Patent · US Expired

Cogeneration

US4510756A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1982
Grant dateApr 16, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A30/60
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A cogeneration plant for a site having an expected daily thermal load. In one embodiment, the plant includes a heat engine/electrical power generator set and a heat storage unit. The engine/generator set is sized to normally operate only during the peak rate period of the central electric service utility while rejecting a quantity of heat equal to the daily thermal load at the site. The storage unit is sized to contain a quantity of heat equal to the daily thermal load reduced by that portion of the daily load incurred during the peak rate period. In another embodiment, the cogeneration plant includes a fuel cell electrical power generator serving a local energy-integrated community. The fuel cell is sized to reject a quantity of heat to satisfy the collective average daily thermal load at the community site. Separate thermal storage sections are provided for high and low grade rejected heat.

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