Binary cycle power system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binary cycle power systems are limited by their dependence on volcanic activity for geothermal heat, restricting their deployment to areas with such activity.
Innovation Solution
A binary cycle power system that utilizes an industrial heat pump to extract heat from surrounding air or water bodies, such as lakes or seawater, and transfers this heat to a binary fluid in a heat exchanger, allowing for the generation of electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If geothermal heat from volcanic activity is used, then clean electrical power can be generated, but the system can only be deployed in areas with volcanic activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat transfer system using a binary fluid (such as isobutane or pentane) that acts as a mediator between the heat pump and the turbine. This intermediary fluid enables heat transfer from ambient sources (air, water, or ground) to drive the power generation cycle, allowing deployment in locations without direct volcanic activity while maintaining reliable power generation through the heat pump's ability to extract heat from various ambient sources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If industrial heat pump is used to extract heat from ambient sources, then deployment location flexibility is improved, but additional equipment complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system is designed with multi-functionality to extract heat from various ambient sources including air, water, and ground, allowing the same basic system architecture to be deployed in different locations without requiring complete redesign. The binary fluid heat exchanger system serves multiple functions: heat absorption from ambient sources, heat transfer to the turbine cycle, and enabling power generation across diverse environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical heat sources (such as volcanic vents or steam vents) with a thermodynamic heat pump system that uses phase change of binary fluids to transfer heat. This substitution allows the system to operate with low-temperature heat sources from the ambient environment rather than requiring high-temperature mechanical heat sources, thereby increasing deployment flexibility while managing system complexity through established heat pump technology.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the generation of clean and sustainable electrical power independently of volcanic activity, utilizing readily available heat sources from the environment.
Implementation Method 1
The heat pump transfers heat from a second fluid circulating in the heat pump to the first fluid so that the first fluid evaporates
Implementation Method 2
a first fluid, i.e. a binary fluid having a low boiling point, in order to evaporate the first fluid
Implementation Method 3
The turbine converter converts energy of the evaporated first fluid to mechanical energy
Implementation Method 4
the electrical generator generates the electrical power from the mechanical energy
Implementation Method 5
a first condenser for condensing the evaporated first fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to a binary cycle power system (100) for generating electrical power. The system comprises a heat exchanger (116) for evaporating a first fluid (106), a turbine converter (120), an electrical generator (122), and a first condenser (124) for condensing the evaporated first fluid. The turbine converter converts energy of the evaporated first fluid to mechanical energy and the electrical generator generates the electrical power from the mechanical energy. The heat exchanger is a second condenser (116), which is a part of a heat pump (110) that transfers heat from a second fluid (108) circulating in the heat pump to the first fluid so that the first fluid evaporates.