ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD USING AN ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE WITH CONDENSER PRESSURE REGULATION
First Claim
1. A method of recovering energy from a source of waste heat using an organic fluid, comprising:
- providing a waste heat source;
providing a heat exchanger;
passing a heat conveying medium from said waste heat source through said heat exchanger;
providing a fluid pump to pressurize the organic fluid;
passing said pressurized organic fluid through said heat exchanger;
directing said organic fluid from said heat exchanger through an energy conversion device;
passing the organic fluid from said turbine through a cooling condenser;
directing said organic fluid from said condenser into and through a receiver;
returning said organic fluid from said receiver to said pump;
providing a condenser coolant fluid flow through said condenser to cool the organic fluid flowing through said condenser; and
selectively bypassing coolant flow around said condenser.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy recovery system and method using an organic rankine cycle is provided for recovering waste heat from an internal combustion engine, which effectively controls condenser pressure to prevent unwanted cavitation within the fluid circulation pump. A coolant system may be provided with a bypass conduit around the condenser and a bypass valve selectively and variably controlling the flow of coolant to the condenser and the bypass. A subcooler may be provided integral with the receiver for immersion in the accumulated fluid or downstream of the receiver to effectively subcool the fluid near the inlet to the fluid pump.
150 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of recovering energy from a source of waste heat using an organic fluid, comprising:
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providing a waste heat source; providing a heat exchanger; passing a heat conveying medium from said waste heat source through said heat exchanger; providing a fluid pump to pressurize the organic fluid; passing said pressurized organic fluid through said heat exchanger; directing said organic fluid from said heat exchanger through an energy conversion device; passing the organic fluid from said turbine through a cooling condenser; directing said organic fluid from said condenser into and through a receiver; returning said organic fluid from said receiver to said pump; providing a condenser coolant fluid flow through said condenser to cool the organic fluid flowing through said condenser; and selectively bypassing coolant flow around said condenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system of recovering energy from a source of waste heat using an organic fluid, comprising:
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a heat exchanger arranged to receive a heat conveying medium and the organic fluid; an energy conversion device positioned to receive organic fluid from said heat exchanger; a cooling condenser positioned to receive the organic fluid from said heat exchanger; a pump for pressuring the organic fluid to direct the organic fluid through said heat exchanger and said cooling condenser; a receiver positioned downstream of said cooling condenser to receive the organic fluid; a coolant circuit to direct coolant through said cooling condenser; and a bypass valve positioned along said coolant circuit upstream of said cooling condenser to selectively bypass coolant flow around said cooling condenser. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system of recovering energy from a source of waste heat using an organic fluid, comprising:
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an organic fluid circuit; a heat exchanger arranged along the organic fluid circuit to receive a heat conveying medium and the organic fluid; an energy conversion device positioned to receive organic fluid from said heat exchanger; a cooling condenser positioned to receive the organic fluid from said heat exchanger; a receiver positioned downstream of said cooling condenser to receive the organic fluid; a pump to receive organic fluid from said receiver and direct the organic fluid through said heat exchanger; a coolant circuit to direct coolant through said cooling condenser; and a subcooler positioned along said coolant circuit upstream of said condenser, said subcooler positioned along said organic fluid circuit downstream of said receiver and upstream of said pump to cool the organic fluid flowing from said receiver prior to entering said pump. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification