Thermal shield for system for generating electric power
A thermal shield for a system for generating electric power may include a sheet of material configured to be operably associated with an engine of the system for generating electric power such that heat from the engine is deflected back toward the engine. The sheet of material may define a generally rectangular shape defining a length dimension and a width dimension, and the length dimension may be configured to generally correspond to a length defined by the engine.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/129,417, filed Jun. 25, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a thermal shield, and more particularly, to a thermal shield for a system for generating electric power.
BACKGROUNDIt may be desirable to generate electric power, for example, in situations in which electric power is not available from an electric power utility source, for example, in remote locations and/or locations experiencing a power outage. This may be accomplished, for example, using electric power generation systems that are configured to generate electric power via operation of one or more internal combustion engines to drive an electric machine configured to convert mechanical power supplied by the one or more engines into electric power.
Such power generation systems may be configured to facilitate transport of the power generation system to a location where such power generation is desired. Some such systems may be housed in, for example, a container such as a trailer, and operation of the engine(s) and/or electric machine may result in accumulation of heat inside the container. Thus, it may be desirable to prevent an accumulation of heat within the container in order to improve operation of the power generation system.
A portable power module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,966, issued to Campion (“the '966 patent”). The '966 patent discloses air ducts for a portable power module trailerable over public roads. The portable power module includes a shipping container housing a gaseous fuel motor drivably connected to an electrical generator. The '966 patent discloses air ducts positioned on a side of the container, which introduce ambient air into the container for cooling of the motor and the generator and for combustion in the motor. The '966 patent does not disclose, however, a thermal shield for the power modules disclosed in the '966 patent.
The systems and methods described in an exemplary manner in the present disclosure may be directed to mitigating or overcoming one or more of the drawbacks set forth above.
SUMMARYIn one aspect, the present disclosure includes a thermal shield for a system for generating electric power. The thermal shield may include a sheet of material configured to be operably associated with an engine of the system for generating electric power such that heat from the engine is deflected back toward the engine. The sheet of material may define a generally rectangular shape defining a length dimension and a width dimension, and the length dimension may be configured to generally correspond to a length defined by the engine.
According to a further aspect, a system for generating electric power may include an engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine configured to convert mechanical power into electric power. The electric machine may be operably coupled to the engine. The system may further include a housing defining an area containing the engine and at least one air passage configured to provide flow communication between an exterior of the housing an the area. The system may also include at least one panel operably associated with the engine and configured to deflect heat associated with operation of the engine.
According to another aspect, a method for increasing the effectiveness of a heat exchanger associated with a system for generating electric power may include operably associating at least one panel with an engine of the system, such that the at least one panel is provided between the engine and a wall of a housing containing the engine and the heat exchanger. The method may further include flowing air to the heat exchanger between the at least one panel and the wall.
System 10 may further include power load connections 16 configured to facilitate supply of electric power generated by system 10 to any device or system that receives input of a source of electric power, such as, for example, a power grid. According to some embodiments, a number of systems 10 may be coupled to one another and/or used together to supply additional electric power.
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According to some embodiments, system 10 may include a reservoir 34 (e.g., a fuel tank) within the interior of housing 20 for providing a supply of fuel to engine 12. Reservoir 34 may be coupled to engine 12 via one or more fuels lines (not shown). According to some embodiments, reservoir 34 may be located external to housing 20 and/or fuel may be supplied via an external source, such as, for example, a pipe line for supplying a fuel, such as, for example, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, and/or any combinations thereof.
According to some embodiments, system 10 may include a cooling system 36 configured to regulate the temperature of engine 12 and/or electric machine 14. For example, cooling system 36 may include one or more heat exchangers 38, such as, for example, one or more air-to-air-after-coolers (ATAAC) operably coupled to engine 12 and/or one or more radiators 40, such as, for example, a jacket water radiator, operably coupled to engine 12. According to some embodiments, engine 12 may include one or more turbochargers (not shown), and heat exchanger(s) 38 may be operably coupled to the one or more turbochargers to cool air entering the turbocharger(s). System 10 may include one or more fans 41, for example, located between engine 12 and heat exchanger(s) 38. Fan(s) 41 may be operably coupled to engine 12 via a drive belt (not shown) and/or may be driven via an electric motor (not shown), and may supply a flow of air to and/or through heat exchanger 38 in order to provide cooling air to heat exchanger 38.
Exemplary radiator(s) 40 may be configured to receive and cool a flow of coolant (e.g., a liquid coolant), which may be circulated into and/or through engine 12 via coolant lines (not shown), thereby cooling engine 12. One or more fans 42 may be associated with radiator 40 and may be configured to provide a flow of cooling air to radiator 40. Fan(s) 42 may be driven, for example, via an electric motor (not shown), which may be coupled to fan 42 via, for example, a belt drive (not shown).
According to some embodiments, as shown in
According to some embodiments, fan(s) 30 may be configured to draw air into and through radiator 40 via an open end of housing 20, for example, via opening one or more of rear doors 26 (or via openings (not shown) in rear doors 26) at D, where the air may then be diverted via partition 43 and out opening(s) 50 in roof 38 at E.
According to some embodiments, engine 12 may include an exhaust system 44 (see
According to some embodiments, for example, as shown in
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According to some embodiments, panels 54 may be formed of sheet steel, or any other suitable material. For example, panels 54 may be formed of a sheet of material having a thickness ranging from about 10 gage to about 20 gage, for example, from about 14 gage to about 16 gage. According to some embodiments, panels 54 may include configurations and/or portions that serve to increase the stiffness of panels 54, for example, to reduce vibration and/or noise. For example, as shown in
According to some embodiments (see
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Exemplary system 10 may be used to generate electric power, for example, in situations in which electric power is not available from an electric power utility source, for example, in remote locations and/or locations experiencing a power outage. One or more engines 12 of exemplary system 10 may be configured to output mechanical power, and one or more electric machines 14 may be configured to convert mechanical power into electric power. One or more control panels 18 may be configured to facilitate control of at least one of engine 12 and electric machine 14. Housing 20 may be configured to contain at least one of engine 12 and electric machine 14.
System 10 may be provided with one or more panels 54, which may be configured to shield thermal energy (e.g., heat) that may associated with operation of engine 12. For example, panels 54 may be operably coupled to opposite sides of engine 12 and may serve to deflect and/or reflect heat (e.g., radiant heat) from engine 12. According to some embodiments, panels 54 may serve to shield heat from engine 12 during operation and reduce the effects of such heat in increasing the temperature of the air as it flows through area 68 before flowing through heat exchanger(s) 38. This may serve to increase the effectiveness of heat exchanger 38 in cooling air entering one or more intake passages (or turbochargers) associated with engine 12. This, in turn, may increase the efficiency of engine 12 and/or reduce emissions associated with operation of engine 12. According to some embodiments, thermal insulation 66 may serve an at least similar function.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the exemplary disclosed systems for generating electric power. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the exemplary disclosed systems and methods. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
Claims
1. A thermal shield for a system for generating electric power, the thermal shield comprising:
- a sheet of material configured to be operably associated with an engine of the system for generating electric power such that heat from the engine is deflected back toward the engine,
- wherein the sheet of material defines a generally rectangular shape defining a length dimension and a width dimension, and
- wherein the length dimension is configured to generally correspond to a length defined by the engine.
2. The thermal shield of claim 1, further including at least one portion configured to increase the stiffness of the sheet of material.
3. The thermal shield of claim 2, wherein the at least one portion includes a flange operably associated with the sheet of material.
4. The thermal shield of claim 3, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the sheet of material.
5. The thermal shield of claim 1, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be operably coupled to the engine.
6. The thermal shield of claim 5, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be operably coupled to a block of the engine.
7. The thermal shield of claim 5, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be operably coupled to intake passages of the engine via at least one bracket.
8. The thermal shield of claim 1, wherein the sheet of material defines a thickness ranging from about 14 gage to about 16 gage.
9. The thermal shield of claim 1, wherein the sheet of material defines at least one of an edge configuration and a portion cut-out from an interior portion of the rectangular shape.
10. The thermal shield of claim 1, wherein the width dimension is configured to generally correspond to a distance between a lower edge of a cylinder head of the engine and an intake passage of the engine.
11. A system for generating electric power, comprising:
- an engine;
- an electric machine configured to convert mechanical power into electric power, the electric machine being operably coupled to the engine;
- a housing defining an area containing the engine and at least one air passage configured to provide flow communication between an exterior of the housing an the area; and
- at least one panel operably associated with the engine and configured to deflect heat associated with operation of the engine.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one panel includes two panels operably associated with the engine, wherein each of the two panels is associated with opposite sides of the engine.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one panel includes a sheet of material defining a generally rectangular shape defining a length dimension and a width dimension.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sheet of material defines at least one of an edge configuration and a portion cut-out from an interior portion of the rectangular shape.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the length dimension generally corresponds to a length defined by the engine.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the width dimension generally corresponds to a distance between a lower edge of a cylinder head of the engine and an intake passage of the engine.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one panel includes a sheet of material, and the sheet of material is operably coupled to the engine.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sheet of material is operably coupled to a block of the engine.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the sheet of material is operably coupled to an intake passage of the engine via at least one bracket.
20. A method for increasing the effectiveness of a heat exchanger associated with a system for generating electric power, the method including:
- operably associating at least one panel with an engine of the system such that the at least one panel is provided between the engine and a wall of a housing containing the engine and the heat exchanger,
- flowing air to the heat exchanger between the at least one panel and the wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 9, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 31, 2009
Inventors: Michael R. Errera (Milner, GA), Kenton D. Gills (Jonesboro, GA)
Application Number: 12/217,809
International Classification: F02B 63/04 (20060101); F28F 7/00 (20060101); H02K 9/00 (20060101);