System and method for heat and energy recovery and regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating and cooling systems are inefficient, wasting energy and emitting greenhouse gases due to reliance on fossil fuels and electrical power for heat transfer, with limited improvements from recent advancements in thermostats.
Innovation Solution
A heat and energy recovery system incorporating a compressor, solar panel, and two heat exchangers, where solar energy and waste heat from fuel combustion are used to pressurize a fluid circuit, reducing the need for electrical energy and enhancing thermal efficiency by utilizing a micro-compressor and intelligent control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional fossil fuel furnaces are used for heating, then thermal energy can be produced, but waste heat and emissions are released into the atmosphere causing environmental harm and energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures waste heat and emissions from fossil fuel combustion that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, and converts them into useful thermal energy for heating or cooling spaces. The system uses heat exchangers to extract energy from flue gases and emissions, transforming harmful waste products into beneficial thermal resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers thermal energy from waste streams including flue gases, exhaust emissions, and hot water drainage. By installing heat exchangers in these waste streams, the system captures and recycles thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded, feeding it back into the HVAC system for useful purposes.
2Power
If refrigeration circuits are used to move thermal energy, then heating and cooling can be achieved, but significant electrical power is consumed reducing overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fossil fuel combustion system with the HVAC system by integrating heat exchangers into the flue gas pathway. This combination allows the thermal energy from combustion to be directly utilized for heating or cooling, eliminating the need for separate electrical refrigeration cycles and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces electrical refrigeration cycles with a thermally-driven approach using absorption chillers or heat pumps that utilize the thermal energy from combustion directly. This substitution eliminates the need for electrical compressors and refrigeration circuits, significantly reducing electrical power consumption.
3Loss of energy
If intelligent thermostats are implemented, then some energy savings are achieved through occupancy-based control, but efficiency improvement remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary thermal energy capture from waste streams before the heating or cooling demand occurs. By continuously extracting and storing thermal energy from flue gases and emissions, the system prepares thermal resources in advance, making them available when needed without requiring additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous thermal energy recovery from waste streams throughout the operation of the fossil fuel system. Rather than intermittent control based on occupancy, the heat exchangers continuously extract thermal energy from flue gases and emissions, maintaining a steady flow of useful thermal energy back into the HVAC system.
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
This system significantly reduces electrical consumption and fossil fuel use, achieving over 100% thermal efficiency by reusing waste heat and solar energy, while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid in the conduit circuit is further pressurized by utilizing heat energy from the exhaust gas and waste products emitted from fuel combustion and thermal energy obtained via a solar panel.
Implementation Method 2
thermal energy obtained via a solar panel
Implementation Method 3
Heat energy exchange is effectuated through the reaction product and excess heat interacting with the first heat exchanger, whereby the temperature and pressure of the fluid within the first heat recovery exchanger and conduit circuit increases.
Implementation Method 4
Heat energy exchange is effectuated through the reaction product and excess heat interacting with the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
The compressor is configured to facilitate fluid movement in the fluid circuit between the solar panel, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 6
A temperature sensor is mounted within each of the solar cells and configured to measure temperature inside the respective solar cell.
Implementation Method 7
Each solar cell is connected to the fluid circuit via a respective pressure valve, and the status of the pressure valve is configured to depend on the measurement of the temperature sensor in the respective solar cell.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat recovery system includes a compressor, a solar panel, and a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger in fluid connection to form a closed circuit. The compressor is configured to facilitate fluid movement in the fluid circuit between the solar panel, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The solar panel includes a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel, and each solar cell includes a plurality of metal tubes for fluid to pass through. A temperature sensor is mounted within each of the solar cells and configured to measure temperature inside the respective solar cell. Each solar cell is connected to the circuit via a respective pressure valve, and the status of the pressure valve is configured to depend on the measurement of the temperature sensor in the respective solar cell.