A waste heat recovery system comprising a thermal circuit. The thermal circuit includes a boiler and an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler. The thermal circuit further includes a power transfer system integrated to the expander. The power transfer system is configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander. The thermal circuit further includes an ejector fluidly coupled to the boiler and to the power transfer system. The ejector is configured to receive a motive flow of working fluid from the boiler. The ejector is further configured to receive a suction flow of working fluid from the power transfer system. The ejector is further configured to combine the motive flow of working fluid and the suction flow of working fluid.

A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

A system for preheating a heat recovery steam generator is provided. The system includes a tank and a heat exchanger. The tank contains a transferring medium. The heat exchanger is disposed in a flow path of a flue gas produced by a combustion chamber, and is fluidly connected to the tank such that the transferring medium flows through the heat exchanger and is heated by the flue gas. The transferring medium preheats one or more components of the heat recovery steam generator.

A thermal management system for an aircraft is provided that includes thermo-acoustic engines that remove and capture waste heat from the aircraft engines, heat pumps powered by the acoustic waves generated from the waste heat that remove and capture electrical component waste heat from electrical components in the aircraft, and hollow tubes disposed in the aircraft configured to propagate mechanical energy to locations throughout the aircraft and to transfer the electrical component waste heat back to the aircraft engines to reduce overall aircraft mass and improve propulsive efficiency.

A scroll heating device includes a base, a reaction region, and a first and a second channel. The reaction region is at the center of the base. The two channels are located on the base and extend spirally from the reaction region toward the periphery of the base. The width of each channel is gradually reduced as the channel extends from adjacent to the center of the base toward the periphery of the base. The first channel allows a gas that flows into the first channel through the periphery of the base toward the center of the base to flow toward the reaction region at a progressively slower rate, enter the reaction region slowly through the gradually widening first channel, and therefore stay in the reaction region for longer. The combusted exhaust enters the second channel from adjacent to the center of the base and exits through the periphery of the base.

An expander system for recovering waste heat, a waste heat recovery system including such an expander system, a vehicle including such a waste heat recovery system and a method for manufacturing such an expander system. The expander system includes a shaft and a coupling portion including a first sealing unit and a second sealing unit. The shaft is inserted through the coupling portion to an expanding unit. The first sealing unit and the second sealing unit are arranged facing one another along the shaft. The first sealing unit and the second sealing unit are configured to seal the shaft in an axial direction relative to the shaft.

A waste heat recovery system comprising a thermal circuit. The thermal circuit includes a boiler and an expander fluidly coupled to the boiler. The thermal circuit further includes a power transfer system integrated to the expander. The power transfer system is configured to receive mechanical energy from the expander. The thermal circuit further includes an ejector fluidly coupled to the boiler and to the power transfer system. The ejector is configured to receive a motive flow of working fluid from the boiler. The ejector is further configured to receive a suction flow of working fluid from the power transfer system. The ejector is further configured to combine the motive flow of working fluid and the suction flow of working fluid.

A scroll heating device includes a base, a reaction region, and a first and a second channel. The reaction region is at the center of the base. The two channels are located on the base and extend spirally from the reaction region toward the periphery of the base. The width of each channel is gradually reduced as the channel extends from adjacent to the center of the base toward the periphery of the base. The first channel allows a gas that flows into the first channel through the periphery of the base toward the center of the base to flow toward the reaction region at a progressively slower rate, enter the reaction region slowly through the gradually widening first channel, and therefore stay in the reaction region for longer. The combusted exhaust enters the second channel from adjacent to the center of the base and exits through the periphery of the base.

An expander system for recovering waste heat, a waste heat recovery system including such an expander system, a vehicle including such a waste heat recovery system and a method for manufacturing such an expander system. The expander system includes a shaft and a coupling portion including a first sealing unit and a second sealing unit. The shaft is inserted through the coupling portion to an expanding unit. The first sealing unit and the second sealing unit are arranged facing one another along the shaft. The first sealing unit and the second sealing unit are configured to seal the shaft in an axial direction relative to the shaft.

A power pack for converting waste heat from exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine to electrical energy includes a working fluid loop fluidly connecting an evaporator, an expander, a condenser and a pump. The power pack also includes a working fluid tank fluidly connected to the working fluid loop between an outlet of the condenser and an inlet of the pump. The working fluid tank has a single working fluid port operable to receive working fluid from the outlet of the condenser and to supply working fluid to the inlet of the pump. The power pack also includes a power pack control unit in communication with the working fluid tank. The power pack control unit is operable to change a pressure of the working fluid in the working fluid loop at the inlet of the pump by changing the pressure of the working fluid in the working fluid tank.