The heart of the GEN4 System is the expander, Ener-G-Rotors’ trochoidal gear engine, the TGE™, which is a relatively simple positive displacement device. In essence, the mechanism is a modified gerotor running as an expander. The innovation is how we hold the inner and outer rotor each on two sets of pre-loaded roller element bearings, controlling the radial and axial tolerances of the inner and outer rotors. This patented innovative approach to the control of tolerances enables the system to effectively extract the maximum amount of work from the expanding vapor while minimizing friction and gear wear. In 2009, this patented technology won the prestigious “Most Promising Technology Award” at Cleantech Forum XXI.
The TGE’s advantages:
- Energy efficient – The TGE™ expander is nearly frictionless and has high isentropic efficiency, which results in increased system efficiency.
- Economical – The TGE™ is cost effective to manufacture and maintain, and its high efficiency allows the use of smaller, less expensive heat exchangers without the need for preheaters, superheaters, or refrigerant reservoir tanks.
- Durable – The TGE™ is designed with no sliding contacts, no dynamic seals or belts, and few moving parts, resulting in a reliable, low maintenance expander.
The efficiency and simple design make TGE™ based systems the most economical solution for converting low grade heat to electricity.
The ORC Cycle
The heat input to the system will be hot liquid or steam that passes through a hot side heat exchanger. A portion of the energy is transferred to the working fluid, an environmentally friendly, non toxic, organic, high molecular mass fluid. It is the energy of working fluid vapor that drives the TGE™ expander. The working fluid is then cooled to a liquid in a cold heat exchanger and pumped back to the hot heat exchanger.
The TGE™
The energized refrigerant vapor enters the TGE™, and expands against the walls of the chamber, causing rotary motion by the inner and outer rotor. Once reaching the outlet port, the vapor, now cooler because of the expansion, is exhausted from the TGE™. The energy of the refrigerant is transformed and that work drives the generator. (click on picture to view rotor animation)
