Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090199556 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE WASTE HEAT RECOVERY - A waste heat recovery system for a split-cycle engine includes a heat exchange unit. An air compressor device is in communication with the heat exchange unit. A waste heat input receives waste heat from the engine and is in fluid communication with the heat exchange unit. An ambient air intake connected to the air compressor device draws air into the air compressor device. A compressed air outlet member on the air compressor device in fluid communication with a compression cylinder of the split-cycle engine delivers compressed air from the air compressor device to the engine. Engine waste heat is communicated to the heat exchange unit and energy from the waste heat is used to drive the air compressor device, causing the air compressor device to draw in ambient air through the ambient air intake, compress the ambient air, and deliver compressed air to the engine through the compressed air outlet. | 08-13-2009 |
20090266347 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR HYBRID ENGINE - A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation. | 10-29-2009 |
20120073551 | TURBOCHARGED DOWNSIZED COMPRESSION CYLINDER FOR A SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE - A split-cycle engine includes an expander, the expander including an expansion piston received within an expansion cylinder. A compressor includes a compression piston received within a compression cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the compression cylinder. A boosting device providing a 1.7 bar absolute or greater boost pressure level is connected to the intake manifold. An intake valve is disposed between the intake manifold and the compression cylinder. The intake valve closing is timed to provide a compressor volumetric efficiency of 0.75 or greater. A compressor displacement volume is sized relative to an expander displacement volume such that the combination of compressor displacement volume and boost pressure level provides an expander volumetric efficiency relative to ambient conditions that is 0.90 or greater. | 03-29-2012 |
20120298086 | FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR NATURAL GAS SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE - Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed that generally involve split-cycle engines in which natural gas, and in particular natural gas supplied from a low pressure source, is used as the fuel for combustion. In one embodiment, natural gas is supplied directly to the expansion cylinder via a gas inlet valve just before and/or just after the expansion piston reaches top dead center, when the pressure within the expansion cylinder is relatively low. A crossover expansion valve is then opened to distribute the natural gas in the expansion cylinder and mix it with high pressure air from a crossover passage before ignition during a power stroke. Natural gas split-cycle air hybrid engines are also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
20130269632 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS WITH SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINES - In some embodiments, systems are provided in which electric power generated from a renewable energy source such as a solar or wind power system during low demand periods is used to drive an electric motor which turns an air hybrid split-cycle engine. The split-cycle engine operates in AC mode during this time to compress air into a storage tank. Later, during high demand periods, compressed air stored in the tank and added fuel are fed to the split-cycle engine, which operates in AEF mode. The work generated by the split-cycle engine turns a generator to produce electric power. When the supply of compressed air stored in the storage tank is depleted, the split-cycle engine can operate in an NF mode to serve as a backup generator, or in an FC mode to serve as a backup generator while simultaneously recharging the air storage tank. | 10-17-2013 |
20150322874 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A number of exemplary power generation systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air energy storage system, optionally with split-cycle engine technology, is used to store energy obtained from the grid during off-peak hours and to supply stored energy to the grid and/or to an end user during on-peak hours. The system can include heat recovery features and can supply heat to the end user. In some embodiments, a generator system is used to provide power to an end user and to the grid. The generator can be maintained in a high efficiency operating range (e.g., at elevated or full load), even when the generator output exceeds the end user's demand, with any excess generated power being fed to the grid. | 11-12-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090044778 | Pressure balanced engine valves - A split-cycle engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through intake and compression strokes during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through expansion and exhaust strokes during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the expansion and compression cylinders. The crossover passage includes crossover compression (XovrC) and crossover expansion (XovrE) valves defining a pressure chamber therebetween. At least one of the XovrC and XovrE valves is a balanced valve. A fluid pressure balancer biases the valve for balancing fluid pressures acting against the valve in both opening and closing directions, reducing the forces required in actuating the valve. | 02-19-2009 |
20090199556 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE WASTE HEAT RECOVERY - A waste heat recovery system for a split-cycle engine includes a heat exchange unit. An air compressor device is in communication with the heat exchange unit. A waste heat input receives waste heat from the engine and is in fluid communication with the heat exchange unit. An ambient air intake connected to the air compressor device draws air into the air compressor device. A compressed air outlet member on the air compressor device in fluid communication with a compression cylinder of the split-cycle engine delivers compressed air from the air compressor device to the engine. Engine waste heat is communicated to the heat exchange unit and energy from the waste heat is used to drive the air compressor device, causing the air compressor device to draw in ambient air through the ambient air intake, compress the ambient air, and deliver compressed air to the engine through the compressed air outlet. | 08-13-2009 |
20090266347 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR HYBRID ENGINE - A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation. | 10-29-2009 |
20100236534 | SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE WITH PILOT CROSSOVER VALVE - A split-cycle engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the expansion and compression cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression valve and a crossover expansion valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. A pilot crossover valve is disposed between the crossover passage and the expansion cylinder. The pilot crossover valve equalizes fluid pressures acting against the crossover expansion valve in an opening direction, reducing the forces required in actuating the crossover expansion valve. | 09-23-2010 |
20130269632 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS WITH SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINES - In some embodiments, systems are provided in which electric power generated from a renewable energy source such as a solar or wind power system during low demand periods is used to drive an electric motor which turns an air hybrid split-cycle engine. The split-cycle engine operates in AC mode during this time to compress air into a storage tank. Later, during high demand periods, compressed air stored in the tank and added fuel are fed to the split-cycle engine, which operates in AEF mode. The work generated by the split-cycle engine turns a generator to produce electric power. When the supply of compressed air stored in the storage tank is depleted, the split-cycle engine can operate in an NF mode to serve as a backup generator, or in an FC mode to serve as a backup generator while simultaneously recharging the air storage tank. | 10-17-2013 |
20140261325 | SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINES WITH DIRECT INJECTION - In some embodiments, split-cycle engines are disclosed that are capable of operating in a normal firing mode in which a firing stroke is performed in the expansion cylinder only on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Fuel can be injected directly into the expansion cylinder during the non-firing rotation of the crankshaft over a period of time greater than what is possible with traditional split-cycle engines. A number of other advantages are associated with such engines. In some embodiments, two expansion cylinders can be provided such that a firing stroke is performed on every rotation of the crankshaft, even though each individual expansion cylinder only performs a firing stroke on every other rotation of the crankshaft. Air hybridized and/or Millerized variations of these engines, as well as various cylinder arrangements, are also disclosed herein. | 09-18-2014 |
20150322874 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A number of exemplary power generation systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air energy storage system, optionally with split-cycle engine technology, is used to store energy obtained from the grid during off-peak hours and to supply stored energy to the grid and/or to an end user during on-peak hours. The system can include heat recovery features and can supply heat to the end user. In some embodiments, a generator system is used to provide power to an end user and to the grid. The generator can be maintained in a high efficiency operating range (e.g., at elevated or full load), even when the generator output exceeds the end user's demand, with any excess generated power being fed to the grid. | 11-12-2015 |