HEAT ENERGY UTILIZATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A heat energy utilization system comprising:
- a thermal circuit;
a pump to circulate a working fluid through said thermal circuit;
a power module comprising;
an expander; and
a load absorption device coupled to said expander such that at least a portion of the energy produced by the expansion of said working fluid in said expander operates said load absorption device;
a first heat exchanger including;
a first inlet and a first outlet together in fluid communication with said thermal circuit; and
a second inlet and a second outlet together in heat exchange relationship with said thermal circuit; and
a second heat exchanger, wherein said pump, power module, first heat exchanger and second heat exchanger are connected via said thermal circuit so as to be in fluid communication with one another such that, upon exchange of heat in said first heat exchanger, the increase in energy content in said working fluid is converted to useable work in said load absorption device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power generation system includes a prime mover subsystem and a Rankine-cycle heat energy utilization subsystem. The waste heat stream from the prime mover subsystem provides sufficient thermal content to power the heat energy utilization subsystem. The heat energy utilization subsystem can include a hermetically sealed scroll device, which can expand the working fluid through a single or dual scroll pair configuration. The heat energy utilization subsystem may also include a load-splitting controller, quick-start features and a capacity control module to facilitate rapid response to variable load conditions, as well as provide stand-alone operational capability. The load-splitting controller may incorporate a fuzzy logic controller to coordinate operation between the two subsystems. Energy generated by the heat energy utilization subsystem can be in the form of heat for various domestic and process needs, or can provide supplemental electric current.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A heat energy utilization system comprising:
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a thermal circuit;
a pump to circulate a working fluid through said thermal circuit;
a power module comprising;
an expander; and
a load absorption device coupled to said expander such that at least a portion of the energy produced by the expansion of said working fluid in said expander operates said load absorption device;
a first heat exchanger including;
a first inlet and a first outlet together in fluid communication with said thermal circuit; and
a second inlet and a second outlet together in heat exchange relationship with said thermal circuit; and
a second heat exchanger, wherein said pump, power module, first heat exchanger and second heat exchanger are connected via said thermal circuit so as to be in fluid communication with one another such that, upon exchange of heat in said first heat exchanger, the increase in energy content in said working fluid is converted to useable work in said load absorption device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A heat energy utilization system adapted to be coupled to a heat source, said heat energy utilization system comprising:
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a thermal circuit;
a pump to circulate a working fluid through said thermal circuit;
a hermetically sealed power module operating as a scroll expander, said hermetically sealed power module comprising;
a scroll housing;
a plurality of scroll pairs mounted in said scroll housing, each of which includes a pair of meshed axially extending involute spiral wrap members;
a rotatable shaft coupled to said plurality of scroll pairs such that the expansion of said working fluid through said plurality of scroll pairs causes said rotatable shaft to rotate;
a throttle valve disposed in said thermal circuit to permit a predetermined amount of said working fluid to enter said scroll expander; and
a generator operatively responsive to said rotatable shaft to produce work;
a first heat exchanger including;
a first inlet and a first outlet together in fluid communication with said thermal circuit; and
a second inlet and a second outlet together in heat exchange relationship with said first inlet and outlet; and
a second heat exchanger, wherein said pump, first heat exchanger, expander and second heat exchanger are connected via said thermal circuit so as to be in fluid communication with one another such that, upon exchange of heat between said first inlet and outlet and said second inlet and outlet, the increase in energy content in said working fluid is converted to electric potential in said generator.
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19. A power generation system for providing a primary and secondary source of output power comprising:
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a prime mover subsystem including;
means for generating a primary source of power; and
means for generating a heat stream; and
a heat energy utilization subsystem for coupling to said prime mover subsystem, said heat energy utilization subsystem including;
a thermal circuit;
a pump to circulate a working fluid through said thermal circuit;
a power module comprising;
an expander;
a load absorption device coupled to said expander such that at least a portion of the energy produced by the expansion of said working fluid operates to produce power;
a first heat exchanger including;
a first inlet and a first outlet together in fluid communication with said thermal circuit; and
a second inlet and a second outlet together in heat exchange relationship with said first inlet and outlet; and
a second heat exchanger for cooling said working fluid, wherein said pump, first heat exchanger, expander and second heat exchanger are connected via said thermal circuit so as to be in fluid communication with one another such that, upon introduction of said heat stream from said prime mover, at least a portion of the increase in energy content in said working fluid produces useable work in said load absorbing device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An integrated power generation system for providing a primary and secondary source of power, comprising:
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a microturbine subsystem configured to generate a heat stream; and
a heat energy utilization subsystem coupled to said microturbine, providing said secondary source of power, including;
a closed-loop thermal circuit;
a pump to circulate a working fluid through said thermal circuit;
a first heat exchanger including;
a first inlet and outlet for said closed-loop thermal circuit;
a second inlet and outlet in heat exchange relationship with said first inlet and outlet, said second inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said heat stream;
a hermetically sealed power module comprising;
a scroll expander to convert the energy in said working fluid discharged from said first heat exchanger; and
a load absorption device coupled to said scroll expander such that at least a portion of the energy produced by the expansion of said working fluid in said scroll expander operates said load absorption device to produce work; and
a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with said scroll expander, wherein said pump, first heat exchanger, expander and second heat exchanger are connected via said thermal circuit so as to be in fluid communication with one another such that, upon introduction of said heat stream into said second inlet and outlet, the increase in energy content in said working fluid is converted to useable work in said load absorbing device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of producing power by using a power generation system that has a prime mover subsystem and a secondary power generation subsystem, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating said prime mover subsystem to energize a first load absorption device;
arranging at least a pump, first heat exchanger, expander and second heat exchanger to be in fluid communication with one another via circulated working fluid routed through a thermal circuit as part of said secondary power generation subsystem, whereby said first heat exchanger is placed in thermal communication with said prime mover subsystem;
exchanging heat between said prime mover subsystem and said first heat exchanger;
transferring at least a portion of the thermal content of said heat in said first heat exchanger to said working fluid, thereby producing an increase in temperature of said working fluid;
regulating the flow of said working fluid to said expander;
coupling said expander to a second load absorption device;
expanding said working fluid in said expander such that the energy released by said expansion energizes said second load absorption device;
condensing at least a portion of said expanded working fluid in a second heat exchanger; and
pressurizing the condensed portion of said working fluid with a pump coupled to said expander. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method of operating a heat energy utilization subsystem using a quick-start mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
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arranging at least a pump, first heat exchanger, expander and second heat exchanger to be in fluid communication with one another via circulated working fluid routed through a thermal circuit;
arranging an auxiliary burner, fuel supply and an auxiliary burner exhaust line such that said auxiliary burner exhaust line is placed in thermal communication with said thermal circuit;
initiating a start-up sequence in said heat energy utilization subsystem by;
providing electric current to a control module;
sending start-up signals from said control module to at least one of said auxiliary burner, said pump, said first heat exchanger or said first load absorption device; and
energizing said thermal circuit by operating said auxiliary burner such that the thermal content produced by said auxiliary burner enables the self-sustaining operation of said heat energy utilization subsystem;
transferring at least a portion of the thermal content of said auxiliary burner exhaust line to said working fluid, said transfer of said thermal content producing an increase in temperature of said working fluid;
regulating the flow of said working fluid to said expander;
expanding said working fluid in an expander such that the energy released by said expansion turns said load absorbing device;
condensing said expanded working fluid in a condenser; and
pressurizing said working fluid with a pump coupled to said expander, whereby said heat energy utilization subsystem is capable of sustained, stand-alone operation. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification