Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
060650000 | Producing power by heating and cooling a single phase fluid | 26 |
20080216479 | CLOSED LOOP EXPANDABLE GAS CIRCUIT FOR POWER GENERATION - The invention relates to an apparatus that includes a first heat exchanger for heating a first heat transfer medium in a first form from a first temperature to a second higher temperature to provide an increased pressure gas, a first mechanical device configured to use the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy to one or more primary components, and one or more additional mechanical devices configured to use the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy to one or more secondary components. The mechanical device produces spent gas, and a conversion device is operably associated with at least one of the mechanical devices to convert the spent gas to the first form for re-use. A method is also disclosed for efficiently generating mechanical or electrical energy by heating a first heat transfer medium which is an expandable gas having a boiling point which is below the freezing point of water from a first temperature to a second higher temperature to provide an increased pressure gas; utilizing the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy, thus forming a spent gas; and recycling the spent gas to the heating step for re-use as the heat transfer medium expandable gas. | 09-11-2008 |
20090077970 | Electricity generation system based on nitrogen - The present invention describes an electric energy generation system from liquid Nitrogen and its preferential use in the supply of consumers located in isolated regions of the electrical system (off grid), located in regions with high commercial losses and high insolvency and in residences on specific applications, such as efficient illumination and water heating. | 03-26-2009 |
20090266074 | CONTINUOUS POWER SOURCE OF STEAM IN CIRCULATION, AND POWER REINFORCEMENT - A first and any further number of pipe steamer devices are provided. Each pipe steamer device may include a ring which has a steam pipe connection opening, a steam pipe, a water pipe, and a heating element. Each steam pipe may have a proximal end which is connected to the appropriate steam pipe connection opening and a distal end which is connected to a proximal end of the appropriate water pipe. Each water pipe may have a distal end which is located closer to the appropriate heating element than its proximal end. Each of the first steam pipe and the first water pipe may have a spiral shape. The apparatus also include a first power reinforcer device which may include a first sack and a second sack. The first power reinforcer device may be connected to a first pipe steamer device and a second pipe steamer device, such that steam from the first pipe steamer device flows into the first sack and flows out of the first sack into the first pipe steamer device, and steam from the second pipe steamer device flows into the second sack and out of the second sack into the second pipe steamer. | 10-29-2009 |
20100043439 | METHOD TO PRE-HEAT NATURAL GAS AT GAS PRESSURE REDUCTION STATIONS - A method to pre-heat gas at gas Pressure Reducing Stations. A first step involve providing at least one electrical line heater having a flow path for passage of natural gas through electrical heating elements. A second step involves passing the high pressure cold natural gas stream along electrical heating elements and heating it up before de-pressurization. A third step involves the expansion of the high pressure heated gas in a enclosed vessel that houses a gas expander and power generator. The expansion of the gas generates shaft work which is converted into electrical power by the power generator and the expanded low pressure gas cools the power generator. This process results in the recovery of energy to replace the slipstream of natural that is presently used to pre-heat gas at Pressure Reduction Stations. | 02-25-2010 |
20100263378 | INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAT INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY - An installation and method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. The installation includes at least two closed containers, a converter for the conversion of flow energy into mechanical energy, a switching system as well as a supply line, a discharge line and a heat supply system. Each time, the converter is supplied with a fluid under high pressure and temperature from one container and the temperature-reduced fluid is then collected in another container. As soon as the other container is filled and the first container becomes empty, these containers are exchanged or replaced by other containers. | 10-21-2010 |
20100326075 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM UTILIZING TWO-PHASE FLOW TO FACILITATE HEAT EXCHANGE - A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control. | 12-30-2010 |
20110000213 | METHOD AND SYSTEM INTEGRATING SOLAR HEAT INTO A REGENERATIVE RANKINE STEAM CYCLE - A method to integrate collected solar thermal energy into the feedwater system of a Rankine cycle power plant is disclosed. This novelty uses a closed loop, single phase fluid system to collect both the solar heat and to provide the heat input into the feedwater stream of a regenerative Rankine cycle. One embodiment of this method of integrating solar energy into a regenerative Rankine power plant cycle, such as a coal power plant, allows for automatic balancing of the steam extraction flows and does not change the temperature of the feedwater to the boiler. The concept, depending on the application, allows for the spare turbine capacity normally available in a coal plant to be used to produce incremental capacity and energy that is powered by solar thermal energy. By “piggybacking” on the available components and infrastructure of the host Rankine cycle power plant, considerable cost savings are achieved resulting in lower solar produced electricity costs. | 01-06-2011 |
20110016864 | ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A compressed air energy storage (CAES) system encompassing direct heating. The compressed air energy storage system includes a compressor for compressing ambient air, an air storage reservoir, and a thermal energy storage system. The air storage reservoir is adapted to store compressed air from the compressor. The thermal energy storage system is adapted to supply heat to the compressed air energy storage system such that the compressed air is heated to increase work production of the compressed air. The thermal energy storage system is heated using off-peak electricity. | 01-27-2011 |
20110083435 | APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTING A FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM - A combustor apparatus is provided, comprising a mixing arrangement for mixing a carbonaceous fuel with enriched oxygen and a working fluid to form a fuel mixture. A combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a porous perimetric transpiration member, at least partially surrounded by a pressure containment member. The combustion chamber has longitudinally spaced apart inlet and outlet portions. The fuel mixture is received by the inlet portion for combustion within the combustion chamber at a combustion temperature to form a combustion product. The combustion chamber further directs the combustion product longitudinally toward the outlet portion. The porous transpiration member is configured to substantially uniformly direct a transpiration substance laterally therethrough, about the perimeter thereof defining the combustion chamber and longitudinally between the inlet and outlet portions, toward the combustion chamber for buffering interaction between the combustion product and the porous transpiration member. Associated systems are also provided. | 04-14-2011 |
20120055159 | Method and apparatus for converting fluid heat energy to motive force - An apparatus and a method, for converting fluid heat energy to motive force by the heating and pressurization of air, and for storing and delivering motive force to motive force users, which includes at least one air pressurizer. The air pressurizer facilitates the transfer of heat energy contained in a hot fluid to air confined within the air pressurizer, thus pressurizing the air to provide motive force. | 03-08-2012 |
20120102954 | COMPRESSION/EXPANSION PROCESS THAT ALLOWS TEMPERATURE TO VARY INDEPENDENT OF PRESSURE - Systems and methods are described herein to operate an air compression and/or expansion system in its most efficient regime, at a desired efficiency, and/or achieve a desired pressure ratio independent of discharge temperature, with little to no impact on thermal efficiency. For example, systems and methods are provided for controlling and operating hydraulic pumps/motors used within a hydraulically actuated device/system, such as, for example, a gas compression and/or expansion energy system, in its most efficient regime, continuously, substantially continuously, intermittently, or varied throughout an operating cycle or stroke of the system to achieve any desired pressure and temperature profile. Such systems and methods can achieve any desired pressure ratio independent of input or discharge temperature, and can also achieve any desired discharge temperature independent of pressure ratio, without altering any of the structural components of the device or system. | 05-03-2012 |
20120131920 | PARALLEL CYCLE HEAT ENGINES - Waste heat energy conversion cycles, systems and devices use multiple waste heat exchangers arranged in series in a waste heat stream, and multiple thermodynamic cycles run in parallel with the waste heat exchangers in order to maximize thermal energy extraction from the waste heat stream by a working fluid. The parallel cycles operate in different temperature ranges with a lower temperature work output used to drive a working fluid pump. A working fluid mass management system is integrated into or connected to the cycles. | 05-31-2012 |
20120222424 | COMPRESSOR AND/OR EXPANDER DEVICE - An apparatus can include a pressure vessel that defines an interior region that can contain a liquid and/or a gas. A piston is movably disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel. A divider is fixedly disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel and divides the interior region into a first interior region on a first side of the divider and a second interior region on a second, opposite side of the divider. The piston is movable between a first position in which fluid having a first pressure is disposed within the first interior region and the first interior region has a volume less than a volume of the second interior region, and a second position in which fluid having a second pressure is disposed within the second interior region and the second interior region has a volume less than a volume of the first interior region. | 09-06-2012 |
20120297773 | GASIFIER POWER PLANT AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTES - Described herein are gradual oxidation systems that receive and process solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. The system can include a solid fuel gasifier that extracts and cleans gas fuel from a solid fuel. The system can also include a reaction chamber that receives the gas fuel and maintains a gradual oxidation process of the fuel. In some embodiments, liquids containing contaminants can be oxidized within the gradual oxidation chamber. Liquid fuels and gas fuels may be communicated to the oxidation chamber separately or in combination. | 11-29-2012 |
20130074500 | Method Of Converting Thermal Energy Into Mechanical Energy, And An Apparatus - The present invention relates to a method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy using a non-gaseous working medium present in an apparatus comprising a plurality of heat exchangers and an outgoing shaft. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus used comprises a multitude of chamber units, a chamber unit comprising an inlet for introducing heat exchange medium and an outlet for discharging heat exchange medium as well as a closed chamber having a heat exchanger wall for exchanging heat between working medium inside the closed chamber and the heat exchange medium introduced into the chamber unit via said inlet for introducing heat exchange medium and heat exchange medium is passed around so as to do work when it is giving off heat to a chamber unit containing relatively cool working medium and recuperate heat when it is passed through a chamber unit containing relatively warm working medium. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method. | 03-28-2013 |
20130219892 | MODULAR ADSORPTION-ENHANCED COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH REGENERATIVE THERMAL ENERGY RECYCLING - A compressed air energy storage module including an integrated thermal energy storage and recovery apparatus is provided. The compressed air energy storage module contains no moving parts and is constructed onsite, underground and out-of-sight. The compressed air energy storage module comprises a first regenerative heat exchanger including a first tank filled with a first particulate material that stores thermal energy and adsorbs air, and a second regenerative heat exchanger including a second tank filled with a second particulate material that stores thermal energy. A first end of the first tank is connected to a first end of the second tank via a first piping system. A second end of the first tank is connected to a second end of the second tank via a second piping system. The first piping system and the second piping system form a circular path for the air to circulate through the first and second regenerative heat exchangers. | 08-29-2013 |
20140060048 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING WORK - The invention relates to a process and apparatus ( | 03-06-2014 |
20140060049 | Heat Engine Shuttle Pump System and Method - A heat engine including a novel method for transferring working fluid from the low pressure side of the cycle back to the high pressure side. The invention includes one or more transfer tanks connecting the condenser to the boiler. Each transfer tank is connected to the condenser by a fill line and connected to the boiler by a dump line. Gravity and/or small transfer pumps are used to transfer the working fluid horn the low pressure side, through the transfer tank or tanks, and then to the high pressure side. | 03-06-2014 |
20140096523 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH GAS TURBINE - An apparatus performs a power cycle involving expansion of compressed air utilizing high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) air turbines located upstream of a gas turbine. The power cycle involves heating of the compressed air prior to its expansion in the HP and LP air turbines. Taking into consideration fuel consumption to heat the compressed air, particular embodiments may result in a net production of electrical energy of ˜2.2-2.5× an amount of energy consumed by substantially isothermal air compression to produce the compressed air supply. Although pressure of the compressed air supply may vary over a range (e.g. as a compressed air storage unit is depleted), the gas turbine may run under almost constant conditions, facilitating its integration with the apparatus. The air turbines may operate at lower temperatures than the gas turbine, and they may include features of turbines employed to turbocharge large reciprocating engines. | 04-10-2014 |
20150059342 | SYSTEM FOR STORING AND OUTPUTTING THERMAL ENERGY AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAID SYSTEM - A system for storing and outputting thermal energy and a method for operating the system are provided. The system operates according to the Brayton cycle, wherein a heat accumulator is charged by a compressor and a cold accumulator is charged by turbines. The cycle is reversed for discharging. In addition, the cold accumulator supplies a cooling circuit, which provides the cooling for a superconducting generator by a cooling unit. A favorable generator weight can thereby be advantageously achieved in particular for wind turbines, because the generators are limited regarding the weight thereof due to being housed in the nacelle of the wind power plant. Thus, advantageously higher power can be converted in the wind power plant. | 03-05-2015 |
20150345382 | ENERGY RECOVERY FROM FUMES FROM A MELTING FURNACE WITH A GAS TURBINE AND HEAT EXCHANGERS - The invention relates to a melting unit and method in which: a melting chamber is heated by means of combustion, the combustion fumes are used to heat the air used as a heat-transfer gas, the heated air is used to pre-heat the combustion oxygen and/or the gaseous fuel, the tempered air resulting from the pre-heating is compressed, the compressed tempered air is heated by means of heat exchange with the combustion fumes, and the mechanical and/or electrical energy is generated by expansion of the heated compressed air. | 12-03-2015 |
20150361832 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION DEVICE - A method and a device for operating a waste heat utilization device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The waste heat utilization device contains a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. A conveyor, an evaporator, an expansion machine, and a condenser are disposed in the waste heat utilization circuit. A basic adjustment of the waste heat utilization circuit is provided, which as a function of a heat input into the working medium adjusts the mass flow rate at the conveyor and/or the ratio between high pressure and low pressure at the expansion machine. In addition, a pilot control is provided which recognizes a change of the operating point of the internal combustion engine and, when the operating point is changed, controls the condensation output of the condenser in accordance with a mass distribution of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit optimized to the new operating point. | 12-17-2015 |
20150377077 | ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE WASTE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM - A Rankine cycle for recovering waste heat from an engine includes a Rankine cycle circuit having a pump, a heat exchanger, an expansion device, a cooling device and a bypass circuit. The bypass circuit selectively provides a flow path for working fluid to bypass the expansion device, and includes a flow control valve actuated by a working fluid pressure differential to selectively open or close the bypass flow path. The expansion device includes a drive member directly coupled to a front end accessory drive (FEAD) of the engine such that a rotational speed of the expansion device is dictated by engine speed and the expansion device is free from separate speed control. The expansion device provides torque to the FEAD via the drive member when the system is in a waste heat recovery mode thereby reducing engine load and improving fuel economy. | 12-31-2015 |
20160032783 | Apparatus and Method for Storing Energy - In an energy storage and recovery system, working fluid from a first vessel is compressed by power machinery and passes, via a regenerator, into a second vessel, where it is forced to condense, the temperature and pressure of the saturated working liquid/vapour mixture continuously rising during storage. The stored energy is recovered by the vapour returning through the regenerator and power machinery where it expands to produce work before condensing back into the first vessel. The regenerator comprises a gas permeable, solid thermal storage medium which, during storage, stores superheat and some latent heat from the vapour passing through it in respective downstream regions that exhibit continuously increasing temperature profiles during storage and a small temperature difference with the surrounding vapour, thereby minimising irreversible losses during the thermal energy transfers. | 02-04-2016 |
20160053638 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM INCLUDING MULTIPLE CORES - The present disclosure relates to a power generation system and related methods that use closed supercritical fluid cycles, and in particular, to a power generation system and related methods where multiple cores may be selectively operated to adjust power levels generated by the system. | 02-25-2016 |
20160252047 | DIFFERENTIAL THERMODYNAMIC MACHINE WITH A CYCLE OF EIGHT THERMODYNAMIC TRANSFORMATIONS, AND CONTROL METHOD | 09-01-2016 |