WASTE OIL ELECTRICAL GENERATION SYSTEMBACKGROUNDThis invention relates to providing an improved electrical generation systemutilizing waste oil as a combustible fuel. More particularly, this invention relates to the co-generation of electrical power using a generator powered by the heat energy produced by awaste-oil-fired furnace.

Approximately 1.4 billion gallons of used oil is generated in the United States eachyear. Approximately ten percent of that amount is properly recycled, with the remainderdumped into the environment. Waste oil dumping has increasingly become a majorworldwide environmental issue. It has been shown that one gallon of waste oil cancontaminate up to one million gallons of water. Currently, forty percent of the pollutionfound in the waterways of the United States is created by waste oil, with similar pollutionstatistics reported by other industrialized countries.

In 1980 the U. S. Congress passed the Used Oil Recycling Act to establish a nationalpolicy governing used oil. One significant aspect of the legislation was the acceptance ofon-site burning of waste oil to produce usable heat. Government leaders recognized thatmaking used oil valuable for hundreds of thousands of small businesses was the best way toprevent dumping and water pollution.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently acts toestablish, monitor and manage waste oil control guidelines in an attempt reduce hazardousenvironmental waste oil contamination from waste oil dumping. The EPA's rule generallystates:TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTPART 279--STANDARDS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF USED OIL--Table of ContentsSubpart C--Standards for Used Oil GeneratorsSec. 279. 23 On-site burning in space heaters.

Generators may burn used oil in used oil-fired space heatersprovided that.

(a) The heater burns only used oil that the owner or operatorgenerates or used oil receivedfrom household do-it-yourself used oilgenerators ;(b) The heater is designed to have a maximum capacity of not morethan 0. 5 million Btu per hour, and(c) The combustion gases from the heater are vented to the ambientair.

[57 FR 41612, Sept. 10, 1992, as amended at 58 FR 26425, May 3, 1993]Efficient burning of waste oil is a relatively complex problem. Typically, the wasteoil being burned is a mixture of several oil types, each having unique physicalcharacteristics (such as varying densities and flow viscosities).

There are a number of manufacturers that have developed efficient waste oilburners, currently marketing their products throughout the world. The outputs of theburners are currently limited to hot air for space heating and/or usable hot water. Theseunits are sold to businesses that generate waste (used) oil from their operations. Theyinclude businesses, such as automotive repair shops, retail outlets that sell oil to consumers,truck shops, farm equipment, heavy equipment, dealerships, bus fleets, commercial fleets,municipalities, construction and mining companies, recycling and landfill centers,manufacturing facilities, and food production/restaurants. The EPA and CE have approvedthis type of waste oil burning process without a permit, as long as the EPA's burning criteriaare met (as noted above).

Despite the high level of efficiency of current waste oil burners, as much as seventypercent of the combustion heat produced by a unit is lost as exhaust. It is clear that a needexists for an improved waste oil burning system that better utilizes valuable generated heatenergy currently lost from existing systems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object and feature of the present invention to provide an effective, efficientsystem for the combustion of waste oil.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat utilizes Stirling-cycle engines.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat utilizes such Stirling-cycle engines to provide electrical energy.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat utilizes the combustion energy of the waste oil to provide space heating.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat utilizes the combustion energy of the waste oil to provide a usable hot water source.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat is capable of supplying excess generated electrical power to a larger electrical powergrid.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat is capable of storing excess generated electrical power in a battery storage system.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a systemthat is capable of economically disposing of environmentally-hazardous waste oil.

A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such asystem that is efficient, inexpensive and handy. Other objects and features of this inventionwill become apparent with reference to the following descriptions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn electrical generation system comprising: electrical circuit means for utilizingelectrical power; connected to such electrical circuit means, stirling-cycle power means forusing the mechanical output of at least one Stirling cycle to produce electrical power;holding means for holding environmentally hazardous waste oils; combustion heat meansfor producing combustion heat by burning such environmentally hazardous waste oils; wasteoil transfer means for transferring such environmentally hazardous waste oils from suchholding means to such combustion heat means; and primary heat transfer means fortransferring of such combustion heat to such Stirling-cycle means; wherein such primaryheat transfer means is in operational communication with such combustion heat means; andwherein such environmentally hazardous waste oils may be converted to electrical power.

Moreover, it provides such a system wherein such electrical circuit means compriseselectrical network means for linking to at least one larger electrical grid. Additionally, itprovides such a system wherein such electrical network means further comprises electricalcontroller means for controlling electrical power within such electrical network means.

Also, it provides such a system wherein such electrical controller means is structuredand arranged to control electrical power flowing between such electrical network means andthe at least one larger electrical grid. In addition, it provides such a system wherein: suchelectrical network means further comprises electrical storing means for storing electricalpower; and such electrical controller means is structured and arranged to control at least onetransfer of electrical power between such electrical storing means and such electricalnetwork means. And, it provides such a system further comprising secondary heat transfermeans for transferring at least one portion of the combustion heat to at least one eatablefluid. Further, it provides such a system wherein such secondary heat transfer means isstructured and arranged to transfer heat to air, usable for space heating. Even further, itprovides such a system wherein the heatable fluid comprises at least one liquid. Moreover,it provides such a system wherein such holding means comprises collector means forcollecting of such environmentally hazardous waste oils. Additionally, it provides such asystem wherein such combustion heat means comprises: atomizer means for atomizing suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils prior to combustion; and igniter means for ignitingsuch environmentally hazardous waste oils after such environmentally hazardous waste oilshave passed through such atomizing means.

Also, it provides such a system wherein such waste oil transfer means comprises:pump means for pumping such environmentally hazardous waste oils from such holdingmeans to such combustion heat means; flow volume regulator means for regulating the flowvolume of such environmentally hazardous waste oils pumped from such holding means tosuch combustion heat means; and pre-heater means for preheating such environmentallyhazardous waste oils prior to burning.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides anelectrical generation system comprising: at least one electrical circuit structured andarranged to utilize electrical power; connected to such at least one electrical circuit, at leastone Stirling-cycle engine structured and arranged to use the mechanical output of at leastone Stirling cycle to produce electrical power; at least one holder structured and arranged tohold environmentally hazardous waste oils; at least one combustion heater structured andarranged to produce combustion heat by burning such environmentally hazardous waste oils;at least one waste oil transfer component structured and arranged to transfer suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils from such at least one holder to such at least onecombustion heater; and at least one primary heat exchanger structured and arranged totransfer such combustion heat to such at least one Stirling-cycle engine; wherein such atleast one primary heat exchanger is in operational communication with such at least onecombustion heater; and wherein such environmentally hazardous waste oils may beconverted to electrical power. In addition, it provides such a system wherein such at leastone electrical circuit comprises at least one electrical network to at least one larger electricalgrid. And, it provides such a system wherein such at least one electrical network furthercomprises at least one electrical controller structured and arranged to control electricalpower within such at least one electrical network. Further, it provides such a systemwherein such at least one electrical controller is structured and arranged to control electricalpower flowing between such at least one electrical network and the at least one largerelectrical grid.

Even further, it provides such a system wherein: such at least one electrical networkfurther comprises at least one electrical storage device structured and arranged to storeelectrical power; and such at least one electrical controller is structured and arranged tocontrol at least one transfer of electrical power between such at least one electrical storagedevice and such at least electrical network. Moreover, it provides such a system furthercomprising at least one secondary heat exchanger structured and arranged to transfer at leastone portion of the combustion heat to at least one heatable fluid. Additionally, it providessuch a system wherein such at least one secondary heat exchanger is structured and arrangedto transfer heat to air, usable for space heating. Also, it provides such a system wherein theheatable fluid comprises at least one liquid. In addition, it provides such a system whereinsuch at least one holder comprises at least one collector structured and arranged to assist incollecting such environmentally hazardous waste oils. And, it provides such a systemwherein such at least one combustion heater comprises: at least one atomizer structured andarranged to atomize such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior to combustion; and atleast one igniter adapted to ignite such environmentally hazardous waste oils after suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils have passed through such at least one atomizer.

Further, it provides such a system wherein: such combustion heat produced by suchat least one combustion heater comprises at least one directed heat flow; at least one portionof such at least one primary heat exchanger is positioned to be in thermal communicationwith such at least one directed heat flow; and such at least one primary heat exchanger isstructured and arranged to direct at least one portion of such at least one directed heat flowto such at least one secondary heat exchanger. Even further, it provides such a systemwherein such at least one waste oil transfer component comprises: at least one pump topump such environmentally hazardous waste oils from such at least one holder to such atleast one combustion heater; at least one flow volume regulator adapted to regulate the flowvolume of such environmentally hazardous waste oils pumped from such at least one holderto such at least one combustion heater; and at least one pre-heater structured and arranged topreheat such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior to burning. Even further, itprovides such a system further comprising: at least one power producing site having at leastone such electrical circuit, and at least one operation to generate such environmentallyhazardous waste oils; wherein the at least one operation is performed within the powerproducing site ; wherein at least one such electrical circuit generates electrical power and atleast one useful form of usable energy selected from the group consisting of : heated air,heated liquid, wherein such at least one combustion heater has a maximum capacity of notmore than 0. 5 million BTU input per hour; and wherein combustion gasses produced by thecombustion of such environmentally hazardous waste oils is vented to the outside air. Evenfurther, it provides such a system wherein the at least one operation comprises collection ofthe waste oil from at least one non-commercial source.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides amethod for economically disposing of waste oil comprising the steps of : collectingenvironmentally hazardous waste oils; combusting such environmentally hazardous wasteoils to produce usable heat energy; and using such usable heat energy to power at least oneStirling-cycle engine; using the output from such Stirling-cycle engine to generate usefulelectrical power. Even further, it provides such a method further comprising using surplususable heat energy from combusting such environmentally hazardous waste oils for on-siteheating uses. Even further, it provides such a method further comprising the initial step ofcollecting such environmentally hazardous waste oils from at least one off-site, non-commercial, waste oil source. Even further, it provides such a method further comprisingthe step of selling at least one portion of such useful electrical power using at least oneelectrical grid connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view, illustrating in general, the operationalprinciples of a typical Stirling-cycle system.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating in general, a typicalorganization of waste oil distributed cogeneration sites linked to a larger electrical powergrid, as well as remote waste oil electrical generation sites independent from a larger powerdistribution system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principal components of the waste oilcogeneration system according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the secondary fluid heat exchanger accordingto the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the secondary fluid heat exchanger showingthe working fluid heat exchanger introduced into the combustion chamber according to thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic configuration view of a waste oil cogeneration systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in partial section, of the waste oil cogeneration systemof the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an alternate preferred waste oilcogeneration system according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8a is a diagrammatic illustration, partially in section, of the torodial-shapedworking fluid heat exchanger, Stirling-cycle engine, and electrical generator of the alternatepreferred embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a waste oil cogeneration systemaccording to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a typical waste oil combustor according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THEINVENTIONStirling-cycle engines were originally patented in 1816 and were commonly usedprior to World War I. Stirling-cycle technology quickly became a popular alternative tosteam engines due, in part, to a better operational safety record (early Stirling enginescommonly used air as the working fluid). As steam engine technology improved, theStirling engine eventually lost favor. Recent interest in distributed energy generation hasrevived interest in Stirling engines and, as a result, research and development efforts haveincreased.

The theoretical and practical design of the Stirling-cycle engine is known in the art,and therefore, will not be discussed at length within this disclosure. It is noted that thedesign and operation of such Stirling-cycle devices is described in greater detail in, forexample, the dissertation entitled,"Stirling Cycle Engine Analysis", by Dr. Israel Urieli ofOhio University (1884), incorporated herein by reference as prior art enabling, inconjunction with this specification, the below described Stirling-cycle engines.

Stirling engines are classed as external combustion engines, comprising a sealedsystem utilizing an inert internal working fluid (typically a gas, such as helium), inconjunction with an external heat source and heat exchanger. Stirling-cycle engines takeadvantage of the relationship between heat, volume and pressure of a gas to producemechanical power.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in typical Stirling-cycle engine 40, heat 50 is transferred toworking gas 52 through heat exchanger 54. Pressure of working gas 52 rises with theincreased gas temperature as working gas 52 is held within the fixed volume of sealedcylinder 56. This increase in the pressure of working gas 52 pushes piston 58 to performmechanical work. As piston 58 reaches a position of maximum cylinder volume 60,mechanical displacement mechanism 61 moves working gas 52 from the above-described"hot"portion of the engine 66 through"regenerator"62 to a"cool"portion of the engine 64.

In moving through regenerator 62, heat from working gas 52 is temporarily stored.

Mechanical displacement mechanism 61 continues to move the cooled working gas 52through the cycle in such a way as to move and compress cooled working gas 52 back to hotportion of the engine 66 through regenerator 62 (where it picks up the heat left behindwithin the regenerator matrix). Working gas 52 is further heated in heat exchanger 54and the cycle begins again. Currently, no Stirling-cycle engine operates on the combustionheat produced by the burning of waste oil.

It is clear from the above discussions that an effective, efficient combination of aStirling-cycle engine and waste oil burner would be of great economic and environmentalbenefit. With such combination, a significant portion of the"waste heat"lost in existingwaste oil burner designs can be effectively recovered by a Stirling-cycle engine, therebygreatly increasing the overall energy efficiency of the combined system.

It has been determined that waste oil possesses nearly twice the energy value of coal,and more energy than #2 fuel oil. It should be noted that the term"environmentallyhazardous waste oils", as used within this specification and the below claims, shall includewithin the definition those oils classified by the governing agencies as"recyclable"forenergy recovery through burning. The applicant has estimated that using such combinedused-oil-fired Stirling-cycle engine, one gallon of used oil can generate up to 18-kilowatthours of electricity.

Operators of an on-site waste-oil-fired electrical generation system may find furthereconomic benefits by selling surplus power back to an electrical utility, via an avoided rate,or net metering program. Additionally, off-grid operators of an on-site waste-oil-firedelectrical generation system will benefit from a convenient, packaged source of electricalpower, space heat and hot water.

Thus it is therefore a further object and feature of the present invention to providesuch a system that converts the combustion energy of waste oil into mechanical energy byuse of a Stirling-cycle engine. Thus, it is an additional object and feature of the presentinvention to provide such a system that utilizes the mechanical output of the Stirling-cycleengine to drive an electrical generator.

Referring again to the drawings, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view,illustrating in general, a typical organization of waste oil distributed cogeneration site (s) 102linked to a larger electrical power grid 120, as well as remote waste oil electricalcogeneration site (s) 126, independent from a larger power distribution system, according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The enlarged cut-away view of distributed cogeneration site 102 (in the upperportion of FIG. 2) illustrates, in general, the preferred operational and mechanicalassemblies that make up a waste oil distributed cogeneration site. Preferably, a significantportion of the on-site electrical power 110 used within the local electrical network ofdistributed cogeneration site 102 (embodying herein electrical network means for utilizingelectrical power and embodying herein at least one electrical network structured andarranged to utilize electrical power) is produced by on-site waste oil cogeneration system100 (embodying herein Stirling-cycle power means for using the mechanical output of atleast one Stirling-cycle to produce electrical power), as shown. Waste oil cogenerationsystem 100 is especially well-suited for use within sites that regularly generate waste oil,such as motor vehicle service shops, fleet maintenance facilities, "quick-lube"shops, andother operations that service, repair or dispose of materials that contain quantities ofsynthetic or refined crude oil (embodying herein a power-producing site having at least onesuch electrical generation system, and at least one operation to generate suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils; wherein the at least one operation is performedwithin the power producing site). Under appropriate circumstances, a distributedcogeneration site may collect waste from external, non-commercial sources, such asindividuals undertaking"do-it-yourself'vehicle maintenance (embodying herein the initialstep of collecting such environmentally hazardous waste oils from at least one off-site, non-commercial, waste oil source). For the purpose of illustration within the present disclosure,distributed cogeneration site 102 of FIG. 2 produces waste oil through the service andmaintenance of motor vehicles 106, as shown. Waste oil 104 collected from the service andmaintenance of motor vehicle 106 is preferably transferred to a waste oil collection tank 108(embodying herein holding means for holding environmentally hazardous waste oils andfurther embodying herein at least one holder structured and arranged to holdenvironmentally hazardous waste oils), preferably incorporated within waste oilcogeneration system 100, as shown. Preferably, waste oil 104 is burned, in controlledmanner, within waste oil cogeneration system 100 to produce usable heat energy.

Preferably, the term"cogeneration"refers to the simultaneous production of usableheat and on-site electrical power 110. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,waste oil cogeneration system 100 is configured as a multi-generation unit, producingelectrical power, hot air 116 (for space-heating) and hot water 114 (embodying hereinwherein the heatable fluid comprises at least one liquid, and embodying herein wherein atleast one such electrical generation system generates electrical power and at least one usefulform of usable energy selected from the group consisting of heated air, heated liquid), asshown.

Distributed cogeneration site 102 may preferably include an energy storage system112 to permit added flexibility in the timing and frequency of external electrical powerpurchases and increased reliability to the overall electrical supply features of the system. Tocontrol initial implementation and long-term maintenance costs, energy storage system 112preferably comprises a conventional battery storage system, as shown (embodying hereinwherein such electrical network means further comprises electrical storing means for storingelectrical power and further herein embodying wherein such at least one electrical networkfurther comprises at least one electrical storage device structured and arranged to storeelectrical power). Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that, under appropriate circumstances, such as commercial availability, user<BR><BR>preference, advances in technology, etc. , other storage systems, such as, for example, supercapacitors, Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) systems, flywheels andCompressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems, may suffice.

Preferably, distributed cogeneration site (s) 102 located near or within an externalelectrical power distribution system, such as larger electrical power grid 120, include at leastone electrical grid connection 118 (herein embodying wherein such electrical networkmeans comprises at least one electrical link to at least one larger electrical grid, andembodying herein wherein such at least one electrical network comprises at least oneelectrical link to at least one larger electrical grid), as shown. Preferably, distributedcogeneration site 102 supplies any excess electrical power generated by waste oilcogeneration system 100 to larger electrical power grid 120, via electrical grid connection118, as shown. Similarly, electrical grid connection 118 allows distributed cogeneration site102 to draw electrical power from central generating plant 122, via larger electrical powergrid 120, in circumstances where the overall power demand of distributed cogeneration site102 exceeds the generation capacity of waste oil cogeneration system 100. The term"distributed cogeneration", as described within the present disclosure, refers to adecentralization of electrical power generation from traditional large"utility"scalegeneration sites (such as central generating plant 122) to a combination of conventionallarge scale generation sites functioning in conjunction with a"near-demand"distribution ofsmaller, "on-site"electrical generators, as shown. While central generating plant 122continues to provide most of the power to larger electrical power grid 120, the distributedcogeneration site (s) 102 are, under appropriate circumstances, able to supply power to otherlocal power users during times of peak demand, as shown.

In another highly-preferred application of the present invention, waste oilcogeneration system 100 is used to supply electrical power and usable heat energy to remotewaste oil electrical cogeneration site 126, as shown. Waste oil electrical cogeneration site126 is located such that connection to larger electrical power grid 120 is impossible orotherwise impractical. In the case of remote waste oil electrical cogeneration site 126, wasteoil cogeneration system 100 preferably supplies all electrical power and at least somemechanical heating to the site.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principal components of waste oilcogeneration system 100, according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2. Preferably,waste oil cogeneration system 100 contains at least one waste oil combustor 130(embodying herein combustion heat means for producing combustion heat by burning suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils and embodying herein at least one combustion heaterstructured and arranged to produce combustion heat by burning such environmentallyhazardous waste oils) that combines oil 104 with compressed air 128 to form a highlycombustible air/fuel mixture. Igniting the mixture of waste oil 104 and compressed air 128generates combustion heat energy 132, as shown.

A primary function of waste oil electrical cogeneration system 100 is the conversionof combustion heat energy 132 into electrical power 140, as shown. The conversion ofcombustion heat energy 132 into electrical power is accomplished through a basic multi-stepprocess. Preferably, working fluid heat exchanger 136 (embodying primary heat transfermeans for transferring of such combustion heat to such Stirling-cycle means) is brought intothermal relationship with combustion heat energy 132 (herein embodying wherein suchprimary heat transfer means is in operational communication with such combustion heatmeans, and further embodying herein at least one primary heat exchanger structured andarranged to transfer such combustion heat to such at least one Stirling-cycle engine),initiating the transfer of heat from combustion heat energy 132 to Stirling-cycle engine 134,as shown. Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 134 is arranged to convert the heat transferredby working fluid heat exchanger 136 into mechanical energy 133 (e. g. , torque within arotating output shaft), as shown. Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 134 is operationallycoupled to electrical generator 138, which then converts mechanical energy 133 intoelectrical power 140 (embodying herein at least one Stirling-cycle engine structured andarranged to use the mechanical output of at least one Stirling cycle to produce electricalpower).

As previously described, waste oil electrical cogeneration system 100 is preferably acogeneration (or multi-generation) unit wherein secondary energy, in the form of usableheat, is derived from the system. In the example of FIG. 3, secondary fluid heat exchanger144 (embodying herein secondary heat transfer means for transferring at least one portion ofthe combustion heat to at least one heatable fluid, and further embodying herein at least onesecondary heat exchanger structured and arranged to transfer at least one portion of thecombustion heat to at least one eatable fluid) is brought into thermal relationship withcombustion heat energy 132, drawing usable heat from combustion heat energy 132, asshown.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of secondary fluid heat exchanger 144,according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. In the highly simplified model of FIG. 4,secondary fluid heat exchanger 144 comprises two approximately concentric pipes, eachpipe having an input and output. Preferably, incoming combustion heat 146 is introducedinto and moves through combustion chamber 147 before exiting as outgoing combustionheat 148, as shown. Similarly, a lower temperature incoming secondary fluid 150 isintroduced into secondary fluid channel 151, where it moves around combustion chamber147 before exiting as outgoing secondary fluid 152, as shown. As incoming secondary fluidpasses around combustion chamber 147, heat energy is transferred from incomingcombustion heat 146 to the lower temperature incoming secondary fluid 150, acrosssecondary heat exchanger wall 149, thereby raising the temperature of incoming secondaryfluid 150. In practical application, the efficiency of heat-energy transfer across secondaryheat exchanger wall 149 can never achieve one-hundred percent. Due to factors such astransfer surface area and material heat-transfer rates, a significant percentage of the heatenergy of incoming combustion heat 146 will remain in outgoing combustion heat 148,discharged from the system as waste exhaust. Oil combustion burner systems for spaceheating may discharge as much as seventy percent of outgoing combustion heat 148 aswaste exhaust.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of secondary fluid heat exchanger 144, showingworking fluid heat exchanger 136 introduced into combustion chamber 147, according tothe preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. By placing working fluid heat exchanger 136 intocombustion chamber 147, waste oil electrical cogeneration system 100 effectively capturesand utilizes heat energy of outgoing combustion heat 148 that is normally lost as wasteexhaust, as shown. It should be noted that the introduction of working fluid heat exchanger136 into combustion chamber 147 has no significant impact on the quantity or rate of heatenergy transfer from incoming combustion heat 146 to incoming secondary fluid 150 acrosssecondary heat exchanger wall 149.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of waste oil cogeneration system 100,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, waste oilelectrical cogeneration system 100 is an assembly comprised of waste-oil-fired hot airfurnace 153, modified to receive Stirling-cycle engine 134 and electrical generator 138, asshown. Preferably, waste-oil-fired hot air furnace 153 is a commercially available unit, forexample, waste-oil-fired hot air furnaces produced by Clean Burn, Inc. of Leola,Pennsylvania, U. S. A. Waste oil burning devices of this type are also known by those skilledin the art as"multi-oil furnaces", and typically include a number of specific features toallow for efficient combustion of multiple waste oil types having varying physicalproperties.

In a typical arrangement, waste oil 104 is preferably held in waste oil collection tank108 of waste oil electrical cogeneration system 100 prior to being transferred to waste oilcombustor 130, via waste oil transfer assembly 158 (embodying herein waste oil transfermeans for transferring such environmentally hazardous waste oils from such holding meansto such combustion heat means and herein embodying at least one waste oil transfercomponent structured and arranged to transfer such environmentally hazardous waste oilsfrom such at least one holder to such at least one combustion heater), as shown. Preferably,waste oil transfer assembly 158 includes waste oil pump 160 (embodying herein pumpmeans for pumping such environmentally hazardous waste oils from such holding means tosuch combustion heat means, and further embodying herein at least one pump structured andarranged to pump such environmentally hazardous waste oils from such at least one holderto such at least one combustion heater), as shown. Typically, waste oil 104 is pre-conditioned before reaching waste oil combustor 130 by passing through waste oilvolume/viscosity control 162, as shown. Pre-conditioning provided by waste oilvolume/viscosity control 162 typically includes such actions as flow rate sampling, controlof waste oil transfer rate and pre-heating of waste oil 104 to assist in managing oil viscosityfor optimal combustion conditions within combustion chamber 147, as shown (embodyingherein flow volume regulator means for regulating the flow volume of such environmentallyhazardous waste oils pumped from such holding means to such combustion heat means; andpre-heater means for preheating such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior to burning,and further embodying herein at least one flow volume regulator structured and arranged toregulate the flow volume of such environmentally hazardous waste oils pumped from suchat least one holder to such at least one combustion heater; and at least one pre-heaterstructured and arranged to preheat such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior toburning). It is noted that the configuration and operation of such waste oil pre-conditioningdevices is described in greater detail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 5,551, 868 to Smokeret al. , incorporated herein by reference for further examples of implementation engineering.

Preferably, waste oil combustor 130 is a highly efficient design, comprising at least oneburner nozzle that combines a flow of compressed air 128 with a flow of pre-heated wasteoil 104 (embodying herein atomizer means for atomizing such environmentally hazardouswaste oils prior to combustion, and embodying herein at least one atomizer structured andarranged to atomize such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior to combustion).

Preferably, the mixture of compressed air 128 and waste oil 104 is injected into combustionchamber 147, where ignition assembly 117 (embodying herein igniter means for ignitingsuch environmentally hazardous waste oils after such environmentally hazardous waste oilshave passed through such atomizing means, and further embodying herein at least oneigniter structured and arranged to ignite such environmentally hazardous waste oils aftersuch environmentally hazardous waste oils have passed through such at least one atomizer)ignites the atomized mixture generating a focused combustion flame 156 directed to theinterior of combustion chamber 147 (see also FIG. 10). It is noted that the configurationand operation of waste oil combustors (such as waste oil combustor 130) is described ingreater detail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 6,048, 197 to Beiler, incorporated herein byreference for further examples of implementation engineering. Commercially-availablewaste oil combustors of the type preferably used in the present invention may be suppliedwith an approximate thermal output ranging from about 100,000 BTUs/hr to over 500, 000BTUs/hr at temperatures of up to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (embodying hereinwherein such at least one combustion heater has a maximum capacity of not more than 0. 5million BTU input per hour).

Preferably, secondary fluid heat exchanger 144 of waste-oil-fired hot air furnace153 comprises at least one combustion chamber 147 surrounded on all sides by heatexchanger air channel 166, as shown. Preferably, air intake fan 164 moves the secondaryfluid (comprising air in the present embodiment) through heat exchanger air channel 166,where it is heated before passing out of heat exchanger air channel 166 by means of hot airdischarge 168, as shown. The heated air exiting hot air discharge 168 is preferably used toprovide local space heating (embodying herein wherein such secondary heat transfer meansis structured and arranged to transfer heat to air usable for space heating, and furtherembodying herein wherein such at least one secondary heat exchanger is structured andarranged to transfer heat to air usable for space heating) within the waste oil electricalcogeneration system site (as previously described in FIG. 2). Preferably, combustionchamber 147 includes combustion gas discharge flue 170 to remove spent combustion gasesfrom the system, as shown (embodying herein wherein combustion gasses produced by thecombustion of such environmentally hazardous waste oils is vented to the outside air). It isnoted that the configuration and operation of such a secondary fluid heat exchanger isdescribed in greater detail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 5,531, 212 to Smoker et al.,incorporated herein by reference for further examples of implementation engineering.

Applicant prefers that, in applicant's waste-oil-fired hot air furnace 153, workingfluid heat exchanger 136 is introduced into combustion chamber 147 through back wall 157<BR><BR>(as apposed to Smoker et al. , for example), thereby permitting a portion of the heat energyfrom the directed combustion flame 156 (herein embodying at least one directed heat flow)to be transferred to Stirling-cycle engine 134, as shown. Preferably, the configuration ofworking fluid heat exchanger 136 is such that combustion flame 156 is directed back incombustion chamber 147, thereby maintaining the overall efficiency of the combustion andsecondary heat transfer process, as shown (herein embodying wherein such combustion heatproduced by such at least one combustion heater comprises at least one directed heat flow;at least one portion of such at least one primary heat exchanger is positioned to be inthermal communication with such at least one directed heat flow; and such at least oneprimary heat exchanger is structured and arranged to direct at least one portion of such atleast one directed heat flow to such at least one secondary heat exchanger). Upon readingthis specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that, under appropriatecircumstances, such as, to accommodate specific furnace thermal performancecharacteristics, user preference, advances in technology, etc. , other positions of the workingfluid heat exchanger within the combustion chamber, such as, for example, non-concentric,front mounted, etc. , may suffice.

Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 134 comprises a 480 cc four-piston alphaconfiguration, such as Model STM 4-120 produced by Stirling Thermal Motors, Inc. of AnnArbor, MI, U. S. A. Using a waste oil burner having a combustion flame temperature ofapproximately 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit (as measured at working fluid heat exchanger 136),Stirling-cycle engine 134 typically produces about 40 hp at an average shaft speed of about1800 rpm. Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 134 is coupled to an"off-the-shelf'induction-type electrical generator 138, preferably having a rated electrical output (after inverterprocessing) of 25kW at 480 VAC/3-phase at 60 Hz. Further, Stirling-cycle engine 134typically produces up to 150,000 BTUs/Hr of hot water from the engine's internal coolantcircuit, delivered by means of Stirling engine coolant lines 172, as shown.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in partial section, of the waste oil cogeneration system100, according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6. The cut-away view of FIG. 7 moreclearly shows the preferred arrangement of working fluid heat exchanger 136 withincombustion chamber 147. Modifications to Stirling-cycle engine 134 required to permit theengine to be incorporated into waste oil cogeneration system 100 are clearly within theabilities of those skilled in the art in light of the present teachings, preferably limited toremoval of the factory burner assembly. Preferably, back wall 157 of combustion chamber147 is prepared to receive Stirling-cycle engine 134, by cutting heat exchange aperture 171through back wall 157, and by further locating and drilling appropriately-sized mountingholes matching the standard mounting holes of the Stirling-cycle engine factory burnerassembly. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that, under appropriate circumstances, such as heavy duty applications, specific<BR><BR>furnace/engine combinations, etc. , other assemblies, such as, for example, additional plateadapters and/or reinforcing added to back wall 157 to further anchor and support Stirling-cycle engine 134, may suffice. Preferably, working fluid transfer lines 194 of working fluidheat exchanger 136 are oriented to be in direct contact with the focus of combustion flame156, as shown. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that, under appropriate circumstances, such as to enhance the performance of theheat transfer processes within the waste oil cogeneration system, the use of other heat-retaining, heat-blocking and heat-directing elements, such as, for example, ceramic shapes,heat-resistant deflectors, etc. , may be used at various positions within the combustionchamber. For example, a metallic or ceramic heat-directing ring placed around workingfluid heat exchanger 136 to control the return path of combustion flame 156, may suffice.

Preferably, the overall configuration of waste oil cogeneration system 100 comprisesa self-contained unit having an internal system support structure 176, preferably constructedfrom metal, preferably steel, as shown. Preferably, all external access panels 192 areremovable for servicing and inspection, as shown. Preferably, collection tank 108 includesone or more waste oil collection assemblies 190 to assist in the collection and storage ofwaste oil 104, as shown (embodying herein wherein such holding means comprises collectormeans for collecting of such environmentally hazardous waste oils and further embodyingherein wherein such at least one holder comprises at least one collector structured andarranged to assist in collecting such environmentally hazardous waste oils). Upon readingthis specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that, under appropriatecircumstances, such as to address issues of user preference, advances in technology, etc.,other locations for the waste oil collection point, such as, for example, exterior collectionassemblies, remote collection areas, etc. , may suffice.

Electrical power assemblies 178 preferably route power from electrical generator138 to electrical power controls 180 mounted on or near waste oil cogeneration system 100,as shown. Preferably, electrical power controls 180 include such devices as: safety breakers,power disconnects, power monitors and controllers, charge controllers for a battery storagesystem (embodying herein wherein such electrical controller means is structured andarranged to control at least one transfer of electrical power between such electrical storingmeans and such electrical network means) and power inverters, including trace PS and SWseries inverters for utility grid connection capability (embodying herein wherein suchelectrical network means further comprises electrical controller means for controllingelectrical power within such electrical network means and wherein such electrical controllermeans is structured and arranged to control electrical power flowing between such electricalnetwork means and the at least one larger electrical grid and further embodying hereinwherein such at least one electrical network further comprises at least one electricalcontroller structured and arranged to control electrical power within such at least oneelectrical network, and wherein such at least one electrical controller is structured andarranged to control electrical power flowing between such at least one electrical networkand the at least one larger electrical grid), thereby permitting the sale of surplus-generatedpower back to the utility through net metering or similar programs (embodying herein usingsurplus usable heat energy from combusting such environmentally hazardous waste oils foron-site heating uses). Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will, upon reading thisspecification understand that, under appropriate circumstances, electrical power controls180 may include internal power metering to allow, for example, the manufacturer of wasteoil cogeneration system 100 to place units within a waste oil cogeneration site on a costpartnership basis (where all or a pre-arranged portion of the electrical power generated bywaste oil cogeneration system 100 is sold by the manufacturer to the co-generating site, at agrid competitive or pre-arranged rate). The above-described preferred arrangement hereinembodies: collecting environmentally hazardous waste oils; combusting suchenvironmentally hazardous waste oils to produce usable heat energy; using such usable heatenergy to power at least one Stirling-cycle engine; using the output from such Stirling-cycleengine to generate useful electrical power; and selling at least one portion of such usefulelectrical power by way of at least one electrical grid connection.

Preferably, waste oil cogeneration system 100 is scalable to larger generationapplications by using the combined generating power of multiple waste oil cogenerationsystem (s) 100.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an alternate preferred waste oilcogeneration system 100, according to another highly preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Preferably, waste oil electrical cogeneration system 100 is an assemblycomprised of waste-oil-fired hot air furnace 153 modified to receive toroidal-shaped heatexchanger 196 of Stirling-cycle engine 135, as shown. Preferably, waste-oil-fired hot airfurnace 153 is a commercially available unit produced by Black Gold Corporation ofNashville, Tenn. , U. S. A.

Preferably, waste oil 104 is held in waste oil collection tank 108 (of. waste oilcogeneration system 100) prior to being transferred to waste oil combustor 130, via wasteoil transfer assembly 158, as shown. Preferably waste oil transfer assembly 158 includeswaste oil pump 160 (embodying herein pump means for pumping such environmentallyhazardous waste oils from such holding means to such combustion heat means), as shown.

Depending on such factors as temperature and the type of waste oil being burned, waste oil104 may be pre-conditioned before reaching waste oil combustor 130 by passing throughwaste oil volume/viscosity control 162, as shown. Pre-conditioning provided by waste oilvolume/viscosity control 162 may include such actions as flow rate sampling, control ofwaste oil transfer rate and pre-heating of waste oil 104 to assist in managing oil viscosity foroptimal combustion conditions within combustion chamber 147, as shown. Preferably,waste oil combustor 130 comprises a burner nozzle that combines a flow of compressed air128 with a flow of pre-heated waste oil 104. Preferably, the mixture of compressed air 128and waste oil 104 is injected into combustion chamber 147, where an ignition assembly 117ignites the atomized mixture generating combustion flame 156, as shown. It is noted thatthe configuration and operation of such waste oil pre-conditioning devices is described in-<BR><BR>greater detail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 5,879, 149 to Briggs et al. , incorporated hereinby reference for further examples of implementation engineering.

Preferably, secondary fluid heat exchanger 144 of waste-oil-fired hot air furnace 153comprises combustion chamber 147, surrounded on all sides by heat exchanger air channel166, as shown. Preferably, air intake fan 164 moves the secondary fluid (in this case air)through heat exchanger air channel 166, where it is heated, before passing out of heatexchanger air channel 166 through hot air discharge 168, as shown. The heated air exitinghot air discharge 168 is again preferably used to provide local space heating within thewaste oil electrical cogeneration system site (as previously described in FIG. 2). Preferably,combustion chamber 147 includes combustion gas discharge flue 170 to remove spentcombustion gases from the system, as shown. It is noted that the configuration andoperation of such a secondary fluid heat exchanger is described in greater detail in, forexample, U. S. Patent No. 4,955, 359 to Briggs et al. and U. S. Patent No. 5,363, 836 toBriggs, incorporated herein by reference for further examples of implementationengineering.

Toroidal-shaped heat exchanger 196 is preferably coaxially positioned within theinterior of combustion chamber 147, preferably along the chamber's longitudinal axis,preferably at a position equidistant from waste oil combustor 130 and combustion gasdischarge flue 170, as shown. Toroidal-shaped heat exchanger 196 may be firmlypositioned within combustion chamber 147 by a plurality of support members 204 anchoredto secondary heat exchanger wall 149, as shown. Preferably, combustion flame 156 isdirected to pass through the interior of toroidal-shaped heat exchanger 196, as shown. In thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 8, working fluid transfer lines 194 provide the fluid transferpath between toroidal-shaped heat exchanger 196, and Stirling-cycle engine 135, as shown.

The above-described embodiment allows Stirling-cycle engine 135 to be located outsidewaste-oil-fired hot air furnace 153 in a preferred arrangement, as shown. Upon reading thisspecification, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that, under appropriatecircumstances, such as, user preference, advances in technology, particular space/cost/usecircumstances, etc. , other selection of internal/external arrangements, may suffice.

As one preferred example, Stirling-cycle engine 135 comprises a 160 cc 90° V-2-cylinder unit, preferably Model V-160 produced by Solo Kleinmoteren GmbH ofSindelfingen, Germany. Using a waste oil burner having a combustion flame temperature ofapproximately 1, 300 degrees Fahrenheit (700° C) (as measured at working fluid heatexchanger 136), Stirling-cycle engine 135 produces about 11 kW of mechanical power at anaverage shaft speed of about 1500 rpm (with working fluid heat exchanger 136 maintainingan average working gas pressure of 15 Mpa). Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 135 iscoupled to an induction-type electrical generator 138, having a rated electrical output (afterinverter processing) of 25kW at 480 VAC/3-phase at 60 Hz. Further, Stirling-cycle engine135 produces up to 150,000 BTUs/Hr of hot water from the engine's internal coolant circuitdelivered through Stirling engine coolant lines 172, as shown.

FIG. 8a is a diagrammatic illustration, partially in section, of the torodial-shapedworking fluid heat exchanger 196, Stirling-cycle engine 135, and electrical generator 138 ofthe alternate preferred embodiment of FIG. 8.

Preferably, toroidal-shaped working fluid heat exchanger 196 is formed from atightly-coiled arrangement of heat exchange tubes 182, as shown. Preferably, heat exchangetubes 182 and working fluid transfer lines 194 each comprise 1/4"diameter tubing,preferably constructed from stainless steel or heat-resistant inconel 713/625. Upon readingthis specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that, under appropriatecircumstances, in consideration of such issues as material cost, user preference, advances in<BR><BR>technology, etc. , other working fluid transfer line configurations, such as, for example,<BR>alternate tubing diameters, heat-resistant materials, etc. , may suffice.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of waste oil cogeneration system 100,according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, waste oilelectrical cogeneration system 100 comprises a waste-oil-fired hot water boiler 155modified to receive Stirling-cycle engine 134, as shown. As one preferred example, waste-oil-fired hot water boiler 155 may comprise a commercially-available unit produced byClean Burn, Inc. of Leola, Pennsylvania, U. S. A.

In operation, waste oil 104 is preferably transferred to waste oil combustor 130, viawaste oil transfer line 158, as shown. As in the prior embodiments of FIG. 6 and FIG. 8,waste oil combustor 130 is preferably a high-efficiency design comprising at least oneburner nozzle that combines a flow of compressed air 128 with a flow of pre-heated wasteoil 104 that, when ignited within combustion chamber 147, generates focused combustionflame 156, as shown. It is noted that the configuration and operation of waste oilcombustors, such as waste oil combustor 130, is described in greater detail in, for example,U. S. Patent No. 6,048, 197 to Beiler, incorporated herein by reference for further examplesof implementation engineering (see FIG. 10). Commercially-available waste oil combustorsof the type preferably used in the present invention may be supplied with an approximatethermal output ranging from about 100,000 BTUs/hr more than 500,000 BTUs/hr attemperatures of up to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, well within the operatingrequirements of Stirling-cycle engine 134.

Preferably, waste-oil-fired coil tube boiler 155 comprises at least one combustionchamber 147 containing coiled tube heat exchanger 202, as shown. Preferably, waterpumped through coiled tube heat exchanger 202 is heated by combustion flame 156, asshown. The hot water exiting coiled tube heat exchanger 202 is preferably used to providelocal domestic hot water or space heating within the waste oil electrical cogeneration systemsite. Preferably, combustion chamber 147 includes combustion gas discharge flue 170 toremove spent combustion gases from the system, as shown. It is noted that theconfiguration and operation of such a waste-oil-fired coil tube boiler is described in greater<BR><BR>detail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 6,085, 701 to Stauffer et al. , incorporated herein byreference for further examples of implementation engineering.

In the waste oil boiler taught by Stauffer et al. (U. S. Patent No. 6,085, 701),combustion flame 156 is fired toward the back wall of combustion chamber 147. Applicantprefers that, in applicant's waste-oil-fired coil tube boiler 155, working fluid heat exchanger136 is introduced into combustion chamber 147 through back wall 157 (as apposed toSmoker et al. and Stauffer et al. , for example), thereby permitting a portion of the heatenergy from combustion flame 156 to be transferred to Stirling-cycle engine 134, as shown.

Preferably, the configuration of working fluid heat exchanger 136 is such that combustionflame 156 is directed back in combustion chamber 147, thereby maintaining the overallefficiency of the combustion and secondary heat transfer process, as shown (hereinembodying wherein such combustion heat produced by such at least one combustion heatercomprises at least one directed heat flow; at least one portion of such at least one primaryheat exchanger is positioned to be in thermal communication with such at least one directedheat flow; and such at least one primary heat exchanger is structured and arranged to directat least one portion of such at least one directed heat flow to such at least one secondary heatexchanger). Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that, under appropriate circumstances, such as, to accommodate specific furnacethermal performance characteristics, user preference, advances in technology, etc., otherpositions of the working fluid heat exchanger within the combustion chamber, such as, forexample, non-concentric, front mounted, etc. , may suffice.

As one preferred example, Stirling-cycle engine 134 may comprise a 480 cc four-piston alpha configuration, such as Model STM 4-120 produced by Stirling ThermalMotors, Inc. Using a waste oil burner having a combustion flame temperature ofapproximately 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit (as measured at working fluid heat exchanger 136),Stirling-cycle engine 134 produces about 40 hp at an average shaft speed of about 1800 rpm.

Preferably, Stirling-cycle engine 134 is coupled to an induction-type electrical generator138, preferably having a rated electrical output (after inverter processing) of 25kW at 480VAC/3-phase at 60 Hz. Further, Stirling-cycle engine 134 preferably produces up to150,000 BTUs/Hr of additional hot water from the engine's internal coolant circuitdelivered through Stirling engine coolant lines 172, as shown.

It should be noted that, under appropriate circumstance, other Stirling-cycleengine/generator designs may be used within the above-described embodiments, forexample, the Stirling engine/generator combinations produced by the Stirling TechnologyCompany of Kennewick, WA, U. S. A.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through typical waste oil combustor 130 according to thepreferred embodiments of the present invention. It is noted that the configuration andoperation of waste oil combustors (such as waste oil combustor 130) is described in greaterdetail in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 6,048, 197 to Beiler, incorporated herein by referencefor further examples of implementation engineering.

As generally discussed in Bieler, waste oil combustor 130 includes burner nozzle321 and ignition assembly 117 to create a flame from the supplied waste oil 104, as shown.

Preferably, waste oil combustor 130 also includes housing 323 in which is mounted fan 324to supply large quantities of combustion air over nozzle 321 and ignition assembly 117 tosupport the creation of flame 156 in combustion chamber 147, as shown.

Preferably, burner nozzle assembly 370 includes burner nozzle 321 and ignitionassembly 117 (embodying herein igniter means for igniting such environmentally hazardouswaste oils after such environmentally hazardous waste oils have passed through suchatomizing means, and further embodying herein at least one igniter structured and arrangedto ignite such environmentally hazardous waste oils after such environmentally hazardouswaste oils have passed through such at least one atomizer), as shown. Preferably, burnernozzle 321 includes nozzle housing 371 having passageways for the flow of compressed air128 and waste oil 104 in a known manner to create a flame projected into combustionchamber 147.

Preferably, preheated waste oil 104 flows into burner nozzle 321 (embodying hereinatomizer means for atomizing such environmentally hazardous waste oils prior tocombustion, and embodying herein at least one atomizer structured and arranged to atomizesuch environmentally hazardous waste oils prior to combustion) to exit in a fine stream.

Meanwhile, preheated compressed air 128 preferably flows through another passageway intoburner nozzle 321 where the flow of compressed air 128 is directed in a slightly spiraledpath. Preferably, compressed air 128 and waste oil 104 are combined at the tip of burnernozzle 321 to effect an atomizing of the waste oil stream, resulting in a combined stream ofcompressed air and atomized waste oil droplets being ejected from the tip, whereupon it isignited into a flame by the electrodes 398, of ignition assembly 117.

It should be noted that the term"environmentally hazardous waste oils", as usedwithin this specification and the below claims, shall include within the definition, vegetableoils and similar oils used within the food industry. Furthermore, upon reading thisspecification, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that, under appropriatecircumstances, such as, for example, new industries, advances in processing technology,etc. , the use of other oils, such as, synthetic oil, bio-engineered oils, etc. , may suffice.

Although applicant has described applicant's preferred embodiments of thisinvention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes suchmodifications as diverse shapes and sizes and materials. Such scope is limited only by thebelow claims as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many otheradvantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from theabove descriptions and the below claims.