Motive Fluid Comprises A Material Other Than Steam Or Water Patents (Class 60/671)
  • Patent number: 11685893
    Abstract: A system comprising a collocated thermal plant, water source, CO2 source and biomass growth module is disclosed. A method of improving the environment by utilizing the system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Brisa International, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin C. Harmon, Shannon M. Johnson, Eugene T. Holmes
  • Patent number: 11635237
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes an open-circuit refrigeration system including a cooling system configured to supply a cooling medium. The open-circuit refrigeration system includes a receiver having a receiver outlet, the receiver configurable to store a refrigerant fluid, the receiver configured to receive the cooling medium from the cooling system, an evaporator coupled to the receiver outlet, the evaporator configurable to receive liquid refrigerant fluid from the receiver outlet and to extract heat from a heat load when the heat load contacts or is proximate to the evaporator a control device configurable to control a temperature of the heat load and an exhaust line, with the receiver, the evaporator, and the exhaust line coupled to form an open-circuit refrigerant fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Joshua Peters
  • Patent number: 11598261
    Abstract: To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: JUST IN TIME ENERGY CO.
    Inventor: James E. Berry
  • Patent number: 11549042
    Abstract: Disclosed is an environmentally friendly near-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, consisting essentially of HFO-1234 yf, HFE-143a and a third component, with the mass percentage of each component being: 70%-98% of HFO-1234yf, 1%-15% of HFE-143a and 1%-15% of the third component. The refrigerant of the present invention is environmentally friendly, excellent in thermodynamic properties, can directly realize drop-in substitution in an original system using HFC-134a without changing any parts, and can be used as a long term alternative to HFC-134a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG LANTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HI-TECH CO., LTD., SINOCHEM LANTIAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhikai Guo, Pinzan Xie, Xiaoqing Fang
  • Patent number: 11542839
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and process for electricity generation using steam production by hydrogen combustion, and more particularly to a Rankine Cycle system and process for the generation of electricity using a primary pure hydrogen fuel source for the generation of steam in the boiler system. The Rankine Cycle system and process may also use one or more secondary fuel sources in combination with the primary hydrogen fuel source to supplement the primary pure hydrogen fuel if necessary. Additionally, the inventive system and process can use a flame temperature reducing fluid for lowering bulk flame temperature of a burner in the boiler system to increase equipment life and decrease equipment failure. The inventive Rankine Cycle system and process reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and reduce bulk flame temperatures to increase equipment life and decrease equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Roberto Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11480074
    Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ICE Thermal Harvesting, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Carrie Jeanne Murtland
  • Patent number: 11255242
    Abstract: Centralizing the handling and manipulating of vaporization medium to a single subsystem that supplies multiple ammonia vaporizers allows for efficient and effective production of a corresponding vaporized ammonia stream containing a controlled quantity of ammonia. These vaporized ammonia streams can then be used in conjunction with ammonia-consuming devices to reduce NOx in NOx-containing exhaust streams from multiple furnaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Rooney, Venkatesh Subramania, Robert C. Thiets
  • Patent number: 11162391
    Abstract: The heat cycle facility includes: a first vaporizer that vaporizes a first liquid heating medium by combusting fuel; a first motive power generator that generates motive power by using as a drive fluid a first gas heating medium obtained at the first vaporizer; a condenser that condenses the first gas heating medium discharged from the first motive power generator by heat-exchanging the first gas heating medium for a second liquid heating medium; a circulator that pressurizes the first liquid heating medium obtained at the condenser and supplies the pressurized first liquid heating medium to the first vaporizer; a second vaporizer that produces gaseous ammonia by heat-exchanging the second liquid heating medium for liquid ammonia; and a supplier that supplies the liquid ammonia to the second vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Onishi, Shintaro Ito, Soichiro Kato, Taku Mizutani, Masahiro Uchida, Tsukasa Saitou, Toshiro Fujimori, Kazuo Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11028735
    Abstract: One embodiment of an improved thermal power cycle comprising a wet binary motive fluid, pump (21), evaporator (22), expander (23), and condenser (24). Using a binary motive fluid, it can operate efficiently over a lower range of heat source temperatures than the steam Rankine cycle. Using a wet binary motive fluid, it eliminates the need for superheating the fluid in evaporator (22), allows for complete expansion of the fluid in expander (23), and reduces back-pressure by the fluid on expander (23), thereby providing higher efficiency than the ORC (organic Rankine cycle), Eliminating the regenerator that is used by ORC systems results in a simpler, less costly system. Using direct-contact heat exchange in condenser (24) rather than the indirect-contact heat exchange used by ORC systems results in more efficient condensation of the fluid. Using a pump (21) rather than the power-hungry compressor used by ORC systems further reduces power losses and expenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Timlin, III
  • Patent number: 10787936
    Abstract: An expander of the piston (2) and cylinder (3) type is inverted from normal orientation, with the crankshaft (4) upper most and the cylinder “head” (5) lower most. The cylinder head has a pair of liquid injectors (6, 7) oriented for respective liquids pentane and glycerine to be injected as mists into contact with each other at the bottom of the cylinder. The pentane is vaporised by transfer of latent heat to it from the glycerine. Respective injector valves (9, 10) from high pressure rails (11, 12) fed by pumps (14, 15) are provided. An exhaust valve (16) is opened by a cam (17) driven at crankshaft speed by a chain drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Gas Expansion Motors Limited
    Inventors: Alan Charles Pearce, Simon Few, Natalie Adele Winter
  • Patent number: 10641132
    Abstract: A supercritical CO2 power generating system prevents cold-end corrosion capable of improving reliability against cold-end corrosion by including a recirculation pump. Part of the working fluid heated in the low-temperature-side external heat exchanger using the recirculation pump is mixed with the low-temperature working fluid at the rear end of the pump, to heat the working fluid above the temperature of the dewpoint of the waste heat gas. The heated working fluid is then supplied to the external heat exchanger. By reducing the cold-end corrosion phenomenon of the low-temperature-side external heat exchanger, the life of the external heat exchanger can be increased and the reliability of the external heat exchanger and the supercritical CO2 power generating system can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Song Hun Cha
  • Patent number: 10436077
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to potable water using modified multi-effect distillation system can be implemented as a system that includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger network thermally coupled to multiple heat sources of a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant. The heat exchanger network is configured to recover at least a portion of heat generated at the multiple heat sources. The system includes a sub-system thermally coupled to the waste heat recovery heat exchanger network to receive at least a portion of heat recovered by the heat exchanger network. The sub-system is configured to perform one or more operations using at least the portion of heat recovered by the heat exchanger network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
  • Patent number: 10385247
    Abstract: A method for producing heating in a high temperature heat pump having a heat exchanger is provided. The method comprises extracting heat from a working fluid, thereby producing a cooled working fluid wherein said working fluid comprises (2E)-1,1,1,4,5,5,5-heptafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pent-2-ene (“HFO-153-10mzzy”). Also, a high temperature heat pump apparatus is provided containing a working fluid comprising HFO-153-10mzzy. Also a composition is provided comprising (i) a working fluid consisting essentially of HFO-153-10mzzy; and (ii) a stabilizer to prevent degradation at temperatures of 55° C. or above, or (iii) a lubricant suitable for use at 55° C. or above, or both (ii) and (iii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventors: Konstantinos Kontomaris, Robert Daniel Lousenberg
  • Patent number: 10240512
    Abstract: A rankine cycle system includes: an internal combustion engine; a gas-liquid separator; a first pump; a steam generator; a superheater; an expander; a condenser; a first control valve; and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10100816
    Abstract: A process for the generation of electricity comprises the steps of extracting a warm saline stream from a geothermal formation, and converting latent osmotic energy present in said stream into electricity by passage through an osmotic power unit in which said stream is passed over one side of a semi-permeable membrane which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts, an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said stream being passed over the other side of said membrane. The temperature of said warm saline stream is reduced before said stream enters the osmotic power unit by passage through a thermal power unit in which thermal energy present in said stream is converted into electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOMIMETIC A/S
    Inventors: Steen Søndergaard Nissen, Jørgen Mads Clausen
  • Patent number: 9856754
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cascaded recompression closed Brayton cycle (CRCBC) system and method of operation thereof, where the CRCBC system includes a compressor for compressing the system fluid, a separator for generating fluid feed streams for each of the system's turbines, and separate segments of a heater that heat the fluid feed streams to different feed temperatures for the system's turbines. Fluid exiting each turbine is used to preheat the fluid to the turbine. In an embodiment, the amount of heat extracted is determined by operational costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: James J. Pasch
  • Patent number: 9803511
    Abstract: Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Hani Mohammed Al Saed, Ahmad Saleh Bunaiyan
  • Patent number: 9803513
    Abstract: Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Recognizing that several subsets of hot sources can be identified from among the available hot sources in a large petroleum refinery, subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Hani Mohammed Al Saed, Ahmad Saleh Bunaiyan
  • Patent number: 9797272
    Abstract: A thermal energy recovery device includes: a circulating flow path connected to a heater, an expander, a condenser and a circulating pump for circulating a working medium; a bypass valve in a bypass path connecting the upstream side region and the downstream side region of the expander in the circulating flow path; a power recovery machine connected to the expander; a circulating pump sending the working medium condensed in the condenser to the heater; a cooling medium pump sending a cooling medium to the condenser; an upstream side sensor detecting the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side in the circulating flow path; and a controller controlling the bypass valve and the cooling medium pump. The controller opens the bypass valve after stopping the circulating pump, and drives the cooling medium pump if the pressure/temperature of the working medium on the expander upstream side exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Adachi, Takayuki Fukuda, Koichiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9791216
    Abstract: An object is to enable a compact and high output heat storage system to perform warm-up rapidly when a vehicle is started up, and after warm-up, to recover surplus heat that is present in a heat source in the vehicle to prepare for the next warm-up event. A heat recovery-type heating device includes: an ammonia buffer configured so as to be capable of fixing and desorbing ammonia that serves as a chemical reaction medium; and a chemical heat storage reactor provided with a chemical heat storage material that generates heat through a chemical reaction with ammonia supplied from the ammonia buffer, and that desorbs ammonia using surplus heat from a heat source and returns the ammonia to the ammonia buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Takafumi Yamauchi, Takashi Shimazu, Tsutomu Shinagawa, Shuzou Sanda
  • Patent number: 9751767
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving a carbon dioxide recycle stream having carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons. The carbon dioxide recycle stream is fed to a catalytic reactor. The hydrocarbons are converted to carbon dioxide in the catalytic reactor by a catalytic reaction without combustion to form a purified carbon dioxide recycle stream. Electrical energy is generated by using heat produced by the catalytic reactor in the conversion. Another method comprises receiving a recycle stream having carbon dioxide, C1-C2 hydrocarbons, and C3+ hydrocarbons. The C3+ hydrocarbons are separated from the carbon dioxide and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons. The carbon dioxide and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons are fed to a catalytic reactor at a pressure greater than about 300 pounds per square inch (psi), and the C1-C2 hydrocarbons are converted to carbon dioxide, water, and heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Pilot Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Prim
  • Patent number: 9347437
    Abstract: A cold state engine utilizing air heat energy to output work, refrigeration and water, includes a first cycle and a second cycle. The first cycle comprises of vaporizer, expander, and working fluid pump. The second cycle includes a vaporizer, circulation pump, air heat exchanger. The two cycles are opera lively interconnected via at least a vaporizer, piping, valves, sensors and a generator. Using air or water as a high temperature heat source, an expander generates cryogenic liquid as a low temperature heat source, using natural gases (such as N2, He, Air, CO2 etc.) as a working fluid, based on methods of cryogenic working fluid thermodynamic-refrigeration cycle and frost-free two stage heat exchange cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Lew
  • Patent number: 9284120
    Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 9279347
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) for the conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, comprising at least one heat exchanger unit for re-superheating the working fluid by means of the thermovector fluid from the hot source, between the discharge of the first expander and the input of the second expander, and a regenerator unit including a first regenerator and at least one second regenerator for regenerating the working fluid in at least two successive stages, in said first regenerator and at least in said second regenerator respectively, with an additional regenerative heat exchange along the flow line connecting the liquid working fluid output of the second regenerator to the liquid working fluid input of the first regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Claudio Pietra
  • Patent number: 9140613
    Abstract: A superheat sensor includes a housing, a pressure sensor mounted within the housing, a temperature sensor that is integrated to the pressure sensor, and/or is external to the pressure sensor, a fluid passageway connecting the pressure sensor to a source of superheat fluid, and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Zhejiang DunAn Hetian Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Parthiban Arunasalam, Wayne C Long
  • Publication number: 20150143828
    Abstract: A system for recycling heat or energy of a working medium of a heat engine for producing mechanical work is described. The system may comprise a first heat exchanger (204) for transferring heat from a working medium output from an energy extraction device (202) to a heating agent to vaporise the heating agent; a second heat exchanger (240) for transferring further heat to the vaporised heating agent; a compressor (231) coupled to the second heat exchanger (240) arranged to compress the further-heated heating agent; and a third heat exchanger (211) for transferring heat from the compressed heating agent to the working medium. A heat pump is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Naji Amin ATALLA
  • Publication number: 20150145256
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for performing an ORC-process, comprising a first circular flow (16) in which a first process fluid (18) is conducted, having an evaporator (14) for evaporating the first process fluid (18), an expansion machine (22) located downstream of the evaporator (14) for expanding the evaporated first process fluid (18), wherein the expansion machine (22) is connectable to a generator (26) for generating electrical energy, a first condenser (28) located downstream of the expansion machine (22) for condensing the expanded first process fluid (18), and a first fluid energy machine (34) located downstream of the first condenser (28) for increasing the pressure of the condensed first process fluid (18) and for transporting the first process fluid (18) to the evaporator (14) that is located downstream of the first fluid energy machine (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: SAXESS HOLDING GMBH
    Inventor: John Omoruyi
  • Publication number: 20150135709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dany BATSCHA, David MACHLEV, Noa KALISH, Rachel HUBERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150135714
    Abstract: The invention relates to energy conversion and generation systems, and more specifically, to a unit for generating and converting energy by way of a pressure differential in a Working Fluid. A Pressure Power Unit is described which comprises a condenser and a vaporizer arranged in a closed loop, the condenser and vaporizer being respectively maintained at lower and higher temperatures relative to one another. A Working Fluid is circulated through the closed loop, the Working Fluid having different equilibrium vapor pressures in the condenser and in the vaporizer, according to the respective state functions, representing two different levels of elastic potential energy. This results in a pressure differential between the condenser and the vaporizer. A work extraction system is positioned between the outlet of the vaporizer and the inlet of the condenser, to convert the elastic potential energy/pressure differential into kinetic energy. Other embodiments of the invention are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce I. Benn, Jean-Pierre Hofman
  • Publication number: 20150113986
    Abstract: A thermodynamic system and method for performing work includes a working fluid and a fluid pump for pumping the working fluid through a cycle. A thermal input supplies heat to the working fluid. An expansion device downstream of the thermal input converts at least the heat of the working fluid to useful work. A heat exchanger downstream of the expansion device has a first portion to transfer heat from downstream said expansion device to a second portion at or upstream of said thermal input. A conversion device expands the working fluid with constant enthalpy from a higher to a lower pressure. The conversion device may be part of a heat pump pumping heat from one portion of said working fluid to another portion of the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: James A. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 9016063
    Abstract: The invention concerns an ORC plant (Organic Rankine Cycle) for a conversion of thermal energy into electric energy, that comprises a heat exchange group for the exchange of heat between the thermal carrier fluid and a working fluid destined to feed at least one expander connected to an electric generator. The heat exchanger group comprises in succession at least one primary heater and a primary evaporator respectively for preheating and evaporation of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Turboden S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Publication number: 20150101330
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for a thermally activated closed loop heat transfer system, and requires no other external power source other than the heat which it is transferring. The system is based on a two-phase (liquid/vapor) working fluid, with heat input through an evaporator and heat rejected through a condenser. All of the mechanical power produced by an engine, driven by the high vapor quality fluid leaving the evaporator, is consumed by the pump. The pump drives the low vapor quality fluid leaving the condenser back to the evaporator. Nearly isothermal heat transport can be achieved when using a pure or azeotropic working fluid, since the operation only requires the evaporator pressure to be marginally higher than the condensers pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jeremy Rice
  • Patent number: 9003797
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting heat from a heat source to mechanical energy. The method comprises heating a working fluid using heat supplied from the heat source; and expanding the heated working fluid to lower the pressure of the working fluid and generate mechanical energy as the pressure of the working fluid is lowered. The method is characterized by using a working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz. A power cycle apparatus containing a working fluid to convert heat to mechanical energy is also provided. The apparatus is characterized by containing a working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz. A working fluid comprising HFC-245eb and optionally Z-HFO-1336mzz is also provided. The working fluid (i) further comprises E-HFO-1336mzz, (ii) has a temperature above its critical temperature, or both (i) and (ii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: E l du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Konstantinos Kontomaris
  • Patent number: 9003798
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cyclect Electrical Engineering Pte.
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 9003796
    Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger and an organic Rankine cycle system. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between extraction air from a power block and nitrogen from an air separation unit. The organic Rankine cycle system is coupled to the heat exchanger. In addition, the organic Rankine cycle system is configured to convert heat from the extraction air into work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qiong Zhou, Deila Peng, Arnaldo Frydman, Thomas Glen Cobb
  • Patent number: 8997491
    Abstract: A power generation system in which a thermally expandable fluid, e.g., R134a, CO2, is circulated in a loop between a first location and a second location, the second location being at a higher elevation than the first location. The fluid is heated at the first location to expand it, so that it rises to the second location where it is cooled and contracted. The cooled fluid, being denser, then falls back to the first location under hydrostatic pressure, causing a circular fluid flow. This flow is used to generate power in a power transfer system. The system is regulated so that the fluid does not flash to a vapor, i.e., the fluid does not change state, which improves the efficiency of the system. The system is suitable for use in any situation where a height difference exists, and is particularly suited for geothermal heating sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yellow Shark Holding ApS
    Inventor: Sigurd Solem
  • Patent number: 8997490
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the improved use of waste heat recovery systems which utilize the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to generate mechanical and/or electric power from waste heat of large industrial machines (prime movers) generating power from biofuel such as biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion process. Waste heat energy obtained from prime mover(s) is provided to one or more ORC system(s) which are operatively coupled to separate electrical generator(s). The ORC system includes a heat coupling subsystem which provides the requisite condensation of ORC working fluid by transferring heat from ORC working fluid to another process or system, such as anaerobic digester tank(s), to provide heat energy that enhances the production of fuel for the prime mover(s) without requiring the consumption of additional energy for that purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ElectraTherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Wain, David Williams
  • Publication number: 20150082793
    Abstract: A device for power generation according to a Rankine cycle, in particular according to an organic Rankine cycle (ORC), comprises a turbine (16), for expanding a vapour of a working fluid, and at least one heat exchanger (18, 20, 22), through which the expanded vapour has to flow. The turbine (16) and the heat exchanger(s) (18, 20, 22) are contained in a vapour tight container (10). The turbine (16) is a radial-outward-flow type turbine having a shaft that is led in a sealed manner out of said container (10), an axial vapour inlet port arranged opposite the shaft and located inside the container (10), and a stator exhaust ring with stator exhaust blades defining peripheral vapour exhaust openings for discharging the expanded vapour directly into the vapour tight container (10), in which the expanded vapour flows through the heat exchanger(s) (18, 20, 22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Luc Maîtrejean
  • Patent number: 8984884
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a waste heat recovery system includes multiple organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems arranged in a cascade configuration. Each ORC system includes a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the working fluid to vaporize the working fluid. Each ORC system also includes an integrated power module that expands the working fluid to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Jun Xu, Albert Andreas Scharl, Shamim Imani
  • Publication number: 20150075165
    Abstract: The invention provides a heat transfer composition comprising (i) from about 45 to about 75% by weight 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf); and (ii) from about 25 to about 55% by weight 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a). A heat transfer composition comprising, optionally consisting essentially of, (i) from about 20 to about 90% by weight R-1234yf; (ii) from about 10 to about 60% by weight R-134a; and (iii) from about 1 to about 20% by weight R-32 is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Mexichem Amanco Holding S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Robert E. Low
  • Publication number: 20150076831
    Abstract: Heat engine systems having selectively configurable working fluid circuits are provided. One heat engine system includes a pump that circulates a working fluid through a working fluid circuit and an expander that receives the working fluid from a high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and converts a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy. A plurality of waste heat exchangers are each selectively positioned in or isolated from the high pressure side. A plurality of recuperators are each selectively positioned in or isolated from the high pressure side and the low pressure side. A plurality of valves are actuated to enable selective control over which of the plurality of waste heat exchangers is positioned in the high pressure side, which of the plurality of recuperators is positioned in the high pressure side, and which of the plurality of recuperators is positioned in the low pressure side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Josua Giegel
  • Publication number: 20150069758
    Abstract: Disclosed illustrative embodiments include systems and methods for power peaking with energy storage. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a power plant includes a thermodynamic piping circuit having a working fluid contained therein, and the working fluid has a flow direction and a flow rate. Power plant components are interposed in the thermodynamic piping circuit. The power plant components include a compressor system, a recuperator system, a heat source, a turbine system, a heat rejection system, and a thermal energy transfer system. A valving system is operable to selectively couple the heat rejection system, the thermal energy storage system, and the compressor system in thermohydraulic communication with the working fluid maintaining the flow direction and the flow rate to implement a thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Chal S. Davidson, Steven A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8966898
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy retriever system and methods for absorbing energy and using that energy elsewhere or converting it to other useful forms of energy or work. The energy retriever system consists of a series of components interconnected by a plurality of conduits containing a fluid. Working as a self-contained thermodynamic system, the energy retriever system allows the fluid to circulate through all of these elements. Heat added to the energy capture subsystem heats the fluid. The fluid becomes more pressurized and moves into the expansion cycle subsystem. The energy extraction subsystem transforms the thermal energy of the fluid into work, kinetic energy or thermal energy. The reservoir subsystem compresses the fluid and reintroduces it into the energy capture subsystem. One-way valves are used throughout the system to keep the flow of the fluid in one direction and separate sections of the system that contain different pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Harlequin Motor Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Corley
  • Patent number: 8959914
    Abstract: A waste heat utilization device (2) for an internal combustion engine has a Rankine cycle (8) that recovers waste heat from an internal combustion engine (4), a generator (30) that is rotationally driven by an expander (14) and converts a rotational drive force into electric power, a converter (32) that controls the rotational speed of the expander (14) through the generator (30), refrigerant-condition detecting means (22, 24, 26, 28) that detects the pressure and temperature of a refrigerant passing through the expander (14), and a controller (34) that calculates pressure ratio Rp of the refrigerant in the immediate upstream and downstream of the expander (14) and specific heat ratio K of the refrigerant passing through the expander (14) on the basis of the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, which have been detected by the refrigerant-condition detecting means (22, 24, 26, 28), calculates a preset pressure ratio Rps of the pressure ratio Rp by multiplying predetermined volume ratio Rv of the expand
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Yasuaki Kanou
  • Patent number: 8955322
    Abstract: For increasing power plant efficiency during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads, a motive fluid is cycled through a Rankine cycle power plant having a vaporizer and a superheater such that the motive fluid is delivered to a turbine at a selected inlet temperature at full admission. A percentage of a superheated portion of the motive fluid is adjusted during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads while virtually maintaining the inlet temperature and power plant thermal efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, David Machlev
  • Patent number: 8950185
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting thermal energy into mechanical work, which comprises imparting thermal energy to a working fluid in a tank. The working fluid in the vapor phase is fed into a device for converting energy into mechanical work. The vaporous working fluid is condensed and cyclically returned in the liquid phase to the tank. A catalytic additive in the form of a catalytic substance or a catalytic mixture of substances in an amount of 0.0000001 to 0.1 wt. % is introduced into the working fluid before or after starting the heating. The additive is a solid, its solution or suspension, or a liquid or its emulsion. The catalytic substance and the ratio of components of the mixture are chosen to prevent or promote decomposition of the substance or the mixture under the effect of high temperature and pressure according to current needs. The method enhances the efficiency of the process and expands its operational capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Igor A. Revenko
  • Publication number: 20150013336
    Abstract: A solar collector (2) associated with or incorporated in a heat sink (4), such as a concrete slab, powers an organic Rankine cycle heat engine. Preferably, the working fluid can be heated by a second heat source, derived from biomass or waste incineration for example, after the heat sink (4) has cooled down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Thomas Dearman
  • Patent number: 8925320
    Abstract: An optimized Rankine thermodynamic cycle system and method include utilizing a working fluid including a base component and an effective amount of a lower boiling point component, where the effective amount is sufficient to raise a power utilization efficiency of the systems by up to 10%, without changing a weight of the fluid reducing turbine efficiency for the particular base component and for optimizing output control valves for adjusting the working fluid composition and temperature sensors measuring an initial temperature of a coolant medium and a final temperature of a heat source stream to computer control valves to continuously adjust a pressure and a flow rate of a working fluid stream to be vaporized so that a heat utilization of the system is about 99% increasing output by approximately 3% to 6% on a sustained and permanent yearly basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Publication number: 20150000280
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electricity generation devices and methods that use a cryogenic fluid such as liquid nitrogen or liquid air and a source of low grade waste heat, and means of increasing the efficiency of energy recovery from such devices by combining Rankine and Brayton cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: John Daniel Alastair Harris, Robert Morgan, Stephen Gareth Brett
  • Publication number: 20140373542
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Cyclect Electrical Engineering
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi