Patent ID: 7797938
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: F01K

Abstract:
1. An energy recovery system, comprising: a fluid configured to absorb and convey thermal energy; an exhaust treatment device; an exhaust treatment device cooling system configured to transmit thermal energy from the exhaust treatment device to the fluid by directing the fluid about an exterior surface of the exhaust treatment device; a turbine that is driven by the fluid and configured to convert at least a portion of the thermal energy to mechanical energy; a generator that is powered by the turbine and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy to electrical energy; at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a temperature of the exhaust treatment device; and a controller configured to adjust a flow of the fluid in response to the sensed parameter indicative of the temperature of the exhaust treatment device by comparing the sensed parameter to a first threshold and increasing the flow of the fluid if the sensed parameter exceeds the first threshold, and comparing the sensed parameter to a second threshold and decreasing the flow of the fluid if the sensed parameter is less than the second threshold, wherein the first threshold is a temperature above which the exhaust treatment device suffers damage, and the second threshold is a temperature below which exhaust treatment device performance suffers.