Power System Involving Change Of State Patents (Class 60/670)
  • Patent number: 8955319
    Abstract: A geothermal power generation system configured to generate power by suspending turbine engines over a pit exposing a geothermal energy source is disclosed. The geothermal power generation system may include a support structure sized to a pit and at least one turbine engine hanging below the support structure. One or more turbine engine deployment systems may be configured to move the turbine engine, i.e. raise or lower, such that a distance between the turbine engine and the geothermal energy source changes. In one embodiment, the turbine engine deployment system may be formed from a plurality of cables extending from a rotatable cable drum on the support structure and downward from a plurality of pulleys positioned along the pulley track. The support structure may also include a pulley track extending from the first base to the second base. One or more electrical transmission lines may extend from the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Tessema Dosho Shifferaw
  • Patent number: 8955323
    Abstract: To improve the exhaust heat recovery efficiency, a compressor includes a heat exchanger for cooling a gas, coolant, water, or oil heated by the compressor during compressor operation by heat exchange with a working fluid, for circulating the working fluid of a Rankine cycle. The Rankine cycle is implemented by the heat exchanger, an expander, a condenser, and a circulating pump to circulate the working fluid through the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20150033744
    Abstract: A fluid machine (29A) including: a casing section (56) including a suction port (55); a housing section (54) including a discharge port (53); and scrolls (51, 52) driven by a working fluid suctioned from the suction port (55). In the fluid machine (29A), a bypass section (80), which includes a bypass passage (81) guiding the working fluid to the discharge port (53) while allowing the working fluid to bypass the scrolls (51, 52) and a valve mechanism (83) opening and closing the bypass passage (81), is supported between the casing section (56) and the housing section (54). The valve mechanism (83) is a solenoid valve which displaces a valve body in a radial direction of a rotating shaft (28), and an accommodating portion of a coil (83d) is exposed to the outside of the casing section (56) and the housing section (54).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hirofumi Wada, Shinji Nakamura, Yuuta Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150033743
    Abstract: A fluid machine (29A) including: a casing section (56) having a suction port (55) into which a working fluid that becomes a high pressure heated vapor flows; a housing section (54) having a discharge port (53); and a scroll section (51, 52) driven by the working fluid suctioned from the suction port (55). A bypass section (80) including: a bypass passage (81) allowing the suction port (55) to communicate with the discharge port (53); and a valve mechanism (83) opening and closing the bypass passage (81), is supported between the sections (56, 54). When the bypass passage (81) is opened, the working fluid is circulated while bypassing a driving section including the scroll section (51, 52) and a sliding section such as an anti-rotation mechanism (60). Therefore, even when the working fluid in a liquid phase flows, degradation of lubricity in the sliding section can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hirofumi Wada, Shinji Nakamura, Yuuta Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150033745
    Abstract: A steam turbine system uses a laser to instantaneously vaporize water in a nozzle within a turbine. This steam is then used to rotate the turbine. Thus, the turbine system does not require an external boiler. The steam turbine system may be used in either an open system, where the steam passing through the turbine is not condensed and reused, or a closed system, where the steam passing through the turbine is condensed and reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: BASTIAN FAMILY HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Bastian, II, Elizabeth Sobota
  • Patent number: 8943853
    Abstract: A waste heat utilization device for an air compressor includes: a discharge path of an oil free air compressor; a circulation path along which a low boiling point medium circulates; an evaporator provided on the circulation path to heat and evaporate the low boiling point medium using the potential heat of the compressed air; and a preheater provided on an upstream side of the evaporator to preheat the low boiling point medium using the potential heat of the compressed air. A scroll type expansion machine is rotated by the low boiling point medium evaporated by the evaporator and increased in pressure, and power is generated by a power generator connected to a rotary shaft of the scroll type expansion machine. The low boiling point medium discharged from the scroll type expansion machine is then cooled and condensed by a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Anest Iwata Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Fujioka, Atsushi Unami
  • Publication number: 20150027120
    Abstract: A device for capture of acid gas of combustion fumes of a thermal power plant, including: absorption means (10) of the gas by capture fluid, a regenerator (1) where the capture fluid and a regeneration fluid steam are put in contact, introduction means (11) of the regeneration fluid in the regenerator, condensation means (2, 3, 4), at the head of said regenerator, separation means (6) of liquid phase of the regeneration fluid and gaseous phase rich in acid gas, Wherein: the regeneration fluid steam introduced is superheated, the regenerator (1) includes means limiting the contact time to substantially maintain the flow rate of regeneration fluid steam, the condensation means (2, 3, 4) are in thermal exchange with first evaporation means of working fluid, and first reintroduction means (13) of steam obtained in a turbine (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Yann Le Moullec
  • Patent number: 8931278
    Abstract: A steam generation system delivers heats water and carbon dioxide at high temperatures in the presence of one or more plasma arc torches and converts the materials into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The converted gas is delivered to a heat recovery steam generator (“HRSG”) to produce steam, which may be used to power a steam turbine. Depending on the amount of steam and/or power desired, the system may use a control system to vary the flow, temperature and pressure of the gas delivered to the HRSG. The control system may do this by bringing additional torches on-line or off-line in the processing chamber, by adding unheated gas directly from a supply source, shunting the gas from the HRSG, and varying the flow of water delivered to the HRSG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Hirson, Gus F. Shouse
  • Publication number: 20150007568
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus, a power generation method, a decomposition-gas boiler, and a decomposition-gas turbine with which nitrous oxide may be used as an environmentally friendly energy source. A fuel gas including nitrous oxide (N2O) is supplied to a decomposition reactor (22) in which a catalyst (21) for decomposing nitrous oxide is disposed. Steam is generated by a decomposition-gas boiler by heat recovery from decomposition gas (N2, O2) generated by decomposing the nitrous oxide, the steam generated by the decomposition-gas boiler is used to drive the rotation of a steam turbine to obtain motive power, and the motive power is subsequently used to drive a generator to obtain electrical power. Alternatively, the decomposition gas (N2, O2) generated by decomposing the nitrous oxide is used to drive the rotation of a decomposition-gas turbine to obtain motive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Chaen, Junichiro Kawaguchi, Hiroto Habu, Yoshitsugu Sone
  • Publication number: 20150007569
    Abstract: A volumetric expander (20) configured to transfer a working fluid and generate useful work includes a housing. The housing includes an inlet port (24) configured to admit relatively high-pressure working fluid and an outlet port (26) configured to discharge to a relatively low-pressure working fluid. The expander also includes first and second twisted meshed rotors (30,32) rotatably disposed in the housing and configured to exp/and the relatively high-pressure working fluid into the relatively low-pressure working fluid. Each rotor has a plurality of lobes, and when one lobe of the first rotor is leading with respect to the inlet port, one lobe of the second rotor is trailing with respect to the inlet port. The expander additionally includes an output shaft (38) rotated by the relatively high-pressure working fluid as the fluid undergoes expansion. A system for generating work using the expander in a Rankine cycle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: William Nicholas Eybergen
  • Publication number: 20150000276
    Abstract: An auxiliary steam generator system for a power plant, comprising a water-steam circuit, which has a condensate line and a feed-water line, wherein a condensate pump is connected in the condensate line and a feed-water pump is connected in the feed-water line, and wherein a pressure accumulating vessel is connected between the condensate pump and the feed-water pump, and wherein a feed-water take-off line is connected to the water-steam circuit at a branch-off point after the pressure accumulating vessel is provided. The feed-water take-off line is connected to the pressure accumulating vessel and a heating device is connected in the feed-water take-off line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Heiner Edelmann, Mark Reissig, Marc Sattelberger, Andre Schrief
  • Patent number: 8919328
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling is described. More particularly, a Rankine cycle WHR system and method is described, including an arrangement to improve the precision of EGR cooling for engine efficiency improvement and thermal management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
  • Publication number: 20140373544
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems that are configured as a closed loop system with a pump, an evaporator, a power generator, and a condenser, the combination of which circulates a working fluid to generate electrical power. The embodiments are configured with a cooling system that can depress the local pressure at or near components that are the target of cooling, which in turn permits the cooling fluid to function at temperatures that can remove heat, even when the ambient temperature rises above desirable levels. In one embodiment, the system is configured with an ejector device that can use energy of the working fluid F in vapor phase to lower the pressure in a housing, or like environment, that encloses critical elements of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Sankar K. Mohan
  • Publication number: 20140373545
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system that configured as a closed loop system, with a pump, an evaporator, a power generator, and a condenser, the combination of which circulate a working fluid to generate electrical power. The embodiments can harvest residual energy in the working fluid to improve efficiency and to reduce power loss that can derive from the pump as well as other auxiliary loads (e.g., fans). In one embodiment, the system incorporates members that operate in response to the working fluid, often in the higher pressure vapor form that occurs after evaporation and/or power generation stages. These members can include mechanical elements, for example, that have motive action (e.g., reciprocate, rotate, etc.) that is useful to satisfy operating and power requirements of auxiliary loads. For the pressurization stage, these mechanical elements may embody a piston-and-cylinder arrangement (or other rotary or linear positive displacement arrangement) that generates motion that can drive the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Sankar K. Mohan
  • Publication number: 20140373527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compressor powered by a pressurized gas, whether steam or another working fluid, and a system for extracting work using such as compressor. The pressurized gas may comprise a heated working fluid in a gaseous state, to displace a piston in an input circuit, which in turn displaces a piston in an output circuit, thereby compressing a compressible fluid or displacing an incompressible fluid. A purpose of the compressor is to convert waste heat, heat generated by the combustion of biomass or other fuels, or heat resulting from the concentration of solar energy into useful power, whether configured to produce compressed air or pump water, which can displace the electricity otherwise used for this purpose, or to produce electricity or motive force directly, through a hydraulic circuit. The system for extracting work does so by an output fluid which is compressed or pumped by a pressurized gas powered compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: NOVOPOWER LTD.
    Inventors: Valeri STROGANOV, Philip RAPHALS
  • Publication number: 20140366537
    Abstract: In a system for effecting pressure control in a thermal power plant operated at low load connected fluidly in series, a relief conduit is disclosed herein. The relief conduit selectively transfers steam from a cold reheat conduit to the second extraction conduit. The plant further includes a boiler, a high-pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a main steam conduit for feeding steam from the boiler to an inlet of the high pressure turbine, a cold reheat conduit for feeding steam from an outlet of the high-pressure turbine through a reheat flow path in the boiler, and a first and second high pressure heaters. A first extraction conduit connects the cold reheat conduit to a first high pressure heater to transfer heat, and a second extraction conduit connects the intermediate pressure turbine to the second high pressure heater, to transfer heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Stephan HELLWEG, Volker Schüle, Manfred BAUER
  • Publication number: 20140360204
    Abstract: The present techniques are directed to systems and a method for extracting a high pressure gas from a power plant. A method includes providing a fuel to a burner, and providing an oxidant to the burner, wherein an oxidant flow rate is adjusted to provide a substantially stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant to the fuel. The fuel and the oxidant are combusted in the burner to produce an exhaust gas. At least a portion of the exhaust gas is extracted downstream of the burner to form a product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Srinivas N. Moorkanikkara
  • Publication number: 20140352306
    Abstract: A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. The system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that three distinct condensed working fluid streams are employed at various stages in the waste heat recovery cycle. A first condensed working fluid stream is vaporized by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream, a second condensed working fluid stream absorbs heat from an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream, and a third condensed working fluid stream removes heat directly from a waste heat-containing stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Alexander Lehar
  • Publication number: 20140352308
    Abstract: A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. In one aspect, the system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that an initial waste heat-containing stream is employed to vaporize a first working fluid stream, and a resultant heat depleted waste heat-containing stream is employed to aid in the production of a second vaporized working fluid stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Matthew Alexander Lehar, Pierre Sebastien Huck, Christian Vogel
  • Publication number: 20140352305
    Abstract: A novel Rankine cycle system configured to convert waste heat into mechanical and/or electrical energy is provided. In one aspect, the system provided by the present invention comprises a novel configuration of the components of a conventional Rankine cycle system; conduits, ducts, heaters, expanders, heat exchangers, condensers and pumps to provide more efficient energy recovery from a waste heat source. In one aspect, the Rankine cycle system is configured such that an initial waste heat-containing stream is employed to vaporize a first working fluid stream, and a resultant heat depleted waste heat-containing stream and a first portion of an expanded second vaporized working fluid stream are employed to augment heat provided by an expanded first vaporized working fluid stream in the production of a second vaporized working fluid stream. The Rankine cycle system is adapted for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pierre Sebastien Huck, Matthew Alexander Lehar, Christian Vogel
  • Publication number: 20140345280
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel is disclosed. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel includes: a heat exchanger, which recovers heat from the exhaust fumes discharged from the engine, to heat a first refrigerant under uniform pressure; a turbine which is driven by adiabatically expanding the first refrigerant heated under uniform pressure; a condenser which condenses the adiabatically expanded first refrigerant; and a heat exchanging pump which compresses the condensed first refrigerant so as to re-circulate the compressed first refrigerant to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG HEAVY IND. CO., LTD
    Inventors: Moon Ho Son, Gun Il Park, Sung Jae Lee, Ho Ki Lee, Jung Kun Jin, Jae Woong Choi
  • Patent number: 8893666
    Abstract: A cogeneration power plant for producing steam and electricity. A boiler burner receives fuel from a fuel source and a boiler combustion air/exhaust mixture from a boiler combustion air fan. An internal combustion engine receives fuel and air for combustion. The internal combustion engine drives an electricity generator for the production of electricity. A boiler combustion control system automatically monitors the boiler load and the combustion air and engine exhaust mixture oxygen level and temperature. The boiler combustion control system will then appropriately automatically adjust the speed of the boiler combustion air fan to provide a near stoichiometric mixture of fuel and combustion air and engine exhaust mixture so as to provide for a high burner temperature causing the reduction of NOx emissions in the boiler exhaust while maintaining a very high boiler operating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Robert P. Benz
  • Patent number: 8887481
    Abstract: A method for starting a combined cycle power plant (1) includes loading the gas turbine unit (2), providing a starting temperature (Tstart) for the steam supplied to the steam turbine (5), while the control valve (7) is regulated controlling the temperature of the steam at a temperature substantially equal to the starting temperature (Tstart) at a position (P2) downstream of the control valve (7) and upstream of the rotor (8), when the control valve (7) is substantially fully open, supplying steam to the steam turbine (5) at the starting temperature (Tstart). The steam temperature is controlled by controlling the steam temperature upstream of the control valve (7) in accordance with the temperature drop caused by the control valve (7) when the steam passes through it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Andreas Ehrsam, Thomas Schreier
  • Patent number: 8881526
    Abstract: A steam turbine system uses a laser to instantaneously vaporize water in a nozzle within a turbine. This steam is then used to rotate the turbine. Thus, the turbine system does not require an external boiler. The steam turbine system may be used in either an open system, where the steam passing through the turbine is not condensed and reused, or a closed system, where the steam passing through the turbine is condensed and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bastian Family Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Bastian, II, Elizabeth Sobota
  • Patent number: 8881523
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle (6) of a waste heat utilization device includes a circulation path (7) for circulating a working fluid therethrough, an evaporator (12) for causing heat to transfer from cooling water delivered from an internal combustion engine (2) to the working fluid to evaporate the working fluid, a superheater (10) for causing heat to transfer from the cooling water delivered from an exhaust gas heat exchanger (8) to the working fluid delivered from the evaporator to superheat the working fluid, an expander (22) for expanding the working fluid delivered from the superheater to produce driving force, a condenser (24) for condensing the working fluid delivered from the expander, and a pump (28) for feeding the working fluid delivered from the condenser to the evaporator. The evaporator, the superheater, the expander, the condenser and the pump are successively inserted in the working fluid circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Tetsuya Nakano, Tomohiko Saito, Masaaki Tokuda, Satoshi Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 8881527
    Abstract: Power plant systems and methods are presented. The power plant includes a steam turbine configured to release exhaust steam. The power plant further includes an electro-hydrodynamic system operatively coupled to the steam turbine. The electro-hydrodynamic system is configured to receive the exhaust steam from the steam turbine and generate auxiliary electric power using the exhaust steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Erklin Seeley, Dmytro Floriyovych Opaits, Sunilkumar Onkarnath Soni, Chiranjeev Kalra
  • Publication number: 20140318130
    Abstract: Cogeneration method, according to which a hot source (2) produces steam that is released in at least one turbine (3) having a low-pressure steam outlet (5) linked to a condenser; at least a fraction (Q) of the steam leaving the turbine (3) is directed towards a Venturi thermocompressor (14) into which a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam is injected, resulting in a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam, and this mixture is directed towards a second condenser (21) where the heat of the mixture is transferred to an auxiliary fluid of a circuit (23) external to the thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Frederic Duong
  • Publication number: 20140311147
    Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a high efficiency steam cycle that includes a steam turbine cycle coupled to output of a high performance steam piston topping (HPSPT) cycle. The HPSPT cycle includes a piston-cylinder assembly that extracts work from an expanding fluid volume and operates in a thermal regime outside of thermal operational limits of a steam turbine. The steam turbine cycle utilizes heat, transferred at the output of the HPSPT cycle, to generate turbine work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FIRESTAR ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory S. Mungas
  • Patent number: 8863520
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a power and/or propulsion system comprising an external combustor, a steam generator, and a radial piston engine. In one embodiment, an undersea vehicle is powered by a propulsion system including a steam generator having a series of coiled tubes in which water is heated to generate steam by combustion of a monopropellant fuel ignited in the external combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kevin P. Bowen, Kenneth C. Holmboe, Kurt Stiffel, William E. Komm
  • Publication number: 20140305125
    Abstract: An organic Rankine cycle working fluid comprising at least one compound having formula (I): RNQ, wherein R is fluorinated or non-fluorinated methyl, ethyl, vinyl or ethynyl, N is element nitrogen, the connection of R—N is a ring structure or a straight chain structure, and Q is a hydrogen and/or at least one fluorine atom. A process for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, a method for power generation, an organic Rankine cycle system, and the use of the working fluid for heat transfer or in a mechanical power generation device are also provided. The organic Rankine cycle working fluid has a high energy conversion efficiency, low flammability, low toxicity and low corrosion on copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: EMMALJUNGA BARNVAGNSFABRIK AB
    Inventors: Jingtao Wang, Bo Pang, Christian Persson
  • Publication number: 20140298812
    Abstract: An ORC heat engine including a working fluid circuit having an evaporator for heating and evaporating a working fluid, a condenser for cooling and condensing the working fluid, and a positive displacement expander-generator having an inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator and an outlet in fluid communication with the condenser. The ORC heat engine further includes a control system coupled to the positive displacement expander-generator having a switch and driving means, the switch being switchable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the switch is coupled to the driving means, and the positive displacement expander-generator is drivable by the driving means, and in the second state the switch is not coupled to the driving means or the driving means is switched off, and the positive displacement expander-generator is not drivable by the driving means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: John Joseph Bannister, Timothy Nathan Bannister, Neil Stafford Bright
  • Publication number: 20140298813
    Abstract: A charging circuit for converting electrical energy into thermal energy is provided, having a compression stage, connected via a shaft to an electric motor, a heat exchanger and an expansion stage, which is connected via a shaft to a generator, wherein the compression stage is connected to the expansion stage via a hot-gas line, and the heat exchanger is connected on the primary side into the hot-gas line, wherein the expansion stage is connected via a return line to the compression stage, so that a closed circuit for a working gas is formed. A recuperator is also provided which, on the primary side, is connected into the hot-gas line between the heat exchanger and the expansion stage and, on the secondary side, is connected into the return line, so that heat from the working gas in the hot-gas line can be transferred to the working gas in the return line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christian Brunhuber, Carsten Graeber, Gerhard Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8850816
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for regenerating power in an information handling system. The method includes circulating a cooling fluid through a fluid flow loop connecting a thermosiphon, a turbine, and a condenser. The method further includes removing heat from a heated component of the information handling system, converting the cooling fluid from a liquid state to a gaseous state in the thermosiphon, and extracting energy from the cooling fluid in the gaseous state in the turbine. The method additionally includes removing thermal energy from the cooling fluid in the condenser, converting the cooling fluid from a gaseous state to a liquid state as the thermal energy is removed from the cooling fluid, and returning the cooling fluid in the liquid state to the thermosiphon. The disclosure also includes associated systems and apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Travis Christian North, Andrew Olen Ingalls, Eric Neil Sendelbach, Manasi Tamhankar, Srinivasan R. Kadathur
  • Publication number: 20140290251
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a drying conveyer apparatus capable of efficiently and uniformly drying coarse particles. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that a gas get portion (29) is provided on a bottom part of a conveyance member (25), a wind box (35) is provided for supplying drying gas (49) from blow the conveyance member (25), an object to be conveyed (2) is inputted within the conveyance member (25), the drying gas (35) is jetted from the gas jet portion (29) into the conveyance member (25) when the conveyance member (25) passes over the wind box (35), and the object to be conveyed (2) is dried while a fluidized bed thereof is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsugu Sugasawa, Hidehisa Yoshizako, Terufumi Miyata, Takahiro Okada, Yoshinori Taoka, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8844291
    Abstract: A universal heat engine is disclosed for converting energy from an input heat source to an output. The universal heat engine comprises a heat engine section and an output section. The heat engine section includes a heat engine bore receiving a heat engine piston. A heat engine valve assembly communicates with the heat engine bore for effecting reciprocal motion of the heat engine piston. The output section includes an output bore receiving an output piston. A piston rod interconnects the heat engine piston to the output piston. A control controls the heat engine valve assemblies to operate the heat engine section in accordance with a desired output from the output section. The heat source may comprise the burning of a petroleum product, a solar heat source, geothermal heat source or a byproduct heat source. The output may comprise a static or mobile air conditioning system or an electrical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: VaporGenics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M Gilmore, Michael B Gilmore, Patrick Sheppard, James M Berry, Timothy K. Mariani
  • Patent number: 8844287
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at the thermodynamic property amplification of a given thermal supply, provided by hydrocarbon combustion or in the preferred application heat provided by low-grade geothermal energy from the earth, for a vapor power cycle. The present invention achieves the desired objectives by segregating the compressible supercritical energy stream from the heat exchanger (boiler) into hot and cool fractions using a vortex tube, where the hot temperature is elevated above the heat exchanger temperature; and adding back heat (enthalpy) to the cool stream increasing the cool temperature to that of the geothermal heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: William David Hardgrave
  • Publication number: 20140283518
    Abstract: Provided is a steam turbine system including: at least one high pressure turbine, and/or at least one intermediate pressure turbine, and at least one first low pressure turbine, mounted on a first rotary shaft that is coupled to drive at least one first electrical generator; and at least one further low pressure turbine, mounted on a further rotary shaft that is coupled to drive at least one further electrical generator; and the turbine system further including a steam supply system to supply low pressure steam to the low pressure turbines provided with a steam outlet to enable extraction of auxiliary process steam from a location in the steam supply system upstream of the further low pressure turbine but not upstream of the first low pressure turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: DOOSAN BABCOCK LIMITED
    Inventor: Pramurtta Shourjya Majumdar
  • Publication number: 20140283517
    Abstract: A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a heat exchanger is communication with a heat source. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads and then condensed in a modular condensing system. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Morningside Venture Investments Limited
    Inventor: Frank Schubert
  • Patent number: 8839621
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant is described in which a pressurized water nuclear reactor or a biomass-fueled power plant, which have a relatively low operating temperature, such as, is combined with a coal or other fossil fuel power plant having a higher operating temperature. Steam from the first plant is superheated in the second power plant to provide a hybrid plant with improved efficiencies and lower emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hybrid Power LLC
    Inventors: Roger Ferguson, Kenneth Bryden, Steve Corns
  • Patent number: 8839623
    Abstract: A rotary heat engine having a cylinder and a rotor having a rotating shaft rotatably placed in the cylinder. The cylinder has a heat receiving section for supplying heat to the inside of the cylinder and a heat radiating section for radiating heat from the inside. The engine also has an engine section body and an operation liquid storage section. A vaporized gas supply channel and a gas recovery channel communicating with the inside of the cylinder are provided, respectively, on the heat receiving section side and heat radiating section side of the cylinder in the engine section body. The operation liquid storage section is between the vaporized gas supply channel and the gas collection channel in order to aggregate and liquefy recovered gas and is installed such that both channels fluidly communicate with each other. Also, the operation liquid storage section has a heat insulation dam provided with a through hole for preventing backflow of fluid flowing inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Da Vinci Co., Ltd., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakasuka, Hironori Sahara, Kenji Higashi
  • Patent number: 8843240
    Abstract: Systems and methods for loading a steam turbine are provided. A method may include: receiving a turbine loading factor; receiving a current steam turbine exhaust temperature; determining a steam flow ramping rate parameter and a steam temperature ramping rate parameter based at least in part on the turbine loading factor and the current steam turbine exhaust temperature, wherein the steam flow ramping rate parameter and the steam temperature ramping rate parameter are determined based at least in part on an inverse relationship between the steam flow ramping rate parameter and the steam temperature ramping rate parameter. The method may further include controlling at least one of: (a) steam flow to the steam turbine based at least in part on the steam flow ramping rate parameter; or (b) steam temperature to the steam turbine based at least in part on the steam temperature ramping rate parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Piccirillo, Steven Di Palma, Dileep Sathyanarayana
  • Patent number: 8839622
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a fluid expansion system can be used with the working fluid in a Rankine cycle. For example, the fluid expansion system can be used in a Rankine cycle to recover heat from one of a number of commercial applications and to convert that heat energy into electrical energy. In particular embodiments, the fluid expansion system may include a turbine generator apparatus to generate electrical energy and a liquid separator arranged upstream of the turbine generator apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Myers, Robert Miller
  • Patent number: 8839620
    Abstract: A sliding vane rotary expander is used in a waste heat recovery system for a power plant. One example rotary expander has multiple stages with the vane assemblies disposed in bearing supported rings. Another example rotary expander has multiple stages with the vane assemblies disposed in an elliptical cavity. A balance valve equalizes the flow within the stages. Single stage rotary expanders may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner
  • Publication number: 20140260250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by 1) generating excess electric power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and 2) utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electric power when environmental conditions do not permit operation in the ORC mode. The mode of operation of the system is principally determined by the thermal energy of the waste heat stream and the availability, or lack thereof, of adequate cooling resources. Such resources are often subject to local environmental conditions, particularly ambient temperature which varies on a diurnal and annual basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ElectraTherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Oxner, Hans Wain, August Brautigam
  • Patent number: 8833077
    Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a thermodynamic cycle using heat source streams having initial temperatures between about 200° F. and about 500° F. and coolant stream having relatively high temperatures greater than or equal to about 80° F., where the methods and systems have overall energy extraction efficiencies that are at least 40% higher than a corresponding Rankine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: KALEX, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Publication number: 20140250890
    Abstract: Disclosed are an air cooled condenser capable of preventing air from being mixed into a working medium flow path, and a power generating apparatus including the air cooled condenser. The air cooled condenser includes a heat exchanger for air-cooling a working medium indirectly through a wall, a fan, a sensor for measuring a pressure value of the working medium at an outlet of the heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling the rotating speed of the fan such that the pressure value obtained by the sensor comes closer to a target value set to be equal to or larger than an atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniyuki Takahashi, Isamu Osawa
  • Publication number: 20140250887
    Abstract: A power generation system using low-grade coal includes a low-grade coal refining facility that heats the low-grade coal to refine the low-grade coal into high-grade coal, a CO2 recovery facility that recovers CO2 from an exhaust gas generated by refining the low-grade coal in the low-grade coal refining facility, while using steam generated by refining the low-grade coal in the low-grade coal refining facility, and a power generation facility that performs the power generation using, as fuel, the high-grade coal obtained by refining the low-grade coal in the low-grade coal refining facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahito Yonekawa, Shintaro Honjo, Makoto Susaki
  • Publication number: 20140250889
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle includes a refrigerant pump, a heat exchanger, an expander and a condenser. The Rankine cycle further includes a clutch provided in a power transmission path extending from an engine to the refrigerant pump. Prior to the operation of the Rankine cycle and during the deceleration of the vehicle, the clutch is fastened and the refrigerant pump is driven with use of the vehicle inertia force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichiro Mizoguchi, Satoshi Ogihara, Hirofumi Wada
  • Publication number: 20140250888
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an enclosure having a separator disposed therein that divides the heat exchanger into a mixing area and a heat exchange area. The mixing area is configured to receive a hot fume and droplets of a liquid for mixing with each other to form a fume-droplet vapor mixture. The mixture is configured to flow through orifices of the separator into the heat exchange area. A plurality of magazines is disposed within the heat exchange area of the first enclosure. Each magazine defines a cavity. The cavities are disposed in communication with one another. A lower-most magazine is configured to receive a receiver medium that is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine to an upper-most magazine. The mixture is configured to circulate about the magazines to incrementally heat the receiver medium as the receiver medium is pumped through the cavity of each successive magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Mosi Chu
  • Patent number: 8826663
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided that includes plate pairs stacked one above the other. A first flow chamber is formed between the two plates of a plate pair by conducting a first fluid therethrough, a second flow chamber for conducting a second fluid therethrough, wherein the second flow chamber is formed between two adjacent plate pairs, an inlet opening for introducing the first fluid, and an outlet opening for discharging the first fluid. The plates have at least one expansion opening, in particular at least one expansion slit, for reducing stress in the plates. The heat exchanger can withstand high thermal and mechanical loads even over a long time period, such as 10 years.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Irmler