ELECTRICAL POWER COGENERATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A cogeneration system comprising:
- an engine;
a motor/generator unit (MGU) that is selectively powered by the engine;
a compressor that is selectively powered by the engine and by the MGU;
a hot water tank;
an engine coolant loop which thermally connects the engine with the hot water tank;
a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant from the compressor;
an air handler unit which exchanges heat with the vapor loop; and
a controller in electrical communication with the engine and the MGU;
wherein the controller is configured to control the system to heat a supply of water in the hot water tank, to selectively produce electricity, and to heat and cool air passing through the air handling unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cogeneration system includes an engine, a motor/generator unit (MGU) powered by the engine, a compressor powered by the MGU, and a heat storage tank. The system further includes an engine coolant loop which places the engine in thermal communication with the tank, and a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant from the compressor. An air handler unit exchanges heat between the engine coolant loop and the vapor loop. A controller is configured to control the engine, MGU, compressor, and air handler unit, alone or in combination, to heat or cool air supplied to a building and water in the tank, and to selectively charge at least one auxiliary device such as a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) via the MGU. The system may include two power plants, with one, e.g., an EV or a portable module, having the engine and a first engine coolant loop.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cogeneration system comprising:
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an engine; a motor/generator unit (MGU) that is selectively powered by the engine; a compressor that is selectively powered by the engine and by the MGU; a hot water tank; an engine coolant loop which thermally connects the engine with the hot water tank; a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant from the compressor; an air handler unit which exchanges heat with the vapor loop; and a controller in electrical communication with the engine and the MGU; wherein the controller is configured to control the system to heat a supply of water in the hot water tank, to selectively produce electricity, and to heat and cool air passing through the air handling unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cogeneration system comprising:
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a first power plant having; an engine; and a first engine coolant loop having a first conductive plate; and a second power plant including; a hot water tank; a second engine coolant loop having a second conductive plate configured to receive heat transferred from the first conductive plate and to convey the received heat to the hot water tank; a motor/generator unit (MGU); a compressor; a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant with respect to the compressor; an air handler unit which exchanges heat between the hot water tank and the vapor loop, and between the vapor loop and air supplied to a building powered via the second power plant; and a controller which is configured to control the MGU, the compressor, and the air handler unit, alone or in combination, to thereby heat or cool at least one of a supply of air supplied to the building and water in the hot water tank. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A cogeneration system including:
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an engine; a generator; a compressor; an air handler; a heat storage tank; a loop of a first fluid flowing through a part of the engine for transferring heat from the engine to the heat storage tank; and a loop of a second fluid which places the compressor in fluid communication with the air handler; wherein; the engine is configured to operate the generator to produce electricity while heat from the engine is accumulated in the heat storage tank; the air handler is configured to receive heat from the heat storage tank; and the engine is configured to operate the compressor to remove heat from the air handler unit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification