Modine Manufacturing Company

Bloom Energy Corporation

Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Cummins Inc.

Xcellsis Gmbh

Texaco Development Corporation

Michael J Reinke

Jeroen Valensa

Mark G Voss

Todd M Bandhauer

Dennis C Granetzke

Gregory G Hughes

Nicholas Siler

Leon A Guntly

Michael McGregor

Jonathan P Wattelet

C James Rogers

Mark W Johnson

Gregory A Mross

Tony Paul Rousseau

Greg Mross

John B Welker

Jerome P Henkes

David T Hill

Brad Engel

Marc Weisser

Bruno Motzet

Richard M DeKeuster

Timothy C Ernst

Christopher R Nelson

Uwe Benz

Curtis L Krause

Alan Paul Meissner

Roland Strähle

James A Zigan

Alois Tischler

Bhaskar Balasubramanian

Kevin Nguyen

Adam S Kimmel

Yunquan Liu

Sven Thumm

Randolph S Herrick

Jack C Dudley

Mark Johnson

Kevin H Nguyen

A heat exchanger that includes first and second headers, a first flow conduit fluidly connecting the first and second headers to allow for a flow of a first fluid through the heat exchanger, the first flow conduit being bounded by a first generally planar wall section extending between the first and second headers, a second flow conduit to allow for a flow of the second fluid through the heat exchanger, the second flow conduit being bounded by a second generally planar wall section spaced apart from the first generally planar wall section to define a gap therebetween, and a thermally conductive structure arranged within the gap and joined to the first and second generally planar wall sections to transfer heat therebetween. The thermally conductive structure is isolated from the first fluid by the first generally planar wall section and from the second fluid by the second generally planar wall section.

Heat exchanger

A power generation system having a combustion engine with a Rankine bottoming cycle, the system including a first flow path for a process fluid and a second flow path for a working fluid, and a heat exchanger arranged along both the first and the second flow paths to transfer waste heat from the process fluid to the working fluid. The heat exchanger includes a first flow conduit being bounded by a first wall section and configured to convey the process fluid, a second flow conduit to convey the working fluid, the second flow conduit being bounded by a second wall section spaced apart from the first wall section to define a gap therebetween, and a thermally conductive structure arranged within the gap and joined to the first and second wall sections to transfer heat therebetween, the gap being fluidly isolated from both the process fluid and the working fluid.

System and method for recovering waste heat

An integrated heat exchanger and coolant reservoir includes a reservoir structure that extends in a length direction from one end to an opposite end. A coolant inlet is arranged at one of the ends, and a coolant outlet is arranged at one of the ends. Coolant volumes extend in parallel along the length direction, and are fluidly connected in series to define a coolant flow path between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet. An internal structure arranged within the reservoir structure has walls that separate individual coolant volumes from one another. Refrigerant flow paths are provided within at least one of the walls.

Integrated heat exchanger and coolant reservoir

A method is provided to vaporize a working fluid using a heat sourcing fluid. A first portion of the heat sourcing fluid passes through the first section, in counter-flow with the working fluid. A second portion of the heat sourcing fluid passes through the second section, in co-flow with the working fluid. Both the first and second portions pass through the third section, in overall counter-flow with the working fluid. The working fluid passes sequentially through the third section, the first section, and the second section. The method may be used in a Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery or in a refrigerant cycle.

Method of vaporizing a fluid

A heat exchanger and a method are provided to vaporize a working fluid using a heat sourcing fluid. The heat exchanger includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. A first portion of the heat sourcing fluid passes through the first section, in counter-flow with the working fluid. A second portion of the heat sourcing fluid passes through the second section, in co-flow with the working fluid. Both the first and second portions pass through the third section, in overall counter-flow with the working fluid. The working fluid passes sequentially through the third section, the first section, and the second section. The heat exchanger and/or the method may be used in a Rankine cycle for waste heat recovery or in a refrigerant cycle.

A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack. A combustor receives a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel. The fuel is oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow. A cathode air flow path extends between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes. An air preheater is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes. A cathode recuperator is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow. Water passing through a vaporizer is converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow and directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes.

High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network

A heat exchanger including a first header, a second header, and a third header. The third header includes a first plate including a generally planar face and a second plate including a generally planar face parallel to the planar face of the first plate and joined to the planar face of the first plate. The second plate includes an arcuate recess that extends from the planar face of the second plate to at least partially define a flow conduit between a first tube and a second tube. The arcuate recess has a radius of curvature measured from an axis generally parallel to the planar faces of the first and the second plates, and the axis is located within a first plane generally parallel to and midway between first and second opposing flat broad sides of the first tube and the second tube.

A fuel cell system () is provided and includes a fuel cell stack (), a cathode recuperator heat exchanger () adapted to heat an air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream, and an air preheater heat exchanger () which is adapted to heat the air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream.

An integrated fuel cell unit () includes an annular array () of fuel cell stacks (), an annular cathode recuperator (), an annular anode recuperator (), a reformer (), and an anode exhaust cooler (), all integrated within a common housing structure ().

Integrated solid oxide fuel cell and fuel processor

The present invention provides a water vaporizer including a first flow path connected to a water inlet, a second flow path for receiving superheated water vapor from the first flow path and being connected to a vapor outlet to exhaust the superheated water vapor, and a third flow path extending between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet and being oriented to transfer heat from an exhaust flow to the superheated water vapor. The water vaporizer can also include a first convoluted fin positioned along the second flow path, and a second convoluted fin positioned along the second flow path adjacent to and separated from the first fin to define a gap extending between the first and second fins along a length of the first fin in a direction substantially parallel to the exhaust flow along the third flow path.

Water vaporizer with intermediate steam superheating pass

A vaporizing heat exchanger () is provided for vaporizing a fluid flow using a thermal energy containing flow. Flow paths () for each of the fluid flow and the thermal energy containing flow are located relative to each other such that the fluid flow makes multiple passes wherein the fluid is vaporized and subsequently superheated.

A fuel cell unit includes a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis. The fuel cell unit also includes an annular cathode feed manifold surrounding the fuel cell stacks to deliver a cathode feed flow thereto, a plurality of baffles extending parallel to the central axis, each of the baffles located between an adjacent pair of the fuel cell stacks to direct a cathode feed flow from the annular cathode feed manifold and radially inwardly through the adjacent pair, and an annular cathode exhaust manifold surrounded by the fuel cell stacks to receive a cathode exhaust flow therefrom.

Annular or ring shaped fuel cell unit

Relates to a process and apparatus that improves the hydrogen production efficiency for small scale hydrogen production. According to one aspect, the process provides heat exchangers that are thermally integrated with the reaction steps such that heat generated by exothermic reactions, combustion and water gas shift, are arranged closely to the endothermic reaction, steam reformation, and heat sinks, cool natural gas, water and air, to minimize heat loss and maximize heat recovery. Effectively, this thermally integrated process eliminates excess piping throughout, reducing initial capital cost.

Process and apparatus for thermally integrated hydrogen generation system

Growing community of inventors

Franklin, WI, United States of America

Michael J Reinke