LOW-POTENTIAL HEAT CONVERSION SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: thermal engineering. SUBSTANCE: system that has circulating loop incorporating heat exchanger, compressor, and expansion device all arranged in tandem, is provided, in addition, with inlet pipeline with built-in valve for feeding liquid humidifier whose boiling point is higher than ambient temperature and sprayer for introducing atomized humidifier into working medium, such as gas whose boiling point is lower that humidifier fusion temperature, as well as electric generator; sprayer is mounted in mentioned loop downstream of heat exchanger at inlet of axial-flow compressor for saturating working medium with humidifier vapor during its compression within compressor; expansion device is made in the form of axial-flow gas turbine that functions to convert apparent and latent heat into useful work both due to expansion of working medium and due to condensation of humidifier vapor; turbine and compressor have holes in their casings and their blades are mounted in diametrical opposition; number of turbine blades is at least equal to that of compressor; turbine rotor is coupled to compressor and generator rotors to compensate for conversion loss and to provide for external power supply; in addition, system is provided with gaseous-fuel combustion chamber mounted for introducing combustion products into working medium so as to recover heat of the latter. EFFECT: provision for electricity generation using heat of all low-potential heat sources and also that of combustion gases. 8 cl, 2 dwg