Machine system for co-production of electrical power and water and method of operating same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDana Ray Coldren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Operating a machine system for co-production of electrical power and filtered potable water includes operating an electrical generator by way of rotation of an engine output shaft to produce electrical power, and collecting water condensed from cooled treated exhaust from the engine for delivery to an outgoing water conduit. Operating the machine system further includes supplying electrical power produced by the electrical generator to an in situ electrical load, and to at least one ex situ electrical load such as a power grid. The in situ electrical load is produced by at least one of an exhaust conveyance device, an air conveyance device, or a water conveyance device in a water subsystem.
Claims18
A method of operating a machine system for co-production of electrical power and water comprising:
- combusting fuel and air in an engine to rotate an engine output shaft;
- feeding exhaust from the engine through an exhaust aftertreatment subsystem;
- feeding treated exhaust from the exhaust aftertreatment subsystem through a water subsystem;
- cooling the treated exhaust in the water subsystem;
- collecting water condensed from the cooled treated exhaust for delivery to an outgoing water conduit;
- operating an electrical generator by way of the rotation of the engine output shaft to produce electrical power;
- supplying electrical power produced by the operation of the electrical generator to an in situ electrical load in the water subsystem;
- supplying a net of electrical power produced by the operation of the electrical generator to at least one ex situ electrical load;
- and
- wherein the cooling of the treated exhaust includes cooling the treated exhaust in a heat exchanger and in a condenser, and further comprising boosting a flow of the treated exhaust to the condenser.
A method for co-production of electrical power and water in a machine system comprising:
- coupling a water subsystem to an exhaust aftertreatment subsystem for an engine in a machine system;
- coupling an electrical generator in the machine system to an in situ electrical load in the water subsystem, and to at least one ex situ electrical load;
- operating the electrical generator with the engine;
- treating exhaust from the engine in the exhaust aftertreatment subsystem;
- boosting a flow of the treated exhaust to the water subsystem;
- cooling the treated exhaust in the water subsystem to condense water from the treated exhaust;
- supplying water condensed from the treated exhaust to an outgoing water conduit;
- and
- supplying electrical power produced by the operation of the electrical generator to the in situ electrical load, and to at least one ex situ electrical load.
A machine system for co-production of electric power and water comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having an engine output shaft;
- an electrical generator coupled with the engine output shaft;
- an exhaust aftertreatment subsystem including an exhaust filter and a catalytic exhaust treatment device;
- a water subsystem coupled with the exhaust aftertreatment system and including a heat exchanger, a condenser, a condensed water collector, a water filter, and an outgoing water conduit, and at least one of the heat exchanger, the condenser, or the condensed water collector including an electric motor;
- electrical cabling including a first node for supplying electrical power from the electrical generator to an in situ electrical load produced by the electric motor, and a second node for supplying a net of electrical power from the electrical generator to at least one ex situ electrical load;
- and
- a machine system package including the engine and the electrical generator, wherein the machine system package further includes the exhaust aftertreatment subsystem, the water subsystem, and a common support frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.