Cogeneration systems and methods for generating heating and electricity
AssigneeImby Energy, Inc.
InventorSteve Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods utilize a cogeneration system for providing heating, cooling, and/or electricity to an enclosure. The system includes a heat engine for heating and supplying electricity to the enclosure through fluid transfer from the heat engine to the enclosure to transfer thermal energy from the fluid to the enclosure. The system further includes a heat pump configured to supply at least heating and cooling to the enclosure through movement of fluid from the heat pump to the enclosure to transfer thermal energy from the fluid to the enclosure.
Claims16
A method of providing heating, cooling and electricity to an enclosure using a cogeneration system, the method comprising:
- generating thermal energy and electricity by operation of a heat engine configured for heating the enclosure via a first heat transfer fluid;
- providing thermal energy by operation of a heat pump using the electricity from the heat engine, the heat pump configured for heating the enclosure via only the first heat transfer fluid;
- transferring thermal energy from the heat engine and the heat pump to the first heat transfer fluid via a first conduit coupled to the heat engine and filled with the first heat transfer fluid and a second conduit coupled to the heat pump and filled with the second heat transfer fluid;
- providing at least one of space heating and water heating to the enclosure via the first heat transfer fluid at a heating system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a heating system associated with the enclosure;
- and
- providing space cooling to the enclosure by operation of the heat pump via a second heat transfer fluid that absorbs thermal energy from the enclosure at a cooling system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a cooling system associated with the enclosure, wherein at least one of space heating and water heating are provided to the enclosure simultaneously with space cooling to the enclosure.
A method of providing heating, cooling and electricity to an enclosure using a cogeneration system, the method comprising:
- generating thermal energy and electricity by operation of a heat engine configured for heating the enclosure via a first heat transfer fluid;
- providing thermal energy by operation of a heat pump, the heat pump configured for heating the enclosure via only the first heat transfer fluid;
- transferring thermal energy from the heat engine and the heat pump to the first heat transfer fluid via a first conduit coupled to the heat engine and filled with the first heat transfer fluid and a second conduit coupled to the heat pump and filled with the second heat transfer fluid;
- moving the first heat transfer fluid through a valve arrangement, the valve arrangement constructed and arranged to distribute the first heat transfer fluid to one or more cogeneration system components;
- providing at least one of space heating and water heating to the enclosure via the first heat transfer fluid at a heating system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a heating system associated with the enclosure;
- moving a second heat transfer fluid through the valve arrangement, the valve arrangement constructed and arranged to distribute the second heat transfer fluid to one or more cogeneration system components without the first heat transfer fluid contacting the second heat transfer fluid;
- and
- providing space cooling to the enclosure by operation of the heat pump via the second heat transfer fluid that absorbs thermal energy from the enclosure at a cooling system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a cooling system associated with the enclosure.
A method of providing heating, cooling and electricity to an enclosure using a cogeneration system, the method comprising:
- generating thermal energy and electricity by operation of a heat engine configured for heating the enclosure via a first heat transfer fluid;
- providing thermal energy by operation of a heat pump, the heat pump configured for heating the enclosure via only the first heat transfer fluid;
- transferring thermal energy from the heat engine and the heat pump to the first heat transfer fluid via a first conduit coupled to the heat engine and filled with the first heat transfer fluid and a second conduit coupled to the heat pump and filled with the second heat transfer fluid;
- providing at least one of space heating and water heating to the enclosure via the first heat transfer fluid at a heating system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a heating system associated with the enclosure;
- and
- providing thermal energy to a thermal storage system heat exchanger via at least one of the first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid, the thermal storage system heat exchanger constructed and arranged to be coupled to a thermal storage system associated with the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.