Patent ID: 11946459
Assignee: ICE THERMAL HARVESTING, LLC
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  E  Y | IPC E  F

Claim 7:
8. A method for generating power at a drilling rig, the method comprising:
receiving a heated drilling fluid from a fluid channel;
diverting one or more of: (1) the heated drilling fluid to a first heat exchanger connected to a working fluid manifold via a first working fluid flow control device, the first heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the heated drilling fluid to a flow of a first portion of a working fluid, thereby to generate a cooled drilling fluid and a heated first portion of working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power, (2) exhaust produced by one or more engines to a second heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold via a second working fluid flow control device, the second heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the exhaust to a flow of a second portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a heated second portion of the working fluid, the heated second portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power, or (3) heated coolant from a water jacket associated with the one or more of the engines to a third heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold via a third working fluid flow control device, the third heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated coolant to a flow of a third portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a heated third portion of the working fluid, the heated third portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power;
determining an exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust produced by the one or more engines;
determining electrical power utilized by a drilling fluid chiller;
in response to one or more of (1) a determination that the exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust from the one or more engines is outside of an exhaust thermal mass range, or (2) a determination that the electrical power utilization of the drilling fluid chiller exceeds an operating range:
adjusting one or more of (1) flow of the exhaust from the one or more engines to the second heat exchanger, or (2) the first working fluid flow control device to increase an amount of the first portion of the working fluid flowing from the working fluid manifold to the first heat exchanger; and

returning the cooled drilling fluid to a drilling fluid container.