WASTE HEAT RECOVERY AND CONVERSION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS
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Abstract
Various embodiments of a waste heat recovery and conversion system are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the waste heat recovery system may include a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a first fluid to a second fluid and a power conversion unit configured to convert the energy transferred from the first fluid to the second fluid into usable energy. The heat exchanger may include an outer duct defining an inlet and an outlet through which the first fluid flows in and out, respectively, of the outer duct. The heat exchanger may also include an inner duct disposed inside the outer duct and defining an inner channel inside the inner duct and an outer channel between an outer surface of the inner duct and an inner surface of the outer duct. The inner duct may define an internal flow channel through which the second fluid flows to exchange heat energy with the first fluid.
3 Citations
33 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A system for recovering waste heat from a heat source and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
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a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the heat source to a working fluid; an expander driven by the working fluid and configured to expand the working fluid; a generator-motor coupled to the expander; a compressor coupled to the generator-motor and configured to compress intake air; a condenser defining a fluid reservoir of the working fluid; and a pump disposed between the generator-motor and the compressor and configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger, the expander, the fluid reservoir, and the pump comprise a thermodynamic loop that drives the generator-motor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for recovering waste heat from a heat source and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
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a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the heat source to a working fluid; an expander driven by the working fluid and configured to expand the working fluid; a generator-motor coupled to the expander; a compressor coupled to the generator-motor and configured to compress intake air; a condenser defining a fluid reservoir of the working fluid; and a pump disposed between the generator-motor and the compressor and configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the heat exchanger, wherein the expander, the generator-motor, the compressor, the pump, and the fluid reservoir are integrally formed inside a housing of the condenser. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for recovering waste heat from a heat source and converting the recovered waste heat into useable energy, the system comprising:
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a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the heat source to a working fluid; an expander driven by the working fluid and configured to expand the working fluid; a generator-motor coupled to the expander; a compressor coupled to the generator-motor and configured to compress intake air; a condenser defining a fluid reservoir of the working fluid; and a pump disposed between the generator-motor and the compressor and configured to pump the working fluid from the fluid reservoir to the heat exchanger, wherein the expander, the generator-motor, the pump, and the compressor are mechanically coupled to a shaft. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification