Power system and apparatus utilizing intermediate temperature waste heat
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for increasing power output of small internal combustion electric generators comprising:
- a heat exchange/condensation component including;
a condenser HE1,two recuperative heat exchangers HE2 and HE3,a separator S1, andand two pumps P1 and P2,where;
the heat exchange/condensation component converts a spent intermediate working solution stream into a very rich working solution stream and a lean working solution stream, where a portion of the lean working solution stream and the very rich working solution stream to form a rich working solution stream,heat from the spent intermediate working solution stream prior to separation and heat from the rich working solution stream are used to heat and partially vaporize a fully condensed, higher pressure rich working solution stream,the pumps increase a pressure of the remainder of the lean stream and the fully condensed, higher pressure, rich working solution stream, andthe higher pressure lean stream and the partially vaporized, higher pressure, rich working solution stream are combined to form a higher pressure intermediate working solution stream;
a recuperative heat recovery vapor generator RHRVG adapted to fully vaporize higher pressure, intermediate working solution stream to form a fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream with heat derived from an external heat source stream, anda turbine T1 adapted to convert a portion of thermal energy in the fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream into a useable form of energy producing the spent intermediate working solution stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
system and method is disclosed to increase the efficient of internal combustion engines using to generate electric power, where the system and method converts a portion of thermal energy produced in the combustion process to a usable form of energy.
61 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for increasing power output of small internal combustion electric generators comprising:
-
a heat exchange/condensation component including; a condenser HE1, two recuperative heat exchangers HE2 and HE3, a separator S1, and and two pumps P1 and P2, where; the heat exchange/condensation component converts a spent intermediate working solution stream into a very rich working solution stream and a lean working solution stream, where a portion of the lean working solution stream and the very rich working solution stream to form a rich working solution stream, heat from the spent intermediate working solution stream prior to separation and heat from the rich working solution stream are used to heat and partially vaporize a fully condensed, higher pressure rich working solution stream, the pumps increase a pressure of the remainder of the lean stream and the fully condensed, higher pressure, rich working solution stream, and the higher pressure lean stream and the partially vaporized, higher pressure, rich working solution stream are combined to form a higher pressure intermediate working solution stream; a recuperative heat recovery vapor generator RHRVG adapted to fully vaporize higher pressure, intermediate working solution stream to form a fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream with heat derived from an external heat source stream, and a turbine T1 adapted to convert a portion of thermal energy in the fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream into a useable form of energy producing the spent intermediate working solution stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. The apparatus of claim 7, the working solution stream having composition of the lower boiling component and higher boiling component such that [low boiling component]very rich>
- [low boiling component]rich>
[low boiling component]intermediate>
[low boiling component]lean and conversely [high boiling component]lean>
[low boiling component]intermediate>
[low boiling component]rich>
[low boiling component]very rich. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- [low boiling component]rich>
-
8-1. A system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine, a recuperative heat recovery vapor generator (RHRVG) connected to an exhaust of the engine and designed to utilized heat in the exhaust gases to fully vaporize a partially vaporized, intermediate working solution stream forming a fully vaporized intermediate working solution stream, a turbine connected to the RHRVG for converting a portion of thermal energy in the intermediate working solution stream to a usable form of energy, and a heat exchange/condensation system connected to the turbine, the RHRVG, and an external coolant stream, where the system produces a very rich working solution stream, a lean working fluid stream and a rich working fluid stream, fully condenses the rich working solution stream, increases the pressure of the fully condensed rich working solution stream and a portion of the lean working fluid stream and heating and partially vaporizing the fully condense, pressurized rich working fluid stream and combining the pressurized lean working solution stream with the partially vaporized rich working solution stream to form the partially vaporized intermediate working solution stream.
-
-
17. A method, for converting a portion of waste thermal energy generated by an internal combustion engine into a usable form of energy, comprising the steps of:
-
combusting a fuel in an internal combustion engine including an exhaust system, vaporizing a partially vaporized, intermediate working solution stream, with heat from exhaust gas stream from the exhaust system, in a recuperative heat recovery vapor generator (RHRVG) including a plurality of heat exchange stages to form a fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream; converting a portion of thermal energy in the fully vaporized, intermediate working solution stream to a usable form of energy in a turbine to form a spent intermediate working solution stream; and passing the spent working solution stream through a heat exchange/condensation system and the RHRVG, where the system produces a very rich working solution stream, a lean working fluid stream and a rich working fluid stream, fully condenses the rich working solution stream, increases the pressure of the fully condensed rich working solution stream and a portion of the lean working fluid stream and heating and partially vaporizing the fully condense, pressurized rich working fluid stream and combining the pressurized lean working solution stream with the partially vaporized rich working solution stream to form the partially vaporized intermediate working solution stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification