Cogeneration system

• US 7,466,034 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Chang Min, Choi, Won Jae, Lim, Hyung Soo, Kang, Seung Tak, Hwang, Yoon Jei
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg; Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A
• Application Number:
  US11/155,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.C, 290/1.R, 290/1.B, 290/2
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/044 the engine-generator unit being placed on a frame or in an housing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/06 Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/44 characterised by the use of internal combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/56 Casing or covers of separate outdoor units, e.g. fan guards
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/15 On-site combined power, heat or cool generation or distribution, e.g. combined heat and power [CHP] supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A cogeneration system is disclosed, wherein a generator which generates electricity, a drive source which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source, a waste heat recoverer which recovers the waste heat of the drive source, and a radiator which radiates the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer are arranged in a single chassis. The cogeneration system has a compact and simple arrangement, and achieves simple control operations, and an enhancement in operability.

Claims

1. A cogeneration system comprising:

a generator which generates electricity;

a drive source which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer which recovers the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplier which transfers the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer to a heat consumer; and

a radiator which radiates the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer, wherein the generator, the drive source, the waste heat recoverer, and the radiator are arranged in a single chassis,

wherein the radiator includes;

a bypass line branched from a heat transfer line adapted to transfer the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer to the waste heat supplier;

a radiating heat exchanger, through which the bypass line extends; and

a valve arranged at the bypass line such that the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer is transferred selectively to the waste heat supplier or to the radiating heat exchanger according to a control of the valve.

2. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the drive source is an engine or a fuel cell.

3. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the drive source includes an air suction tube adapted to suck air present around the chassis into the drive source.

4. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a muffler mounted to an exhaust tube adapted to discharge exhaust gas from the drive source.

5. The cogeneration system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a muffler casing mounted to the chassis, and adapted to protect the muffler and to shield noise of the muffler.

6. The cogeneration system according to claim 5, wherein the muffler casing comprises:

a first muffler casing mounted on a top of the chassis such that the first muffler casing surrounds the muffler, and provides a passage, through which air absorbing heat from the engine room passes; and

a second muffler casing arranged at one side of the first muffler casing to provide a passage, through which the air emerging from the first muffler casing passes to be outwardly discharged.

7. The cogeneration system according to claim 1, wherein the chassis includes an engine room defined in the chassis to receive the generator, the drive source, and the waste heat recoverer.

8. The cogeneration system according to claim 7, wherein the waster heat supplier is arranged in the engine room.

9. The cogeneration system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a ventilation device mounted to the chassis to radiate heat from the engine room.

10. The cogeneration system according to claim 9, wherein the ventilation device comprises:

a ventilation casing which communicates with the engine room of the chassis, and includes a grill mounted to one side of the ventilation casing; and

a ventilation fan connected to a motor arranged in the ventilation casing to blow outdoor air to the engine room.

11. The cogeneration system according to claim 7, wherein the radiator is arranged on a top of the chassis to discharge heat upwardly from the chassis.

12. The cogeneration system according to claim 11, wherein the radiator includes:

a radiating fan arranged to blow outdoor air to the radiating heat exchanger; and

a grill arranged over the radiating heat exchanger and the radiating fan.

13. The cogeneration system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a partition wall which isolates the radiator and the engine room from each other.

14. A cogeneration system comprising:

a generator which generates electricity;

a drive source which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer which recovers the waste heat of the drive source;

a waste heat supplier which transfers the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer to a heat consumer;

a chassis which includes an engine room defined in the chassis to receive the generator, the drive source, the waste heat recoverer, and the waste heat supplier;

a radiator mounted to the chassis to radiate the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer;

a muffler mounted to an exhaust tube adapted to discharge exhaust gas from the drive source;

a muffler casing mounted to the chassis, and adapted to protect the muffler and to shield noise of the muffler; and

a ventilation device mounted to the chassis to suck air present around the chassis into the engine room, and to outwardly discharge the air from the engine room via the muffler casing for heat radiation of the engine room.

15. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, wherein the drive source is an engine or a fuel cell.

16. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, wherein the chassis comprises:

a base;

a cabinet mounted on the base to form left, right, and rear walls of the chassis; and

a front cover covering a front side of the cabinet.

17. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, wherein the radiator comprises:

a bypass line branched from a heat transfer line adapted to transfer the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer to the waste heat supplier;

a radiating heat exchanger, through which the bypass line extends;

a radiating fan arranged to blow outdoor air to the radiating heat exchanger; and

a grill arranged over the radiating heat exchanger and the radiating fan.

18. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, wherein the muffler casing comprises:

a first muffler casing mounted on a top of the chassis such that the first muffler casing surrounds the muffler, and provides a passage, through which air absorbing heat from the engine room passes; and

a second muffler casing arranged at one side of the first muffler casing to provide a passage, through which the air emerging from the first muffler casing passes to be outwardly discharged.

19. The cogeneration system according to claim 14, wherein the ventilation device comprises:

a ventilation casing which communicates with the engine room of the chassis, and includes a grill mounted to one side of the ventilation casing; and

a ventilation fan connected to a motor arranged in the ventilation casing to blow outdoor air to the engine room.

20. The cogeneration system according to claim 18, further comprising:

an air suction tube connected to the drive source, the air suction tube extending to a position near a grill communicating with the engine room such that a part of air passing through the grill is directly sucked into the air suction tube without being introduced into the engine room.

21. A cogeneration system comprising:

a generator which generates electricity;

a drive source which operates to drive the generator, and generates waste heat during the operation of the drive source;

a waste heat recoverer which recovers the waste heat of the drive source;

a chassis which includes an engine room defined in the chassis to receive the generator, the drive source, and the waste heat recoverer;

a radiator mounted to the chassis to radiate the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recoverer;

a muffler mounted to an exhaust tube adapted to discharge exhaust gas from the drive source;

a muffler casing mounted to the chassis, and adapted to protect the muffler and to shield noise of the muffler; and

a ventilation device mounted to the chassis to suck air present around the chassis into the engine room, and to outwardly discharge the air from the engine room via the muffler casing for heat radiation of the engine room.