Combined refrigeration and power plant

Abstract

A combined refrigeration and power plant. The power plant comprises an internal combustion engine an air cycle machine refrigerator driven by the internal combustion engine and configured to refrigerate atmospheric air to provide working fluid to combined refrigeration and power generation cycle, a refrigerated air storage unit configured to store working fluid produced by the air cycle machine refrigerator; and first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between a device to be cooled and the working fluid, and the second heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between the working fluid downstream of the first heat exchanger in the combined refrigeration and power generation cycle and waste heat from the internal combustion engine; and a generator turbine configured to receive heated working fluid from the second heat exchanger arrangement, and configured to power an electrical generator.

1 . A combined refrigeration and power plant comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   a refrigerator driven by the internal combustion engine and configured to refrigerate a provide working fluid of a combined refrigeration and power generation cycle;   a refrigerated working fluid storage unit configured to store working fluid produced by the refrigerator;   a first heat exchanger arrangement configured to exchange heat between a device to be cooled and the working fluid;   a second heat exchanger arrangement configured to exchange heat between the working fluid downstream of the first heat exchanger in the combined refrigeration and power generation cycle and waste heat from the internal combustion engine;   an electrical generator; and   a generator turbine configured to receive heated working fluid from the second heat exchanger arrangement, and configured to power the electrical generator.   
     
     
         2 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator is configured to liquefy the working fluid prior to delivery to the refrigerated working fluid storage unit. 
     
     
         3 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises one or more of a gas turbine engine, a reciprocating engine and a rotary engine. 
     
     
         4 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement comprises a plurality of heat exchanger matrices, each being configured to exchange heat between the working fluid and a separate heat source of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         5 . A power plant according to  claim 4 , wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement comprises a first matrix configured to exchange heat between engine cooling water and the working fluid and may comprise a second matrix configured to exchange heat between engine cooling oil and the working fluid. 
     
     
         6 . A power plant according to  claim 4 , wherein the reciprocating engine comprises a turbocharger and may comprise an aftercooler. 
     
     
         7 . A power plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement comprises a third exchanger matrix configured to exchange heat between the turbocharger aftercooler and the working fluid, and may comprise a fourth heat exchanger matrix configured to exchange heat between the turbocharger compressor outlet and the working fluid, and may comprise a fifth heat exchanger matrix configured to exchange heat between the turbocharger turbine inlet and the working fluid. 
     
     
         8 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third heat exchanger arrangement configured to exchange heat between working fluid downstream of the working fluid storage unit and upstream of the first heat exchanger, and working fluid downstream of the generator turbine and upstream of the working fluid storage unit. 
     
     
         9 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises an internal combustion engine drive shaft mechanically coupled to the generator turbine. 
     
     
         10 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator comprises an air cycle machine refrigerator comprising a Brayton cycle machine comprising a compressor configured to compress air, a turbine configured to expand compressed air, the compressor and turbine being coupled by an air cycle machine shaft, and a fourth heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between air downstream of the compressor and upstream of the turbine, and a cold sink. 
     
     
         11 . A power plant according to  claim 10 , wherein the air cycle machine shaft is coupled to one or more of the internal combustion engine drive shaft and an electric motor. 
     
     
         12 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid storage unit comprises a pressure vessel configured to accept working fluid downstream of the refrigerator, and deliver working fluid to one of the first and the third heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid storage unit comprises a separator configured to separate liquid and gaseous working fluid phases. 
     
     
         14 . A power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises one of atmospheric air and supercritical carbon dioxide.