Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A steam expander (100) to be used to provide a low pressure steam to a process equipment, said steam expander (100) comprising:
i. at least one cylinder (1a) having an inlet and an outlet configured at its top and bottom portion, said inlet and outlet configured to allow entry and exit of steam therefrom;
ii. at least two poppet valves (12) provided on each operative end of said cylinder (1a) and configured to be open and close to facilitate entry and exit of steam therethrough;
iii. an asymmetric camshaft (35) configured at each end of said cylinder (1a) to actuate each of said poppet valves (12) in a controlled manner to facilitate steam to alternately enter and exit from each end of said cylinder (1a) in a controlled manner;
iv. a drain plug configured in oil sump (43) for allowing water removal and blocking discharge of oil;
v. a plurality of deflector plates configured for separating oil and steam/water area within said steam expander (100); and
vi. a piston (1b) provided in each of said cylinder (1a), said piston (1b) forming a double acting pair with said cylinder (1a) where steam is expanded to generate a low pressure steam to be used by the process equipment and driving an electrical generator (42) for generation of electricity;
2. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylinders (1a) are having inline configuration.
3. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a crankshaft is mechanically coupled to said piston (1b) via a crosshead (30).
4. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said crosshead (30) is joined with a corresponding connecting rod (31) on the bottom side of which along with the crankshaft (32) for converting the reciprocating motion of said piston (1b) into rotary motion of said crankshaft.
5. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camshafts are configured to open one poppet valve (12) out of the two poppet valves (12) on each side of said cylinder (1a) to facilitate entry of high pressure steam that moves the piston (1b) towards the opposite end of said cylinder (1a) and opens the other poppet valve (12) to allow the low pressure steam to exit said cylinder (1a) when said piston (1b) is pushed by high pressure steam entering said cylinder (1a) from the other side of said piston (1b).
6. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of deflector plates (5, 8, 9, 14) are configured for separating oil and water space with said steam expander (100).
7. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a deflector plates (8, 9) being configured to oscillate along with the rocker arms and separating oil and water area from one another.
8. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said an induction generator (42) is connected to the shaft without requirement of a gear box.
9. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, said steam expander (100) comprises a heavy duty casted asymmetric phase shift crankshaft with self-balancing masses provided thereon.
10. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frictionless coating is provided on said cylinders (1a) for reducing the frictional power losses.
11. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a steam seal configuration is provided on the valve guide to prevent steam leakage into the cylinder head chamber and to prevent steam from coming directly in contact with the lubricating oil.
12. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein two piston rings (1e) of a polymer material are used for sealing the inner surface of the cylinder 1a and the peripheral surface of said piston (1b).
13. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one camshaft pulley (34a), crankshaft pulley (34b) and belt (50) is used to transmit motion between said crankshaft (32) and said camshaft (35).
14. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein reference positions in the form of holes are provided on said pulleys (34a, 34b), crankcase (51), and port housing (10), said holes match with each other to facilitate actuation of said poppet valves (12) in a controlled manner in synchronous with the operation of said crankshaft.
15. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein an arrangement of port housing deflector plates (14) is provided in said port housing (10).
16. The steam expander (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a cambox deflector plates (5) is provided in said cambox.
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of steam expanders.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Process industries like paper, chemical, textiles, food, breweries, pharma, rice, etc. require low pressure steam (LP - 3 to 5 bar(g)) in process equipments. However, steam is always generated at higher pressure (HP) like 10bar(g)/17bar(g) in steam generating boilers. Hence, there is a need to reduce steam pressure from boiler pressure to a lower pressure suitable for the process equipment. Conventionally this is achieved in a pressure reducing valve (PRV) which is a throttling process and where the available energy potential in HP steam is not utilized effectively. Also, such plants meet their electrical energy requirements from other sources like state distribution companies (o/s grid).
There have been numerous examples of steam turbines (rotary devices) of utilizing the steam pressure difference for power generation. However, steam turbines are not successful for combined conditions of very small enthalpy difference (<45 kJ/kg) and very small mass flow (< 5 tph). Moreover, these rotary devices have several limitations while operating with saturated steam at inlet and poor isentropic efficiency at these operating conditions.
Conventional steam expanders use a double centre piston rotating in a double cavity compartment (substantially cylindrical) resulting in a closed cycle of utilisation of temperature and steam pressure to obtain useful mechanical work. Other devices are also available in the market which produces electrical power from a flowing fluid such as a gas or liquid under pressure, for example natural gas flowing through a pipeline, by means of one or more positive displacement devices that drive one or more electrical generators.
There is therefore felt a need for a steam expander which would harness the differential energy from steam in to power for micro enthalpy difference (<45 kJ/kg) and micro mass flows (< 3 tph) which will ameliorate the aforementioned issues.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment satisfies, are as follows:
A primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a steam expander.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a steam expander, which can be used in a process industry.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a steam expander, which converts the differential pressure of steam into mechanical energy.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a steam expander, which avoids the mixing of lubrication oil and steam.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a steam expander to be used in a process industry to reduce the pressure of the steam. The steam expander comprising at least one cylinder having an inlet and an outlet configured at its top and bottom portion, the inlet and the outlet configured to allow entry and exit of steam therefrom, at least two poppet valves provided on each operative end of the cylinder and configured to be open and close upon to facilitate entry and exit of steam therethrough, an asymmetric camshaft configured at each end of the cylinder to actuate each of the poppet valves in a controlled manner and thus allowing steam to alternately enter and exit from each end of the cylinder in a controlled manner thereby resulting in a reciprocating motion of the piston. A piston is provided in each of the cylinder wherein the piston forms a double acting pair with the cylinder resulting in expansion of the steam and generation of low pressure steam that is suitable to be used in the process equipment. The reciprocating motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion used to drive a generator for generation of electricity. In another embodiment, a plurality of deflector plates is configured for separating oil and steam space within the steam expander.
In an embodiment, the cylinders are having inline configuration.
In another embodiment, a crankshaft is mechanically coupled to the piston via a crosshead.
In another embodiment, each of the crosshead is joined with a corresponding connecting rod on the bottom side along with the crankshaft for converting the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion of the crankshaft.
In another embodiment, the camshafts are configured to open one poppet valve out of the two poppet valves on each side of the cylinder to facilitate entry of high pressure steam that moves the piston towards the opposite end of the cylinder and opens the other poppet valve to allow the low pressure steam to exit the cylinder when the piston is pushed by high pressure steam entering the cylinder from the other side of the piston.
In another embodiment, the steam expander comprises a drain plug configured in oil sump 43 for allowing water removal and blocking discharge of oil.
In another embodiment, the steam expander includes deflector plates that are configured to oscillate along with rocker arms.
In another embodiment, an induction generator is directly connected to the shaft.
In another embodiment, the steam expander comprises a heavy duty casted asymmetric phase shift crankshaft with self-balancing masses provided thereon.
In another embodiment, a frictionless coating is provided on the cylinders for reducing the frictional power losses.
In another embodiment, a steam seal configuration is provided on valve guides to prevent steam leakage into the cylinder head chamber and to prevent steam from coming directly in contact with the lubricating oil.
In another embodiment, two piston rings of a polymer material are used for sealing the inner surface of the cylinder and the peripheral surface of the piston.
In another embodiment, the steam expander includes at least one camshaft pulley, a crankshaft pulley and belt transmitting motion between the crankshaft and the camshaft.
In another embodiment, reference positions in the form of holes are provided on the pulleys, crankcase, and port housing.
In another embodiment, the holes match with each other to facilitate the actuation of the popper valves in a controlled manner synchronous with the operation of the crankshaft.
In another embodiment, an arrangement of a port housing deflector plates is provided in the port housing.
In yet another embodiment, a cambox deflector plates is provided in the cambox.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A steam expander of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of the conventional processing unit;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a processing unit with a steam expander in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the steam expander connected to an induction generator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a detailed view of a cylinder head assembly with deflector plates;
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of an oscillating deflector plate connected to a rocker arm and separating oil zone and steam zone;
Figure 6 illustrates a cut section view and details of a cylinder–piston arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a cut-section of a piston;
Figure 8 illustrates a side view of the steam expander;
Figure 9 illustrates an exploded view of port housing assembly and deflector plates; and
Figure 10 illustrates an exploded view of valves and cylinder head.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Steam expander
1 – Cylinder head
1a – Cylinder
1b – Piston
1c – Cylinder inlet/s
1d – Cylinder outlet/s
1e – piston ring
5 – Cambox deflector plate
5 – Cambox deflector plate
8, 9 – Oscillating deflector plate
10 – Port housing
10a – valve seat
10b – port
10c – port housing reference position
11 – port housing manifold assembly
12 – Poppet valve
14 – Port housing deflector plate
16 – Valve guide
17 – Spring seat
19 – Valve spring
21 – Valve spring cap
22 – Orifice connector
23, 24 – rocker arm
30 – Crosshead
31 – connecting rod
32 – crankshaft
33 – piston rod
34a – camshaft pulley
34b – crankshaft pulley
35 – Camshaft
37a – camshaft pulley reference position
37b – crankshaft pulley reference position
40 – base
41 – outlet manifold
42 – Electric-generator
43 – Oil sump
50 – Belt
51 – Crankcase
51a, 51b – crankcase reference holes
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or ‘coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
The invention relates to the complete package for converting the steam pressure difference into electricity for process industries generating saturated steam through a device which incorporates many components to achieve this in a completely automated manner. Proposed device is an inline vertical reciprocating volumetric expander wherein the steam pressure / energy pushes the linear mechanism to move in a guided path and in an oil free environment. This linear movement is converted in to rotatory movement through a crank mechanism. Similar linear configurations are added inline up to 3 Nos to reduce costs, improve power density and to avoid steam flow fluctuations. Also, for the above reasons there are provision for steam inlet and outlet from top as well as bottom making it double acting to improve the efficiency and power to weight ratio. In an embodiment, the proposed steam expander consists of a twin piston asymmetric poppet valve with balancer shafts.
The present disclosure envisages a steam expander 100, as illustrated through Figures 3 to Figure 10.
The steam expander 100 is a single stage double acting reciprocating steam expander device consisting of several components as shown in picture Figure 3.
The steam expander 100 is a mechanical device proposed to achieve the function of (pressure regulating valves) PRV’s for enthalpy difference (<45 kJ/kg), saturated steam at inlet and for very small mass flow rate. In accordance with an embodiment, the present disclosure envisages a micro steam expander 100 for maximum steam flow of around 3000 kg/hr to convert the higher energy potential (thermal) in a more beneficial way. The steam expander 100 reduces the high pressure (HP) steam to a low pressure (LP) steam which would be further supplied to process equipment. The available enthalpy difference in the steam is converted into mechanical power that is available at the shaft. An electrical (induction) generator (asynchronous electrical generator – IG) is connected to the shaft. The generated electricity is feed into the local grid for internal consumption of the factory or processing unit. This generated electricity would replace around 8-12% of electricity purchased from the grid thereby improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint as shown in schematic view in Figure 2. An outlet manifold 41 is provided on cylinder head 1 to supply the steam to process equipment.
The steam expander 100 comprises at least two cylinders 1a defined in a cylinder head 1. The steam expander 100 is mounted on a base 40. A piston 1b reciprocates inside each of the cylinder 1a. The piston-cylinder assembly together provides is a double acting steam expander mechanism. There are several other components that cooperate with the piston-cylinder pair to facilitate the process of the steam expansion. An inlet 1c and an outlet 1d are provided on each operative end the cylinders 1a. Two poppet valves 12 are configured on each cylinder 1a.
According to an embodiment each poppet valve 12, valve seats 10a, ports 10b is designed in such a way that the same poppet valve 12 can be used for inlet and as well as an outlet.
The poppet valves 12 are driven by a single asymmetric camshaft 35 (Top camshaft) carrying four cam lobes to drive the respective poppet valves 12 through a mechanism of roller, rocker arm and tappet. Cam lobes are oriented at different angle to achieve precise valve opening and closing timing for both inlet and outlet. The camshaft 26a is driven by the main crankshaft (not seen in figures) through a belt 50 and pulley arrangement having the same speed ratio so that both operate at the same speed. Timing of top camshaft is achieved through a unique design on the casting of both the pulley and crankcase 51 and cylinder head casting and use of dowels.
According to an embodiment, the orientation of each poppet valve 12 in the cylinder head 1 is different. Exhaust valve open in the cylinder 1b downwards in the direction of steam flow whereas inlet valves are oriented horizontal and they open opposing the natural steam flow direction. In an embodiment, camshaft 26a has four cam lobes, each lobe being oriented at a specific angle to achieve the desired valve actuation timing. Each of the cam lobe and roller combination is actively lubricated through a positive flow of special grade mineral lubricating oil from the top. The flow of oil is accurately controlled through a connector having a special orifice to regulate the oil flow to cam lobes and eliminates the need of a control valve to regulate the oil flow. Lubricating oil has special properties such as de-emulsification and thus foam formation is suppressed.
The poppet valve 12 oscillates inside a valve guide but without any oil lubrication which is very unlike than an IC engine or a reciprocating compressor. Due to application requirements, the lubricating oil cannot be allowed to come in contact with steam / condensed water and vice versa. Special anti-friction and anti-corrosion coatings are used on the poppet valves 12 and the valve guides to reduce frictional loss and increase sealing. A unique steam seal configuration is provided on the valve guide to prevent steam leakage in to the cylinder head chamber and to prevent steam from coming directly in contact with the lubricating oil. Lubricating oil from the cylinder head 1 is drained under gravity to the oil sump 43 located at the bottom-most part of the complete vertical expander and where it is cooled, filtered and supplied back to all the parts requiring lubrication. However, there are chances of condensed steam leaking from the valve guide in case of a seal failure / other reasons resulting in the mixing of the steam with lubricating oil.
To avoid the mixing of oil and water a plurality of specially designed plates called “deflector plates” as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8 are used to separate the oil zone (OZ) and water / steam zone (SZ) within the cylinder head 1. Oscillating deflector plates (8, 9) for corresponding valve 12 are mounted on to the respective rocker arm (23, 24) and doesn’t allow the sprayed lubricating oil to come in the steam / water zone and thus both oil and water are drained separately. These oscillating deflector plates (8, 9) oscillate along with the rocker arms (23, 24) and are sealed to ensure zero leakage of oil and oil. Port housing (Stationary) deflector plates 14 are also fastened to the port housing manifold 10. Both the stationary and oscillating deflector plates (8, 9, and 14) have unique profiles according to the oil spray pattern.
Twin inline cylinder arrangement is shown in Figure 6 where the piston 1b reciprocates typically have a square (1:1) bore to stroke ratio. Steam pressure acts on both the top and bottom sides of the piston 1b.The piston 1b is of a special grade Aluminium and is having a novel design piston making it a double acting steam expander. Each piston 1b carries two non-metallic piston rings 1c which comes in contact with the cylinder 1a having a frictionless coating thereby reducing the frictional losses and the need for an active oil lubrication. Cylinders 1b where the steam expands are prevented from contamination with lubricating oil since the exhaust steam from the expander would be used in a process equipment like a drier / steamer / heater, etc. where oil contamination cannot be allowed. The use of polymer based piston rings 1e have many advantages such as no need of active oil lubrication, reduction in frictional power loss and lower inertial losses apart from achieving its main function of steam sealing between the top and bottom side of the piston 1b. Piston rings 1e have a special cut / opening for assembly and to ensure that there is zero steam leakage from the top side to the bottom side of the piston 1b.
According to an embodiment, the piston 1b as shown in Figure 7 is made of Aluminium and is provided with a non-corrosion coating. The piston 1b has a special profile to reduce mass thereby reducing the overall reciprocating mass and subsequently the inertial power loss. The top surface of the piston 1b has a recessed section defined therein to increase the clearance volume on the operative top side, thereby improving the effectiveness of compression stroke and achieving the steam pressure as that at the inlet level after the compression stroke. This results in improving the isentropic efficiency of the steam expander and thereby avoiding the knocking of the steam expander 100 at the end of the compression stroke.
As shown in figure 8, another sub-assembly referred as port housing assembly 11 is provided at the bottom of the cylinder head 1. The port housing assembly 11 provides the separation space between the oil side and the steam side. The port housing assembly 11 also houses a bottom camshaft, valve, valve seat and all the valve train components required for the operation of the bottom side poppet valves 12. A steam sealing is provided between port housing 10 and each piston rod 33. The piston rod 33 is connected to the piston 1b on top side and to the crosshead 30 on bottom end. The piston rods pass through the port housing 10 without any physical contact with it. A polymer based spring energised the sealing system on the top part to avoid any leakage of steam from the radial gap between the piston rod and the port housing 10. The design of port housing 10 and cylinder 1a is done in such a way to ensure that both are concentric within 0.05 mm.
An arrangement of deflector plates 14 similar to that in the cylinder head 1, (fig 8 & fig 9) is provided in the port housing 10 and the port housing manifold assembly 11 to separate the oil and water space within these enclosures.
Another component called crankcase assembly (not shown in figures) is provided below the port housing 10, wherein the crosshead 30 reciprocates within the crankcase bore. Each crosshead 30 is joined with a corresponding connecting rod 31 on the bottom side which along with the crankshaft 32 converts the reciprocating motion of the piston 1b into a rotary motion. Pressurized oil lubrication is provided between the crosshead 30 and crankcase bore to ensure proper heat dissipation and reduce frictional power consumption. Crankshaft has a specific phase angle to provide uniform torque at flywheel, reduce flywheel size to enable auto-start of engine on steam. The flywheel is directly coupled to the induction generator 42 wherein the mechanical power from the crankshaft to flywheel to induction generator shaft gets converted into electricity.
The most important aspect to get the high efficiency and performance of the engine is to get the timing right. There are multiple valves whose opening and closing timing is required to be accurate w.r.t crank angle. This is achieved in the steam expander 100 by a method which is unique, accurate and very quick. Precise positions are marked during machining on each pulley and during assembly these positions are matched with the relative positions on the casted body of the steam expander/engine 100.
The most important aspect to get the high efficiency and performance of the steam expander 100 is to get the timing right. There are multiple valves whose opening and closing timing is required to be accurate w.r.t crank angle. This is achieved in the steam expander 100 by a method which is unique, accurate and very quick. As shown in Figure 10 precise positions are marked during machining on each pulley and during assembly these positions are matched with the relative positions on the casted body of the steam expander/engine 100.
Camshaft pulley reference positions 37a, 37b are defined on the camshaft pulley 34a and crankshaft pulley 34b respectively. These reference positions are in the form of holes and are used to set the actuation time of valves 12 by maintaining the predefined relative positions of the pulleys 34a, 34b, i.e. the actuation of valves 12 is synchronous with the operation of the crankshaft. Port housing reference position 10c is provided to match the timing of the valve operations and to fix rotational relation between the pulleys. Belts 50 are used to transmit motion from one pulley to the other.
In an embodiment, crankcase reference holes 51a, 51b are also provided for the purpose of setting valve actuation timing.
The steam expander 100 has isentropic efficiencies above 75%. The efficiency is almost doubled than that of turbines working under same parameters of steam.
A drain plug is configured in oil sump 43for allowing water removal and blocking discharge of oil.
Even at part load / lower the steam expanders have almost the same efficiency whereas turbines have very poor efficiency at part loads. The steam expanders 100 of the present disclosure are cost effective as compared to turbines / screw expanders. The steam expander 100 is perfectly balanced with primary and secondary forces with vibrations less than 4 mm/s.
No oil is present in cylinders (1a) where steam expands. No steam contamination occurs since piston rings (1e) made of a special polymer are used with coating on the inner surface of the cylinder 1a. Use of liners is avoided.
A special coating material is used instead of oil based lubrication in valves 12 and valve guides to achieve a low coefficient of friction and lower wear rates.
The implementation of the steam expander 100 enables the shaft to rotate at 750 to 1000 rpm. The maintenance required is also reduced at moderate speed.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a steam expander, which:
• is a positive displacement machine having better efficiencies as compared to rotary devices at low volumetric flow and low pressure difference conditions;
• works efficiently with wet steam;
• has isentropic efficiency above 75%;
• reduces the expenditure of purchasing electricity from external grid; and
• is modular and scalable.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
One of the objects of the Patent Law is to provide protection to new technologies in all fields and domain of technologies. The new technologies shall or may contribute in the country economy growth by way of involvement of new efficient and quality method or product manufacturing in India.
To provide the protection of new technologies by patenting the product or process will contribute significant for innovation development in the country. Further by granting patent the patentee can contribute in manufacturing the new product or new process of manufacturing by himself or by technology collaboration or through the licensing.
The Applicant submits that the present disclosure will contribute in country economy, which is one of the purposes to enact the Patents Act, 1970. The product in accordance with present invention will be in great demand in country and worldwide due to novel technical features of a present invention is a technical advancement in steam expansion devices used in process industry. The technology in accordance with present disclosure will provide electrical energy as a by-product of steam expansion step. The saving in energy bills and improvement in efficiency will improve the productivity, and cost cutting of the process, which will directly contribute to economy of the country.
The product will contribute a new concept in a process industry, wherein patented process/product will be used. The product is developed in the national interest and will contribute to country economy.
The economy significance details requirement may be called during the examination. Only after filing of this Patent application, the applicant can work publicly related to present disclosure product/process/method. The applicant will disclose all the details related to the economic significance contribution after the protection of invention.