Heating, cooling and power generation system

Abstract

A thermal separator/power generator uses the thermodynamic properties of refrigerant substances to provide supplemental heating, cooling, and power without emitting any additional greenhouse gases to the environment by utilizing waste or unused heat energy. This is accomplished through the combined operation of a Rankine Cycle Generator using a refrigerant, preferably a natural refrigerant such as NH3, as the working fluid, and a CO2 a vapor compression heat pump cycle, also called a Thermal Separator Module. The combined system is called a Thermal Separator/Power Generator. It produces electrical power and simultaneously produces secondary heating and water or air cooling as byproducts. In the combined vapor compression heat pump/Rankine power generator cycle, waste heat from external source(s) are recovered and used for heating in the Rankine power cycle. The CO2 heat pump provides cooling and optional space or process heating in lieu of heat boost efficiency for the Rankine power generator cycle.

1 . A heating, cooling and power generation system comprising:
 a thermal separator module for producing two fluid loops, a first high temperature fluid loop at a temperature substantially above ambient temperature and a second low temperature fluid loop at a temperature substantially less than ambient temperature, the thermal separator module comprising a CO 2  compressor, a high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler a CO 2  gas expansion means, a heat exchanger evaporator means, and carbon dioxide flowing through the compressor, the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler, the CO 2  gas expansion means, and the heat exchanger evaporator means in a continuous circuit;   a Rankine cycle power generator system for generating power comprised of a serial flow system with a Rankine refrigerant fluid in the system, a fluid pump, the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler, at least one Rankine refrigerant heater, a prime mover for generating power from the expansion of the Rankine refrigerant fluid from a liquid to a gas, a heat rejection means, and means for returning the Rankine refrigerant to the pump;   the high pressure heat exchanger refrigerant boiler having high pressure fluid passageways through which the CO 2  passes and having other high pressure fluid passageways through which the Rankine refrigerant flows, the Rankine refrigerant and CO 2  passing through the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler in their separate passageways, but in thermal communication with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the Rankine refrigerant fluid is a natural refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 2  wherein the Rankine refrigerant fluid is ammonia. 
     
     
         4 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  and further comprising an energy recovery device for receiving energy from the CO 2  during its expansion process and converting it to work. 
     
     
         5 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the second heat exchanger evaporator is in serial fluid flow with the compressor and high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler, the second heat exchanger evaporator providing a heat removal source to apply a cooling refrigeration stream. 
     
     
         6 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  and further comprising at least a fourth heat gas cooler heat exchanger in serial fluid flow with the prime mover for providing a heat removal means for removing heat from the Rankine refrigerant fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the prime mover is a turbine and the Rankine refrigerant fluid vaporizes to provide power to the turbine. 
     
     
         8 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 3  wherein the prime mover is a piston driven machine and the ammonia fluid vaporizes to provide power to the piston machine. 
     
     
         9 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the CO 2  is pumped from the compressor and enters the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler at a pressure of between 200 psi and 2500 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one auxiliary heat source to increase the temperature of the Rankine refrigerant fluid so that said refrigerant fluid has sufficient heat capacity to generate power when it enters the prime mover. 
     
     
         11 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 10  wherein the auxiliary heat source is a waste heat, heat exchanger system. 
     
     
         12 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  and further comprising heat exchanger means in the Rankine cycle power generator system for providing heat for a warm water loop. 
     
     
         13 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the second heat exchanger evaporator is fluidly connected to a pump for circulating cold fluid through an air conditioner for providing cool air. 
     
     
         14 . The heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 1  wherein the Rankine refrigerant heater is a waste heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating an efficient heating, cooling and power generation system comprising:
 providing a thermal separator for producing a first high temperature fluid loop and a second high temperature fluid loop by means of a high pressure CO 2  compressor for compressing CO 2  and supplying the highly compressed CO 2  to a high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler, the compressor forcing the CO 2  through the high pressure heat exchanger, reducing the temperature of the CO 2  in the high pressure heat exchanger and utilizing the CO 2  in a hot water or energy recovery process that reduces the temperature of the CO 2 , flowing the reduced temperature CO 2  through a second heat exchanger where the CO 2  removes heat from the second low temperature fluid loop, and returning the CO 2  to the compressor;   providing a Rankine cycle power generator system for generating power from a Rankine refrigerant fluid which converts heat energy from the fluid to mechanical energy, a pump for circulating the Rankine refrigerant fluid in a liquid state through the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler where it is warmed, passing the refrigerant fluid through a third heat exchanger, passing the refrigerant to a prime mover where the Rankine refrigerant fluid vaporizes and drives the prime mover, and   returning the Rankine refrigerant fluid the prime mover to the pump for recirculation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of operating an efficient heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 15  and further comprising:
 providing the high pressure heat exchanger refrigerant boiler with high pressure fluid passageways through which the CO 2  passes and other high pressure fluid passageways through which the Rankine refrigerant flows, the Rankine refrigerant and CO 2  passing through the high pressure heat exchanger Rankine refrigerant boiler in their separate passageways, but in thermal communication with each other. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of operating an efficient heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 16  and further comprising using ammonia as the Rankine refrigerant fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of operating an efficient heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 16  and further comprising providing an energy recovery device for receiving energy from the CO 2  during its expansion process and converting it to work. 
     
     
         19 . The method of operating an efficient heating, cooling and power generation system of  claim 15  and further comprising providing at least a fourth heat gas cooler heat exchanger in serial fluid flow with the prime mover for providing a heat removal means for removing heat from the Rankine refrigerant fluid.