Patent ID: 11920513
Assignee: CAE (IP) LLP
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 1:
2. A mono-block reciprocating piston engine power plant comprising:
two or more cylinders each having a piston housed therein;
an internal combustion IC section controlling the displacement of at least one of the pistons;
an Organic Rankine Cycle ORC section controlling the displacement of at least another one of the pistons; and
a controller configured to control flow through the Organic Rankine Cycle ORC section;
wherein the IC and ORC pistons connect to and drive a common crankshaft of the mono-block engine power plant; and
wherein the Organic Rankine Cycle section operates by heat generated by combustion in the internal combustion section, and the displacement of the pistons in the ORC section is achieved by injecting heated and pressurised ORC fluid;
wherein the heated and pressurised ORC fluid is injected from a high pressure tank into a first ORC section cylinder causing downward displacement of a first piston therein;
on the upward displacement of the first piston the ORC fluid is ejected from the first cylinder:
wherein the controller is configured to:
if the ORC fluid pressure and heat are above predefined second thresholds, the ORC fluid is transferred and injected into a second ORC section cylinder causing downward displacement of a second piston therein;
if not, then part of the ORC fluid is ejected into a condenser, to be recirculated in the ORC cycle, and the part is replaced with heated and pressurised ORC fluid from the high pressure tank;
the resulting mixed ORC fluid is then injected into a second ORC section cylinder causing downward displacement of a second piston therein; and
wherein the ORC fluid is thus continuously mixed and recirculated between the ORC section cylinders.