Hybrid Heat Engine System for Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat engines are inefficient in extracting energy from low-temperature heat sources and waste heat, leading to energy wastage and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid heat engine system that utilizes a low-level temperature differential between a heat source and a heat sink to generate electrical power, incorporating a hydraulic ram system with a valve, pipes, a chamber, and a piston to efficiently convert thermal energy into mechanical and electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional heat engines are used to extract energy from low-temperature heat sources, then the system structure is simple, but the energy extraction efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a heat engine with a hydraulic ram system into a hybrid configuration. The heat engine drives a pump that pressurizes working fluid, which then drives a hydraulic ram to generate additional power. This merging of thermal and hydraulic systems allows efficient extraction of energy from low-temperature heat sources that would be insufficient for conventional heat engines alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydraulic ram system using pressurized fluid to augment power generation. The heat engine pressurizes working fluid that is stored and then released to drive the hydraulic ram, converting thermal energy into mechanical pressure and then into additional mechanical work. This hydraulic approach enables effective utilization of low-temperature thermal energy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional heat engines operate at high temperature differentials, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the adaptability to low-temperature heat sources is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using a two-stage system. The heat engine operates at moderate temperature differential to drive the hydraulic ram, which then operates at high pressure to generate additional power. This parameter transformation allows the system to adapt to low-temperature heat sources while maintaining overall thermal efficiency through the hydraulic amplification stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic ram system acts as an intermediary between the heat engine and the final power output. The heat engine pressurizes working fluid, which serves as the intermediary medium to drive the hydraulic ram. This intermediary mechanism enables the system to bridge the gap between low-temperature heat input and high-efficiency power generation.
3Loss of energy
If waste heat is discarded without utilization, then the system operation is simple, but energy wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers waste heat that would otherwise be discarded. The heat engine utilizes waste heat from industrial processes or low-temperature sources to drive the hydraulic ram system. By recovering and utilizing this otherwise wasted thermal energy, the system converts energy wastage into useful power generation without significantly increasing operational complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively converts thermal energy from low-temperature heat sources into useful electrical power, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
A system can convert thermal energy to mechanical energy. The thermal energy may be associated with a heat source and a heat sink.
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a hydraulic ram system with a valve, pipes, a chamber, and a piston to efficiently convert thermal energy into mechanical and electrical power
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid heat engine system includes a chamber housing including an inlet and an outlet. A piston is disposed in an interior volume of the chamber housing. The hybrid heat engine system further includes a valve configured to provide a first fluid in a heated state from a heat source to the interior volume via the inlet. The first fluid in the heated state is to push against a first side of the piston to cause a second side of the piston to push a working fluid out of the interior volume and through a turbine to generate energy.