In a thermal fluid system, a control valve includes a flow valve and a solenoid pilot valve. The flow valve has an inlet and an outlet; a control chamber for receiving a pilot pressure; and a valve member operable by the pilot pressure to selectively open and close a fluid path from the inlet to the outlet. The pilot pressure acts in a closing direction of the flow valve. The pilot valve provides the pilot pressure to the control chamber and is a 3/2 way valve with a first port in fluid communication with the control chamber, a second port to be connected to a pressure source, and a third port. The pilot valve has a first position connecting the first port with the second port and a second position connecting the first port with the third port.

A cargo transport heating system is utilized for a truck that includes a cargo containment and a combustion engine having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The cargo transport heating system includes a heat exchanger, a coolant pump, and a combustion engine coolant having a low toxicity. The heat exchanger is disposed in the cargo containment, and is in fluid communication with the first coolant inlet. The coolant pump is in fluid communication with the coolant outlet and the heat exchanger, and pumps the combustion engine coolant through the first coolant inlet, the coolant outlet, and the heat exchanger.

A turbocharged compressor system using an Organic Rankine Cycle system to recover waste heat from a compression process. The Organic Rankine Cycle system circulates an organic fluid through an evaporator, where the organic fluid vaporizes and is expanded in a turbine section of a turbocharger to drive a compressor section of the turbocharger. The organic fluid vapor is condensed in a condenser and is pumped to the evaporator once again for recirculation. The compressor section of the turbocharger pre-compresses a working fluid before entering an airend in a compression system. As the working fluid exits the airend, it may be delivered to the evaporator, where the waste heat from the working fluid evaporates the organic fluid flowing in the Organic Rankine Cycle system. The working fluid may also be circulated between intercoolers in multi-stage compressor systems.

An engine assembly is provided with a split-cycle internal combustion engine having a compression section and an expansion section and with a cooling circuit for circulating a heat-exchange fluid; said fluid has a boiling temperature such that at least a fraction of the fluid changes phase from liquid to vapour flowing through the expansion section of the engine, when the latter operates in steady conditions; the circuit comprises a turbine arranged downstream of the engine so as to receive vapour and produce mechanical energy from the expansion of the vapour.

An engine assembly is provided with a split-cycle internal combustion engine having a compression section and an expansion section and with a cooling circuit for circulating a heat-exchange fluid; said fluid has a boiling temperature such that at least a fraction of the fluid changes phase from liquid to vapour flowing through the expansion section of the engine, when the latter operates in steady conditions; the circuit comprises a turbine arranged downstream of the engine so as to receive vapour and produce mechanical energy from the expansion of the vapour.

A portable food warmer and cooker includes a housing having a base, a plurality of insulated sidewalls, and a latching lid. A food tray is removably securable within the interior volume of the housing. A heating coil is disposed within the interior volume of the housing such that it surrounds the food tray. The heating coil includes an inlet connector and an outlet connector, each of which extend exteriorly through one of the sidewalls of the housing. A pair of heater hoses connect the heating coil inlet and outlet to corresponding inlet and outlet connectors of a coolant system of a motor. The liquid coolant flows through the heater hoses and the heating coil, which transfers heat to the interior volume of the food tray. The device reaches high temperatures such that it can be utilized to cook raw foods utilizing the motor coolant liquid as a heat source.

A portable food warmer and cooker includes a housing having a base, a plurality of insulated sidewalls, and a latching lid. A food tray is removably securable within the interior volume of the housing. A heating coil is disposed within the interior volume of the housing such that it surrounds the food tray. The heating coil includes an inlet connector and an outlet connector, each of which extend exteriorly through one of the sidewalls of the housing. A pair of heater hoses connect the heating coil inlet and outlet to corresponding inlet and outlet connectors of a coolant system of a motor. The liquid coolant flows through the heater hoses and the heating coil, which transfers heat to the interior volume of the food tray. The device reaches high temperatures such that it can be utilized to cook raw foods utilizing the motor coolant liquid as a heat source.

Methods and apparatus for cooling a surface on a flight vehicle and generating power include advancing the vehicle at a speed of at least Mach 3 to aerodynamically heat the surface. A first working fluid circulates through a first fluid loop that heats the first working fluid through a first heat intake thermally coupled to the surface and expands the first working fluid in a first thermal engine to generate a first work output. A second fluid loop has a second working fluid that receives heat from the first working fluid and a second thermal engine to generate a second work output. The first and second work outputs are operably coupled to first and second generators, respectively, to power primary or auxiliary systems on the flight vehicle.

Methods and apparatus for cooling a surface on a flight vehicle and generating power include advancing the vehicle at a speed of at least Mach 3 to aerodynamically heat the surface. A first working fluid circulates through a first fluid loop that heats the first working fluid through a first heat intake thermally coupled to the surface and expands the first working fluid in a first thermal engine to generate a first work output. A second fluid loop has a second working fluid that receives heat from the first working fluid and a second thermal engine to generate a second work output. The first and second work outputs are operably coupled to first and second generators, respectively, to power primary or auxiliary systems on the flight vehicle.

Provided is a high-pressure thermal fluid brake and engine energy recovery system, comprising a plurality of energy collection systems (1) and energy storage systems (2) which are connected to one another, and a control unit (19) connected to the energy collection systems (1) and the energy storage systems (2); the control unit (19) is connected to a vehicle controller, and at east reads and acquires the accelerator pedal position information, brake pedal position information, vehicle travel parameters, and cooling system parameters of a vehicle; the energy collection systems (1) recover vehicle's kinetic energy, engine's mechanical energy and engine's thermal energy, and stores the recovered energy into the energy storage systems (2), and the control unit (19) controls, according to the vehicle information read and acquired, the energy recovery and release of the energy collection systems (1) and the energy storage systems (2). The present invention can effectively recover and reuse vehicle's braking energy, engine's idle energy and engine's thermal energy, reduce the energy waste of a motor vehicle system, and achieve the purposes of energy saving, oil sav ing and emission reduction.