An engine preheating apparatus includes a waste heat recovery unit for recovering waste heat within a vehicle, and an air cooler connected to the waste heat recovery unit for receiving waste heat from the waste heat recovery unit, wherein an intake pipe in which intake air flows is connected to the air cooler in a communicating manner.

A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation is disclosed having a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form, an orbiting scroll type expander, a central shaft which is driven by the expander, a generator having a rotor and a stator with the central shaft being mounted to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator, a pump mounted to the central shaft, an evaporator positioned between the expander and the generator and surrounding the central shaft, and the orbiting scroll type expander, the central shaft, the generator, the pump, and the evaporator being housed within the compact housing to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle.

Apparatus for utilizing heat wasted from an engine includes first pressure detecting means (73) and first temperature detecting means (81) for detecting a pressure and a temperature in a refrigerant passage extending from a condenser (38) to a refrigerant pump (32), second pressure detecting means (72) and second temperature detecting means (82) for detecting a pressure and a temperature in a refrigerant passage extending from a heat exchanger (36) to an expansion device (37), and control means (71) responsive to these four detecting means when operating a Rankine cycle (31). Means (71) is for diagnosing whether or not an electromagnetic clutch (35) is stuck responsive to either the first pressure detecting means (73) and the first temperature detecting means (81), or the second pressure detecting means (72) and the second temperature detecting means (82).

Apparatus for utilizing heat wasted from an engine includes first pressure detecting means (73) and first temperature detecting means (81) for detecting a pressure and a temperature in a refrigerant passage extending from a condenser (38) to a refrigerant pump (32), second pressure detecting means (72) and second temperature detecting means (82) for detecting a pressure and a temperature in a refrigerant passage extending from a heat exchanger (36) to an expansion device (37), and control means (71) responsive to these four detecting means when operating a Rankine cycle (31). Means (71) is for diagnosing whether or not an electromagnetic clutch (35) is stuck responsive to either the first pressure detecting means (73) and the first temperature detecting means (81), or the second pressure detecting means (72) and the second temperature detecting means (82).

The invention relates to a device and a method for separating dirt particles from the working medium of a turbine (10). The turbine (10) comprises at least one rotor (11) which is arranged in a housing (17). A swirl generator (20) is provided that sets the working medium and the dirt particles in a spiral-shaped rotational movement along a principal axis (22) by means of the geometry of the swirl generator (20) and thereby separates the dirt particles from the working medium. The swirl generator (20) is designed in such a way that the working medium experiences a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis (22) within the swirl generator (20).

The invention relates to a device and a method for separating dirt particles from the working medium of a turbine (10). The turbine (10) comprises at least one rotor (11) which is arranged in a housing (17). A swirl generator (20) is provided that sets the working medium and the dirt particles in a spiral-shaped rotational movement along a principal axis (22) by means of the geometry of the swirl generator (20) and thereby separates the dirt particles from the working medium. The swirl generator (20) is designed in such a way that the working medium experiences a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis (22) within the swirl generator (20).

A thermal power generation apparatus includes a control circuit that selects a single operation mode from among a plurality of modes including a normal mode and a specific mode on the basis of a voltage in a commercial system. The normal mode is an operation mode in which alternating-current power output from an inverter is adjusted so that a direct-current voltage in a direct-current power line follows a target voltage. The specific mode is an operation mode in which direct-current power absorbed by an electric power absorber and/or the amount of heat per unit time supplied to a heat engine are/is adjusted so that the direct-current voltage follows the target voltage.

A thermal power generation apparatus includes a control circuit that selects a single operation mode from among a plurality of modes including a normal mode and a specific mode on the basis of a voltage in a commercial system. The normal mode is an operation mode in which alternating-current power output from an inverter is adjusted so that a direct-current voltage in a direct-current power line follows a target voltage. The specific mode is an operation mode in which direct-current power absorbed by an electric power absorber and/or the amount of heat per unit time supplied to a heat engine are/is adjusted so that the direct-current voltage follows the target voltage.

The present invention relates to a working fluid for a steam-turbine cycle process, said fluid comprising a working medium, a lubricant and preferably an emulsifier. The working medium is a C1 to C4 alcohol and/or a C3 to C5 ketone, optionally mixed with water. The invention also relates to a device for a steam cycle process, which device contains the working fluid, and to the use of the working fluid in an organic Rankine cycle. The lubricant is a hydrocarbon and the emulsifier is a surface-active substance.

The present invention relates to a working fluid for a steam-turbine cycle process, said fluid comprising a working medium, a lubricant and preferably an emulsifier. The working medium is a C1 to C4 alcohol and/or a C3 to C5 ketone, optionally mixed with water. The invention also relates to a device for a steam cycle process, which device contains the working fluid, and to the use of the working fluid in an organic Rankine cycle. The lubricant is a hydrocarbon and the emulsifier is a surface-active substance.