Waste heat recovery lube oil management

A waste heat recovery system, comprising:

• a thermal circuit configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the thermal circuit comprising:
• a boiler;
• an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive working fluid from the boiler;
• a power transfer system integrated to the expander, the power transfer system configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander, the power transfer system having an interface configured to restrict movement of oil present in the power transfer system into the thermal circuit;
• and
• a vapor flow conduit fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive high-pressure vapor working fluid from the boiler, the vapor flow conduit configured to provide the high-pressure vapor working fluid proximate to the interface;
• and
• a check valve fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the check valve configured to receive a suction flow of working fluid from the power transfer system and to provide the suction flow of working fluid to the thermal circuit, thereby reducing pressure in the power transfer system,
• wherein an ejector is fluidly coupled to the check valve and the power transfer system, the ejector receiving the suction flow from the power transfer system via the check valve and receives motive flow from the power transfer system, the ejector comprising a diffuser that combines the suction flow and the motive flow, increasing the pressure of the suction flow and decreasing the pressure of the motive flow, and wherein the combined suction flow and motive flow exit to the thermal circuit via an exit flow conduit of the ejector.

A waste heat recovery system, comprising:

• a thermal circuit configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the thermal circuit comprising:
• a boiler;
• an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive working fluid from the boiler;
• a power transfer system integrated to the expander, the power transfer system configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander, the power transfer system having an interface configured to restrict movement of oil present in the power transfer system into the thermal circuit;
• and
• a vapor flow conduit fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive high-pressure vapor working fluid from the boiler, the vapor flow conduit configured to provide the high-pressure vapor working fluid proximate to the interface;
• an oil reservoir fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil reservoir configured to store oil for the power transfer system and to provide oil to the power transfer system;
• an oil scraper fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil scraper configured to collect oil that has exited the expander and to provide collected oil to the oil reservoir;
• and
• a flow straightener fluidly coupled to the expander and fluidly coupled to the oil scraper, the flow straightener configured to cause working fluid and oil that has exited the expander to define a laminar profile before entering the oil scraper,
• wherein the flow straightener includes a plurality of vertical plates and a plurality of horizontal plates, the plurality of vertical plates and the plurality of horizontal plates defining apertures through which the working fluid travels.

A waste heat recovery system, comprising:

• a thermal circuit configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the thermal circuit comprising:
• a boiler;
• an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive working fluid from the boiler;
• a power transfer system integrated to the expander, the power transfer system configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander, the power transfer system having an interface configured to restrict movement of oil present in the power transfer system into the thermal circuit;
• and
• a vapor flow conduit fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive high-pressure vapor working fluid from the boiler, the vapor flow conduit configured to provide the high-pressure vapor working fluid proximate to the interface;
• an oil reservoir fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil reservoir configured to store oil for the power transfer system and to provide oil to the power transfer system;
• an oil scraper fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil scraper configured to collect oil that has exited the expander and to provide collected oil to the oil reservoir;
• and
• a flow straightener fluidly coupled to the expander and fluidly coupled to the oil scraper, the flow straightener configured to cause working fluid and oil that has exited the expander to define a laminar profile before entering the oil scraper,
• wherein the flow straightener includes a mesh, the mesh causing the working fluid and oil to have the laminar profile before entering the oil scraper.

A waste heat recovery system, comprising:

• a thermal circuit configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the thermal circuit comprising:
• a boiler;
• an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive working fluid from the boiler;
• a power transfer system integrated to the expander, the power transfer system configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander, the power transfer system having an interface configured to restrict movement of oil present in the power transfer system into the thermal circuit;
• and
• a vapor flow conduit fluidly coupled to the boiler and configured to receive high-pressure vapor working fluid from the boiler, the vapor flow conduit configured to provide the high-pressure vapor working fluid proximate to the interface;
• an oil reservoir fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil reservoir configured to store oil for the power transfer system and to provide oil to the power transfer system;
• an oil scraper fluidly coupled to the power transfer system, the oil scraper configured to collect oil that has exited the expander and to provide collected oil to the oil reservoir;
• and
• a flow straightener fluidly coupled to the expander and fluidly coupled to the oil scraper, the flow straightener configured to cause working fluid and oil that has exited the expander to define a laminar profile before entering the oil scraper,
• wherein the flow straightener includes a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel to each other, the plurality of tubes causing the working fluid and oil to have the laminar profile before entering the oil scraper.