# US 9,435,534 B2 · Energy-recovery system for a production plant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,534 B2 - Document ID: US9435534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/623,665 - Filed: 2009-11-23 - Published: 2011-03-03 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-31 - Assignees: Holistic Engineering Inc - Applicants: Joseph G. Spagnuolo - Inventors: Joseph G. Spagnuolo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435534B2 ## CPC - F23J 15/06: of coolers - B01D 53/002: {by condensation} - B01D 53/1475: {Removing carbon dioxide} - F24D 5/12: using heat pumps - F24D 12/02: having more than one heat source (using heat pumps, in water central heating systems F24D3/18; in air central heating systems F24D5/12; in systems using heat storage masses F24D11/02) - F24H 6/00: Combined water and air heaters - F24D 2200/18: Flue gas recuperation - F28D 21/0003: {the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases (F28D21/0014 takes precedence)} - Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] - Y02B 30/13: Hot air central heating systems using heat pumps - Y02C 20/40: of CO2 - Y02E 20/30: Technologies for a more efficient combustion or heat usage - Y02E 20/32: Direct CO2 mitigation - F23J: REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTION RESIDUES; FLUES (combustion apparatus for consuming smoke or fumes, e.g. exhaust gases, F23G7/06) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A production plant comprises a primary-process system (10) and an energy-recovery system (100). The energy-recovery system (100) includes a fluid line (110) for conveying a medium and a heat exchanger (120) placing the fluid line (110) in heat-transfer relationship with an exhaust line (40) upstream of a scrubber (70). The heat exchanger (120) causes condensation of water vapor within the exhaust line (40) and transfers heat to the medium within the fluid line (110). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A production plant, comprising: a primary-process system including a furnace which combusts fuel to further production of electrical power by heating water/steam in a primary-process fluid line which conveys the water/steam through a closed turbine cycle operably connected to a main generator, a stack through which flue gas exits the production plant, an exhaust line extending from the furnace to the stack, and a scrubber which introduces water into the exhaust line; and an energy-recovery system including an energy-recovery fluid line for conveying a medium and a heat exchanger placing the energy-recovery fluid line in heat-transfer relationship with the exhaust line downstream of the scrubber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the scrubber causes pollutant particles within the flue gas to be captured in liquid droplets and/or pollutant gasses within the flue gas to be dissolved or absorbed into the liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A production plant as set forth in claim 2, wherein the expected temperature range of the flue gas exiting the scrubber is greater than 110° F. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A production plant as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flue gas exiting the heat exchanger is at water-condensing conditions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exhaust line transfers heat directly to the energy-recovery fluid line of the energy-recovery system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exhaust line transfers heat to an intermediate fluid which then transfers heat to the energy-recovery fluid line of the energy-recovery system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the energy-recovery system powers a generator for producing electricity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the energy-recovery system: provides heated water to a house-water supply, and/or serves to heat ventilation air. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the energy-recovery fluid line is part of a closed fluid cycle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the energy-recovery fluid line is not part of a closed fluid cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises an evaporator and wherein the medium within the energy-recovery fluid line is a refrigerant that evaporates at a temperature within the expected temperature range of flue gas exiting the scrubber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A production plant as set forth in claim 11, wherein the energy-recovery system comprises a turbine downstream of the evaporator, and wherein the turbine is operably coupled to a generator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A production plant as set forth in claim 12, wherein the energy-recovery system comprises a condenser downstream of the evaporator, a compressor downstream of the condenser, and an expander upstream of the evaporator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A production plant as set forth in claim 11, wherein the energy-recovery system provides heated water to a house-water supply and/or serves to heat ventilation air. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the medium within the energy-recovery fluid line is a liquid that does not evaporate within an expected temperature range of combustion gas within the exhaust line exiting the scrubber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A production plant as set forth in claim 15, wherein the medium conveyed by the energy-recovery fluid line is water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A production plant as set forth in claim 15, wherein the energy-recovery system comprises a pump for pumping the liquid through the energy-recovery fluid line. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A production plant as set forth in claim 15, wherein the energy-recovery system provides heated water to a house-water supply, and/or serves to heat ventilation air. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A production plant as set forth in claim 1, wherein condensate is extracted from the exhaust line upstream of the heat exchanger, and wherein the extracted condensate: is further processed; is returned to the scrubber, is added into a primary-process-fluid line, and/or is plumbed to a situation requiring high quality water. ### Claim 20 A production plant comprising: a primary-process system including a furnace which combusts fuel to further production of a primary product, a stack through which flue gas exits the production plant, an exhaust line extending from the furnace to the stack, and a scrubber which introduces water into the exhaust line, and an energy-recovery system including a fluid line for conveying a medium and a heat exchanger placing the fluid line in heat-transfer relationship with the exhaust line downstream of the scrubber; wherein the scrubber causes pollutant particles within the flue gas to be captured in liquid droplets and/or pollutant gasses within the flue gas to be dissolved or absorbed into the liquid; and wherein the flue gas exiting the scrubber is at water-saturation conditions.