System and method for storing thermal energy as auxiliary power in a vehicle

• US 9,476,653 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnerMotion Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnerMotion Inc.
• Inventors: Stannard, John Hamilton, Gibbs, David Robert, Bachalo, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US14/601,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20150135740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 62/79, 621/77, 621/89
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/20 using an intermediate heat-transferring medium
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3201 using absorption or adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32011 using absorption, e.g. using Li-Br and water
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0003 the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases F28D21/0014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/106 consisting of two coaxial conduits or modules of two coaxial conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/30 the means being attachable to the element F28F1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

There is provided a controller for a heat capture and storage system configured to capture and store energy from heat expelled in engine exhaust. The controller includes a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, and at least one processor coupled to a memory for storing within the memory instructions executable by the at least one processor. The controller is configured by execution of the instructions stored in the memory to: receive signals at one or more of the plurality of inputs, the signals representing at least one operating parameter of the heat capture and storage system; and based on at least one operating parameter, generate signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs for controlling at least one component of the heat capture and storage system to capture and store the energy from the heat expelled in the engine exhaust.

Claims

1. A controller for a heat capture and storage system configured to capture and store energy from heat expelled in engine exhaust, the controller comprising a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, and at least one processor coupled to a memory for storing within the memory instructions executable by the at least one processor, the controller configured by execution of the instructions stored in the memory to:

receive signals at one or more of the plurality of inputs, the signals representing at least one operating parameter of the heat capture and storage system; and

based on at least one operating parameter, generate signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs for controlling at least one component of the heat capture and storage system to capture and store the energy from the heat expelled in the engine exhaust;

wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to one or more pumps configured to circulate a solution carrying thermal energy through the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to control a speed of the one or more pumps.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to an operating mode control valve included in the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to switch the heat capture and storage system between a heat storage mode and a cold storage mode by controlling a flow path through the operating mode control valve.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a temperature, and the controller is configured to switch the heat capture and storage system between the heat storage mode and the cold storage mode in response to that signal.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one component controlled by the controller comprises at least one of an exhaust diverter valve, an operating mode control valve, a fluid pump, a cooling fan, or a charge controller.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to an exhaust diverter valve included in the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to control the exhaust diverter valve to divert at least a part of the engine exhaust away from a generator of the heat capture and storage system.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating at least one of a temperature and a pressure in the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to control the exhaust diverter valve in response to that signal.

7. The controller of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect a fault condition of the heat capture and storage system based on the signal indicating at least one of a temperature and a pressure in the heat capture and storage system.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control the exhaust diverter valve to divert substantially all the engine exhaust away from the generator in response to detecting the fault condition.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a temperature, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the pump to meet a specified temperature.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a pressure, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the one or more pumps to meet a specified pressure.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a liquid level in the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the pump to meet a specified liquid level.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to a fan included in the heat capture and storage system, and the controller is configured to control a speed of the fan to control a cooling rate of solution carrying thermal energy in the heat capture and storage system.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a temperature, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the fan to meet a specified temperature.

14. The controller of claim 12, wherein the signals received at the one or more of the plurality of inputs include a signal indicating a pressure, and the controller is configured to control the speed of the fan to meet a specified pressure.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to a first pump configured to circulate a first solution through a first heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from said engine exhaust and the controller is configured to control the first pump.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the controller is coupled, by way of at least one of the signals at one or more of the plurality of outputs, to a second pump configured to circulate a second solution through a second heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from to the second solution, and the controller is configured to control the second pump.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling a second pump configured to circulate a second solution through a second heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from to the second solution, and the controller is configured to control the second pump.

18. A processor-implemented method of controlling a heat capture and storage system configured to capture and store energy from heat expelled in engine exhaust, the method comprising:

receive, at at least one processor, operating signals representing at least one operating parameter of the heat capture and storage system; and

generating, at the at least one processor, control signals for controlling at least one component of the heat capture and storage system based on the at least operating parameter, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling a pump configured to circulate a solution carrying thermal energy through the heat capture and storage system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling an operating mode control valve included in the heat capture and storage system to cause the heat capture and storage system to switch between a heat storage mode and a cold storage mode.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling an exhaust diverter valve included in the heat capture and storage system to divert at least a part of the engine exhaust away from a generator of the heat capture and storage system.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the pump includes controlling a speed of the pump to meet a specified temperature.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the pump includes controlling a speed of the pump to meet a specified pressure.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the pump includes controlling a speed of the pump to meet a specified liquid level in the heat capture and storage system.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling a fan included in the heat capture and storage system to control a cooling rate of solution carrying thermal energy in the heat capture and storage system.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the control signals include a signal for controlling a first pump configured to circulate a first solution through a first heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from said engine exhaust.