System and method for transferring heat using an expanded gas

Abstract

A system includes a fuel source for providing a fuel, a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source, for expanding the fuel, and a heat transfer device for delivering a heat transfer medium to the first expansion valve such that the heat transfer medium is cooled by contacting the first expansion valve. Another system includes a fuel source for providing a fuel, a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source, for expanding the fuel, a heat exchanger connected via the first fuel line to the expansion valve, the heat exchanger being cooled by the expanded fuel, and a fan for blowing air over the heat exchanger such that the air is cooled by contacting the heat exchanger. Another system includes pneumatic or hydraulic operated system devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a fuel source for providing a fuel;   a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source, for expanding the fuel; and   a heat transfer device for delivering a heat transfer medium to the first expansion valve such that the heat transfer medium is cooled by contacting the first expansion valve.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises:
 a jacket formed on the first expansion valve;   a circulation line for circulating the heat transfer medium, the circulation line comprising:
 an inlet line supplying the heat transfer medium to the jacket; and 
 an outlet line delivering the heat transfer medium from the jacket; 
   a pump formed in the circulation line for pumping the heat transfer medium through the circulation line;   a heat exchanger formed in the circulation line; and   a fan for blowing air over the heat exchanger such that the air is cooled by contacting the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel source comprises a pressurized fuel tank which stores the fuel as a liquid fuel including at least one of Liquid Gas (LG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid petroleum (LP) gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the cooled heat transfer medium is used to cool at least one of a compartment of a vehicle and a drive train of a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the vehicle includes a fuel intake system formed in the first fuel line for delivering the expanded fuel to an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second fuel line connected to the fuel tank; and   a second expansion valve formed in the second fuel line, for expanding the fuel, the expanded fuel being delivered via the second fuel line to a fuel injector which injects the expanded fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.   a primary internal combustion engine starting system utilizing a pre-compressed mixture of LG and air and an ignition device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle comprises a dual-fuel vehicle, and
 wherein the system further comprises:
 a gas-diverting valve formed in the first fuel line between the first expansion valve and the fuel intake system, for diverting the fuel away from the fuel intake system under a predetermined condition; 
 a return line for delivering the fuel from the gas-diverting valve to the fuel tank; and 
 a compressor formed in the return line for compressing the fuel into a liquid state. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second expansion valve formed in a second fuel line connected to the fuel tank, for expanding the fuel; and   a pressure sensor valve formed in the first fuel line for detecting a decrease in pressure in the first fuel line,   wherein the vehicle includes a fuel intake system for delivering the expanded fuel from the second expansion valve to an internal combustion engine of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a controller connected to the pressure sensor valve for closing the valve if a decrease in pressure is detected.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a return line for delivering the fuel from the first expansion to the fuel tank; and   a compressor formed in the return line for compressing the fuel into a liquid state.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel source comprises a source fuel line which provides the fuel as a gaseous fuel including at least one of natural gas (NG) and propane gas, and wherein the system further comprises a first compressor formed in the first fuel line between the fuel source and the first expansion valve. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cooled heat transfer medium is used to cool a space in a structure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second compressor which receives the fuel which has been compressed by the first compressor; and   an other heat transfer device for delivering a heat transfer medium to the second compressor such that the heat transfer medium is warmed by contacting the second compressor.   
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a fuel source for providing a fuel;   a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source, for expanding the fuel;   a heat exchanger connected via the first fuel line to the expansion valve, the heat exchanger being cooled by the expanded fuel; and   a fan for blowing air over the heat exchanger such that the air is cooled by contacting the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel source comprises a pressurized fuel tank which stores the fuel as a liquid fuel including at least one of Liquid Gas (LG) such as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquid petroleum (LP) gas, and
 wherein the cooled air is used to cool a compartment of a vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle includes a fuel intake system connected to the first fuel line and receiving the expanded fuel from the heat transfer device, the fuel intake system delivering the expanded fuel to an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor valve formed in the first fuel line for detecting a decrease in pressure in the first fuel line; and   a controller connected to the pressure sensor valve for closing the valve if a decrease in pressure is detected.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a gas-diverting valve formed in the first fuel line between the pressure sensor valve and the fuel intake system, for diverting the fuel away from the fuel intake system under a predetermined condition;   a return line for delivering the fuel from the gas-diverting valve to the fuel tank; and   a compressor formed in the return line for compressing the fuel into a liquid state.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a compressed gas condenser formed in the return line between the compressor and the fuel tank.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first expansion valve comprises a plurality of first expansion valves formed in the first fuel line, such that the fuel is expanded via a staged expansion. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel source comprises a source fuel line which provides the fuel as a gaseous fuel including at least one of natural gas (NG) and propane gas,
 wherein the system further comprises a first compressor formed in the first fuel line between the fuel source and the first expansion valve, and   wherein the cooled air is used to cool a space in a structure.   
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 providing a fuel via a fuel source;   expanding the fuel using a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source; and   delivering a heat transfer medium to the first expansion valve such that the heat transfer medium is cooled by contacting the first expansion valve.   
     
     
         23 . A method, comprising:
 providing a fuel via a fuel source;   expanding the fuel using a first expansion valve formed in a first fuel line connected to the fuel source;   using the expanded fuel to cool a heat exchanger connected via the first fuel line to the expansion valve; and   blowing air over the heat exchanger such that the air is cooled by contacting the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 providing a pneumatic or hydraulic force for the operation of devices in a compressed or liquefied gas system; and   using the inherent pressures associated with the compression of gases to a liquid or the expansion of liquefied gases to a gaseous state as an energy source to operate peripheral devices.