Apparatus for generating heat and electricity
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating thermal and electrical energy outputs in response to thermal and electrical load requirements imposed thereon, said apparatus comprising:
- a variable speed power source;
means for transferring thermal energy from said power source to a coolant fluid;
a synchronous generator driven by said power source and adapted to produce an electrical energy output for said electrical load, the output frequency of said generator being independent of the speed of said power source;
means for extracting thermal energy from said fluid and directing said thermal energy output to said thermal load;
drive means for transferring the output of said power source to said generator and which permits the independently variable operation of said power source and said generator; and
means for monitoring said loads and controlling said thermal and electrical outputs independently, in response to variations in thermal and electrical loads caused by economic and external thermal and electrical supply factors, by independently varying the speed of said power source and the output frequency of said generator to provide said thermal and electrical outputs.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for generating thermal and electrical energy outputs in response to thermal and electrical load requirements imposed thereon. The apparatus includes a variable speed power source and a mechanism for transferring thermal energy from the power source a coolant fluid. A generator is also provided and is driven by the power source to produce electrical energy for the electrical load. The output frequency of the generator is independent of the speed of the power source. A mechanism is also provided for extracting thermal energy from the coolant fluid and directing the thermal energy to the thermal load. Finally, a device is included for monitoring the loads and controlling the thermal and electrical outputs in response to the loads by independently varying the speed of the power source and the output frequency of the generator to provided desired thermal and electrical energy outputs.
35 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating thermal and electrical energy outputs in response to thermal and electrical load requirements imposed thereon, said apparatus comprising:
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a variable speed power source; means for transferring thermal energy from said power source to a coolant fluid; a synchronous generator driven by said power source and adapted to produce an electrical energy output for said electrical load, the output frequency of said generator being independent of the speed of said power source; means for extracting thermal energy from said fluid and directing said thermal energy output to said thermal load; drive means for transferring the output of said power source to said generator and which permits the independently variable operation of said power source and said generator; and means for monitoring said loads and controlling said thermal and electrical outputs independently, in response to variations in thermal and electrical loads caused by economic and external thermal and electrical supply factors, by independently varying the speed of said power source and the output frequency of said generator to provide said thermal and electrical outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 34, 35)
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17. A device for cogenerating both heat and electricity in response to thermal and electrical loads imposed by a facility, in coordination with the electrical and thermal input from an external source, and in response to mathematically predetermined economic factors related to the operation of said device, said device comprising:
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a variable speed internal combustion engine; means for transferring thermal energy from said engine to a coolant fluid; means for directing engine exhaust gas away from said engine; a synchronous electrical generator driven by said engine to produce electricity for said electrical load, the output frequency of said generator being independent of the speed of said engine; means interconnecting said engine and said generator and having variable speed input and constant speed output; means for extracting heat from said fluid and exhaust gas and directing it to said thermal load; means for monitoring the thermal and electrical loads of said facility, the thermal and electrical energy inputs from said outside source available to said facility, and economic factors related to the operation of said device; and means for controlling the heat and electricity outputs in response to said loads, inputs, and factors by independently varying the speed of said engine and the output frequency of said generator to provide desired heat and electricity outputs. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32)
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29. A method for generating both thermal and electrical energy outputs using an internal combustion engine and a synchronous electrical generator in response to thermal and electrical loads of a facility, to the electric power and thermal input from an external source, and to economic factors related to efficient application of said method, said method comprising:
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interconnecting said generator with said engine to drive said generator so as to permit said generator to maintain an electrical output independent of the operation of said engine; operating said engine; transferring thermal energy from said engine to a coolant fluid; extracting the thermal energy from said fluid and directing it to said thermal load; generating an electrical output from said generator up to the maximum constant output of said generator; monitoring the thermal and electrical loads of said facility and the electrical and thermal input from said external source, and calculating and incorporating economic facctors related to the efficient application of said method; and controlling the thermal and electrical energy outputs in response to said loads, said input, and said economic factors by independently varying the speed of said engine and the output frequency of said generator to provide desired thermal and electrical energy outputs. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 33)
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Specification