Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for the lubrication of fluid displacement machines, in particular positive displacement machines such as twin screw expanders utilized in organic Rankine cycle systems, comprising a working fluid mixed with a lubricant that is neither soluble nor miscible in the liquid phase of the working fluid.
F01K 25/04 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for the fluid being in different phases, e.g. foamed
F01K 25/06 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using mixtures of different fluids
F01C 1/16 - Rotary-piston machines or engines of intermeshing-engagement type, i.e. with engagement of co-operating members similar to that of toothed gearing of other than internal-axis type with toothed rotary pistons with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type
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.
F01K 23/02 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled
F01K 25/04 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for the fluid being in different phases, e.g. foamed
Systems and methods are provided for the use of systems that recover mechanical power from waste heat energy using multiple working expanders with a common working fluid. The system accepts waste heat energy at different temperatures and utilizes a single closed-loop circuit of organic refrigerant flowing through all expanders in the system where the distribution of heat energy to each of the expanders allocated to permit utilization of up to all available heat energy. In some embodiments, the system maximizes the output of the waste heat energy recovery process. The expanders can be operatively coupled to one or more generators that convert the mechanical energy of the expansion process into electrical energy.
F01K 21/00 - Steam engine plants not otherwise provided for
F01K 25/00 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for
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.
F01K 23/10 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
F01K 25/02 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for the fluid remaining in the liquid phase
F01K 27/00 - Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
F02G 5/02 - Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases
A Gas Pressure Reduction Generator (GPRG) System and a method for implementing a GPRG System is provided, in which the GPRG System includes (i) a gas inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas flow from a gas supply, (ii) at least one expander in flow communication with the gas inlet to receive the pressurized gas flow, wherein the expander is operable to convert the pressurized gas flow into mechanical energy and a depressurized gas flow, and (iii) a generator associated with the expander, wherein the generator is configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy. In some embodiments, the pressurized gas flow can be a pressurized natural gas flow.
An organic Rankine cycle apparatus and method for generating power from two different sources of heat (60,110) at different temperatures comprising a lower pressure organic working fluid circuit (10) and a higher pressure organic working fluid circuit (20) in fluid communication with one another. A portion of the organic working fluid is heated by a higher temperature heat source and is expanded at higher pressure in a higher pressure expander (120) to generate mechanical power before being combined with a portion of the working fluid that is partially evaporated at a lower temperature by heat from a lower temperature heat source (60), such that the total mass of the organic working fluid is expanded in a lower pressure expander (140) to generate additional mechanical power.
F01K 25/10 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
F01K 23/06 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
F01K 23/10 - Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
F02G 5/04 - Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases in combination with other waste heat from combustion engines
patents