Hot bed power

Claim 2

A process for removing heat from the exhaust of a heat engine comprising: (a) contacting exhaust vapor of a heat engine with solid particles at an initial temperature which is cooler than the temperature of the exhaust vapor for a time sufficient to cool the exhaust vapor and to heat the solid particles; (b) simultaneously cooling other solid particles to about the initial temperature; followed by (c) contacting exhaust vapor with solid particles previously cooled to about the initial temperature for a time sufficient to cool the exhaust vapor and to heat the solid particles; (d) simultaneously cooling solid particles, which were previously heated, to about the initial temperature; and then (e) continuously repeating steps (a) through (d).

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the exhaust vapor is condensed by contact with the solid particles.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solid particles are cooled by contact with a cooling fluid at a temperature below the initial temperature.

Claim 5

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling solid particles contained in a second chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to the second chamber for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the solid particles from about the first temperature to about the second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling the solid particles contained in the first chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature; and then (c) continuously repeating steps (a) and (b) during the operation of the heat engine.

Claim 6

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling solid particles contained in a second chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to the second chamber for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the solid particles from about the first temperature to about the second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling the solid particles contained in the first chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature; and then (c) continuously repeating steps (a) and (b) during the operation of the heat engine.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second temperature is below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the solid particles are cooled by contact with a cooling fluid having a temperature below the first temperature.

Claim 9

A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cooling fluid is air.

Claim 10

A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cooling fluid is water.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the solid particles comprise a material of varying conductivity selected from the group consisting of alumina, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, silica, sand, gravel and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor; and (2) simultaneously cooling solid particles contained in a second chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature by contacting the solid particles with a cooling fluid having a temperature below the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode which comprises: (1) passing the exhaust vapor to the second chamber and contacting the particles in the second chamber for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the solid particles from about the first temperature to about the second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling the solid particles contained in the first chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature by contacting the solid particles with a cooling fluid having a temperature below the first temperature; and then (c) continuously repeating steps (a) and (b) during the operation of the heat engine.

Claim 13

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode which comprises: (1) passing exhaust vapor to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor; and (2) simultaneously cooling solid particles contained in a second chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature by contacting the solid particles with a cooling fluid having a temperature below the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode which comprises: (1) passing the exhaust vapor to the second chamber and contacting the particles in the second chamber for a time sufficient to condense the exhaust vapor and to increase the temperature of the solid particles from about the first temperature to about the second temperature; and (2) simultaneously cooling the solid particles contained in the first chamber from about the second temperature to about the first temperature by contacting the solid particles with a cooling fluid having a temperature below the first temperature; and then (c) continuously repeating steps (a) and (b) during the operation of the heat engine.

Claim 14

A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cooling fluid is air.

Claim 15

A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cooling fluid is water.

Claim 16

A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the solid particles are made of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, silica, sand, gravel and mixtures thereof.

Claim 17

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising a first chamber and a second chamber wherein: (a) exhaust vapor is continuously introduced to a first chamber; (b) solid particles at about a first temperature below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor are continuously passed from the second chamber to the first chamber wherein the solid particles contact the exhaust vapor in the first chamber which condenses the exhaust vapor and heats the solid particles to about a second temperature; (c) condensed vapor is continuously removed from the first chamber; (d) cooling fluid at a temperature below the first temperature is continuously introduced to the second chamber; (e) solid particles at about the second temperature are continuously passed from the first chamber to the second chamber wherein the solid particles contact the cooling fluid, thereby cooling the solid particles to about the first temperature and heating the cooling fluid; and (f) heated cooling fluid is continuously removed from the second chamber.

Claim 18

A process for condensing exhaust vapor from a heat engine comprising a first chamber and a second chamber wherein: (a) exhaust vapor is continuously introduced to a first chamber; (b) solid particles at about a first temperature below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor are continuously passed from the second chamber to the first chamber wherein the solid particles contact the exhaust vapor in the first chamber which condenses the exhaust vapor and heats the solid particles to about a second temperature; (c) condensed vapor is continuously removed from the first chamber; (d) cooling fluid at a temperature below the first temperature is continuously introduced to the second chamber; (e) solid particles at about the second temperature are continuously passed from the first chamber to the second chamber wherein the solid particles contact the cooling fluid, thereby cooling the solid particles to about the first temperature and heating the cooling fluid; and (f) heated cooling fluid is continuously removed from the second chamber.

Claim 19

A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cooling fluid is air.

Claim 20

A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cooling fluid is water.

Claim 21

A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the solid particles are made of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, silica, sand, gravel and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second temperature is below the condensation temperature of the exhaust vapor.

Claim 23

A process for condensing vapor in a first exhaust stream and in a second exhaust stream from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles at about a first pressure sufficient to condense vapor in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to a second chamber containing solid particles at about a second temperature and contacting said pellets at about a second pressure sufficient to condense vapor in the second exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in a third chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to the third chamber and contacting the particles in the third chamber at about the first pressure for a time sufficient to condense steam in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to the first chamber and contacting the solid particles in the first chamber at about the second pressure to condense steam in the high pressure exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in the second chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (c) a third mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to the second chamber and contacting the particles in the second chamber at about the first pressure for a time sufficient to condense steam in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to the third chamber and contacting the solid particles in the third chamber at about the second pressure to condense steam in the high pressure exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in the first chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (d) continuously repeating steps (a), (b) and (c).

Claim 24

A process for condensing vapor in a first exhaust stream and in a second exhaust stream from a heat engine comprising: (a) a first mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to a first chamber containing solid particles at about a first temperature and contacting said particles at about a first pressure sufficient to condense vapor in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to a second chamber containing solid particles at about a second temperature and contacting said pellets at about a second pressure sufficient to condense vapor in the second exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the particles to about a third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in a third chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (b) a second mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to the third chamber and contacting the particles in the third chamber at about the first pressure for a time sufficient to condense steam in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to the first chamber and contacting the solid particles in the first chamber at about the second pressure to condense steam in the high pressure exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in the second chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (c) a third mode comprising: (1) passing the first exhaust stream to the second chamber and contacting the particles in the second chamber at about the first pressure for a time sufficient to condense steam in the first exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the second temperature; (2) simultaneously passing the second exhaust stream to the third chamber and contacting the solid particles in the third chamber at about the second pressure to condense steam in the high pressure exhaust stream and to increase the temperature of the solid particles to about the third temperature; and (3) simultaneously cooling solid particles in the first chamber from about the third temperature to about the first temperature; followed by (d) continuously repeating steps (a), (b) and (c).

Claim 25

A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first and second exhaust streams are discharged from the heat engine at different pressures.