Auxiliary conduit assembly

Abstract

A heat transfer system, comprising a primary heat transfer assembly for transferring heat therethrough to a thermal energy consumption system, thermal insulation for minimizing escape of heat from the primary heat transfer assembly, and an auxiliary conduit assembly formed with an auxiliary conduit channel for flow of an auxiliary heat transfer fluid therethrough, the auxiliary heat transfer fluid may be heated by heat escaping from the primary heat transfer assembly.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A heat transfer system, comprising:
 a primary heat transfer conduit formed with a channel for flow of a primary heat transfer fluid therethrough to a thermal energy consumption system;   thermal insulation for minimizing escape of heat from the primary heat transfer conduit; and   an auxiliary conduit assembly formed with an auxiliary conduit channel for flow of an auxiliary heat transfer fluid, said auxiliary heat transfer fluid being heated by heat escaping from the primary heat transfer conduit.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit channel at least partially surrounds the primary heat transfer conduit. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit assembly comprises a plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the plurality of pipes comprise at least one of a plurality of microtubes, a plurality of relatively small pipes, and a plurality of pipes with a rectangular-like cross section. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit assembly comprises a coiled pipe. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit assembly comprises a serpentine-like coiled pipe. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit assembly comprises an at least partially cylindrical pipe. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit channel overlies or underlies the thermal insulation. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the auxiliary conduit channel is embedded within the thermal insulation 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the thermal energy consumption system comprises at least one of a system comprising a steam turbine, a system comprising a vapor turbine, a system comprising a gas turbine, an industrial system, a vapor consuming process used in the chemical industry or other industries, a dryer, a solid desiccant system, an absorption refrigerator, an air conditioning system, a power generation system, an electricity generation system, a vapor generation system, a steam generation system, a thermal energy generation system, and a system for boosting a power generation system. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the primary heat transfer conduit comprises a central fluid channel and a circumferential fluid channel, the circumferential fluid channel surrounding the central fluid channel. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the thermal insulation is disposed intermediate the central fluid channel and the circumferential fluid channel. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the heated auxiliary heat transfer fluid is used for providing thermal energy to a thermal energy consumption system, which may be the same or different from the thermal energy consumption system receiving the thermal energy from the primary heat transfer assembly. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the primary heat transfer conduit comprises at least one of a pipe, an annulus assembly, a heat exchanger, a heat recovery steam generator, a boiler, a condenser, an economizer, and a dearator. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 47  and comprising a heating device for providing thermal energy to the thermal energy consumption system, wherein the thermal energy from the heat of the heating device is transferred by the auxiliary conduit assembly being provided to the heating device. 
     
     
         62 . A thermal energy system, comprising:
 a primary heat transfer assembly for transferring heat therethrough;   a thermal energy source for providing thermal energy to the primary heat transfer assembly;   a first thermal energy consumption system for consuming thermal energy from the heat transferred by the primary heat transfer assembly;   thermal insulation for minimizing escape of heat from the primary heat transfer assembly; and   an auxiliary conduit assembly formed with an auxiliary conduit channel for flow of an auxiliary heat transfer fluid therethrough , the auxiliary heat transfer fluid being heated by heat escaping from the primary heat transfer assembly; and   a second thermal energy consumption system for consuming thermal energy from the heat transferred by the auxiliary conduit assembly.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62  wherein any one of the first or second thermal energy consumption systems comprises at least one of a system comprising a steam turbine, a system comprising a vapor turbine, a system comprising a gas turbine, an industrial system, a vapor consuming process used in the chemical industry or other industries, a dryer, a solid desiccant system, an absorption refrigerator, an air conditioning system, a power generation system, an electricity generation system, a vapor generation system, a steam generation system, a thermal energy generation system, and a system for boosting a power generation system. 
     
     
         64 . A method for transferring heat, comprising:
 transferring heat from a primary heat transfer assembly to a thermal energy consumption system;   thermally insulating the primary heat transfer assembly for minimizing escape of heat therefrom;   providing an auxiliary conduit assembly formed with an auxiliary conduit channel for flow of an auxiliary heat transfer fluid therethrough; and   heating the auxiliary heat transfer fluid by heat escaping from the primary heat transfer assembly.