HEAT ENGINES WITH CASCADE CYCLES
First Claim
1. A heat engine for recovering waste heat energy, comprising:
- a waste heat exchanger thermally coupled to a source of waste heat and configured to heat a first flow of a working fluid;
a first expansion device configured to receive the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and to expand the first flow;
a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the first expansion device and configured to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid;
a second expansion device configured to receive the second flow from the first recuperator and to expand the second flow; and
a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device and configured to receive the second flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows of the working fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for recovering energy from waste heat are provided. The system includes a waste heat exchanger coupled to a source of waste heat to heat a first flow of a working fluid. The system also includes a first expansion device that receives the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and expands it to rotate a shaft. The system further includes a first recuperator coupled to the first expansion device and to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid. The system also includes a second expansion device that receives the second flow from the first recuperator, and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device to receive the second flow therefrom and transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat engine for recovering waste heat energy, comprising:
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a waste heat exchanger thermally coupled to a source of waste heat and configured to heat a first flow of a working fluid; a first expansion device configured to receive the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and to expand the first flow; a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the first expansion device and configured to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid; a second expansion device configured to receive the second flow from the first recuperator and to expand the second flow; and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device and configured to receive the second flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows of the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A heat engine system, comprising:
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one or more waste heat exchangers thermally coupled to a source of waste heat, the one or more waste heat exchangers being configured to heat a first flow of working fluid; a power turbine fluidly coupled to the one or more waste heat exchangers, the power turbine being configured to receive the first flow from the one or more waste heat expanders and to expand the first flow; a first recuperator fluidly coupled to the power turbine, the first recuperator being configured to receive the first flow from the power turbine and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of working fluid; a second turbine fluidly coupled to the first recuperator, the second turbine being configured to receive the second flow from the first recuperator and to expand the second flow; a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second turbine, the second recuperator being configured to receive the second flow of working fluid from the second turbine and to transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows of the working fluid; a condenser fluidly coupled to the first and second recuperators, the condenser being configured to receive the first and second flows from the first and second recuperators, respectively, as the combined flow and to at least partially condense the combined flow; and a pump fluidly coupled to the condenser and to the second recuperator, the pump being configured to receive the combined flow from the condenser and pump the combined flow into the second recuperator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for extracting energy from a waste heat, comprising:
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transferring heat from the waste heat to a first flow of working fluid in a heat exchanger; expanding the first flow in a first expander to rotate a shaft; transferring heat from the first flow to a second flow of working fluid in a first recuperator; expanding the second flow in a second expansion device to rotate a shaft; transferring heat from the second flow to at least one of the first and second flows in a second recuperator; at least partially condensing the first and second flows with one or more condensers; and pumping the first and second flows with a pump. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification