Mono-block Reciprocating Piston Engine with ORC Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current internal combustion engines (ICE) are inherently inefficient, with most energy lost as heat, and they struggle to achieve more than 20%-35% efficiency, while also emitting harmful emissions.
Innovation Solution
A novel mono-block reciprocating piston engine that combines a composite internal combustion (IC) section and an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) section, where the ORC section captures and converts the lost heat from the IC engine into additional mechanical energy, and the engine uses hydrogen as fuel to reduce emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional internal combustion engine is used, then the engine can generate power, but the efficiency is low (20%-35%) and most energy is lost as heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the harmful waste heat from the internal combustion engine and converts it into useful mechanical energy through the Organic Rankine Cycle section. The heat that would normally be lost to the environment is now utilized to drive the ORC pistons, which connect to the same crankshaft, thereby converting a harmful byproduct into a beneficial energy source and improving overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the internal combustion engine and the Organic Rankine Cycle into a single integrated power generation system. Both the IC pistons and ORC pistons are connected to a common crankshaft, allowing the combination of combustion-driven power and heat-recovery-driven power to work together, thereby improving overall productivity while reducing energy loss.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional fuels are used in the internal combustion engine, then power can be generated, but harmful emissions are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fuel parameter from conventional hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen. This parameter change eliminates carbon-containing emissions while maintaining the ability to generate power through combustion. The hydrogen fuel undergoes combustion in the IC section, producing only water vapor and heat, thereby resolving the contradiction between power generation and harmful emissions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If battery or fuel cell alternatives are used to achieve zero emissions, then emissions are reduced, but initial and life cycle costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the internal combustion engine to serve dual purposes: generating power through combustion and recovering waste heat through the ORC section. This self-service approach allows the system to improve its own efficiency and reduce emissions without requiring expensive external technologies like batteries or fuel cells, thereby achieving cost-effectiveness while maintaining environmental benefits.
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 hybrid engine achieves significantly higher efficiencies, potentially up to 64% to 72% MBHP, while reducing emissions to near zero, and offers lower initial and life cycle costs compared to battery and fuel cell alternatives.
Implementation Method 1
an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) section, where the ORC section captures and converts the lost heat from the IC engine into additional mechanical energy
Implementation Method 2
the displacement of the pistons in the ORC section is achieved by injecting heated and pressurised ORC fluid
Implementation Method 3
an internal combustion IC section controlling the displacement of at least one of the pistons
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus, system and method for generating power, utilising a novel mono-block reciprocating piston engine with reduced or zero harmful emissions. The mono-block comprises a composite internal combustion IC section and Organic Rankine Cycle ORC section. The mono-block engine comprises two or more cylinders each having a piston housed therein; a composite internal combustion IC section controlling the displacement of at least one of the pistons and; an Organic Rankine Cycle ORC section controlling the displacement of at least one of the pistons; wherein the IC and ORC pistons connect to and drive a common crankshaft of the mono-block engine power plant; and wherein the Organic Rankine Cycle operates by the heat generated by the combustion in the internal combustion section, and the displacement of the pistons in the ORC section is achieved by injecting heated and pressurised ORC fluid.