Hot exhaust gas energy recovery system

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of energy recovery from hot exhaust gases, a type of system that is widely used in industrial generator assemblies to produce steam used in industrial processes or cold to cool perishables or to cool environments. The system according to the present invention applies to the recovery of energy from exhaust gases in small generator assemblies, smaller than 10 MW, and comprises a turbo (1) connected to the exhaust gas outlet (2) in a small power plant generator assembly (3) and in which said turbo (1) is connected to a hydraulic pump (4), which generates pressure and transmits this pressure to a hydraulic pressure accumulator (5) which, in turn, sends hydraulic fluid under pressure for a hydraulic motor (6) of constant speed, which moves a pulley (7), and said pulley (7), in turn, moves another pulley (8), installed directly on the alternator shaft (9) of the generator assembly (3). In addition to pulleys (7,8), the movement can be done through a gear/clutch system or through a torque converter.

Claims

1. A hydraulic turbo compressor system for an internal combustion engine, the hydraulic turbo combustion system comprises: a turbo (1) connected to an exhaust gas outlet (2) in the internal combustion engine (3) and wherein: said turbo (1) is connected to a hydraulic pump (4), the hydraulic pump generates pressure and transmits said pressure directly to a hydraulic pressure accumulator (5), the hydraulic pressure accumulator sends hydraulic fluid under pressure directly to a constant speed hydraulic motor (6), the constant speed hydraulic motor moves a pulley (7), and said pulley (7) moves a second pulley (8), installed directly on an alternator shaft (9) of the internal combustion engine (3).

2. The hydraulic turbo compressor system according to claim 1, wherein: a low pressure hydraulic fluid discharged from the hydraulic pump (4) is drained by a fluid tank (10), the fluid tank works as a pressureless accumulation basin, the fluid tank (10) supplies the hydraulic pump with fluid to maintain a hydraulic cycle.

3. The hydraulic turbo compressor system according to claim 1, wherein, in addition to said pulley (7) and said second pulley (8), a movement of the system can be done through a gear/clutch system or through a torque converter.

4. The hydraulic turbo compressor system according to claim1, wherein the hydraulic turbo compressor system is a continuous generation plant.

5. The hydraulic turbo compressor system according to claim1, wherein the internal combustion engine is a stationary engine.

6. The hydraulic turbo compressor system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the turbo, the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pressure accumulator and the constant speed hydraulic motor to move the pulley (7) and the second pulley (8) increases total power generated by the internal combustion engine by at least 5%.

7. A generator assembly comprising: the hydraulic turbo compressor system in accordance claim 1, and the internal combustion engine (3) wherein the exhaust gas outlet (2) of the internal combustion engine (3) is connected to the turbo (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) In economic terms, the system according to the present invention is viable for plants with smaller generator assemblies.

(3) The system according to the present invention consists of the following basic components: 1. A turbo at the exhaust gas outlet connected with 2. A hydraulic pump that generates pressure and passes it forward 3. A hydraulic pressure accumulator that sends hydraulic oil under pressure to 4. A constant speed hydraulic motor that drives a pulley that moves 5. Another pulley, installed directly on the generator assembly alternator shaft, thus increasing the mechanical power generated from the system and subsequently increasing the total electrical power generated from the generator assembly.

(4) In addition to pulleys, the movement can be done through a gear/clutch system or through a torque converter.

(5) In the system according to the present invention, the low pressure hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump is drained by an oil tank (6), which works as a pressureless accumulation basin, whose function is to supply the turbo/pump with oil to maintain the hydraulic cycle.

(6) The system according to the present invention can increase the total power generated by the generator assembly by 5-10%, using the same amount of fuel, which is a significant gain in continuous generation plants.

(7) A first preferred embodiment of the present invention can be described with reference to FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates some of the important features of the present invention, in which a turbo (1) is connected to the exhaust gas outlet (2) in a small generator assembly plant (3). Said turbo (1) is connected to a hydraulic pump (4), which generates pressure and transmits this pressure to a hydraulic pressure accumulator (5) which, in turn, sends hydraulic fluid under pressure to a hydraulic motor (6) of constant speed, which moves a pulley (7).

(9) The pulley (7), in turn, moves another pulley (8), installed directly on the alternator shaft (9) of the generator assembly (3). In this way, the mechanical power generated by the system is increased and, subsequently, the total electrical power generated from the generator assembly (3) is also increased.

(10) In addition to pulleys, the movement of the system according to the present application can be done through a gear/clutch system or through a torque converter.

(11) In the system according to the present invention, the low pressure hydraulic fluid discharged from the hydraulic pump (4) is drained by a fluid tank (10), which works as a pressureless accumulation basin, whose function is to supply the turbo/pump with fluid to maintain the hydraulic cycle.

(12) In the system according to the present invention the hydraulic motor can be connected: 1On the flywheel, 2In the coupling between Engine/Alternator, and 3On the Alternator Shaft.

(13) The rest of the system is all conventional and the system pays for itself quickly. This system is capable of increasing the total power generated by the generator assembly by 5-10%, using the same amount of fuel, which is a significant gain in continuous generation plants.

(14) It is important to point out that the descriptions presented here refer to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and that changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(15) For example, the invention can be applied to a wide variety and sizes of stationary diesel engines as well as motor vehicle engines. Many aspects of prior art documents which have been incorporated by reference herein may be used in connection with the present invention.

(16) For all the above reasons, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by reference to the following claims and not limited by the specific embodiment described in this specification.

LEGEND

(17) In the drawings, the following legend applies to the use of reference numerals: (1) Turbo (2) Outlet (3) Small generator assembly (4) Hydraulic pump (5) Hydraulic pressure accumulator (6) Hydraulic motor (7) Pulley (8) Pulley (9) Alternator shaft