Waste heat recovery and conversion
First Claim
1. A system for recovering waste heat from a locomotive engine and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
- a first heat exchanger comprising a stack heat exchanger mounted to an exhaust gas stack of the locomotive engine and configured to transfer heat from an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas stack of the engine to a working fluid;
a turbine expander driven by the working fluid;
a power generator coupled to the turbine expander;
a turbo-compressor turbine coupled to the power generator and configured to compress intake air;
a fluid reservoir configured to contain the working fluid; and
a fluid pump configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first heat exchanger,wherein the first heat exchanger, the turbine expander, the fluid reservoir, and the fluid pump comprise a thermodynamic loop that drives the power generator and are controlled by a controller,wherein at least the turbine expander, the power generator, and the turbo-compressor turbine constitute a power conversion unit for converting the heat from the working fluid into useable energy, andwherein the power conversion unit is enclosed in a mounting enclosure mounted above the locomotive engine adjacent the exhaust gas stack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide systems and methods for a waste heat recovery and conversion. The waste heat recovery and conversion system includes a housing non-invasively mountable onto an engine. The waste heat recovery and conversion system also includes a power conversion unit (PCU) entirely within the housing. The PCU includes heat exchangers, an expander, an electrical power generator, and a fluid pump. The heat exchangers, the expander, the fluid pump, and the fluid reservoir form a thermodynamic loop that drives the electrical power generator using thermal energy from waste heat. Under various configurations the waste heat recovery and conversion system offer pollutant reduction features all together with fuel savings.
46 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for recovering waste heat from a locomotive engine and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
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a first heat exchanger comprising a stack heat exchanger mounted to an exhaust gas stack of the locomotive engine and configured to transfer heat from an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas stack of the engine to a working fluid; a turbine expander driven by the working fluid; a power generator coupled to the turbine expander; a turbo-compressor turbine coupled to the power generator and configured to compress intake air; a fluid reservoir configured to contain the working fluid; and a fluid pump configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger, the turbine expander, the fluid reservoir, and the fluid pump comprise a thermodynamic loop that drives the power generator and are controlled by a controller, wherein at least the turbine expander, the power generator, and the turbo-compressor turbine constitute a power conversion unit for converting the heat from the working fluid into useable energy, and wherein the power conversion unit is enclosed in a mounting enclosure mounted above the locomotive engine adjacent the exhaust gas stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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8. A system for recovering waste heat from a locomotive engine and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
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a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the engine to a working fluid; a turbine expander driven by the working fluid; a power generator coupled to the turbine expander; a turbo-compressor turbine coupled to the power generator and configured to compress intake air; a fluid reservoir configured to contain the working fluid; and a fluid pump configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger, the turbine expander, the fluid reservoir, and the fluid pump comprise a thermodynamic loop that drives the power generator and are controlled by a controller, wherein at least the turbine expander, the power generator, and the turbo-compressor turbine constitute a power conversion unit for converting the heat from the working fluid into useable energy, wherein the power conversion unit is enclosed in a mounting enclosure that is configured to be mounted to a housing structure mounted above the locomotive engine, and wherein the power conversion unit comprises a power module heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from one or more electronic components of the controller to the working fluid.
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Specification