Photon Solar Water Heating Systems India's 1st&largest ETC Solar Co.
www.PhotonSolar.com
Lackstrom, Dave (Cape Canaveral, FL, US)
Salvail, Napoleon P. (Titusville, FL, US)
Draaisma, Rudolph N. J. (A. Muang Suphanburi, TH)
| 0340718 | April, 1886 | Honigmann | 122/21 | |
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| 6050792 | Multi-stage scroll compressor | April, 2000 | Shaffer | 418/5 |
| 6129530 | Scroll compressor with a two-piece idler shaft and two piece scroll plates | October, 2000 | Shaffer | 418/55.1 |
| 6196021 | Industrial gas pipeline letdown liquefaction system | March, 2001 | Wissolik | 62/606 |
| 6269644 | Absorption power cycle with two pumped absorbers | August, 2001 | Erickson et al. | 60/649 |
| 6422017 | Reheat regenerative rankine cycle | July, 2002 | Bassily | 60/653 |
| 6715290 | Fluid mixture separation by low temperature glide heat | April, 2004 | Erickson | 60/671 |
| 20010001639 | Scroll vacuum pump with improved performance | May, 2001 | Shaffer | 418/1 |
| GB2114671 | August, 1983 | |||
| GB2294294 | April, 1996 |
Law Offices of Brian S. Steinberger, P.A.
1. A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies, comprising the steps of: using a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi; using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor, as received from the thermal generator, against a low pressure subatmospheric sink in order to produce a mechanical work energy; using said mechanical work energy to rotate a shaft coupled with an electrical generator to produce electrical power; using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander; using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F. and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%; using a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; using a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber; using a regenerator consisting of a heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse; and using a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator, wherein the method generates mechanical energy at high efficiencies.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a scroll expander having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a rotary vane expander having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a Wankel-type engine having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
5. A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies using an ammonia-refrigerant as the working fluid, comprising: a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi; a positive displacement expander having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor against a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink in order to produce mechanical work energy; a shaft coupled with an electrical generator, wherein rotating the shaft by the mechanical work energy causes the electrical generator produce electrical power; a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander; an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%; a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber; a regenerator consisting of a heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse; and a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the positive displacement expander includes: a scroll expander having a fixed expansion ratio.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the positive displacement expander includes: a rotary vane expander having a fixed expansion ratio.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the positive displacement expander includes: a Wankel-type engine having a fixed expansion ratio.
9. A method for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies, comprising the steps of: using a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi; using a positive displacement expander, having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor, as received from the thermal generator, against a low pressure subatmospheric sink in order to produce a mechanical work energy; using said mechanical work energy to rotate a shaft coupled with an electrical generator to produce electrical power; using a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander; using an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%; using a heat exchanger, which is positioned within the absorber for cooling an absorption process in the absorber and recovering a heat produced as a result of the absorption process for heating the liquid part received from the receiver prior to delivery to a regenerator for reuse; using a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; using a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber; using the regenerator consisting of another heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse; and using a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator via the heat exchanger installed within the absorber, wherein the method generates mechanical energy at high efficiencies.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: providing a scroll expander having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: providing a rotary vane expander having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: providing a Wankel-type engine having a fixed expansion ratio as the positive displacement expander.
13. A closed loop system for generating mechanical energy at high efficiencies using an ammonia-refrigerant as the working fluid, comprising: a thermal generator for heating an ammonia-refrigerant to produce a heated and pressurized vapor having a temperature within a range of approximately 575° F. to approximately 700° F., at a pressure of approximately 72 psi to approximately 120 psi; a positive displacement expander having a fixed expansion ratio, for receiving and expanding the heated and pressurized vapor against a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink in order to produce mechanical work energy; a shaft coupled with an electrical generator, wherein rotating the shaft by the mechanical work energy causes the electrical generator produce electrical power; a receiver for receiving and separating a liquid part and a vapor part of a saturated vapor discharge which exits from the positive displacement expander; an absorber to generate a low pressure sub-atmospheric sink, at approximately 0.2 bar as used by the positive displacement expander for expansion of the heated and pressurized gas at an inlet to the expander, to the saturated vapor discharge at an exit from the expander having a temperature between approximately −90 F and approximately −70° F., a liquid part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 60% and a vapor part of the saturated vapor discharge is approximately 40%; a heat exchanger, which is positioned within the absorber for cooling an absorption process in the absorber and recovering a heat produced as a result of the absorption process for heating the liquid part received from the receiver prior to delivery to a regenerator for reuse; a desorber for heating and separating the vapor part from liquid produced from the absorber, and providing a resultant vapor to the thermal generator for reuse; a pump for moving absorbent liquid produced from the absorber to the desorber; the regenerator consisting of another heat exchanger with cooling and vaporization components, which recovers heat energy contained in a liquid stream received from the desorber, to heat and vaporize the liquid part of the ammonia-refrigerant received from the receiver in order to provide a resultant vapor to the heat generator for reuse; and a second pump to transfer the ammonia-refrigerant from the receiver to the regenerator via a heat exchanger installed within the absorber.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the positive displacement expander includes: a scroll expander having a fixed expansion ratio.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the positive displacement expander includes: a rotary vane expander having a fixed expansion ratio.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the positive displacement to expander includes: a Wankel-type engine having a fixed expansion ratio.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to energy generation and power supply systems, and in particular to methods and systems that can meet all energy demands of a home or business or industrial use, and allows for excess electrical energy to be available to be sold over transmission grids, and in particular to expansive fluid systems and methods such as steam generation for generating electrical energy, and using co-generated heat byproducts for domestic hot water, room heating and swimming pool/spa heating, and for powering air conditioners and vehicles, and also to expansive methods and systems that use supertrope power packs for condensing vapor such as ammonia gas to condense and converting resulting energy into generated electrical power.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Endpoint Power Production
Many problems currently exist for traditional power generation methods and systems. Approximately 95% of the current world's supply of electrical energy is produced from non-renewable sources. Alternative fuels are not practical sources for taking care of all the world's electrical energy needs. For example, solar energy power is too low, not reliable and very expensive. Wind energy is inconsistent, not dependable, expensive, and high maintenance. Geothermal energy requires specific locations to be used. Hydrogen energy has no existing infrastructure to support, distribution.
Global energy demand is increasing at approximately 2% per year. The Department of Energy has forecast by year 2020 that United States will need approximately 403 gigawatts (403 billion watts) and the world will need approximately 3,500 gigawatts(3.5 trillion watts of power). Still, there are more than two billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity.
Demand for electricity is outrunning capacity, and the price mechanism is the essential way to restrain demand and encourage supply. Therefore, the cost of electricity will keep going up.
Current electric utility companies are limited by production capacity to increase their electricity generation. To increase generation, these companies must build additional plants which require substantial capital investments, political issues of where to locate to the plants, lengthy permit procedures lasting several years, cost overruns, which make the traditional method of building additional plants undesirable.
Using nuclear power, oil burning plants, and coal burning plants, adds further environmental problems for those seeking to build electricity generating power plants. Thus, building more and more plants is not a practical solution.
Current energy conversion efficiency of any of these power plants is generally no higher than 30% (thirty percent) efficiency of the electricity produced from the energy source of the fuel(oil, coal, nuclear, natural gas). For example, turbines that generate the electricity from the fuel source at the power plants only generate up to approximately 30% efficiency of the electricity generated from the source.
Next, the electricity being transmitted loses efficiency while it is being transmitted loses energy(efficiency) over transmission lines(i.e. wires, substations, transformers) so that by the time the electricity reaches the end user, an additional 28% (twenty eight percent) energy(efficiency) is lost. By the time the electricity reaches an end user such as a home residence, the true energy efficiency is no more than approximately 18% (eighteen percent) from the actual energy source.
Co-generation heat is the amount of heat that is wasted in the development of the electric power at the plant because heat cannot be transmitted over long distances.
A co-generation combined system does exist where some of the co-generated heat produced from a gas fired plant is used to produce additional steam which then makes additional electricity in addition to the primary electrical generation system. This combined system can achieve up to approximately 45% (forty five percent) energy conversion efficiency. But there still are transmission losses of some 28% (twenty eight percent) so that by the time electricity reaches the end user only some 22% (twenty two percent) of the actual energy source is converted to electrical power.
The current electricity rate structure for consumers penalizes the consumers who must pay for the fuel being used to generate either 18 percent or 22 percent energy conversion efficiency. In essence, the consumer is paying for some 500% (five hundred percent) of the actual cost of electricity by inherent transmission losses that are generated by the current power generation systems.
The inventors are aware of several patents used for steam power generation. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,952 to Doland; U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,212 to Bell; U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,063 to Morgan; U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,644 to Martz et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,404 to Martz et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,354 to Cosby; U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,276 to Tateishi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,624 to Amir et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,418 to Lott et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,017 to Basily. However, none of these patents solves all the problems of the wasteful energy conversion methods and systems currently being used.
Nonexistence of Supertropic Expansion Applications
At present, known thermodynamic changes of conditions of a system do not include supertropic expansion, which is defined as extracting more energy from an expanding gas, than what isentropic expansion gives for a given expansion volume ratio. In this way a vapor can be expanded far into the wet area of its ph-diagram, so a considerable amount of it condenses by doing work, instead of by cooling it to ambient waste.
Currently, it is not possible to convert moderate amounts of heat from external sources into mechanical energy. Steam turbines work on high rotational speeds that increase to impractical values when the machine is scaled down in size. Thus steam turbine sizes range in the megawatts.
Smaller displacement steam expanders would have a too low efficiency. The only alternative external combustion engine in the range of up to a few hundred kilowatts would be the Sterling engine, but it cannot be produced at a compatible cost in relation to internal combustion engines. Besides, as it only works on the specific heat of an inert gas over varying temperatures, the size of a Sterling engine potentially is much larger than for an according steam, or internal combustion engine and so it must work on very high pressure levels to increase the mass of gas contained in the cycle and thus to keep the machine size down. Again, leakage sets the technological limits, though likely economic ones do sooner.
A basic patent that issued to James Watt on Jul. 17, 1782 was an exceedingly important one, and of special interest in the history of the development of the economical application of steam. This patent included: 1. The expansion of steam, and six methods of applying the principle and of equalizing the expansive power. 2. The double-action steam-engine, in which the steam acts on each side of the piston alternately, the opposite side being in communication with the condenser.
FIG. 18 shows the progressive variation of pressure (of the volume j above the piston) as expansion proceeds. It is seen that the work done per unit of volume of steam as taken from the boiler, is much greater that when working without expansion. The product of the mean pressure by the volume of the cylinder is less, but the quotient obtained by dividing this quantity by the volume or weight of steam taken from the boiler, is much greater with, than without expansion. Watt specified a cut-off at one-quarter stroke, after which the steam expands the remaining three-quarters, as usually best. This would do a little more than double the effect, but it would too much enlarge the cylinder and vessels to use it all.
It was found that for the case assumed and illustrated here, the work done during expansion per pound of steam is 2.4 times that done without expansion. This indicated that Watt measured supertropic expansion, because otherwise the work ratio would have been slightly over two, as follows: Lets imagine a cylinder with 1 m2 area(One square meter) and a 4 meter stroke length, thus consuming 4 m3(Four cubic meters) steam of atmospheric pressure under full load per stroke and at 0.25 bar condenser pressure, giving 0.75 bar constant pressure difference over the piston. The work done would then be approximately 75 kappa ×4 m=approximately 300 kJ. With a specific volume of approximately 1.7 m3/kg for the applied steam, we get a specific work of approximately 128 kJ/kg.
As previously mentioned, the inventors are not aware of patents that solve all the problems of the wasteful energy conversion methods and systems currently being used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Endpoint Power Production Objectives
A primary objective of the invention is to provide a more efficient method and system to generate electrical power and heat to supply individual homeowners and businesses to make them independent of the traditional electrical company at a much lower cost/efficiency.
A secondary objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power that provides for all the energy needs to supply electricity, hot water, heating and cooling for individual homeowners and businesses.
A third objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat energy for the needs of individual homeowners and businesses, that allows for their excess energy to be sold to others further reducing costs to homeowners and businesses. Current estimates would allow for selling approximately $10,000 to approximately $22,000 per year worth of excess energy to others through an existing electrical power grid.
A fourth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power to supply all the energy needs of individual homeowners and businesses that is inexpensive. An estimated cost of the novel invention system would be under $10,000 for the entire system.
A fifth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that can reduce national energy residential energy consumption substantially over current levels.
A sixth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that reduces United States dependency on foreign sources of energy such as oil imports.
A seventh objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that can use any energy source such as renewable(alcohol, hydrogen, etc) and non renewable(oil, coal, gas, etc.) in an efficient energy conversion method and system.
An eighth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that achieves an energy conversion efficiency of approximately 95% (ninety five percent) or greater.
A ninth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that does not charge the end user for fuel source energy that is being lost and not being used to generate the actual electricity.
A tenth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that can use existing power generation infrastructures such as existing natural gas pipelines, propane gas tanks, and the like.
An eleventh objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to generate electrical power and heat that does not require building new plants, substantial capital expenditures, permitting costs, less political headaches of where to locate plants, and the like.
A twelfth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to use superheated steam generated by a vaporous fuel source to supply hot water for uses such as but not limited to domestic hot water, home/space heating, and other loads such as pools, spas, and underground piping for ice and snow removal.
A thirteenth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to use superheated steam generated by a vaporous fuel source to power an airconditioning unit.
A fourteenth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to use superheated steam generated by a vaporous fuel source to generate electricity for powering commercial and domestic devices.
A fifteenth objective of the invention is to provide a method and system to use superheated steam generated by a vaporous fuel source to power a vehicle such as a car.
Supertropic Power Production Embodiments
A sixteenth objective of the invention is to provide a more efficient method and system to generate electrical power from heat by achieving a mode of a expansion, called “supertropic”, that causes the major part of the mass of vapor to condense and convert the according energy into mechanical power.
A seventeenth objective of the invention is to provide methods and systems of using supertropic expansion power packs to generate electrical power for power grids.
An eighteenth objective of the invention is to provide methods and systems of using supertropic expansion power packs to generate electrical power for powering vehicles, such as cars.
A nineteenth objective of the invention is to provide methods and systems of using supertropic expansion power packs to generate electrical power to generate electricity for powering commercial and domestic devices.
Endpoint Power Production Embodiments
The invention can use any potential source of energy, such as renewable and nonrenewable energy, such as but not limited to natural gas, liquid propane gas, and the like, and the invention can run on coal, oil or any fuel that can be vaporized. The invention can also be made to run on water; thru the use of advanced techniques (blue laser, electrolysis) of breaking the bi-polar bond of H 2 O and uses the gasses H 2 and O 2 .
A preferred embodiment can have simple and user friendly automated controls controlled by computers and software, that can monitor and control the entire system. The size of the system can be no larger than approximately 3 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet, and weigh no more than approximately 500 pounds, and have an almost silent operation. The novel invention can meet the minimum energy needs of a residential home or business.
At a maximum mode, the embodiments can additionally supply excess electrical energy to sell over a transmission grid, which can generate extra income for the user that can be in the range of approximately $10,000 to approximately $22,000 per year, which can easily pay back the costs to buy the system. The embodiments are scalable and can be built to produce power levels of approximately 20 KW, 30 KW, or more.
Other embodiments of the invention use superheated steam generated from a vaporous fuel source to power electric and shaft driven air conditioning units, vehicles such as cars, and the like.
Supertropic Power Production Embodiments
Supertropic Expansion can be defined as extracting more energy from an expanding gas than what isentropic expansion will give(for a given expansion volumne ratio). In this way a vapor can be expanded far into the wet area of its energy state, so that a considerable amount of the gas condenses from a vapor by doing work instead of just cooling to ambient temperature as a loss. The invention in achieving greater expansion is to provide a vacuum generated by the process of chemosorption of ammonia and water. Ammonia can be a new working fluid, and the water can be part of the chemosorption process.
The inventors have found a way to make the working fluid expand to a much greater extent for a given volume, thereby releasing up to approximately three times or more the energy to do work. An additional benefit of this approach is lowering operating pressures and temperatures.
The chemosorption hardware can include 1) working fluid, 2) Absorber, 3) Desorber, 4) Receiver, 5) Regenerator, 6) Low volume pump.
In operation, the working fluid is heated in the Thermal Generator(TG), enters the invention as a gas, is then expanded Supertropically, delivering power to drive the electric generator(GEN). The gas, as energy, is released, then condensed back into a liquid. The liquid then continues through the absorber, regenerator and desorber in a closed cycle to continuously provide a vacuum condition for Supertropic Expansion to take place.
Preferred embodiments include methods and systems that achieve a mode of expansion of a vapor, called “supertropic”, that causes the major part of the mass of vapor to condense and convert the according energy into mechanical power.
Novel methods and systems can be used for converting moderate amounts of heat into mechanical energy at high efficiencies, by supertropically expanding a gas vapor such as ammonia, and the like, against a vacuum, as generated by chemosorption, in order to convert moderate amounts of heat into mechanical energy at high efficiencies. A Preferred embodiments of a supertropic energy generating package system, can include a gaseous source such as but not limited to ammonia and water, a thermal generator for heating the source of ammonia/water and generating a gas, a scroll expander for expanding the gas, and an electricity generating power source, such as a motor/alternator being driven by the expanding gas.
Further objectives and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Endpoint Power Production
FIG. 1 is an overview diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a first version heat generator(boiler) for the embodiment of FIG. 1, and can be used for compact spaces when space restricts height dimensions of a boiler of a double coil embodiment.
FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of a single wrap fin coil heat exchanger(boiler) for the embodiment of FIG. 1 that can be used where height restrictions are not a problem.
FIG. 3 shows the heat recovery unit for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows air preheater component for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an expander driver for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the expander driver of FIG. 5A.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the expander driver of FIG. 5A along arrows 6 X.
FIG. 7 shows the steam to water exchanger(Co Generation Steam condenser) for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8A shows the steam dissipation coil(heat dump steam condenser) for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8B is an end view of the coil and fan assembly of FIG. 8A.
FIG. 9 shows the condensate return pump(high pressure return pump) for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10A shows a top view of the air conditioner unit and system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10B is a cross-section of the novel rifled and turbulator tubing used in the A/C unit 19 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 11 shows a wiring diagram for various components for FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 shows a preferred layout of all the components of the invention in a 3′ by 4′ by 5′ box for use by the end user of the invention.
FIG. 13 shows a second preferred embodiment for heat generation using a closed loop steam generator system.
FIG. 14 shows a third preferred embodiment for powering a drive shaft driven air-conditioner unit using the novel steam generator, expander and steam condenser of the invention, which is a vaporous fuel supplied air conditioner
FIG. 15 shows a fourth preferred embodiment for supplying electricity to any electrically powered device or system using the novel steam generator, expander and steam condenser of the invention.
FIG. 16 shows a fifth preferred embodiment for supplying electrical power to an electric vehicle, such as an electric car using the novel steam generator, expander and steam condenser of the invention.
FIG. 17 shows a sixth preferred embodiment for powering a drive shaft driven vehicle using the novel steam generator, expander and steam condenser of the invention.
Supertropic Power Production
FIG. 18 shows a prior art view of the progressive variation of pressure(of the volume) above a piston in a steam engine.
FIG. 19A is a pressure volume graph of temperature versus entropy for supertropic expansion.
FIG. 19B shows a pressure versus Enthalpy graph for the invention.
FIG. 20 shows an operational arrangement configuration for a supertrope power system.
FIG. 21 shows an energy balance diagram for the supertrope power system of the invention.
FIG. 22 shows another version of the supertropic power system of FIGS. 20–21 with a gas/air mixture heat source and superheator based on forced gas/air combustion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Enpoint Power Production Embodiments
FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram of a preferred embodiment system of the invention. Initially, ambient air coming through an air preheater ( 1 FIG. 1, shown in FIG. 4). The heated air is mixed with natural gas or propane in the airblower/valve assembly 2FIG. 1 (such as but not limited to an AMETEK Variable Speed Power Burner Blower, or EBM, with gas metering devices such as those manufactured by Honeywell and Carl Dungs, and the like. The airblower/valve assembly 2 supplies the air required for the combustion process from a primary fuel source 22 . The forced air blower can be sized based on the application and/or requirements of the heat generator 3 FIG. 1. The gas metering portion of the airblower/valve assembly 2 provides the gaseous fuel (natural gas, propane, and the like.) required for the combustion process. This device can regulate the amount of gaseous fuel to provide the optimum stoic metric air to fuel ratio (e.g. for natural gas, that ratio is approximately 10 to approximately 1). The gaseous fuel enters the forced air stream through the device. Alternative fuels can be used as a back up fuel source 23 , if the current fuel supply is disrupted. The device can automatically shift to the back up source 23 , such as but not limited to propane tanks, by switching to a different orifice and other adjustments which can automatically occur.
The invention can incorporate the latest in modulating blower, valve 2 and burner technology in heat generator(boiler) 3 . This allows the proper air/gas mixture at all inputs determined by a feedback signal from the electric load placed on the electric generator 9 .
The proper gas air mixture (approximately 10 air to approximately 1 gas) is injected by blower 2 (a combination air blower fan and gas metering device) into a burner inside the heat generator unit(boiler) 3 FIG. 1 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Heated combusted gases heats the incoming water from the closed loop system( 12 , 11 , 7 , 5 , 6 , 4 FIG. 1). Exhausted flue gasses from boiler 3 pass through heat recovery 4 FIG. 1(shown in FIG. 3), after heating incoming air exhausts into the atmosphere.
Steam generated in boiler(heat generator) 3 FIG. 1 (FIGS. 2A or2 B) at a temperature of approximately 1000 F and approximately 600 PSI enters expander 8 FIG. 1 (FIGS. 5A, 5 B and 6 ). This steam in expander 8 causes a shaft 8 SH in the expander to turn, the shaft SH is connected to electric generator9 FIG. 1 (FIG. 11). Electric generator 9 can be a commercial off the shelf generator(COTS) such as Lite Engineering Inc., Marathon, e-Cycle. A preferred generator 9 can be a 240 Volt three-phase AC power supply, or 120 Volt single phase AC power supply, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 1, electricity produced goes through a power conditioning unit 17 FIG. 1 such as those commercial off the shelf units that come with the electric generator 9 previously described to be put in proper phase and frequency for generation into an electrical power grid 18 FIG. 1. Electric power grid 18 can be an existing grid that supplies electrical power to commercial, industrial and residential applications, such as but not limited to FPL(Florida Power and Light) electric power supply grid. Also, electricity generated out of power conditioning unit 17powers air conditioner 19 FIG. 1 (FIGS. 10A–10B). The power conditioning unit 17 , can be an off-the-shelf unit manufactured by Lite Engineering Inc. which adjusts parameters such as phase and harmonics coming out of electric generator 9 and such as a standard AC to DC type converter, and the like.
Heat dissipating units 20 , 21 can consist of liquid pump and fan21 and standard heat exchanger(for example, a radiator, tubes with fins, and the like) 20 , which cools off generator 9 FIG. 1 and keeps generator at a temperature of approximately 130 F or less. Pump portion 21 can be a fractional horsepower circulator of an anti-freeze solution, such as those manufactured by TACO, Grundfos, and the like. Fan portion 21 can be a pancake style blower of approximately 50 CFM(cubic feet per minute) operating at approximately 115 volts such as one manufactured by EBM, and the like. A heat sensitive speed controller(thermostat) such as one manufactured by Honeywell, and the like, can be built into the fan portion, to operate the fan.
Co Generation Loop.
From Expander 8 FIG. 1 (FIGS. 5A, 5 B and 6 ), the steam exhausted goes to a steam to water exchanger 10 FIG. 11 (FIG. 7) to a pump 14 (Off the shelf water circulator) to a domestic water heater 15 , to hot water air heating coil 16 such as a room/house hot water space heater(a coil passing through a fan, to other loads 13 , such as but not limited to a swimming pool, a spa, underground pipes for ice and snow removal, and the like. Next, the same hot water passes back at a reduced temperature of up to approximately 30 F, to heat exchanger 10 FIG. 1 (FIG. 7). When co generation loop is completely satisfied(i.e. all the hot water is heated up in domestic water heater 15 , no more heat is required for heating house 16 , pool/spa is at desired temperature) then in order to dissipate this excess heat, it passes from heat exchanger 10 to steam dissipation coil 11 FIG. 1 (FIGS. 8A–8B), where condensed water is placed into accumulator 7 (water storage tank) by way of dissipation coil vent check valve, which relieves built up vapor. Then, the high pressure condensate return pump 5 FIG. 1 (FIG. 9) pumps water to check valve 6 (keeps water from going backward). Pump 5can run at approximately 600 to approximately 1,000 psi. Water is then passed to heat recovery unit(reclaimer) 4 FIG. 1 (FIG. 3). Water can be heated in recovery unit(reclaimer) 4 and is pumped by a high pressure pump 5 into steam generator(boiler)3 for heating back into steam to complete the cycle of the entire system, where heat generator(boiler) 3 can operate at a temperature of approximately 1,000 F to approximately 1,500 F.
In the cogeneration loop of FIG. 1, steam exits the expander drive 8 at a temperature at approximately 212 F to approximately 230 F This steam passes through the steam to water exchanger10 (FIG. 7), such as but not limited to a Alfa Laval CB-14 a COTS item to extract the heat of the steam and transfer it to the co generated water to be used for domestic hot water, heating water to be used for domestic hot water 15 for heating water and other water usages 13 such as but not limited to pools, snow melting, and the like. This co generated water is pumped by a COTS circulator pump 14 , such as but not limited to a Taco or Grundfos pump, and the like. In a situation where all co generated usages are satisfied the excess heat(steam) continues on to the heat dissipation coil 11 , such as one manufactured by Heatcraft or other steam condenser manufacturers.
The condensed steam is now changed to water which gave up its latent heat to the co generated water. The closed loop steam, now water, is transferred to the accumulator 7 directly bypassing check valve ready to be returned to the heat generator 3 by the high pressure bellows pump 5 (FIG. 9).
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a first version heat generator(boiler) for the embodiment of FIG. 1, and can be used for compact spaces when space restricts height dimensions of a boiler. Air blower ( 2 FIG. 1) forces an air/gas fuel mixture to enter burner. Gas/fuel meter in blower/meter 2 (FIG. 1) provides the gaseous fuel (natural gas, propane, and the like) from primary fuel source 22 (FIG. 1) required for the combustion process. This device will regulate the amount of gaseous fuel to provide the optimum stoic metric air to fuel ratio (e.g. for natural gas, that ratio is 10 to 1). The gaseous fuel enters the forced air stream. Alternative fuels from a backup fuel source 23 (FIG. 1) can be used as a back up if the current fuel supply is disrupted. The device can automatically shift to the back up source 23 , such as but not limited to propane tanks, by switching to a different orifice and other adjustments can be made automatically.
The burner screens 302 , 304 located inside the body of the heat generator 3 , is where the fuel and air mixture is ignited and burned. The burner 305 consists of two cylindrical (inner and outer) screens 302 , 304 . The purpose of the dual screens 302, 304 is to prevent flashbacks from the combustion of the fuel and air mixture. The screens 302 , 304 can be made of Inconel or other high temperature materials, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 2A, heat exchanger(double wrapped tubes 310) are wrapped around the burner 305 and can be constructed of approximately ⅝″ 321 stainless steel tubing with external outwardly protruding fins 315 . The working fluid(water) is pumped through the heat exchanger (b pump 5 FIG. 1, 9 at approximately 600 to approximately 1000 psi), where it is heated from an approximately 150° F. entering temperature to a leaving temperature of approximately 1000 to approximately 1300° F. (nominal, approximately 1500° F. maximum) at approximately 1000 PSI. Once the working fluid is heated it will then go to the expander drive 8 (FIGS. 5A, 5 B and 6 ).
An electrically powered igniter module 320 attached to the heat generator 3 adjacent to air/gas inlet line 301 can provide the necessary energy (spark) to start the combustion process. The insulation 325 within heat generator housing 330 retains the heat that is generated during the combustion of the fuel and air mixture within the heat generator cavity to maximize the heat transfer to the heat exchanger (wrapped tubes 310 ). The insulation 325 can be composed of aluminum and silica or other high performance insulation, and the like. Exterior outer generator housing 330 can be composed of stainless steel, aluminum, high temperature plastic, and the like, and houses the insulation 325 , heat exchanger 310 , and burner screens 302 ,304 .
A downwardly extending flue 340 exhausts the products of combustion (flue gases). The flue gases, which are very friendly to the environment are primarily carbon dioxide and water vapor with trace amounts (ppm) of CO. A minimal amount of heat (≦approximately 2% of total heat generated) is also lost through the flue. The flue gases can be harmlessly exhausted to the atmosphere
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