Patent ID: 9347339
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: F01K,F23J,Y02B,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A system for converting excess energy generated as a byproduct of a fuel-powered industrial process in the form of heated exhaust gases directed to an exhaust structure into electrical energy comprising: a heat exchanger having a gas input and a gas output, each connected to an exhaust structure, and having further a heat source liquid input and a heat source liquid output; a tap connected with the exhaust structure and the heat exchanger and comprising a tap input and a tap output such that during use: (i) a first stream of gas in the exhaust structure flows from a location upstream of the tap input to a location that is both downstream of the tap input and upstream of the tap output, and then flows from the location upstream of the tap output to a location downstream of the tap output; (ii) a second stream of gas flows through the tap input and into the tap, then through the gas input and into the heat exchanger, then through the gas output and the tap output and back into the exhaust structure and the first stream of gas; an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system having a first input connected to the heat source liquid output of said heat exchanger and a first output connected to the heat source liquid input of said heat exchanger, said ORC system further having a generator delivering electric power to a second output of said ORC system; a fan for regulating the temperature of the liquid heat source by changing the amount of gases circulated between the exhaust structure and the gas input and the gas output of said heat exchanger, wherein speed of the fan is based in part on a heat source liquid target temperature, which is calculated by software in a first controller and is calculated based on a function having as input variables: (a) monitored fuel consumption data of the fuel-powered industrial process, (b) a temperature feedback of heated gases entering the gas input of the heat exchanger, and (c) an initial liquid heat source target temperature; and heat source liquid circulator for regulating the heat transfer to said ORC by changing the amount of liquid circulated between said ORC and said heat exchanger.