Rankine cycle load limiting through use of a recuperator bypass
First Claim
1. A waste heat recovery system containing a working fluid for converting waste heat from a waste heat source of an engine into usable work while maintaining a temperature of the waste heat below a predetermined maximum value, the system including:
- a recuperator configured to add heat to a low pressure side of a Rankine cycle including a heat conversion device, a condenser, a pump, and a boiler, said recuperator receiving working fluid gas flowing to the condenser and working fluid liquid from the condenser to transfer heat from the gas to the liquid;
means for bypassing the recuperator when the engine is operating under high engine load conditions to maintain the waste heat temperature below the predetermined maximum value; and
means for controlling the bypassing means in response to an output from means for sensing the high engine load conditions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for converting heat from an engine into work includes a boiler coupled to a heat source for transferring heat to a working fluid, a turbine that transforms the heat into work, a condenser that transforms the working fluid into liquid, a recuperator with one flow path that routes working fluid from the turbine to the condenser, and another flow path that routes liquid working fluid from the condenser to the boiler, the recuperator being configured to transfer heat to the liquid working fluid, and a bypass valve in parallel with the second flow path. The bypass valve is movable between a closed position, permitting flow through the second flow path and an opened position, under high engine load conditions, bypassing the second flow path.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A waste heat recovery system containing a working fluid for converting waste heat from a waste heat source of an engine into usable work while maintaining a temperature of the waste heat below a predetermined maximum value, the system including:
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a recuperator configured to add heat to a low pressure side of a Rankine cycle including a heat conversion device, a condenser, a pump, and a boiler, said recuperator receiving working fluid gas flowing to the condenser and working fluid liquid from the condenser to transfer heat from the gas to the liquid; means for bypassing the recuperator when the engine is operating under high engine load conditions to maintain the waste heat temperature below the predetermined maximum value; and means for controlling the bypassing means in response to an output from means for sensing the high engine load conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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5. A waste heat recovery system to recover waste heat from an engine, including:
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a recuperator configured to cool gas provided through a first flow path of the recuperator from a heat conversion device to a condenser and to heat liquid provided through a second flow path of the recuperator from the condenser to a boiler; a valve connected in parallel with the second flow path and having an opened position for bypassing the second flow path; a sensor to at least one of detect and monitor an engine operating condition indicative of engine load conditions and generate an output signal based on said operating condition; and a controller coupled to said valve and said sensor, said controller being configured to place the valve in the opened position under high engine load operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for converting waste heat from an engine into work, including:
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a boiler coupled to an engine waste heat source for transferring heat to a working fluid; a heat conversion device configured to receive the working fluid from the boiler and to transform heat in the working fluid into motive work; a condenser coupled to a low temperature source for transforming working fluid in a gaseous state into working fluid in a liquid state; a recuperator having a first flow path that routes gaseous working fluid from the heat conversion device to the condenser, and a second flow path that routes liquid working fluid from the condenser to the boiler, the recuperator being configured to transfer heat from the gaseous working fluid to the liquid working fluid; and a bypass valve coupled between the condenser and the boiler in parallel with the second flow path, the bypass valve being movable between a closed position under normal engine load conditions, thereby permitting working fluid to flow through the second flow path instead of the bypass valve and an opened position under high engine load conditions, thereby permitting at least a portion of the working fluid to flow from the condenser to the boiler without flowing through the second flow path; a sensor to at least one of detect and monitor an engine operating condition indicative of engine load conditions and generate an output signal based on said operating condition; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the bypass valve, the controller causing the bypass valve to move toward the closed position when the output signal from the sensor indicates normal engine load conditions and causing the bypass valve to move toward the opened position when the sensor output signal indicates high engine load conditions.
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Specification