Waste Heat Power Generation

This unique system allows you to use your flare gas, waste heat, waste hot water, geothermal, geo-pressurized, hydrothermal, enhanced geothermal, turbine exhaust, or re-injected waste water to power a organic Rankine cycle (ORC) turbine generator.

The worlds most cost-effective untapped renewable energy source is waste heat.  While primary energy production as well as industrial infrastructure is all around us, very little of the heat byproduct has been resourced as a secondary energy source.

To capture, utilize, and profit from that waste heat is the challenge which has been overlooked until recently by Infinity Turbine LLC.

Geothermal and Waste Heat Organic Rankine Cycle:

The technology developed using a ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) can operate off any heat source, with a minimum of 125 deg F temperature differential between the heat source and cool liquid flow heat sink.  Geothermal energy is only one potential application.  Similar systems are already in operation off heat generated from landfill flares and gas turbine exhaust.  Other applications may include using biomass as a fuel. 

New for 2012 ITxr and ITmini Modular Turbine

Designed by Greg Giese, the modular turbine, is a quantum shift in turbine design.  The entire unit is bolted together and can be disassembled in a few minutes depending on size. 

ITxr:  Based on the patented modular block concept, the turbine can drive a generator up to 60 kW.  The 1 inch inlet will drive up to 20 kW, while the 2 inch inlet version can drive up to 60 kW direct drive generator. The unit has a built in magnetic coupling which allows the end-user to put a coil on the back outside of unit, or put the follower coupling directly on the shaft of a generator, or other rotary equipment shaft.  The entire unit is sealed and has one moving part.

ITmini:  The ITmini is the worlds smallest commercially produced ORC turbine generator.  The small 2 inch turbine has a magnetic coupling on the same shaft, which can drive any high speed rotary device from 300-900+ watts This miniature turbine generator fits in the palm of your hand, and is perfect for experimenters, researchers, solar and small waste heat applications.

Powered by Infinity Turbine ®

Infinity Turbine LLC offers complete ORC systems, as well as our Build-Your-Own-Brand Program.

Build Your Own Brand

If you would like to assemble your own Organic Rankine Cycle Waste Heat to Energy System, Infinity sells the core of the system, the turbine/expander. You can also use our core turbine to make intermediate models specific to your market. 

Build Intermediate ORC Models:  For example, you can make a IT20 or IT30 by ordering a modified ITxr turbine.  You can make larger systems by numbering up the turbine-generator utilizing one larger shell and tube heat exchanger system.

Build Out Your System Using Our Turbine: You can build or purchase the parts and use our plans with consulting to guide you along the way. Purchase the parts and assemble the system.

This allows you to use locally available components to save on shipping, while giving your the opportunity to build your own brand to sell to your customers.  You may choose to manufacture the necessary components, or purchase them from suppliers.  Of course we can sell you the components, or refer you to suppliers.  We supply the support, from manufacturing, assembly, start-up commissioning to training.

Sell Local or Sell Global: Using our core turbine/expander, you can stay local or go global with your ORC system with the security of knowing that the turbine is standardized.  The key component to any ORC system is the turbine/expander.  Most of the cost associated with the development and manufacture of ORC systems is with the turbine/expander. 

Infinity Turbine core technology inside:

Using this strategy, we have taking all the years of research and development out of the equation, which allows you to rapidly assemble and deploy your ORC machines to your customers.  Infinity is constantly making its turbine more efficient as well as the design of the ancillary components which make the ORC system work.  Some of our technology which leads other ORC manufactures is our implementation of nano-fluid technology which enhances the heat transfer in both the evaporator and condenser. Using a nano-fluid additive makes the system more efficient.

We've Got Your Size

Infinity Turbine provides any size turbine from the ITmini and the ITxr.  The ITxr is expandable by bolting on sections. The ITmini is unique in that it is the world's only production small ORC turbine which can be used to experiment with solar thermal, hot springs, biomass (wood fired waterstoves), heat recovery from boilers, engines, or other residential waste heat.  If you have a hot water flow rate of at least 180 F (80 C) and 3 gallons per minute (11 liters/min) then you can produce electricity. In the coming months we'll be enhancing the ITmini to also have add-on sections which allow it to drive larger generators.

Why Low Temperature Waste Heat ?

Infinity Turbine LLC has studied waste heat availability worldwide and has assessed the market to recover that heat which we believe 95 percent is at or below the 100 C (212 F) range.  Organic Rankine Cycle is more efficient at this range than the Kalina Cycle.  For the small amount of the market which has high heat available (well above 100 C) you can use steam systems.  Organic Rankine Cycle uses refrigerants as the working fluid which boil below 100 C (212 F).  The pressurized vapor can then be expanded through a turbine to spin a generator. 

Why Smaller ORC Systems ?

Of the very small number of ORC manufactures, most focus on above 500 kw/hr output.  The few big players focus on above 1 MW/hr output.  Yet more than 90 percent of the availability of waste heat world wide is available to the smaller system size.  For this reason, we are focusing on small ORC systems which allow the ORC user to capture and profit from low grade heat.

Why Install a ORC Machine ?

Capturing low grade heat which would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere can be used to generate rotational horsepower.  This can be used to power a electrical generator, or other rotary equipment such as pumps.  In addition, the exiting, heat from the turbine can be used in CHP (Combined Heat and Power) applications to heat water, desalination, or even in adsorption chillers to make chilled water, ice, or air conditioning.

Train Your Personnel For Installation and Service of Your Brand

Want to participate in Build Your Own Brand, but need to qualify your personnel to perform support, installation, start-up, commissioning and monitoring ? We can train your personnel so that you provide local service.

Remote Monitoring:  We can also provide you with installation and training for a remote monitoring system to run and monitor your ORC systems from anywhere in the world.

Want to start a ORC business ?  Use our Build Your Own Brand Program and then display your brand on our website. Click here for more information.

What is Infinity Turbine technology on the leading edge ?

All of our turbines now feature the modular block technology which utilize the hexagon housing blocks that bolt together with standardized 3/8 inch bolts.  The ITmini uses standard military grade 10-32 bolts.

The modular block was invented Greg Giese to allow rapid prototyping of any process which involves fluid handling.  Originally designed for gas to liquids technology, Greg ported the technology to turbines.

This is the first time in history that a turbine was built specifically to incorporate a modular building block design, that allows prototype to commercial product in one device. During a SBIR review, the National Science Foundation remarked that the modular block was a "Industrial Lego."

The functionality of the modular block housing allows interchangeable turbine cores specific to working fluids (steam, ORC refrigerants, liquids, etc.) and can even employ backpressure vs. condensing turbine routines.

This turbine is also modular in its input and output ports, which will allow a input as small as 1/4 inch and up to 1 inch maximum.  The exit port can be operational to 4 inches in diameter.  The larger single stage turbine has enough capacity to power a 1-15 kW DC PMA depending on input flow and output condenser capability.

Because the housing is modular, you can add sections of exterior housing blocks, as well as turbine cores.  This allows the ITxr to be expanded as both a multi-stage and multi-core turbine.  This is a first in turbine technology.  Most turbines are designed for only one specific working fluid and a very narrow operating range.  This turbine can be used in a variety of working environments and working fluids.

The modular block can be made from a host of materials depending on working pressure and temperature.  This includes stainless steel, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramic and even plastic.  The hexagonal shape (similar to the structure of a beehive in nature) has great structural integrity and strength. 

Ceramic or stainless steel bearings are utilized for a long running life.  In the small scale applications, the refrigerant is the bearing lubricant.

Infinity is also working with enhancing heat transfer in pool type heat exchangers (shell and tube).   Utilizing a nano-technology additive, studies from NIST have shown that increases of 50-200 percent increases in heat transfer may achieved within common refrigerants.

Infinity Turbine LLC is the worlds leading ORC turbine technology innovation company, deploying state of the art concepts and designs.

Publications for ORC Applications

Want to learn more about Organic Rankine Cycle, and producing power from a hot liquid ?  Then check out our publications section.  We're the only ORC company in the world that has scanned in the majority of US Government publications on ORC energy.

Click here for list of publications available in .pdf format for purchase and download.

Solar Publications Now Available: Click here

Until 2016 Federal Tax Credits (USA Only)

30 percent - solar installations

10 percent - geothermal

(for more information, click here)

American Recovery and Investment Act 30 Percent Tax Credit Or Grant:  Current economic conditions have severely undermined the effectiveness of these tax credits.  As a result, the bill would allow taxpayers to receive a grant from the Treasury Department in lieu of tax credits.  This grant will operate like the current-law investment tax credit.  The Treasury Department will issue a grant in an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the cost of the renewable energy facility within sixty days of the facility being placed in service or, if later, within sixty days of receiving an application for such grant.

American Clean Energy and Security Act

This landmark legislation would pay for 50% of the Infinity Turbine ORC equipment based on "... the value of 25 percent of the energy projected to be recovered or generated during the first 5 years of operation of the facility..."

Click here for more info.

Oil and Gas

The oil and gas also provides another possible application for the ORC power plant.  Because most oil and gas wells are quite deep, they are warmed by the natural thermal gradient of the earth.  In 2004 the U.S. produced over 2 billion bbl of “waste” water along with the oil and gas production, primarily from the Gulf States with temperatures high enough to produce electricity.  This hot water could be used to generate power directly, without impacting oil and gas production. 

Read a .pdf report here - Energy Under Our Feet

Gas turbines used for compressors and power generation provide huge amounts of waste heat.  This can be converted to additional electrical power.

To see Gas Turbine to waste heat power options, click here.

Organic Rankine Cycle

The Global Energy INFINITY TURBINE (turbogenerator) operates using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is similar to the cycle of a conventional steam turbine, except for the fluid that drives the turbine, which is a environmentally friendly low boiling point organic fluid which allow the system to run efficiently on low temperature heat sources to produce electricity in a wide range of power outputs.  Typical ORC range for this equipment is 80 - 120 C.

The Cycle

The environmentally friendly organic working fluid is turned into vapor by application of a heat source in the evaporator. The organic fluid vapor expands in the turbine and is then condensed using a flow of water in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (alternatively, ambient air can be used for cooling). The condensate is pumped back to the evaporator thus closing the thermodynamic cycle. Heating and cooling sources are not directly in contact with the working fluid nor with the turbine. The condenser can use ground source geothermal and air cooled for added efficiency.

For high temperature applications such as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) biomass-powered boilers, high temperature thermal oil is used as a heat carrier and a regenerator is added, to further improve the cycle performance.

Advantages of CHP in combination with ORC

a. High system efficiency

b. Good turbine efficiency

c. Low mechanical stress of the turbine, due to the low peripheral speed

d. High speed DC generator - no gearbox needed

e. No erosion of blades, due to the absence of moisture in the vapor nozzles

f. Long life

g. No operator required

h. Can be serviced by standard refrigerant technician

The system also has practical advantages, such as simple start-stop procedures, low noise operation, minimum maintenance requirements, and good part load performance.

Applications

a. Low enthalpy geothermal plants, up to 400 kWe electric per module - unlimited plant size

b. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems - use condenser cycle to produce hot water for heating, domestic, ice melting, or even through a secondary chiller for cooling

c. Heat recovery applications, such as foundry, process or waste water in oil re-injection wells

d. Solar applications

Modularity

Larger units are composed of multiple modules, pre-assembled at the factory in shipping containers. Because of that, units are easy to transport and to install, and they are easy to interface with the hot and cold sources on site.  Since they are container mounted, you can stack and tie together horizontally, or vertically.  You can even use them on ships.  Perfect for remote operations, like islands.

Infinity Turbine LLC

Infinity Turbine provides Organic Rankine Cycle project development services as well as turnkey products and services in the areas of renewable energy technologies and in developing clean power/energy projects that will generate renewable energy credits, like the carbon dioxide credits and emission reduction credits. We offer turbines as well as full systems.  We are the only company to offer our turbines to companies who wish to build their own brand, specific to their region, application, or waste heat source.

Screw Turbine ® and Infinity Turbine ® technology is patented and a registered trademark from Infinity Turbine.

Organic Rankine Cycle Equipment Provided by:

INFINITY TURBINE LLC