Patent ID: 8726870

Claim:
An engine-driven heat generation system comprising: an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft defining an axis; a hydrodynamic heater comprising: a stationary member; and a rotation member disposed proximate the stationary member with a working fluid therebetween, wherein rotation of the rotation member about an X-axis induces shear within the working fluid operable to increase the temperature of the working fluid; and a fluid handling system, the drive shaft of the engine adapted to rotate the rotation member within the hydrodynamic heater which in turn heats the working fluid flowing within a fluid path of the hydrodynamic heater, the fluid handling system comprising: a fluid reservoir; a manifold flow control adapted to direct fluid to the fluid path of the hydrodynamic heater; an exhaust heat exchanger; and a coolant heat exchanger, wherein heat from the exhaust of the engine is transferred to the fluid in the exhaust heat exchanger, heat from an engine cooling system, which comprises a coolant reservoir, is transferred to the fluid in the coolant heat exchanger, heat generated by the hydrodynamic heater is transferred to the working fluid passing within the hydrodynamic heater, the working fluid is recollected in the fluid reservoir and either directed again through the manifold flow control or directed to an external heat exchanger by way of an external manifold, the external manifold is adapted to provide fluid take-offs to supply heated fluid and return cooled fluid to/from the external heat exchanger.