Multi-Functional Residential Diesel Fuel Energy System for Combined Heat and Power Generation

The invention pertains to the field of residential energy systems, particularly a system for converting existing heating oil infrastructure for use with diesel fuel to provide both heating and electricity generation. The system facilitates the use of a cleaner fuel source, available at consumer gas stations, simplifying energy maintenance for homeowners.

The reliance on conventional heating methods in residential settings, particularly in colder climates such as the northeastern United States, has necessitated the development of dependable and efficient home heating systems. A significant proportion of homes in these regions are equipped with oil-based heating systems that utilize heating oil-commonly designated as heating oil due to its primary application for warmth provision. This oil is stored in large tanks and burned in an oil burner to generate heat, which is then typically used to heat water via a hot water heater. The heated water is circulated for residential heating needs and can also serve as hot water for household use.

While these heating oil systems have been the mainstay for decades, providing reliable heat through straightforward technology, they are increasingly coming under scrutiny for several reasons. First and foremost is the environmental impact. The combustion of heating oil releases a significant amount of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, which contribute to air pollution and pose risks to human health. The carbon footprint of refining and burning heating oil is also a considerable environmental concern. As public awareness and regulatory standards evolve, there is an increasing demand for cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

Another critical issue with these systems is the oil delivery and maintenance model. Heating oil systems typically rely on specialized service providers for the delivery of the oil. This dependency creates a situation where homeowners are subject to the schedules, pricing, and availability dictated by these companies. The logistical constraints associated with oil delivery can lead to inefficiencies and a lack of control for the end-user. Moreover, the need for professional servicing of these systems can result in additional costs and inconvenience for homeowners.

The advent of electric heat pumps has started to challenge the dominance of oil-based systems by offering a cleaner and more efficient way to heat homes. Electric heat pumps, which can draw heat from the outside air or the ground, represent a significant technological advancement and are increasingly supported by government incentives. These systems run on electricity and can serve the dual purpose of heating and cooling homes, highlighting a shift towards more versatile and environmentally friendly options for residential heating.

Despite these advancements, the transition to electric heat pumps is not without its challenges. The upfront costs of installing such systems can be prohibitive for many homeowners. Additionally, the existing heating oil infrastructure represents a sunk cost, which many homeowners are reluctant to discard or replace due to the associated financial and logistical burdens.

Electricity generation for residential use is also a crucial consideration in home energy systems. Traditionally, electricity is provided from power lines connected to the municipal grid, and increasingly from alternative sources like solar panels. Additionally, the use of energy storage solutions such as lithium-ion batteries, exemplified by the Tesla Powerwall, has become more prevalent. These storage systems can serve as backup electricity during outages, underscoring the importance of reliable and renewable energy sources for modern homes.

Patents in the field reflect an ongoing effort to improve residential energy systems, particularly for backup power. U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,771A details a diesel emergency generator system that supports critical building systems with backup power. This system employs both a heat pump and a resistance heater to regulate the temperature of the diesel engine, ensuring its efficiency and reliability. This patent underscores the importance of maintaining operational readiness of backup power systems in various conditions.

US20120169065A1 discloses an energy system that includes an engine for electricity production, fuel storage, a battery for storing generated electricity, and an integrated electrical grid. The system's electrical grid controller is a pivotal innovation that regulates the generation and delivery of electricity, enhancing the efficiency and stability of the energy supply.

US20170174086A1 presents a home and vehicle energy system with an electricity generator that runs on combustible fuel. This system features conduits for transferring electrical energy and heat between the home and vehicle, indicating a trend toward multifunctional and interconnected energy solutions.

However, there exists a noticeable gap in these advancements when it comes to leveraging existing heating oil infrastructure for improved environmental performance and energy self-sufficiency. Homeowners are left with outdated systems that are inefficient, environmentally unfriendly, and bound to the constraints of fuel delivery schedules and the limitations of the electrical grid. The prior art reflects a clear need for innovation that can bridge this gap, providing homeowners with more autonomy, cleaner fuel options, and the ability to adapt their current systems to meet the evolving energy landscape. It is in this context that the need for a novel energy system becomes apparent-a system that can transform the existing residential energy framework into a more versatile, efficient, and sustainable model for the future.

In light of the disadvantages mentioned in the previous section, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification and drawings as a whole.

The present invention addresses the aforementioned shortcomings in the field of residential energy systems by providing a novel, multi-functional energy system that converts existing heating oil infrastructure into a more versatile and environmentally friendly system. This innovation enables the utilization of diesel fuel not only for residential heating but also for electricity generation, thereby transforming a single-purpose heating system into a comprehensive home energy solution.

The invention outlines a method to retrofit existing heating oil tanks to store and use diesel fuel—a cleaner, more regulated energy source readily available at consumer gas stations. This transition repurposes the infrastructure already in place in many homes, reducing the need for complete system overhauls and the associated economic burden. The conversion process involves several key steps, including the thorough cleaning of the current oil tank, the possible addition of an easily accessible diesel fuel intake to accommodate unskilled filling, and the integration of a diesel generator to convert diesel fuel into electricity.

A central aspect of the invention is its dual-function capability, providing both heat and electrical power. The diesel generator is designed to work seamlessly with the converted system, allowing for direct electrical supply to the home or storage within battery systems. Moreover, the invention incorporates the use of the existing exhaust infrastructure to vent the diesel generator exhaust, thereby maintaining the safety and integrity of the household environment.

The system's benefits are twofold: it enables the production of heat and electrical power from a single fuel source, enhancing the utility and efficiency of the residential energy system, and it leverages cleaner fuel technology, aligning with contemporary environmental standards. This invention thus provides a sustainable alternative to heating oil systems, addressing the growing demand for environmentally responsible and user-friendly home energy solutions.

The integration of a diesel generator also ensures that the system can serve as a reliable backup power source, offering resilience against grid outages and energy supply interruptions. This backup capability is particularly pertinent in areas prone to natural disasters or where grid reliability is a concern.

In summary, the invention represents a significant advancement over the prior art by introducing a new use for an existing infrastructure, thereby providing homeowners with a cleaner, more dependable, and efficient energy system. This system has the potential to revolutionize home energy by giving homeowners the ability to generate their own heat and electricity in an environmentally conscious and cost-effective manner.

This summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description and FIGURES.

The abovementioned embodiments and further variations of the proposed invention are discussed further in the detailed description.

In the realm of residential heating and energy systems, a predominant issue has been the dependence on heating oil, which, while widely used, presents numerous challenges. The most pressing of these challenges are environmental concerns, where the combustion of this oil releases a significant amount of greenhouse gases and pollutants that contribute to air quality degradation. Additionally, logistical issues arise with the need for specialized delivery services, which can monopolize the market and create dependencies that limit consumer flexibility and control. This single-purpose heating system, albeit robust in design, has been overdue for an upgrade that aligns with modern environmental and energy standards while providing autonomy and convenience to the homeowner.

In the foregoing sections, some features are grouped together in a single embodiment for streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure must use more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single feature of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The invention described herein innovatively transforms an existing residential heating oil system into a dual-purpose system, utilizing diesel fuel not only for heating but also for generating electrical power. Diesel fuel, which is similar in composition to heating oil but with a cleaner burn profile and subject to more stringent quality regulations, offers a more environmentally and operationally efficient alternative. It is also widely available, enabling homeowners to easily procure it from local gas stations, thereby mitigating one of the central inconveniences of heating oil systems: the reliance on specialized delivery services.

The proposed system involves a stepwise retrofitting process. Initially, the existing oil tank, which traditionally stores heating oil, is completely emptied and cleaned to eliminate any residue that could interfere with the operation of the new fuel. Following this preparation, the intake method for the tank may require modification. Given that the original system was likely designed for refilling by specialized providers, it may not be suitable for the homeowner to use directly. The invention contemplates the addition of a new intake, which could be as simple as a funnel, that facilitates the manual addition of diesel by the homeowner or other untrained personnel.

A pivotal component of the invention is the incorporation of a diesel generator, which represents a significant divergence from the traditional system that solely produced heat. This generator is installed in proximity to the oil tank and connected through a fuel transmission line, allowing for the direct flow of diesel to the generator. The fuel transmission line may be equipped with a manual pump or, alternatively, be gravity-fed, depending on the specific configuration and location of the tank in relation to the generator. The generator then converts the diesel fuel into electrical energy, which can be immediately directed to the home's electrical system or diverted to an array of batteries for storage and later use.

The design thoughtfully considers the existing infrastructure, specifically the exhaust system. The diesel generator's exhaust is ingeniously routed to the home's pre-existing chimney. This repurposing allows for a seamless integration with the established safety features, ensuring that the switch to diesel fuel does not necessitate a complete overhaul of the home's venting systems.

provides a detailed schematic representation of the converted system, showcasing the interconnectivity of its various components. The diesel tank (), now at the heart of the system, is accessible through an intake point marked by a funnel () for easy filling. When diesel is required by the generator, it is transported either by a manual pump () or a line that allows diesel flow from tank to generator (), depending on the specific needs of the system's layout. The generator () itself is strategically installed to optimize fuel transfer and exhaust routing. The exhaust () from the generator is cleverly directed through the chimney (), repurposing the existing exhaust pathway previously used by the oil burner. The electrical power generated is then fed through a power line () to either a battery storage unit or directly into the home's electrical system (), which distributes the electricity throughout the house. Notably, the conversion does not render the original oil burner () obsolete; it is retained and now operates using the cleaner diesel fuel, contributing to the home's heating without modification. The burner exhaust () is also vented through the chimney (), maintaining a single, consolidated exit point for all emissions. The hot water heater () remains a vital component, as it continues to provide hot water to the household, now heated by diesel fuel delivered through a dedicated line ().

Considering alternative embodiments, the invention is adaptable to a variety of configurations and requirements. The system's modular design allows for modifications to the fuel transfer mechanism, ranging from different types of manual pumps to electric pumps, should a power source be available. The electrical output from the generator may be configured in numerous ways, either tied into the grid to offset energy costs or acting as an off-grid solution in conjunction with solar panels or other renewable energy sources. Additionally, the system can be scaled up or down to match the energy demands of different-sized homes or to provide varying degrees of backup power. It could function as the primary energy source in areas with limited grid reliability, or as a secondary or backup source in regions with more stable infrastructure.

To further elaborate on the diverse applicability of the proposed system, it serves not only as a primary energy source, ensuring independence from the often unpredictable fluctuations and costs associated with the grid, but also as a highly reliable backup system. This dual functionality is particularly advantageous in regions prone to frequent power outages, whether due to natural disasters or less reliable energy infrastructure. The system's design for easy homeowner refueling with diesel also introduces a level of convenience and autonomy previously unattainable with traditional heating oil systems.

Moreover, this innovation presents an opportunity for significant environmental benefits. By switching to diesel fuel, which burns cleaner than traditional heating oil and is subject to stricter regulatory standards, homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a decrease in air pollution. This shift aligns with global efforts towards cleaner energy consumption and offers a practical step for homeowners to participate in these initiatives without the need for significant infrastructure changes. Additionally, the system's modular design allows for easy integration with other renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, further enhancing its environmental credentials and the potential for energy cost savings. This adaptability makes the system not only a solution for today's energy challenges but also a forward-looking option that can evolve with advancements in renewable energy technologies and changing homeowner needs.

Examples described herein can also be used in various other scenarios and for various purposes. It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter.