Patent · US Expired

Waste heat recovery system controller

US4238931A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 1979
Grant dateDec 16, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B30/52
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a system having a waste heat recovery subsystem utilizing a heat exchanger, such as a refrigeration system having a heat exchanger for extracting and recovering heat energy from the superheated refrigerant by means of a transfer fluid, method and apparatus for control of the heat recovery subsystem. A combination of three interactive control systems is provided for control of the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger. A first heat sensor means determines when the waste heat temperature is sufficiently high, controlling a pump to obtain circulation of the fluid when such temperature exceeds a preselected value. A second heat sensor means monitors the temperature of the heat transfer fluid and stops circulation of the fluid when such temperature exceeds a preselected safe upper limit. The second heat sensor means also controls the pump to circulate hot fluid through the heat exchanger when no waste heat is available and the subsystem is exposed to potentially freezing ambient temperature. Third heat sensor means monitors the transfer fluid temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger and controls the rate of flow of the fluid in a manner proportional to suc…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.