Induced Flow Generator for Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar, are intermittent and have large area footprints, and existing methods for generating power from thermal energy are uneconomical, especially for temperatures below 450° F, lacking scalability and dispatchability.
Innovation Solution
An induced flow generator apparatus that utilizes a heated fluid reservoir, a back-pressure control channel with a fluid mobilization device to create a low-pressure region, and an energy extractor with a turbine to convert thermal energy to kinetic energy, generating power efficiently and scalably from waste heat sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional steam cycle, organic rankine cycle or kalina cycle are used to generate power from thermal energy, then power generation is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and uneconomical especially when temperature is below 450° F
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of heat-to-power conversion by removing complex components (boilers, condensers, heat exchangers) from traditional thermal cycles. The induced flow generator uses a simplified open-cycle design where heated air directly drives a turbine without requiring closed-loop heat exchange systems, thereby reducing complexity and cost while maintaining power generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical heat exchange systems (boilers, condensers, pumps) of traditional thermal cycles with a direct thermal expansion mechanism. Heated air expands directly to drive the turbine, eliminating the need for complex mechanical heat transfer components and reducing system complexity, especially for low-temperature applications below 450° F.
2Loss of energy
If wind and solar technologies are used for renewable energy production, then clean energy is generated, but the systems become intermittent and cannot be dispatched as needed
Solution Approach 1:
The induced flow generator uses waste heat from industrial processes or combustion as its energy source, making the system self-sufficient and independent of external environmental conditions like wind or sunlight. This allows continuous operation and dispatchability since the heat source can be controlled or maintained independently of weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can operate across a wide range of temperatures (including below 450° F), allowing it to adapt to various heat sources and maintain reliable operation under different conditions. This parameter flexibility enables consistent power generation regardless of environmental variations that affect wind and solar systems.
3Loss of energy
If wind and solar technologies are deployed to generate renewable power, then clean energy production is achieved, but the area footprint becomes large for a given power output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power generation function from large-scale distributed systems (wind farms, solar fields) and concentrates it into a compact industrial-scale unit. The induced flow generator achieves high power density by using a direct thermal expansion mechanism that requires minimal space compared to the extensive land areas needed for equivalent wind or solar capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves high power output relative to its footprint by operating efficiently at lower temperatures (including below 450° F), which allows compact design while maintaining scalability. This enables high power density in a small physical space, contrasting with the large footprints required by wind and solar installations.
4Loss of energy
If waste heat is recovered and re-used through conventional methods, then energy efficiency is improved, but the systems become expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical heat recovery systems (heat exchangers, pumps, condensers) with a direct thermal expansion mechanism. Waste heat directly expands air to drive the turbine, eliminating intermediate heat transfer components and reducing both complexity and cost while maintaining effective waste heat utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the essential energy conversion function from complex heat recovery infrastructure, using only the heated air and turbine components needed for power generation. This simplified approach recovers waste heat effectively without requiring the expensive and complex equipment typical of conventional heat recovery systems.
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 apparatus provides a dispatchable, non-intermittent, and scalable means of generating renewable electric power from waste heat, overcoming the limitations of conventional technologies by efficiently converting thermal energy to kinetic energy and then to electric power.
Implementation Method 1
a back-pressure control channel with a fluid mobilization device to create a low-pressure region
Implementation Method 2
The low-pressure region in the back-pressure control channel causes the heated fluid from the heated fluid reservoir to be entrained through the energy extractor
Implementation Method 3
an energy extractor with a turbine to convert thermal energy to kinetic energy, generating power efficiently
Implementation Method 4
a pressure ejector configured to transmit the entrained fluid to an exhaust reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating power includes a heated fluid reservoir including a heated fluid, a back-pressure control channel, an energy extractor coupled to the heated fluid reservoir and the back-pressure control channel, and a pressure ejector coupled to the back-pressure control channel. The back-pressure control channel includes a fluid mobilization device configured to circulate an internal fluid and to form a low-pressure region within the back-pressure control channel. The energy extractor includes an energy extraction rotor. The low-pressure region in the back-pressure control channel causes the heated fluid from the heated fluid reservoir to be entrained through the energy extractor forming an entrained fluid. The energy extraction rotor is configured to extract power from the entrained fluid. The pressure ejector is configured to transmit the entrained fluid to an exhaust reservoir.