Waste heat reclamation system, method for reclamation of waste heat, and system and method for using waste heat

Abstract

A system for reclamation of waste heat from a heat load is disclosed and described. The system comprises a heat exchanger coupled to a heat load for capturing waste heat from the heat load; and a heat sink coupled to the heat exchanger to disperse the waste heat. The system further comprises a device coupled to the heat sink for utilizing energy from the waste heat dispersed by the heat sink. A method for reclamation of waste heat from a heat load and utilization of the waste heat are also disclosed and described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for reclamation of waste heat from a heat load, the system comprising:
 a heat exchanger coupled to a heat load for capturing waste heat from the heat load; and   a heat sink coupled to the heat exchanger to disperse the captured waste heat for further use.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first loop coupled to the heat load and the heat exchanger to capture the waste heat from the heat load and transport the waste heat to the heat exchanger; and 
 a second loop coupled to the heat exchanger and the heat sink to transport the waste heat from the heat exchanger to the heat sink. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the first loop contains a fluid for absorbing the waste heat from the heat load and transporting the waste heat to the heat exchanger, and
 wherein the heat exchanger removes the waste heat from the fluid and cools the fluid in the first loop and cooled fluid is sent to the heat load via the first loop. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the second loop contains a fluid for removing the waste heat from the heat exchanger and transporting the waste heat to the heat sink, and
 wherein the heat sink removes the waste heat from the fluid and cools the fluid in the second loop and cooled fluid is sent to the heat exchanger via the second loop. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a loop containing fluid is operably connected to the heat sink, and
 wherein the fluid is heated when contacted by the waste heat in the heat sink and the heated fluid is transported to a device for utilizing energy produced by the heated fluid. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the device is a turbine for producing electricity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a generator coupled to the turbine to produce electricity 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat sink is a cooling water storage receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . A system for producing electricity using waste heat from a heat load, the system comprising:
 a heat exchanger coupled to a heat load for capturing waste heat from the heat load;   a heat sink coupled to the heat exchanger to collect and disperse the waste heat;   a closed loop coupled to the heat sink; and   a device that produces electricity coupled to the closed loop,   wherein the captured waste heat from the heat sink is dispersed into the closed loop and transported to the device that produces electricity and powers the device to produce electricity.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the closed loop contains a refrigerant and the refrigerant is heated when contacted by waste heat in the heat sink; and
 wherein the heated refrigerant is transported to the device and powers the device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein a temperature of the refrigerant in the closed loop is maintained within a constant temperature range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the temperature of the refrigerant in the closed loop is below a refrigerant vapor temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the temperature of the refrigerant in the closed loop is above a refrigerant vapor temperature. 
     
     
         14 . A method for reclamation of waste heat from a heat load, the method comprising:
 capturing in a fluid the waste heat from the heat load;   removing in a heat exchanger the waste heat from the fluid and transporting the removed waste heat to a heat sink; and   removing in a heat sink the waste heat from the heat exchanger and dispersing the removed waste heat to a device for further use of the waste heat.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 converting the dispersed waste heat from the heat sink into energy and utilizing the energy produced from the waste heat. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the removed waste heat in the heat sink is captured in a refrigerant and the refrigerant with the waste heat is transported to the device for further use of the waste heat. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a temperature of the refrigerant is maintained within a constant temperature range. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the temperature of the refrigerant is below a refrigerant vapor temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the temperature of the refrigerant is above a refrigerant vapor temperature.