End point power production

• US 20040007879A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Research Sciences, LLC
• Original Assignee: Research Sciences, LLC
• Inventors: Ruggieri, Frank, Ni, Shimao, Salvail, Napoleon, Lackstrom, Dave
• Application Number:
  US10/414,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 17/02 for heating purposes, e.g. industrial, domestic F01K17/06 takes precedence; domestic- or space-heating systems, e.g. central-heating systems, in general F24D1/00, F24D3/00, F24D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 21/26 bent helically, i.e. coiled
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 18/00 Small-scale combined heat and power [CHP] generation systems specially adapted for domestic heating, space heating or domestic hot-water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2101/10 Gas turbines; Steam engines or steam turbines; Water turbines, e.g. located in water pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2103/13 characterised by their heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2105/00 Constructional aspects of small-scale CHP systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

Thermodynamic energy methods and systems that provides all electrical energy and heat needs of a single residential house, commercial business or office building. The system is small enough to be stored inside the house or building. The system can generate excess electrical energy which can be sold over the power grid and allow for the house owner, building owner or energy provider (utility company) to provide income or additional electrical generating capacity and the ability to sell/provide co-generated heat. The method and system can have combined energy conversion efficiency up to approximately 97%. Components can include amorphous materials, and the mono-tube steam generator boiler, which is explosion proof when punctured, and only emits a puff of steam when punctured. The tubes can be built to pressure vessel code. The invention can use steam generators to power A/C units, domestic hot water, hot water air space heaters, other loads such as pools and spas and underground piping to eliminate ice and snow. Additionally, the invention can be used to power vehicles such as cars, and the like.

Claims

1. A steam generation system for producing electrical energy and for providing heat for domestic units, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source;

an expander drive for receiving the steam and for rotating a shaft and for generating co-generated heat;

an electrical generator connected to the rotating shaft for generating electrical power; and

a co-generator loop for receiving the co-generated heat and for supplying heated water for a domestic unit, and for being recycled back to the steam generator, where energy conversion efficiency achieves greater than a total of 95% of combined electrical energy conversion efficiency and co generation heat recovery efficiency.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion efficiency is greater than approximately 90%.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion efficiency is greater than approximately 95%.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander drive further includes:

moveable parts which do not require lubrication to operate, and can run without maintenance for up to approximately 50,000 hours of operation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander drive further includes:

means for operating the expander drive at a high temperature and at a high pressure.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the operating means includes:

first means for operating the expander drive up to approximately 1000F; and

second means for operating the expander drive up to approximately 600PSI.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical generator includes:

amorphous metallic permanent magnet components to increase efficiency up to approximately 97%.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the steam generator includes:

a boiler.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the boiler includes:

a mono-tube boiler which is explosion proof when punctured.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the boiler includes:

stainless steel walls of approximately 0.083 inches thick.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the boiler includes:

means for surrounding the boiler with helically wound fins to enhance heat transfer capability.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fins are formed from stainless steel.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for the system having dimensions of approximately a space of less than approximately 3 by approximately 4 by approximately 5 feet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the housing includes:

an overall weight of up to approximately 500 pounds.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an air conditioning module operating from the electrical power.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the domestic unit includes:

a hot water heater.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the domestic unit includes at least one of:

an air heater and a radiator.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the domestic unit includes:

at least one of a swimming pool, a spa, and a hot tub, etc.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selling excess electrical energy to a power grid.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy source includes at least one of:

natural gas and propane or any fuel that can be atomized.

21. A method of supplying electrical and heat energy to a building, comprising the steps of:

locating a thermodynamic generating system at the building;

generating electrical energy from the thermodynamic generating system supplied from an energy source;

supplying all electrical and heat energy needs of the building with the generated electrical energy;

recycling co-generated heat from the thermodynamic generating system into a feed back loop; and

achieving a total energy conversion efficiency of greater than approximately 95% of combined electrical energy conversion efficiency and co generation heat recovery efficiency.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the total energy conversion efficiency is up to approximately 95% efficiency.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

providing excess electrical energy from the thermodynamic generating system to an electrical power transmission grid; and

providing a monetary feedback to the building based on the excess electrical energy being provided.

24. A steam generation system for providing heat for domestic and commercial units, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source; and

a closed loop means for receiving heat from the steam generator and for supplying heated water for a domestic/commercial unit, and for being recycled back to the steam generator, where energy conversion efficiency achieves up to approximately 98% of combined energy conversion efficiency and heat recovery efficiency.

25. The steam generation system of claim 24, wherein the steam generator and the closed loop means are enclosed within a space volume of up approximately 1 foot by approximately 1 foot by approximately 2 foot.

26. The steam generation system of claim 24, wherein the domestic/commercial unit includes:

a domestic hot water supply.

27. The steam generation system of claim 24, wherein the domestic/commercial unit includes:

a space heater or radiant heater for heating air within a space.

28. The steam generation system of claim 24, wherein the domestic/commercial unit is selected from at least one of:

a pool, a spa, and an underground piping system used for snow and ice removal.

29. A steam generation system for powering a vaporous fuel powered airconditioner, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source;

an expander drive which rotates a drive shaft;

a drive shaft driven air conditioner unit connected to the drive shaft of the expander drive, which generates cooled air output; and

a feedback loop means, where energy conversion efficiency achieves up to approximately 98% of combined energy conversion efficiency and heat recovery efficiency.

30. The steam generation system of claim 29, wherein the steam generator and the closed loop means are enclosed within a space volume of up approximately 1 foot by approximately 1 foot by approximately 3 foot.

31. A steam generation system for generating electrical power, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source;

an expander drive which rotates a drive shaft;

a drive shaft driven electrical generator unit attached to the drive shaft of the expander drive, which generates an electrical output; and

a feedback loop means, where energy conversion efficiency achieves up to approximately 98% of combined energy conversion efficiency and heat recovery efficiency.

32. The steam generation system of claim 31, wherein the steam generator and the closed loop means are enclosed within a space volume of up approximately 1 foot by approximately 1 foot by approximately 3 foot.

33. A steam generation system for powering a vaporous fuel powered vehicle, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source;

an expander drive which rotates a drive shaft;

an axle driven vehicle connected to the drive shaft of the expander drive; and

a feedback loop means, where energy conversion efficiency achieves up to approximately 98% of combined energy conversion efficiency and heat recovery efficiency.

34. The steam generation system of claim 33, wherein the steam generator and the closed loop means are enclosed within a space volume of up approximately 1 foot by approximately 1 foot by approximately 3 foot.

35. A steam generation system for generating electrical power to an electric driven vehicle, comprising:

a steam generator for generating steam from an energy source;

an expander drive which rotates a drive shaft;

a drive shaft driven electrical generator unit attached to the drive shaft of the expander drive, which generates an electrical output;

an electric driven vehicle being powered by the electric output; and

a feedback loop means, where energy conversion efficiency achieves up to approximately 98% of combined energy conversion efficiency and heat recovery efficiency.

36. The steam generation system of claim 35, wherein the steam generator and the closed loop means are enclosed within a space volume of up approximately 1 foot by approximately 1 foot by approximately 3 foot.