HEAT ENGINE AND HEAT TO ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH WORKING FLUID FILL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A heat engine system operative to execute a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid, the heat engine system comprising:
- a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a working fluid contained in the working fluid circuit;
a heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit and in thermal communication with a heat source connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit;
an expander in the working fluid circuit and located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy;
a recuperator in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit;
a cooler in thermal communication with a cooling medium and in thermal communication with the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit;
a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, anda mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit, the mass management system having a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, anda working fluid supply connected to the working fluid circuit by a working fluid supply line.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A waste heat recovery system, method and device executes a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. Components of the system in the working fluid circuit include a waste heat exchanger in thermal communication with a waste heat source also connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the waste heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit, an expander located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, the expander operative to convert a pressure/enthalpy drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a recuperator in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, a cooler in thermal communication with the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low side of the working fluid circuit, a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit, the mass management system, method and device having a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to passively control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit. Systems and methods for supplying a working fluid to the working fluid circuit are disclosed.
69 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A heat engine system operative to execute a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid, the heat engine system comprising:
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a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a working fluid contained in the working fluid circuit; a heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit and in thermal communication with a heat source connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit; an expander in the working fluid circuit and located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a recuperator in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit; a cooler in thermal communication with a cooling medium and in thermal communication with the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit; a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit, the mass management system having a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a working fluid supply connected to the working fluid circuit by a working fluid supply line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by use of a working fluid in a closed loop thermodynamic cycle contained in a working fluid circuit having components interconnected by conduit, the components including at least one heat exchanger operative to transfer thermal energy to the working fluid, at least one expansion device operative to convert thermal energy from the working fluid to mechanical energy, at least one pump operative to transfer working fluid through the working fluid circuit, the working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a mass management system comprising a mass management vessel connected by conduit to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger component; supplying a working fluid to the working fluid circuit from a working fluid supply; pumping the working fluid through the working fluid circuit by operation of the pump to supply working fluid in a supercritical or subcritical state to the expander; directing the working fluid away from the expander in a sub-critical state through the working fluid circuit and to the pump; controlling flow of the working fluid in a super-critical state from the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit to the mass management vessel; controlling an amount of working fluid in a sub-critical or super-critical state from the mass management vessel to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification