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US 2011/0296849 A1Published application
Integrated power, cooling, and heating apparatus utilizing waste heat recovery
OwnerDwayne M. Bensoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for utilizing waste heat to power a reconfigurable thermodynamic cycle that can be used to selectively cool or heat an environmentally controlled space, such as a room, building, or vehicle. The present invention also integrates an electric machine, which may operate as a motor or generator, or both, and an additional prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine. Different combinations of these components are preferable for different applications. The system provides a design which reasonably balances the need to maximize efficiency, while also keeping the design cost-effective.
Claims13
An apparatus for heating and cooling comprising:
- a working fluid capable of both gas and liquid phases over the operating range of pressures and temperatures, a high pressure liquid pump connected to transfer said working fluid to a heater using an external heat source, the said heater connected to transfer said working fluid to a gas expander type prime mover, the said prime mover mechanically connected to drive the input shaft of a gas compressor, an electric machine mechanically attached to the shafting interconnecting the said expander and said compressor, allowing the said electric machine to add torque to said compressor input shaft, a first heat exchanger transferring heat from the said working fluid exiting said expander to the said working fluid between exiting said liquid pump and entering said heater, the said working fluid from the outlet of the hot side of said first heat exchanger and the said working fluid from the outlet of the said compressor connected to mix and flow to a second heat exchanger, the said second heat exchanger transfers heat from the said working fluid to a lower temperature second fluid, the said working fluid from the outlet of the said second heat exchanger connected to transfer said working fluid to the said liquid pump and transfer the said working fluid from the outlet of the said second heat exchanger to a flow restriction, which throttles the said working fluid. The said flow restriction connected to transfer the said working fluid to a third heat exchanger, the said third heat exchanger transferring heat from a third fluid which is the fluid that is desirably cooled, the said third heat exchanger connected to transfer the said working fluid to the inlet of the said compressor. A reversing valve or set of valves connected to the said working fluid, reversing the function of the said second heat exchanger and the said third heat exchanger, allowing the said second fluid to be cooled and the said third fluid to be heated.
An apparatus for cooling comprising:
- a working fluid capable of both gas and liquid phases over the operating range of pressures and temperatures, a high pressure liquid pump connected to transfer said working fluid to a heater using the exhaust from a fuel-powered internal-combustion-engine-type prime mover as one of the heat sources, the said heater connected to transfer said working fluid to a gas expander, the said fuel-powered prime mover mechanically connected to drive the input shaft of a gas compressor, the said expander also mechanically connected to drive the input shaft of said gas compressor, a first heat exchanger transferring heat from the said working fluid exiting said expander to the said working fluid between exiting the said liquid pump and entering said heater, the said working fluid from the outlet of the hot side of the said first heat exchanger and the said working fluid from the outlet of the said compressor connected to mix and flow to a second heat exchanger, the said second heat exchanger transfers heat from the said working fluid to a lower temperature second fluid, the said working fluid from the outlet of the said second heat exchanger connected to transfer said working fluid to the said liquid pump and transfer the said working fluid from the outlet of the said second heat exchanger to a flow restriction, which throttles the said working fluid. The said flow restriction connected to transfer the said working fluid to a third heat exchanger, the said third heat exchanger transferring heat from a third fluid which is the fluid that is desirably cooled, the said third heat exchanger connected to transfer the said working fluid to the inlet of the said compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.