The use of waste heat and low-grade heat has fascinated scientists, engineers, and society for many years. Currently more than 50% of the primary energy consumed worldwide is currently lost as waste heat 475 EJ . Of this waste heat, 156 EJ (or 63% of the total) is at low temperature (<100C). Therefore, there is tremendous interest specifically in the use of low-temperature waste heat. This creates huge opportunities to increase the energy efficiency of the processes currently underway and also it should be considered as a promising zero-carbon source of electricity.
What makes waste heat conversion research very fascinating is the fact that possibilities to use different physical phenomena are enormous. Examples include thermomagnetic generators, liquid-state thermocells, ionic heat-to-electricity conversion systems, electrochemical–thermal systems and thermo-osmotic systems and commonly known turbine-based technologies such as the organic Rankine cycle (ORC).
Due to the low energy efficiency, it is imperative that the proposed solution is simple and reliable, and at the same time affordable (payback time up to 4 years).
Question to answer the possibility to implement new technology on the market:
required minimum temperature of the heat source
minimum temperature difference of available heat sources
minimum power output
capacity factor - fraction of a year is the waste-heat source available
relative to Carnot efficiency of engine
price per kW of engine and heat exchangers
lifetime and maintenance costs
When analyzing the above indicators, it would seem that it is impossible to develop economically viable engines for energy recovery from waste heat on a small scale.
Our approach is based on the use of ready-made components available on the market and the simple conversion of steam energy into rotary motion using power hydraulics.
This will enable the development of cheap and available low-potential energy conversion systems for use wherever waste heat is currently a problem and additional costs of its disposal.
Potential applications are found in almost every place that meets the specified technical conditions. The possibilities of using isobaric motor technology are expanding in buildings, industry, transport and energy, where waste heat is available at various temperatures ranging up to 180C.
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