Patent classifications
F28F27/006
Thermal energy storage plant
Provided is a thermal energy storage plant including a charging circuit where a first working fluid is circulated, the charging circuit includes a first fluid transporting machine for generating a flow of the first working fluid in charging circuit, a heating device electrically powered for transferring heat to the first working fluid, a heat accumulator for storing the thermal energy of the first working fluid, the heat accumulator including a hot end for receiving the first working fluid at a first temperature and a cold end for letting the first working fluid exit the heat accumulator at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the heat accumulator includes a plurality of heat storage units connected in series between the hot end and the cold end, which may be separated by valves.
Parabolically deforming sector plate
A method for producing a sector plate for a rotary heat exchanger is disclosed. The method includes defining overall dimensions of a sector plate. A number of a plurality of tapered ribs to be included on the top surface is determined based on a surface area of the sector plate and/or a sealing to be provided by the sector plate. Additionally, a root height of the plurality of tapered ribs is determined based on at least a plate thickness of the sector plate and the number of the plurality of tapered ribs. With the root height, the plurality of tapered ribs cause the sector plate to deform parabolically in response to an actuation. The plurality of tapered ribs also return the sector plate to a rest position and the sector plate supports its weight in a cantilevered fashion when in the actuated position and the rest position.
Energy management system
An energy management system is applied to a vehicle having a first power source, a first converter, an electricity storage part, and a second power source. The energy management system has a second converter, a heat storage part, a mode switching part, and a controller. The mode switching part switches between a heat storage mode and a heat radiation mode. The heat storage part changes to a first phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage part is lower than or equal to a phase transition temperature, and changes to a second phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage part exceeds the phase transition temperature. The controller controls the operations of the second converter and the mode switching part based on at least one of an electricity storage condition of the electricity storage part and a conversion condition of the first converter.
Detecting and correcting enthalpy wheel failure modes
A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
System and method for capturing waste heat in an HVAC system
A system and method of providing power to at least one component within a gas furnace, the method including operating a gas furnace to produce thermal energy; operating a waste heat assembly to extract the thermal energy from the gas furnace; operating the waste heat assembly to convert the extracted thermal energy to electrical energy; operating the waste heat assembly to transmit the electrical energy to at least one component of the gas furnace.
DETECTING AND CORRECTING CROSS-LEAKAGE IN HEAT EXCHANGERS IN A PETROCHEMICAL PLANT OR REFINERY
A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.
DETECTING AND CORRECTING MALDISTRIBUTION IN HEAT EXCHANGERS IN A PETROCHEMICAL PLANT OR REFINERY
A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE PLANT
Provided is a thermal energy storage plant including a charging circuit where a first working fluid is circulated, the charging circuit includes a first fluid transporting machine for generating a flow of the first working fluid in charging circuit, a heating device electrically powered for transferring heat to the first working fluid, a heat accumulator for storing the thermal energy of the first working fluid, the heat accumulator including a hot end for receiving the first working fluid at a first temperature and a cold end for letting the first working fluid exit the heat accumulator at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the heat accumulator includes a plurality of heat storage units connected in series between the hot end and the cold end, which may be separated by valves.
FURNACE FOR A ROOFTOP UNIT
A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a furnace having a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger, where the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger form a heat exchange relationship between an airflow and an exhaust gas, and where the primary heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the secondary heat exchanger, a burner configured to generate the exhaust gas, a sensor configured to monitor an ambient temperature, and a control system configured to receive feedback from the sensor, compare the feedback to a threshold, operate the furnace in a first mode when the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold, and operate the furnace in a second mode when the ambient temperature is at or below the threshold, where the furnace operates above a condensation temperature when in the second mode, such that the exhaust gas does not condense when operating in the second mode.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
An energy management system is applied to a vehicle having a first power source, a first converter, an electricity storage part, and a second power source. The energy management system has a second converter, a heat storage part, a mode switching part, and a controller. The mode switching part switches between a heat storage mode and a heat radiation mode. The heat storage part changes to a first phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage part is lower than or equal to a phase transition temperature, and changes to a second phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage part exceeds the phase transition temperature. The controller controls the operations of the second converter and the mode switching part based on at least one of an electricity storage condition of the electricity storage part and a conversion condition of the first converter.