Controlled organic rankine cycle system for recovery and conversion of thermal energy

A method for controlled recovery of thermal energy, comprising:

• providing, via a reciprocating engine, a primary power and one or more sources of thermal energy comprising exhaust heat;
• collecting and using, via an organic Rankine cycle, the one or more sources of thermal energy to heat and evaporate a propellant in a propellant heat exchanger to drive an expander to provide a secondary power source;
• providing, via a thermal fluid heater, thermal fluid to the propellant heat exchanger;
• a processor-based controller;
• controlling an exhaust diverter valve coupled to the reciprocating engine via a processor-based controller to divert exhaust heat
• (i) to the thermal fluid heater to regulate the amount of thermal energy from the exhaust that is transferred to the thermal fluid for use within the organic Rankine cycle;
• and
• (ii) to vent engine exhaust gas to atmosphere.

A system for controlled recovery of thermal energy, comprising:

• a reciprocating engine operable to provide a primary power and operable to provide one or more sources of thermal energy comprising exhaust heat;
• an organic Rankine cycle configured to collect and use the one or more sources of thermal energy to heat and evaporate a propellant in a propellant heat exchanger to drive an expander to provide a secondary power source;
• a thermal fluid heater for providing thermal fluid to the propellant heat exchanger;
• a processor-based controller;
• a thermal fluid heater to transfer exhaust heat to the thermal fluid for use within the organic Rankine cycle.