Patent ID: 8061139

Claim:
An integrated engine, electric generator, Rankine cycle power system comprising a closed organic Rankine cycle power generating unit through which a condensable organic working fluid flows, an engine, and an electric generator operationally coupled to the engine, said closed organic Rankine cycle power generating unit including: a waste heat boiler for vaporizing said condensable organic working fluid by means of exhaust gases discharged from said engine, an expander in which the vaporized organic working fluid expands and performs work, the expander being operationally coupled to the electric generator to drive the electric generator, wherein the expander and engine have a common driven shaft which comprises the drive shaft for the electrical generator, whereby said electric generator may be driven by, and produces electrical power from, both said engine and said expander via said common shaft; an external lubrication system in fluid communication with the expander; a controller connected to the engine and the external lubrication system, the controller including operating logic which transmits a signal to start operation of the external lubrication system substantially simultaneously with transmitting a signal to start operation of the engine; a feed pump connected for delivering organic working fluid condensate to the waste heat boiler; and a recuperator connected to receive all of the expanded organic working fluid vapor from said expander and the organic working fluid condensate from said feed pump, to heat the organic working fluid condensate.