EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE

This Application claims priority from a Complete patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202241013158, filed on March 10, 2022, and titled “A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR REPURPOSING THERMAL ENERGY FROM A VEHICLE TO PROCESS MATERIALS.”

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of heat recovery in automobiles and more particularly to a system and a method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials.

BACKGROUND

Development of internal combustion engines helped to free men from manual labour. The internal combustion engines provided various forms of transportation and methods of power generation. The Internal combustion engines may be defined as engines which generates motive power by burning a fuel. The fuel may include petrol, diesel, and coke. Due to urbanization, number of vehicles are increasing. In par with increasing number of vehicles, vehicular emissions are also increasing. The vehicular emissions may include, burnt gases, noise, heat, and the like. The burnt gases may cause air pollution and the heat emitted by vehicles may cause formation of hotspots in congested areas. Formation of the hotspots, the air pollution, and plastic menace make human life miserable.

Formation of the hotspots may be reduced by repurposing the heat generated by the vehicles. Existing technology is insufficient to recover and repurpose the heat generated by the vehicles. Also, majority of the vehicles are incapable of processing materials during running. Processing materials may include, preparing food, boiling water, melting, or heating waste materials and the like. Minority of the vehicles may include devices for processing food materials onboard upon receiving power from battery of the corresponding vehicles. Utilization of the battery by the devices may reduce battery life of the vehicles. Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials to address the aforementioned issue(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials is provided. The system includes a heat transfer block operatively coupled to an exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The heat transfer block is adapted to receive thermal energy from the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The heat transfer block includes a support structure coupled to the heat transfer block via one or more fasteners. The support structure includes an ‘L’ shaped angle support. The ‘L’ shaped angle support includes a vertical plate and a horizonal plate. The system also includes a processing container operatively coupled to the support structure. The processing container is adapted to process a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure.

The support structure includes a receiver container adapted to receive the plurality of materials processed by the processing container. The receiver container includes a sliding and locking mechanism adapted to secure the receiver container to the horizontal plate of the support structure. The system further includes a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the processing container. The temperature sensor is adapted to sense temperature inside the processing container. The system also includes an actuator operatively coupled to the temperature sensor. The actuator is adapted to provide one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials is provided. The method includes receiving, by a heat transfer block, thermal energy from an exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The heat transfer block includes a support structure coupled to the heat transfer block via one or more fasteners. The support structure includes an ‘L’ shaped angle support. The ‘L’ shaped angle support includes a vertical plate and a horizonal plate. The method also includes processing, by a processing container, a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure.

The support structure includes a receiver container adapted to receive the plurality of materials processed by the processing container. The receiver container includes a sliding and locking mechanism adapted to secure the receiver container to the horizontal plate of the support structure. The method further includes sensing, by a temperature sensor, temperature inside the processing container. The system further includes providing, by an actuator, one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and a method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials. The system includes a heat transfer block operatively coupled to an exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The heat transfer block is adapted to receive thermal energy from the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The heat transfer block includes a support structure coupled to the heat transfer block via one or more fasteners. The support structure includes an ‘L’ shaped angle support. The ‘L’ shaped angle support includes a vertical plate and a horizonal plate. The system also includes a processing container operatively coupled to the support structure. The processing container is adapted to process a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure. The support structure includes a receiver container adapted to receive the plurality of materials processed by the processing container.

The receiver container includes a sliding and locking mechanism adapted to secure the receiver container to the horizontal plate of the support structure. The system further includes a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the processing container. The temperature sensor is adapted to sense temperature inside the processing container. The system also includes an actuator operatively coupled to the temperature sensor. The actuator is adapted to provide one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system (10) for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system (10) includes a heat transfer block (20) operatively coupled to an exhaust pipe (30) of the vehicle. In a specific embodiment, the vehicle may include, but not limited to, a car, a truck, a bike, a bus and the like. In one embodiment, the heat transfer block (20) may include a semicircular groove adapted to snuggly fit the heat transfer block (20) to the exhaust pipe (30) of the vehicle. In a specific embodiment, the heat transfer block (20) may be secured to the exhaust pipe (30) of the vehicle by one or more clamps (80).

Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer block (20) may be composed of aluminium. In some embodiments, the heat transfer block (20) may be composed of copper. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer block (20) may have dimensions such as 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width and 50 milli meters of thickness. The heat transfer block (20) is adapted to receive thermal energy from the exhaust pipe (30) of the vehicle. The heat transfer block (20) includes a support structure (40) coupled to the heat transfer block (20) via one or more fasteners (50). In one embodiment, the one or more fasteners (50) may include, but not limited to, bolts, screws studs and the like. The support structure (40) includes an ‘L’ shaped angle support. The ‘L’ shaped angle support includes a vertical plate and a horizontal plate.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the ‘L’ shaped angle support may be fabricated by welding the vertical plate and the horizontal plate. In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical plate may have dimensions such as 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width and 3 milli meters of thickness. In such an embodiment, the horizontal plate may have dimensions such as 100 milli meters of length, 60 milli meters of width and 3 milli meters of thickness. The system (10) also includes a processing container (60) operatively coupled to the support structure (40). In one embodiment, the processing container (60) may be welded to the support structure (40). The processing container (60) is adapted to process a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block (20) via the support structure (40). In one embodiment, the plurality of materials may include, but not limited to, food materials, waste materials, and the like.

Moreover, in some embodiments, shape of the processing container (60) may include, but not limited to, an octagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, a square shape, a triangular shape and the like. In one embodiment, the processing container (60) may include a lid (90). In an exemplary embodiment, the processing container (60) may have dimensions such as 80 milli meters of height, and 60 milli meters of width. In one embodiment, the processing container (60) may include an exhaust vent adapted to expel fumes from the processing container (60). In one embodiment, the processing container (60) may be encapsulated a by glass wool insulator to prevent heat loss from the processing container (60). In some embodiments, the processing container (60) may be encapsulated by at least one of a materials including fiberglass, rock wool, mineral wool, natural wool, cotton, straw, cellulose, paper, polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, polyester and soy foam to prevent heat loss from the processing container (60).

Also, the support structure (40) includes a receiver container (70) adapted to receive the plurality of materials processed by the processing container (60). The receiver container (70) includes a sliding and locking mechanism adapted to secure the receiver container (70) to the horizontal plate of the support structure (40). In one embodiment, the receiver container (70) may have a shape similar to a shape of a hopper. In an exemplary embodiment, the receiver container (70) may have a square shape at a top end and a bottom end. In such an embodiment, the square shape at the top end may have dimensions such as 50 milli meters of length and 50 milli meters of width. In one embodiment, the square shape at the bottom end may have dimensions such as 25 milli meters of length and 25 milli meters of width.

Additionally, in some embodiments, height of the receiver container (70) may be 50 milli meters. In one embodiment, the processing container (60) may include an outlet adapted to provide the plurality of materials processed to the receiver container (70). The system (10) further includes a temperature sensor (100) operatively coupled to the processing container (60). In one embodiment, the temperature sensor (100) may include at least one of a thermo couple, a resistance temperature detector, a thermistor, and a semiconductor based sensor. The temperature sensor (100) is adapted to sense temperature inside the processing container (60). In one embodiment, the temperature sensor (100) may be mounted on an external wall of the processing container (60).

Also, the system (10) also includes an actuator (110) operatively coupled to the temperature sensor (100). In one embodiment, the actuator (110) may include at least one of a servo motor, and a stepper motor. The actuator (110) is adapted to provide one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners (50) corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor (100) to control the temperature inside the processing container (60), when the one or more fasteners (50) provide one or more relative movements to the support structure (40), thereby processing the plurality of materials. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor (100) may provide the one or more signals when temperature inside the processing container (60) crosses a predefined temperature.

Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the predefined temperature may be 125 degree Celsius. In some embodiments, the one or more relative movements may include at least one of a movement of the support structure (40) away from the heat transfer block (20) and a movement of the support structure (40) towards the heat transfer block (20). In an exemplary embodiment, rotation of the one or more fasteners (50) may detach the support structure (40) from the heat transfer block (20) by at least 5 milli meters when the predefined temperature is above 125 degree Celsius. The actuator (110) may rotate the one or more fasteners (50) when the temperature falls down below the predefined temperature in order to attach the support structure (40) to the heat transfer block (20). In a specific embodiment, the temperature sensor (100) and the actuator (110) may adapted to be controlled by a master switch located on the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, over all dimensions of the system (10) may include 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width, and 100 milli meters of length. Backside view of the system (10) is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method (500) for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (500) includes receiving thermal energy from an exhaust pipe of the vehicle in step 510. In one embodiment, receiving thermal energy from an exhaust pipe of the vehicle includes receiving thermal energy from an exhaust pipe of the vehicle by a heat transfer block. The heat transfer block includes a support structure coupled to the heat transfer block via one or more fasteners. The support structure includes an ‘L’ shaped angle support, wherein the ‘L’ shaped angle support includes a vertical plate and a horizonal plate.

Further, in a specific embodiment, the vehicle may include, but not limited to, car, truck, bike, bus and the like. In one embodiment, the heat transfer block may include a semicircular groove adapted to snuggly fit the heat transfer block to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. In a specific embodiment, the heat transfer block may be secured to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle by one or more clamps. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer block may be composed of aluminium. In some embodiments, the heat transfer block may be composed of copper. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer block may have dimensions such as 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width and 50 milli meters of thickness.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the one or more fasteners may include, but not limited to, bolts, screws studs and the like. In one embodiment, the ‘L’ shaped angle support may be fabricated by welding the vertical plate and the horizontal plate. In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical plate may have dimensions such as 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width and 3 milli meters of thickness. In such an embodiment, the horizontal plate may have dimensions such as 100 milli meters of length, 60 milli meters of width and 3 milli meters of thickness

Moreover, the method (500) also includes processing a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure in step 520. In one embodiment, processing a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure includes processing a plurality of materials upon receiving the thermal energy from the heat transfer block via the support structure by a processing container. The support structure includes a receiver container adapted to receive the plurality of materials processed by the processing container. The receiver container includes a sliding and locking mechanism adapted to secure the receiver container to the horizontal plate of the support structure.

Also, in some embodiments, shape of the processing container may include, but not limited to, an octagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, a square shape, a triangular shape and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the processing container may have dimensions such as 80 milli meters of height, and 60 milli meters of width. In one embodiment, the processing container may include an exhaust vent adapted to expel fumes from the processing container. In one embodiment, the processing container may be encapsulated a by glass wool insulator to prevent heat loss from the processing container. In some embodiments, the processing container may be encapsulated by at least one of a materials including fiberglass, rock wool, mineral wool, natural wool, cotton, straw, cellulose, paper, polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, polyester and soy foam to prevent heat loss from the processing container.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the receiver container may have a shape resembling a hopper. In an exemplary embodiment, the receiver container may have a square shape at a top end and a bottom end. In such an embodiment, the square shape at the top end may have dimensions such as 50 milli meters of length and 50 milli meters of width. In one embodiment, the square shape at the bottom end may have dimensions such as 25 milli meters of length and 25 milli meters of width. In some embodiments, height of the receiver container may be 50 milli meters. In one embodiment, the processing container may include an outlet adapted to provide the plurality of materials processed to the receiver container.

Besides, the method (500) further includes sensing temperature inside the processing container in step 530. In one embodiment, sensing temperature inside the processing container includes sensing temperature inside the processing container by a temperature sensor. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor may include at least one of a thermo couple, a resistance temperature detector, a thermistor, and a semiconductor-based sensor. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor may be mounted on an external wall of the processing container. Further, the method (500) also includes providing one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials in step 540. In one embodiment, providing one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials includes providing one or more rotatory motions to the one or more fasteners corresponding to one or more signals provided by the temperature sensor to control the temperature inside the processing container, when the one or more fasteners provide one or more relative movements to the support structure, thereby processing the plurality of materials by an actuator.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the actuator may include at least one of a servo motor, and a stepper motor. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor may provide the one or more signals when temperature inside the processing container crosses a predefined temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, the predefined temperature may be 125 degree Celsius. In some embodiments, the one or more relative movements may include at least one of a movement of the support structure away from the heat transfer block and a movement of the support structure towards the heat transfer block.

Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, rotation of the one or more fasteners may detach the support structure from the heat transfer block by at least 5 milli meters. In a specific embodiment, the temperature sensor and the actuator may adapted to be controlled by a master switch located on the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, over all dimensions of the system may include 150 milli meters of height, 100 milli meters of width, and 100 milli meters of length.

Various embodiments of the system and method for repurposing thermal energy from a vehicle to process materials described above enable various advantages. Provision of the heat transfer block, the support structure, and the processing container enables repurposing of thermal energy from the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. Repurposing of the thermal energy from the vehicle may reduce chances of occurrence of hotspots due to vehicular emissions. Fabrication of the system with readily available components makes the system cost effective. Further, provision of the insulation around the processing container prevents heat loss and thereby making the system efficient. The heat generated by the vehicle may be recovered for various purposes such as cooking, boiling, melting and drying thereby reducing dependency of the devices on the battery of the vehicle.

Further, absence of any complex parts makes the system simple. The system is capable of being installed and operated in an easy manner thereby providing ease of operation. The system is capable of being operated in association with wide range of vehicles thereby achieving operational flexibility. Also, the system provides a way for melting waste materials such as plastic thereby aiding waste management measures. The system provides a way for processing the materials onboard.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.

The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.