Abstract:
A system (170) has a compressor (22). A heat rejection heat exchanger (30) is coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressor. A non - controlled ejector (38) has a primary inlet coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant, a secondary inlet, and an outlet. The system includes means (172, e.g., a nozzle) for causing a supercritical - to - subcritical transition upstream of the ejector.
Abstract:
A system (200; 250; 270) has a compressor (22), a heat rejection heat exchanger (30), first (38) and second (202) ejectors, first (64) and second (220) heat absorption heat exchangers, and a separator. The ejectors each have a primary inlet (40, 204) coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant. A second heat absorption heat exchanger (220) is coupled to the outlet of the second ejector to receive refrigerant. The separator (48) has an inlet (50) coupled to the outlet of the first ejector to receive refrigerant from the first ejector. The separator has a gas outlet (54) coupled to the secondary inlet (206) of the second ejector to deliver refrigerant to the second ejector. The separator has a liquid outlet (52) coupled to the secondary inlet (42) of the first ejector via the first heat absorption heat exchanger to deliver refrigerant to the first ejector.
Abstract:
A concentrated solar energy system includes a photovoltaic cell (12), an optical concentrator (20), a heat removal system (14), and means (16) for providing thermal contact between the photovoltaic cell (12) and the heat removal system (14). The optical concentrator (20) is configured to direct concentrated solar energy to the photovoltaic cell (12) such that the photovoltaic cell (12) generates electricity and heat. The heat removal system (14) removes heat from the photovoltaic cell (12). The means (16) for providing thermal contact provides an effective thermal conductivity per unit length between the photovoltaic cell (12) and the heat removal system (14) of greater than about 50 kilowatts per square meter per degree Celsius.
Abstract:
In order to effectively extract the waste heat from a reciprocating engine (11), the normal heat exchanger components of an engine are replaced with one or more heat exchangers (14, 16) which have the motive fluid of an organic rankine cycle system flowing therethrough. With the heat transfer in the plurality of heat exchangers, the engine is maintained at a reasonable cool temperature and the extracted heat is supplied to an ORC turbine (21) to generate power. The heat is derived from a plurality of sources within the reciprocating engine, and at least two of those sources have their fluids passing through the same heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the engine coolant and the engine lubricant pass through the heat exchanger in the same direction, and the ORC motive fluid passes therethrough in a counterflow relationship.
Abstract:
A refrigeration system for a mobile unit includes a refrigeration loop, an air duct, a sensor and a shock absorption unit. The refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant regulator and an evaporator. The air duct directs air from an air inlet to the evaporator, which air duct is defined by first and second panels. The sensor is disposed in the air duct. The shock absorption unit mounts the sensor to and provides a limited thermal conduction path between the sensor and the first panel.
Abstract:
A concentrated solar energy system includes a photovoltaic cell (12), an optical concentrator (20), a heat removal system (14), and means (16) for providing thermal contact between the photovoltaic cell (12) and the heat removal system (14). The optical concentrator (20) is configured to direct concentrated solar energy to the photovoltaic cell (12) such that the photovoltaic cell (12) generates electricity and heat. The heat removal system (14) removes heat from the photovoltaic cell (12). The means (16) for providing thermal contact provides an effective thermal conductivity per unit length between the photovoltaic cell (12) and the heat removal system (14) of greater than about 50 kilowatts per square meter per degree Celsius.
Abstract:
In a waste heat recovery system wherein a heat exchanger derives heat from an engine exhaust, a venturi is fluidly connected to an engine exhaust port so as to thereby increase the flow rate and reduce the pressure in a manifold which is fluidly connected between the venturis and the heat exchanger. A fan is provided downstream of the heat exchanger to draw hot gases from the manifold, through the heat exchanger and discharge it to ambient. But when the fan is not operating during periods in which the engine is operating, the lower pressure manifold will draw ambient air in through the fan and through the heat exchanger, with the ambient air then being entrained in the exhaust gases being discharged from an exhaust channel downstream of the venturi. In one embodiment, a plurality of heat sources are provided with each having its own venturi connected to the common low pressure manifold.
Abstract:
In order to effectively extract the waste heat from a reciprocating engine (11), the normal heat exchanger components of an engine are replaced with one or more heat exchangers (14, 16) which have the motive fluid of an organic rankine cycle system flowing therethrough. With the heat transfer in the plurality of heat exchangers, the engine is maintained at a reasonable cool temperature and the extracted heat is supplied to an ORC turbine (21) to generate power. The heat is derived from a plurality of sources within the reciprocating engine, and at least two of those sources have their fluids passing through the same heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the engine coolant and the engine lubricant pass through the heat exchanger in the same direction, and the ORC motive fluid passes therethrough in a counterflow relationship.
Abstract:
A system (200; 250; 270) has a compressor (22), a heat rejection heat exchanger (30), first (38) and second (202) ejectors, first (64) and second (220) heat absorption heat exchangers, and a separator. The ejectors each have a primary inlet (40, 204) coupled to the heat rejection exchanger to receive refrigerant. A second heat absorption heat exchanger (220) is coupled to the outlet of the second ejector to receive refrigerant. The separator (48) has an inlet (50) coupled to the outlet of the first ejector to receive refrigerant from the first ejector. The separator has a gas outlet (54) coupled to the secondary inlet (206) of the second ejector to deliver refrigerant to the second ejector. The separator has a liquid outlet (52) coupled to the secondary inlet (42) of the first ejector via the first heat absorption heat exchanger to deliver refrigerant to the first ejector.
Abstract:
A system and method satisfies temperature and pressure requirements of solid oxide fuel cell system 10 in a manner that increases the overall efficiency and decreases the overall weight of system 10. The system and method include a secondary blower 30 for boosting air stream pressure level sufficient for operation of a reformer 12 that is designed to minimize pressure drop; an integrated heat exchanger 18 for recovering heat from exhaust 36 and comprising multiple flow fields 18A, 18B, 18C for ensuring inlet temperature requirements of a solid oxide fuel cell 14 are met; and a thermal enclosure 46 for separating hot zone 48 components from cool zone 50 components for increasing thermal efficiency of the system and better thermal management.