Electratherm, Inc.

Sundara Industries, Ltd

Original Design Group

Bitxer Us, Inc.

Electatherm, Inc.

Hans Wain

David C Williams

Hank Leibowitz

David Silva

Chloe Helen Sundara

Andrew Oxner

John M Williams

Jonathan Gray

Paul G Hughes

August Brautigam

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 heat sources generating power from byproducts of water purification process(es). Waste heat energy obtained from heat source(s) is provided to one or more ORC system(s) which may be operatively coupled to electric generator(s). A heat coupling subsystem provides the requisite condensation of ORC working fluid by transferring heat from ORC working fluid to one or more other process(es) or system(s), 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.

Heat utilization in ORC systems

The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of managing large quantities of low-grade waste heat energy by generating excess electrical power via an ORC process driven by the removal and recovery of waste heat under favorable operating conditions, and utilizing the same apparatus to provide waste heat removal via a refrigeration process that consumes electrical 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.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for low grade waste heat management

Systems and methods are provided for the recovery mechanical power from heat energy sources using a common working fluid comprising, in some embodiments, an organic refrigerant flowing through multiple heat exchangers and expanders. The distribution of heat energy from the source may be portioned, distributed, and communicated to each of the heat exchangers so as to permit utilization of up to all available heat energy. In some embodiments, the system utilizes up to and including all of the available heat energy from the source. The expanders may be operatively coupled to one or more generators that convert the mechanical energy of the expansion process into electrical energy, or the mechanical energy may be communicated to other devices to perform work.

Multiple organic rankine cycle systems and methods

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 heat sources generating power from biofuel such as biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion process. Waste heat energy obtained from heat source(s) is provided to one or more ORC system(s) which may be operatively coupled to electric generator(s). A heat coupling subsystem 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.

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.

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.

Multiple organic Rankine cycle system and method

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the use of multiple organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems that generate mechanical and/or electric power from multiple co-located waste heat flows using a specially configured system of multiple expanders operating at multiple temperatures and/or multiple pressures ('MP') utilizing a common working fluid. The multiple ORC cycle system accepts waste heat energy at different temperatures and utilizes a single closed-loop cycle 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 multiple ORC system maximizes the output of the waste 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.

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.

A child carrier utilized to carry a child on the back of an adult is described. The child carrier includes a rigid frame having front and rear sections. The front section, adjacent to the user's back, comprises a pair of rigid columnar members joined at their top ends by a rigid yoke. In preferred embodiments, the yoke has slots formed therein to serve as a handle and to provide connecting points for the shoulder straps. A child restraint system is described wherein a floating loop is formed by the interconnection of the shoulder straps and the crouch strap. A rigid canopy is described comprising arcuate rigid members that connect to the front and rear sections of the rigid frame, and a flexible hood. A waist belt assembly is also described that permits a waist belt to be adjusted vertically to account for different builds of various users.

Child carrier

A back-mounted load-carrying device, such as a backpack or a child carrier, having an adjustable waist belt assembly is described. The waist belt assembly is freely slidable between a variety of vertical positions along a rigid frame. A locking mechanism, actuatable while the device is being worn, permits a user to adjust the waist belt assembly to rest comfortably on his hip and around his waist on the fly and subsequently secure the waist belt in the desired position. A pair of hip-load transfer members that are rigid to loads applied in the vertical direction comprise the waist belt assembly and rest against the hip of a user when the waist belt is secured. These members help to transfer load from the device to the user's hips and act to lessen the amount of load carried by the user's shoulder and back, the result being greater comfort and less fatigue.

Growing community of inventors

Truckee, CA, United States of America

Hans Wain