Waste recovery cogenerator
AssigneeUniversity of Miami
InventorJames Edward Peret
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A waste-to-energy cogeneration system is described in various embodiments. The system can convert certain fuel-laden waste to thermal energy and electrical power. In certain embodiments, fuel-laden waste which has not been pre-filtered or pre-treated to remove particulates and water is deposited in the cogeneration system and prepared by the system for combustion in an unmodified diesel engine. The fuel-laden waste can comprise oils, greases and fats from food preparation which are contaminated with water and particulates. Thermal and mechanical energy produced by the engine are utilized to provide thermal energy and electrical power external to the cogeneration system.
Claims47
A cogeneration system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- an electrical generator powered by the internal combustion engine, the electrical generator adapted to provide electrical power external to the cogeneration system;
- an excess thermal energy system adapted to extract thermal energy produced by the internal combustion engine and provide excess thermal energy external to the cogeneration system;
- and
- a fuel-warming system adapted to extract thermal energy from engine combustion products and provide thermal energy to heat waste-recovered fuel within the cogeneration system so that water within the heated waste-recovered fuel is vaporized and separated from the fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.