US 6,981,377 B2 | ||
System and method for generation of electricity and power from waste heat and solar sources | ||
Mikhail Vaynberg, San Francisco, Calif. (US); Hans Gunter Horn, Cupertino, Calif. (US); Ralf Horn, Los Gatos, Calif. (US); Alfons Weiland, San Jose, Calif. (US); and Richard A. Azevedo, Gilroy, Calif. (US) | ||
Assigned to Outfitter Energy INC, San Jose, Calif. (US) | ||
Filed on Feb. 24, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/374,581. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/360072, filed on Feb. 25, 2002. | ||
Prior Publication US 2005/0183421 A1, Aug. 25, 2005 | ||
Int. Cl. B60K 16/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 60—641.8 | 15 Claims |
1. System for generation of electricity from waste heat and solar sources, comprising in operative combination:
a) a closed loop, refrigerant working fluid circuit comprising:
i) at least one heat exchanger providing heat energy from a waste heat or solar source to convert said working fluid from
a liquid pressurized refrigerant to a heated gas refrigerant under pressure;
ii) an expander driven by said heated, pressurized refrigerant working fluid to produce power to an output shaft, said working
fluid pressure being thereby reduced, and said expander comprises a screw compressor that is oriented to run in reverse in
said circuit so that said refrigerant working fluid drives said output shaft while dropping in temperature, and wherein said
expander is selected from a continuous and a multi-stage screw compressor;
iii) a generator driven by said screw compressor output shaft to produce electricity, said generator is selected from an induction-type
generator and a synchronous-type generator;
iv) a condenser for reducing said lowered pressure refrigerant working fluid gas temperature thereby converting the working
fluid gas to a liquid at the condensation temperature or below of said working fluid;
v) a pump for pressurizing and circulating said refrigerant working fluid in said circuit, said pump is driven by a variable
frequency drive; and
vi) conduits interconnecting said heat exchanger, said expander, said condenser and said pump in a closed loop refrigerant
circuit, said working fluid is selected from R123, 245FA, R134A, R22, organic refrigerants, and said circuit includes an emergency
refrigerant working fluid gas bypass around said expander; and
b) a controller for monitoring said generator and selected temperatures and pressures of the refrigerant working fluid in
pressurized liquid or gas form in said circuit, and for providing control signals to control said pump variable frequency
drive, screw compressor and generator.
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