Electrical power cogeneration system

Abstract

A cogeneration system includes an engine, a motor/generator unit (MGU) powered by the engine, a compressor powered by the MGU, and a heat storage tank. The system further includes an engine coolant loop which places the engine in thermal communication with the tank, and a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant from the compressor. An air handler unit exchanges heat between the engine coolant loop and the vapor loop. A controller is configured to control the engine, MGU, compressor, and air handler unit, alone or in combination, to heat or cool air supplied to a building and water in the tank, and to selectively charge at least one auxiliary device such as a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) via the MGU. The system may include two power plants, with one, e.g., an EV or a portable module, having the engine and a first engine coolant loop.

1 . A cogeneration system comprising:
 an engine;   a motor/generator unit (MGU) that is selectively powered by the engine;   a compressor that is selectively powered by the engine and by the MGU;   a hot water tank;   an engine coolant loop which thermally connects the engine with the hot water tank;   a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant from the compressor;   an air handler unit which exchanges heat with the vapor loop; and   a controller in electrical communication with the engine and the MGU;   wherein the controller is configured to control the system to heat a supply of water in the hot water tank, to selectively produce electricity, and to heat and cool air passing through the air handling unit.   
     
     
         2 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the air handler unit also exchanges heat with the engine coolant loop. 
     
     
         3 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to use energy from the engine to charge a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle having a power load of at least approximately 3 kW. 
     
     
         4 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second clutches, wherein the engine is selectively connectable to the MGU via the first clutch, and wherein the MGU is selectively connectable to the compressor via the second clutch. 
     
     
         5 . The cogeneration system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 selectively disengage the first clutch and engage the second clutch to power the compressor via the MGU using electrical energy from the main power supply;   selectively engage the first and second clutches to power the compressor via the MGU using electrical energy from the engine; and   selectively disengage the first and second clutches to heat the water in the hot water tank via the engine without powering the compressor.   
     
     
         6 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor loop includes a thermal well or heat sink below ground level for transferring heat with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         7 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine configured to combust one of natural gas and propane gas. 
     
     
         8 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a fuel cell configured as one of a molten carbonate fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         9 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a current sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the current sensor is configured to measure an incoming electrical current from the main power supply, and wherein the controller is configured to control the engine and MGU so as to substantially eliminate the incoming electrical current. 
     
     
         10 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine which of the engine and the main power supply is the more cost effective source for powering the compressor, and to selectively power the MGU using the one of the engine and main power supply that is the more cost efficient source. 
     
     
         11 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the engine coolant loop includes a first engine coolant loop and a second engine coolant loop;   the engine and the first engine coolant loop each reside on one of an electric vehicle and a portable module; and   the second coolant loop is in thermal communication with the hot water tank.   
     
     
         12 . The cogeneration system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate, wherein:
 the first conductive plate is connected to the EV or to the portable module;   the first conductive plate conducts heat from the engine to the second conductive plate when the first conductive plate is positioned adjacent to the second conductive plate; and   the second engine coolant loop conducts heat from the second conductive plate to the hot water tank.   
     
     
         13 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dedicated hot water loop conveying heated water from the hot water tank to the air handler unit. 
     
     
         14 . A cogeneration system comprising:
 a first power plant having:
 an engine; and 
 a first engine coolant loop having a first conductive plate; and 
   a second power plant including:
 a hot water tank; 
 a second engine coolant loop having a second conductive plate configured to receive heat transferred from the first conductive plate and to convey the received heat to the hot water tank; 
 a motor/generator unit (MGU); 
 a compressor; 
 a vapor loop which circulates refrigerant with respect to the compressor; 
   an air handler unit which exchanges heat between the hot water tank and the vapor loop, and between the vapor loop and air supplied to a building powered via the second power plant; and   a controller which is configured to control the MGU, the compressor, and the air handler unit, alone or in combination, to thereby heat or cool at least one of a supply of air supplied to the building and water in the hot water tank.   
     
     
         15 . The cogeneration system of  claim 14 , wherein the first power plant is positioned aboard one of an electric vehicle and a portable module. 
     
     
         16 . The cogeneration system of  claim 15 , wherein the vapor loop forms a thermal well or heat sink for storing waste heat underground. 
     
     
         17 . The cogeneration system of  claim 14 , wherein the second power plant includes a dedicated hot water loop which conveys heated water from the hot water tank to the air handler unit. 
     
     
         18 . The cogeneration system of  claim 14 , further comprising a current sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the current sensor is configured to measure an incoming electrical current to the second power plant from the main power supply, and wherein the controller is configured to substantially eliminate the incoming electrical current by controlling the first power plant. 
     
     
         19 . A cogeneration system including:
 an engine;   a generator;   a compressor;   an air handler;   a heat storage tank;   a loop of a first fluid flowing through a part of the engine for transferring heat from the engine to the heat storage tank; and   a loop of a second fluid which places the compressor in fluid communication with the air handler;   wherein:
 the engine is configured to operate the generator to produce electricity while heat from the engine is accumulated in the heat storage tank; 
 the air handler is configured to receive heat from the heat storage tank; and 
 the engine is configured to operate the compressor to remove heat from the air handler unit. 
   
     
     
         20 . The cogeneration system of  claim 19 , further including a controller connected to a main power supply, wherein:
 the system is configured to supply any combination of mechanical power for the compressor and electrical power from the generator within a mechanical power limit of the engine; and   the system is controllable to operate without drawing power from the main power supply unless a mechanical power limit of the engine is exceeded.