution is that it improves plant efficiency and potentially allows direct capture of CO2 at high pressure.

[0064] Another advantage of this solution is that no motor-driven compressor unit is required, thus reducing the overall capital expenditure of the equipment. In addition, it is possible to achieve a flat power output at ambient temperature while improving efficiency. In addition, this solution can be applied in both brownfield (retrofit) and greenfield applications.

[0065] Although various aspects of the present invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations, and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless otherwise indicated herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or reordered according to alternative embodiments.

[0066] Reference has been made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure, rather than by way of limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope or substance of the present disclosure. References to "one embodiment" or "embodiment" or "some embodiments" throughout this specification are intended to mean that the particular features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" that appear in multiple places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, in one or more embodiments, particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0067] When introducing elements of various embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Claims

1. An energy conversion device, comprising: a fluid feedback pipeline, the fluid feedback pipeline being used to supply fluid; a compression and pumping unit for compressing and increasing the pressure of the fluid feedback line; one or more drive units, Each drive unit is connected to an associated load, and wherein each drive unit is capable of driving the associated load by burning fuel and expanding the fluid; at least one heat exchange recuperator, the at least one heat exchange recuperator connected between the fluid feedback line and the drive unit and between each drive unit and the compression and pumping unit, and arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line compressed by the compression and pumping unit to be fed to the drive unit by exchanging heat with the expanded exhaust fluid from the drive unit; and A fluid source auxiliary equipment group is connected to the compression and pumping unit to recover and supply additional fluid into the fluid feedback pipeline.

2. The energy conversion device (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid source auxiliary equipment group includes: one or more fluid capture units capable of producing a fluid, and A compressor connected to the fluid originating from the fluid capture unit and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid originating from the one or more fluid capture units.

3. The energy conversion device according to claim 2, wherein: The fluid capture unit includes CO2 sources from blue hydrogen H2 plants such as autothermal reforming, acid gas removal units in LNG or gas processing processes, direct air capture plants and / or CO2 residues from ASU units of oxygen plants.

4. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid source auxiliary equipment group includes: one or more additional fluid sources capable of producing fluid, and A compressor is connected to the fluid originating from an additional fluid source and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid originating from the additional fluid source.

5. The energy conversion device (1) according to claim 4, wherein: The fluid sources include CO2 sources from blue hydrogen plants such as autothermal reforming, acid gas removal units in LNG or gas processing processes, direct air capture plants and / or CO2 residues from ASU units of oxygen plants.

6. The energy conversion device (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The compression and pumping unit comprises: at least one separation unit for separating water from said fluid from said drive unit after cooling by at least one heat exchange recuperator; at least one compressor for compressing a dehumidification fluid and increasing said pressure of said fluid; at least one heat exchanger; and At least one pump operable to increase the pressure of the fluid, wherein the pump is connected between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line.

7. The energy conversion device according to claim 6, in, The separation unit comprises an inlet and an outlet, the exhaust flow from the drive unit being collected at the inlet.

8. The energy conversion device according to claim 7, in, The fluid source auxiliary equipment group includes: one or more fluid capture units capable of producing a fluid, and a compressor connected to the fluid originating from the fluid capture unit and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid originating from the one or more fluid capture units; and Wherein, the compressor connected to the fluid capture unit (61) is connected to the outlet or the inlet of the separation unit.

9. The energy conversion device according to claim 8, in, The fluid source auxiliary equipment group includes: one or more additional fluid sources capable of producing fluid, and a compressor connected to the fluid originating from the additional fluid source and to the compression and pumping unit, wherein the compressor is capable of compressing the fluid originating from the additional fluid source; and Therein, the compressor connected to an additional source is connected to the outlet or the inlet of the separation unit.

10. The energy conversion device according to claim 9, wherein: The pump increases the pressure of the fluid to 250 to 350 bar.

11. The energy conversion device according to claim 6, wherein: The compressor increases the pressure of the fluid to 60 to 100 bar.

12. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, comprising at least one extraction line of the fluid for extracting the fluid under pressure, wherein The extraction line is connected to the fluid feedback line.

13. The energy conversion device according to claim 12, in, The compression and pumping unit comprises: at least one separation unit for separating water from said fluid from said drive unit after cooling by at least one heat exchange recuperator; at least one compressor for compressing said dehumidification fluid and increasing said pressure of said fluid; at least one heat exchanger; and at least one pump operable to increase the pressure of the fluid, wherein the pump is connected between the heat exchanger and the fluid feedback line; and Wherein, the extraction pipeline is connected upstream of the pump (44).

14. The energy conversion device according to claim 13, comprising: Multiple drive units; as well as a heat exchange recuperator for each drive unit; wherein each heat exchange recuperator is connected between the fluid feedback line and the associated drive unit and between the associated drive unit and the compression and pumping unit, and Therein, each heat exchanging recuperator is arranged for heating the fluid supplied by the fluid feedback line before being fed to the associated drive unit by exchanging the heat of the expanded exhaust fluid from the associated drive unit.

15. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, comprising a single heat exchange recuperator, the single heat exchange recuperator being connected between the fluid feedback line and each drive unit and between each drive unit and the compression and pumping unit.

16. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid consists primarily of carbon dioxide.

17. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, wherein: The heat exchange recuperator can include one or more heat exchangers.

18. An energy conversion device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, Each drive unit includes: A burner having a fuel inlet for introducing fuel to be combusted, and an oxidant inlet for supplying an oxidant to the burner, a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid to be expanded, an expander operatively connected to the combustor, A rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is driven by the expander and connected to the load; wherein the heat exchange recuperator has a first inlet connected to a carbon dioxide feedback line, a first outlet connected to the fluid inlet of the burner of the associated drive unit, at least one second inlet connected to the expander of at least one drive unit, and A second outlet is connected to the compression and pumping system.

19. The energy conversion device according to claim 18, wherein: The heat exchanging recuperator has a plurality of second inlets, each second inlet being connected to an associated expander of the drive unit.

20. The energy conversion device of claim 1, wherein: The temperature of the fluid heated by the heat exchange recuperator supplied by the fluid feedback line to feed the drive unit is between 500°C and 700°C.

21. The energy conversion device according to claim 1, comprising a first drive unit connected to an associated load; and A second drive unit, wherein the second drive unit is connected to an associated load.

22. The energy conversion device according to claim 21, in, The load of the first drive unit is a generator; and Wherein, the load of the second driving unit is a generator.

23. An energy conversion device according to claim 21, comprising a third drive unit connected to an associated load.

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