EP0043879A2 - Machine motrice à combustion externe à piston alternatif et méthode pour faire fonctionner cette machine - Google Patents

Machine motrice à combustion externe à piston alternatif et méthode pour faire fonctionner cette machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0043879A2
EP0043879A2 EP80304648A EP80304648A EP0043879A2 EP 0043879 A2 EP0043879 A2 EP 0043879A2 EP 80304648 A EP80304648 A EP 80304648A EP 80304648 A EP80304648 A EP 80304648A EP 0043879 A2 EP0043879 A2 EP 0043879A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
cylinder
liquid
heat
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP80304648A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0043879A3 (fr
Inventor
Victor Herbert Fischer
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Thermal Systems Ltd
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Thermal Systems Ltd
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/215,867 external-priority patent/US4393653A/en
Application filed by Thermal Systems Ltd filed Critical Thermal Systems Ltd
Publication of EP0043879A2 publication Critical patent/EP0043879A2/fr
Publication of EP0043879A3 publication Critical patent/EP0043879A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K21/00—Steam engine plants not otherwise provided for
    • F01K21/02—Steam engine plants not otherwise provided for with steam-generation in engine-cylinders
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K21/00—Steam engine plants not otherwise provided for
    • F01K21/04—Steam engine plants not otherwise provided for using mixtures of steam and gas; Plants generating or heating steam by bringing water or steam into direct contact with hot gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G2244/00—Machines having two pistons
    • F02G2244/50—Double acting piston machines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G2258/00—Materials used
    • F02G2258/10—Materials used ceramic
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G2270/00—Constructional features
    • F02G2270/50—Crosshead guiding pistons

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a reciprocating external combustion engine, i.e., an engine of the type having a cylinder or cylinders whose reciprocating motion provides a source of power and wherein the heat powering the cylinder is generated externally of the cylinder.
  • the invention provides a novel operating cycle.
  • the steam engine is a well known form of external combustion engine but its power to weight ratio is generally low, owing to its requiring a separate steam boiler and condenser.
  • the steam engine generally uses dried steam or other dry vapor as the working fluid.
  • the present invention is not concerned with such an engine but is concerned with an external combustion engine which uses a gas such as air as the working fluid.
  • the present invention provides a reciprocating external combustion engine wherein energy is transferred to a working gas from a heated liquid heat-transfer medium, which comprises
  • the external combustion engine of the present invention includes a cylinder which may comprise a single double-acting cylinder having a piston therein defining on one side of the piston (usually the rod- end side) a compressor end space and on the other side of the piston the working end space, as in a two-stroke engine.
  • a cylinder which may comprise a single double-acting cylinder having a piston therein defining on one side of the piston (usually the rod- end side) a compressor end space and on the other side of the piston the working end space, as in a two-stroke engine.
  • the engine may also be arranged to work according to a four-stroke cycle wherein one stroke is an induction stroke.
  • the compression ratio employed may vary widely depending on the particular application of the engine. Thus, in some applications a compression ratio as low as 1.5:1 or perhaps lower may be employed and in other applications, the ratio may be as high as 20:1.
  • the engine might alternatively comprise a pair of opposed pistons reciprocatable within a common cylinder, such that the two piston crowns and the cylinder wall define the working end space.
  • Means are provided for inducting gas into each working space.
  • the inducting means may be a ram together with an inlet port into the working space for scavenging the exhaust gas and replacing it with a. fresh gas charge, usually around bottom dead center.
  • a compressor may be provided to feed compressed gas to the working space.
  • the compressor In a two-stroke engine the compressor may be provided by the compressor end space of the cylinder.
  • a separate rotary or reciprocating compressor might be provided, such as a vane or turbine compressor.
  • the induction stroke serves to induct the gas.
  • inlet and outlet valves of conventional construction are provided as necessary, and may be in the form of check valves or may be driven by means of a cam operated by the engine. However, this would not preclude the absence of valves, for example, the piston may be arranged to open and close inlet and outlet ports as in a two-stroke engine.
  • An injector is also provided for injecting preheated liquid heat-transfer medium into the gas.
  • the purpose of the injected liquid medium is to enable heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the gas to be achieved efficiently.
  • very much smaller heat exchanger surfaces are required in order to heat a given weight of liquid in comparison to the surface area required to heat the same mass of gas. Consequently, the present invention envisages heating the medium in the liquid state and allowing the gas to become heated by contact with the hot liquid medium.
  • the heat-transfer medium may be one which vaporizes or does not vaporize under the engine working conditions, after injection into the working gas.
  • a non-vaporizing liquid will generally be
  • a vaporizing liquid may evaporate at least partially to form a vapor thereby enabling extremely good heat transfer to be achieved between the hot vapor derived from the heat-transfer medium and the working gas.
  • the liquid heat-transfer medium may be injected into the gas before or after the gas is inducted into the working space. If the heat-transfer medium is not vaporizable it is preferably sprayed into the gas in the form of droplets. When a vaporizable medium is used, it may vaporize completely after injection or vaporize incompletely.
  • the liquid medium may be injected into unpressurized working gas, it is well known that greater thermal efficiency is achieved by injecting the liquid medium into the compressed gas.
  • the working gas into which liquid medium has been injected will be referred to generally as wet gas.
  • Gas into which liquid medium has not been injected will be referred to as dry gas.
  • the injected heat-transfer medium may be present in the gas in its liquid or vapor state.
  • the heating of the liquid heat-transfer medium and its injection into the working gas may be achieved in a variety of different ways.
  • the heat exchanger comprises a fuel-burner for heating the liquid medium.
  • the liquid may be heated in a compact heat exchanger, for example a coil of narrow bore tubing, to a high pressure and high temperature (i.e., to a high internal energy). Since such narrow bore tubing can withstand great pressures, it is usually possible to heat the liquid up to its critical point. For special applications where the rate of heat transfer is to be high, it may be preferred to heat the medium to a temperature and pressure above its critical point.
  • the hot pressurized liquid medium is then injected into the gas in a mixing chamber.
  • a non-vaporizing liquid medium is preferably injected by means of an atomizing injector. Internal energy of the medium is rapidly transferred from the hot liquid droplets to the gas, thereby increasing its pressure.
  • the heated and pressurized wet gas is then fed into the working end space of the cylinder where it expands (usually polytropically, i.e., non-adiabatically) to drive the piston.
  • the mixing chamber is dispensed with and hot high pressure liquid medium which has been heated in the heat exchanger is injected directly into the working end space of the cylinder.
  • a charge of scavenging gas is compressed to a pressure sufficient to enable it to be fed quickly into the working end space when the piston is near bottom dead center.
  • the dry scavenging gas is compressed adiabatically and so becomes heated as the piston travels towards top dead center.
  • the heated pressurized liquid medium is injected into the working end space, thereby causing the compressed gas pressure to increase still further and its expansion to drive the piston downwards again towards bottom dead center.
  • Heat transfer between the hot heat-transfer medium and the working gas is very rapid. As the piston approaches bottom dead center, the gas expands (usually polytropically) and becomes cooled causing the liquid or vapor to give up internal energy.
  • the liquid is a vaporizable liquid, such as water, which at least partially flashes to vapor immediately it is injected into the working space.
  • a vaporizable liquid such as water
  • the injected liquid medium is merely acting as a heat transfer fluid which may enable the compressed gas to convert internal energy to mechanical work. If a vaporizable medium is employed, the heat transfer process is particularly effective provided that most of the vapor leaves the cylinder in the liquid state, so that latent heat of vaporization is not lost.
  • the present invention is to be distinguished from a steam engine in that the medium is maintained in its liquid form and not allowed to vaporize until it is-introduced into the gas. This is in sharp contrast to a steam engine wherein, even if a flash boiler is used, the water is always introduced into the cylinder in the form of steam. In fact, since it is necessary to superheat the steam to remove water droplets in a conventional steam engine, it is not possible to directly flash liquid water into the cylinder of a steam engine since this would give rise to water droplets in the cylinder. However, in the engine according to the present invention, the presence of water droplets in the working space may be tolerated. Indeed, in some cases it may be desirable to construct the piston and/or cylinder so as to retain liquid medium in the working space after exhaust. Thus, the piston or cylinder may be provided with suitable recesses.
  • the heated medium be maintained in the liquid state prior to injection. Although this may be achieved by using appropriate sensors to ensure that the temperature at a given pressure never exceeds the liquid boiling point, it has been found that if an orifice of suitable size is connected to the heat exchanger in which the liquid medium is heated and a flow of liquid medium is maintained through the heat exchanger, then the application of heat to the medium does not cause the liquid to boil. Thus, by correct choice of orifice size, complex temperature and pressure sensing devices may be avoided. So long as.the orifice provides a pressure drop, the pressure in the heat exchanger will at all times be such that, as the temperature is increased, the pressure of the water in the heat exchanger will also increase and thereby be always below the boiling point.
  • the orifice normally forms part of the injection means through which the liquid medium is injected into the gas.
  • the rate of working of the engine may be controlled by any of several means. For example, it may be controlled by varying the amount of heat-transfer medium injected into the cylinder.
  • the rate of working of the engine may be controlled by controlling the amount of heat supplied to the heating coil by the burner, for example, by controlling the fuel supply to the burner (for a constant liquid volume injection rate).
  • the rate of working of the engine may also be controlled by controlling the rate of injection of liquid medium, e.g. by using a variable displacement pump.
  • the heat-transfer medium is recovered from the exhaust gas after the gas has been exhausted from the working space.
  • the recovered medium which will still be somewhat heated, may be recycled again to the heat exchanger so that its internal energy is not lost. In this way, the medium acts merely has a heat transfer fluid and is not substantially used up.
  • Water is a preferred heat transfer fluid, not only because it is vaporizable, but also because it , has a thermal conductivity which is high compared to the other liquids, for example heat transfer oils. Moreover, as will be explained later, means may be provided for recovering water produced by combustion in the burner. Thus, it may be possible to avoid any need for make-up water since this will be provided by water from combustion in the burner. Of course, it is possible to use other liquids, such as mercury, which has a thermal conductivity 10 times that of water, and sodium. However, mercury has other obvious disadvantages, such as cost and toxicity. When water is used an oil may be added to form a dispersion, emulsion or solution to assist lubrication of the engine.
  • the working gas is a gas which is capable of taking part in the combustion process which occurs in the burner.
  • the gas may be a gas capable of supporting combustion, such as oxygen, air or other oxygen-containing gas, or nitrous oxide.
  • the gas may itself be a combustible gas chosen from all known combustible gases, such as gaseous hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, or hydrogen. Thus, some or all of the exhaust gas may be fed to the burner.
  • the fuel burnt in the burner itself may be chosen from known combustible fuels such as gasolines, fuel oils, liquefied or gaseous hydrocarbons, alcohols, wood, coal or coke.
  • the whole engine may be enclosed in a heat-insulating enclosure and be provided with heat exchangers to pick up stray heat and transfer it to, for example, the compressed gas or to preheat the fuel for the burner. It is also preferred to recover the heat remaining in the burner flue gases, and this may be achieved by passing the flue gases through a spray chamber in which a stream of liquid (generally the same liquid as that injected into the engine) is sprayed through the flue gas. When injection of a vaporizable liquid medium is employed, it is preferred that the vaporizable liquid be sprayed through the flue gases to heat the liquid medium close to its boiling point prior to being passed to the heat exchanger.
  • the use of a water spray chamber or a condenser is advantageous in that water from the burner may be condensed out of the flue gases so that it is not necessary to provide make-up water to the engine.
  • an engine according to the present invention is considerably simplified in certain respects in comparison with known engines, such as internal combustion engines.
  • the temperatures encountered in the working space are generally reduced, thereby simplifying sealing around the piston.
  • power may be provided in the engine of the present invention at lower temperatures than, for example an internal combustion engine.
  • the internal combustion engine is less thermally efficient in that means must be provided to cool the cylinders and prevent seizing up.
  • Plastics such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), fiber-reinforced resins, and other plastics used in engineering, are particularly advantageous due to their cheapness and ease of use.
  • Other heat insulating materials such as wood, concrete, glass or ceramics may also be used.
  • the hot liquid medium is injected into one end of the working end space and the inlet and outlet are at the other end of the piston stroke.
  • Power is taken from the engine by means of a piston rod attached to the reciprocating piston means.
  • the free end of the piston rod may be connected to an eccentric shaft on a rotary fly wheel directly or by using a crankshaft so as to convert the reciprocating motion into a rotary motion.
  • the invention also relates to a method of operating a reciprocating external combustion engine, and to a kit of parts for converting an engine (e.g. an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine) to an engine according to the present invention.
  • an engine e.g. an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine
  • the external combustion engine comprises a cylinder 5 having piston 6 defining a compressor end space C and a working end space P, a heating coil H of a heat exchanger for heating liquid water under pressure by means of a burner B, an optional preheater PH for preheating fuel F for the burner by means of burner flue heat, a spray device S for cooling flue gas from the burner, pump X for feeding water under pressure to the heating coil, a trap T for recovering liquid water from the wet exhaust gas from the working space, and a gas dryer D for recovering liquid water from the combustion gas supplied to the burner.
  • the external combustion engine works in the following manner. Air A at atmospheric temperature and pressure is inducted into compressor end space C of the cylinder 5 by moving piston 6 to the right (as viewed in: Figure 1) and thereby opening inlet check valve 4. The outlet from the compressor end space C is closed by means of check valve 2. When the piston 6 has reached the extreme right of this travel (top dead center - TDC), inlet valve 4 closes. Continued movement of the reciprocating piston back towards the left causes the air to become compressed.
  • valve 3 opens to release wet exhaust air, and shortly afterwards check valve 2 is opened to admit compressed and slightly heated air to scavenge and fill the working space P with dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure.
  • the temperature of the injected water may be above or equal to the temperature of compressed air in the working space.
  • FIG. 2 emphasizes the fact that the water itself acts principally as a heat transfer fluid which is recycled after use.
  • the only water lost from the system is that carried out in the cooled flue gases from the spray chamber S. The cycle will now be described in more detail.
  • heated water at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of below 100°C. is fed from the trap T (and possibly from the spray chamber and preheater) to the pressure pump X whence it is delivered at a high pressure to the heating coil H.
  • the water in the heating coil H is heated to a temperature of around 300°C. and a pressure of around 86 bar.
  • the water is usually heated to temperature below its critical temperature and pressure (220.9 bar and 374°C.), however, because of the orifice provided, the pressure will always be such that at any temperature it will maintain the water in its liquid state.
  • Ambient air is inducted into the compressor end space C via inlet valve 4 and delivered into the working end space P during the period 45° before to 45° after BDC. This sweeps the spent air from the working end space P and replaces it by cool air.
  • the piston moves towards TDC again, the air is compressed to around 12 bar and (for a 6:1 compression ratio) to a temperature of around 330°C. at top dead center.
  • the compression ratio of the cylinder is from 2:1 to 10:1, but, as pointed out earlier, it may be somewhat lower or higher than this range.
  • hot pressurized water at around 86 bar and 300°C. is injected into the working end space P via injector 51 and some water immediately flashes to become vapor, thereby atomizing the remaining injected liquid water and rapidly increasing the pressure in the space P. Water injection is continued for around 5% to 25% of the whole stroke. The pressure reached depends on the amount and temperature of the liquid water injected and on how much of that vaporizes.
  • the rapid rise in pressure causes the piston 6 to move towards BDC again.
  • the exhaust valve 3 and inlet valve 2 are opened again to discharge wet exhaust gas from the space P.
  • the temperature of the wet exhaust gas is controlled to be low so as to ensure that most of the water vapor in the space P is condensed again to the liquid phase and its latent heat of vaporization recovered.
  • the exhaust air and water droplets are scavenged from the cylinder by the incoming flow of charge air and passed to the trap T where the liquid water is separated from the spent air, before the spent air is fed to the burner.
  • the hot recovered liquid water is then returned to the heat exchanger.
  • This embodiment allows a particularly simple cylinder construction, such as the one shown in Figure 3.
  • the relatively low temperatures encountered allow the use of engineering plastics materials in the construction of the cylinder, and indeed such materials have important low heat conductivity advantages.
  • the cylinder shown in Figure 3 comprises a uniflow cylinder body 52 having a row of circumferentially arranged ports 53 which constitute the inlet and outlet to the working end space P of the cylinder.
  • a cylinder head 54 having the water injector 51 mounted therein is attached to one end of the body 52 and an'end plate 55 having therein an inlet 56 and outlet 57 (and respective check valves) is provided at the other end of the cylinder.
  • a piston 58 and piston rod 59 are provided within the cylinder.
  • the ports 53 are arranged to be uncovered by the piston 58 as the piston approaches the end'of its expansion stroke.
  • the piston has a contoured upper surface so that the charge air to the working end space P is caused to follow the dotted path through the working end space P and thereby efficiently scavenge the water laden spent air from the space P.
  • the cylinder schematically represented in Figure 3 includes a circumferential recess 59a in the cylinder wall for retaining liquid medium in the working space after exhaust.
  • seals 59b are mounted in circumferential recesses in the cylinder wall.
  • the piston of this invention need not fit closely against the cylinder wall, since communication between the working end space and the compressor end space can be blocked by the seals 59b, as illustrated by the dotted line view of piston 58, in Figure 3 which shows the piston at the end of its compression stroke. Having the piston slightly spaced from the cylinder wall provides an advantage in that any scale deposited on the cylinder wall from the water will not interfere with the operation of the engine until a substantial amount has accumulated, and maintenance is thereby reduced.
  • the external combustion engine according to the invention features good power to weight ratio comparable to internal combustion engines. Although the power to cylinder volume ratio may not be as good, the overall engine power to volume ratio is comparable to that of internal combustion engines. Since it is possible to arrange the combustion conditions in the burner to an optimum, it is possible to achieve almost complete combustion of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water and thus avoid carbon monoxide or unburnt fuel impurities in the exhausted flue gases. In particular, since the combustion occurs substantially at atmospheric pressure, there is practically no generation of nitrogen oxides during the combustion process. Therefore, this engine represents an improvement over internal combustion engines not only in terms of thermal efficiency but also as regard pollutant emissions.
  • the engine is capable of utilizing a wide variety of fuels, for example gasoline, fuel oil, gaseous or liquefied hydrocarbons (including methane, butane and propane), alcohols, and even solid fuels such as wood, coal or coke.
  • fuels for example gasoline, fuel oil, gaseous or liquefied hydrocarbons (including methane, butane and propane), alcohols, and even solid fuels such as wood, coal or coke.
  • the burner parameters may be adjusted to ensure substantially complete and pollution-free combustion.
  • such an engine could be made to run more quietly than conventional internal combustion engines.
  • FIG 4 shows the construction of the heat exchanger which combines the heating coil H and the burner B.
  • the heat exchanger comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves 60 and 61, respectively, defining a double path for flue gas from the burner.
  • Insulation 64 is provided around the outside of the heat exchanger.
  • a fuel inlet jet is provided for burning fuel F in air A admitted via an air inlet.
  • Water W passes through a heating coil H which comprises an inner coil 62 and outer coil 63 in the direction indicated by the arrows such that water exits from inner coil 62 at a position close to the highest temperature of the burner.
  • the hot pressurized water is then fed along pipe 50 prior to injection into the working space P.
  • injector valves may be provided on each cylinder.
  • a distributor may be provided to periodically distribute hot pressurized water to the appropriate cylinder.
  • the injectors may deliver a constant volume of water at a variable temperature.
  • injectors delivering a variable volume of water at constant temperature might also be used - particularly when a more rapid change in working rate is required.
  • Figure 5 shows a spray device for cooling and washing the flue gases from the burner B and thus recovering some of the heat and some water produced by combustion. It comprises a spray chamber 17 having therein a funnel 18 onto which water is sprayed by spray 42 through the stream of hot flue gases.
  • the flue gases are inducted via inlet 19 and arranged to flow tangentially around the chamber before exiting through the exit 20 as cooled flue gas.
  • the flue gases thus pass through the spray and then through a curtain of water falling from the inside aperture of the funnel 18.
  • the flue gases are cooled to below 100°C. so as to recover the latent heat of vaporization of water from the burner. Water at substantially 100° exits through the outlet 21 before being fed by pump X into the heat exchanger.
  • Cold feed water W is introduced into the chamber via a ballcock 40 for maintaining a constant level of water in the bottom of the spray chamber.
  • a recycle pump R and associated ducting 22 is provided for recycling the water through the spray to bring it up to its boiling point.
  • FIG. 6 shows one arrangement of four cylinder external combustion engine according to the present invention.
  • the arrangement shown consists of a flat- four arrangement of cylinders 40, 41, 42 and 43.
  • Each cylinder comprises a piston and associated piston rod attached to a comon crank shaft 44.
  • each pair of adjacent cylinders is arranged to be 180° out of.phase.
  • the arrangement is generally similar to that shown for a single cylinder in Figure 1, so that certain details are omitted.
  • Each cylinder has its own heat exchanger - burner assemble HX.
  • each opposed pair of cylinders 40, 41, and 42, 43 share a common exhaust air feed manifold to the burners so as to damp out fluctuations in the air pressure in the burner.
  • Figure 7 shows the idealized thermodynamic operation of the engine of Figure 1.
  • Figure 8 shows for comparison the operation of a conventional two-stroke engine.
  • Figure 7 (i) is the PV diagram for the case when hardly any of the injected water flashes to vapor, the majority remaining in the liquid phase as droplets. This will occur when the rate of vaporization is slow compared to the stroke time of the piston.
  • Figure 7 (ii) is the theoretical PV and TS diagrams for the case when all the injected water vaporizes to the gaseous state. This might occur in a slow working engine.
  • Figure 7 (ii) shows the situation wherein all the water flashes to the vapor state.
  • the rise in pressure along bc is much greater, but the rate of pressure drop along cd is also quicker since the absence of liquid water droplets ensures that the air expands almost adiabatically.
  • the work done i.e., the area of the figure abed in both cases (i) and (ii) is the same.
  • the PV and TS diagrams show the theoretical equilibrium situation when all the injected water is vaporized, i.e., in a slow working engine when less than the amount of water required to saturate the air is injected.
  • the injected water is at a slightly lower temperature than the compressed air in the cylinder.
  • the wet gas expands (gas constant is about 1.34) along cd to a pressure P d of about 2 bar and a theoretical temperature T d of about 319K (46°C.).
  • P d pressure
  • T d theoretical temperature
  • the temperature will be higher, e.g. 80 - 100°C.
  • the gas is then scavenged from the working space along da as before causing a decrease in temperature, pressure, and entropy of gas in the working space.
  • P to P d indicate the constant pressure curves.
  • the net area of the two closed figures in the TS diagram represents the heat added to the air. In the case shown this is negative since injection of the water cools the air.
  • the areas of the two closed figures on the TS diagram cancel out, i.e., no heat is added.
  • Figure 8 shows PV and TS diagrams for a known two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine for comparison. It is analogous to the cycle of case (ii) above.
  • the line ae represents the opening of the exhaust valve before the end of the stroke in a conventional two-stroke engine.
  • Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 except that the water passes to a mixing chamber M where the water is injected into the compressed air so as to increase its pressure and temperature. The hot compressed air and water vapor are then passed into the working end space P of the cylinder, as before.
  • the trap T is provided in order to recover liquid water droplets from the exhaust gas from working end space P.
  • the trap T is of a construction known in steam engine technology for removing liquid water from a gas.
  • the trap may be a cyclone dryer. Water from the trap is returned to the spray chamber S.
  • the operation of the engine is as follows.
  • Preheated water from the spray chamber S is fed by means of a high pressure pump X (for example a positive displacement piston pump) to a heating coil H formed of narrow bore tubing.
  • the water is then heated by means of the burner B to a high temperature and pressure, for example 300°C. ⁇ and 86 bar.
  • the hot pressurized water then passes through pipe 50 to an injection valve 51 in mixing chamber M.
  • the mixing chamber M contains compressed and somewhat heated air which has been delivered from the compressor end space C through the outlet valve 2.
  • the outlet valve 2 and the inlet valve 1 are closed, hot pressurized water is injected via the injector 51 into the chamber M, thereby raising the temperature and pressure of the air therein.
  • FIGS 10 and 11 illustrate a practical form of the invention, which is similar in principle to the embodiment shown schematically in Figure 1 except that no spray chamber is used.
  • the engine comprises four cylinders arranged in a 90° V-configuration.
  • Water is pumped from a storage tank 100 by a high pressure pump 101 along a pipe 102 to a two-stage counter flow heat exchanger 103 of a construction as shown in Figure 4.
  • a pressure relief valve 104 is provided between pipe 102 and trap 100. Exhaust air is directed to the heat exchanger 103 along duct 105 from the trap 100. The air flow is controlled by valve 107.
  • Fuel e.g., propane gas
  • Fuel is introduced from a canister 106 via a preheater 126 into the air flow through fuel valve 108. Flue gases leave the heat exchanger via flue 109.
  • Each piston 110 runs in a respective double-acting cylinder 111 and is connected to a crosshead 112 by a piston rod 113.
  • the crosshead is connected to crankshaft 114 by a further rod 115.
  • Each cylinder has a cylinder head l16 provided with an injector 117 which includes a poppet valve operated by a cam on a camshaft 118 by means of a rocker arm 119.
  • the rod end -space of the cylinder acts as a compressor, air being inducted via inlet valve 129, and is connected to the inlet 127 of the piston-end space by a pipe 128.
  • Each cylinder also has an exhaust port 120 into common exhaust manifold 121 which returns air and liquid exhaust water to the trap 100.
  • a flywheel 124 is mounted on the crankshaft.
  • the exhaust port shown is controlled by the piston 110 shown in Figure 11, as in the form of invention shown in Figure 3, but in either case a valve may be employed for controlling flow through the exhaust or outlet port.
  • the inclination of the cylinders assists exhaust of liquid water by gravity. At 300°C. typically about 5 grams of water would be injected per injection.
  • the entire engine is contained within a heat-insulated enclosure.
  • Hot liquid water leaves the heat exchanger along pipe 122 and is fed to the injector 117.
  • a pressure control valve 123 is provided between pipe 122 and the tank.
  • recesses may be provided in the cylinder or piston to retain liquid medium in the working space after exhaust.
  • Figure 3 there has been shown a recess 59a in the cylinder for this purpose.
  • the engine shown in Figure 11 has recesses 130 provided in the piston head for this purpose.
  • the external combustion engine of this invention shown is capable of very high thermal efficiency. Theoretically, cold air A and cold water W (if any) are inducted into the engine, and cold flue gas is vented. Therefore, almost all the heat given out by the'burner may become converted into work. In practice, thermal efficiencies of the order of 50 to 60% appear to be attainable.
  • Such a kit would include a heat exchanger, including a fuel-air burner, for heating water to the necessary temperature and pressure; an insulated cylinder and piston, the cylinder having an inlet for gas and an outlet for wet exhaust gas; a compressor for inducting gas into the cylinder; a pump for transmitting water from the cylinder to the heat exchanger, an injector for injecting liquid water directly or indirectly under pressure from the heat exchanger into the cylinder, a metering device for controlling the amount of water injected into the cylinder, and a chamber for separating condensed water from dry saturated vapor.
  • the kit could also include, optionally, a mixing chamber for mixing compressed gas with the liquid heat-transfer medium.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
  • Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
EP80304648A 1980-07-16 1980-12-19 Machine motrice à combustion externe à piston alternatif et méthode pour faire fonctionner cette machine Withdrawn EP0043879A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU455480 1980-07-16
AU4554/80 1980-07-16
US06/215,867 US4393653A (en) 1980-07-16 1980-12-12 Reciprocating external combustion engine
US215867 1980-12-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0043879A2 true EP0043879A2 (fr) 1982-01-20
EP0043879A3 EP0043879A3 (fr) 1982-08-11

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EP80304648A Withdrawn EP0043879A3 (fr) 1980-07-16 1980-12-19 Machine motrice à combustion externe à piston alternatif et méthode pour faire fonctionner cette machine

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EP (1) EP0043879A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2080431B (fr)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993024754A2 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1993-12-09 National Power Plc Compresseur a gaz
GB2283543A (en) * 1992-05-29 1995-05-10 Nat Power Plc A gas compressor
WO1998016741A1 (fr) 1996-10-14 1998-04-23 National Power Plc Appareil pour contrôler la temperature du gaz dans des compresseurs
EP0896140A1 (fr) * 1997-08-07 1999-02-10 von Görtz & Finger Techn. Entwicklungs Ges.m.b.H. Machine à vapeur avec condensation intégrée
WO2000053898A1 (fr) * 1999-03-05 2000-09-14 Gerhard Stock Element d'expansion de gaz conçu pour un dispositif de transformation d'energie thermique en energie motrice, notamment pour un moteur a eau chaude
WO2000079104A1 (fr) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-28 Jordan Borislavov Kolev Systeme de compression et d'ejection pour moteurs a pistons
USRE37603E1 (en) 1992-05-29 2002-03-26 National Power Plc Gas compressor
GB2376507A (en) * 2001-05-03 2002-12-18 S & C Thermofluids Ltd An engine where the working gases in the cylinder are heated by injection of hot liquid
WO2004022962A1 (fr) * 2002-09-02 2004-03-18 Powerfluid Gmbh Amplificateur thermohydrodynamique de puissance
WO2005071232A1 (fr) * 2004-01-24 2005-08-04 Gerhard Stock Ensemble servant a transformer de l'energie thermique en energie motrice
WO2007003929A1 (fr) * 2005-07-01 2007-01-11 Disenco Limited Ensemble de refroidissement pour moteur stirling
FR2952404A1 (fr) * 2009-11-12 2011-05-13 Maneville Guy De Moteur stirling a puissance amelioree et/ou variable
CN109869194A (zh) * 2017-12-01 2019-06-11 徐乐馨 低温自由活塞发电系统
FR3114349A1 (fr) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-25 “Steameas P.A.D.G. Conseil Sas Moteur à vapeur perfectionné.

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH650313A5 (fr) * 1981-11-19 1985-07-15 Sorelec Moteur a conversion thermomecanique, notamment moteur a fluide a basse temperature d'ebullition.

Citations (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB146174A (en) * 1914-06-11 1921-04-21 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag An improved means for preventing or reducing heat losses in the cylinders of uni-flow steam engines
GB283940A (en) * 1927-01-20 1929-01-17 Eudore Franchimont Improvements in combined hot air and internal combustion engines
US2708827A (en) * 1952-11-18 1955-05-24 Marche Roby W La Hot gas engine with high pressure water injection
DE1551260A1 (de) * 1966-11-02 1970-03-19 Siemens Ag Verfahren zur Carnotisierung von Kreisprozessen fuer Dampfkraftanlagen und Anordnung zur Durchfuehrung des Verfahrens
DE1601111A1 (de) * 1967-11-10 1970-06-18 Licentia Patent Vewaltungs Gmb Thermodynamischer Antrieb
US3862590A (en) * 1973-08-03 1975-01-28 Hermann Mengeler Expansion engine and injection-chamber head
GB1570012A (en) * 1977-09-19 1980-06-25 Cycle Ass Reciprocating engines employing a condensing vapour as the working medium

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB146174A (en) * 1914-06-11 1921-04-21 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag An improved means for preventing or reducing heat losses in the cylinders of uni-flow steam engines
GB283940A (en) * 1927-01-20 1929-01-17 Eudore Franchimont Improvements in combined hot air and internal combustion engines
US2708827A (en) * 1952-11-18 1955-05-24 Marche Roby W La Hot gas engine with high pressure water injection
DE1551260A1 (de) * 1966-11-02 1970-03-19 Siemens Ag Verfahren zur Carnotisierung von Kreisprozessen fuer Dampfkraftanlagen und Anordnung zur Durchfuehrung des Verfahrens
DE1601111A1 (de) * 1967-11-10 1970-06-18 Licentia Patent Vewaltungs Gmb Thermodynamischer Antrieb
US3862590A (en) * 1973-08-03 1975-01-28 Hermann Mengeler Expansion engine and injection-chamber head
GB1570012A (en) * 1977-09-19 1980-06-25 Cycle Ass Reciprocating engines employing a condensing vapour as the working medium

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993024754A3 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1994-03-17 Nat Power Plc Compresseur a gaz
GB2283543A (en) * 1992-05-29 1995-05-10 Nat Power Plc A gas compressor
US5771693A (en) * 1992-05-29 1998-06-30 National Power Plc Gas compressor
USRE37603E1 (en) 1992-05-29 2002-03-26 National Power Plc Gas compressor
WO1993024754A2 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1993-12-09 National Power Plc Compresseur a gaz
WO1998016741A1 (fr) 1996-10-14 1998-04-23 National Power Plc Appareil pour contrôler la temperature du gaz dans des compresseurs
US6206660B1 (en) 1996-10-14 2001-03-27 National Power Plc Apparatus for controlling gas temperature in compressors
EP0896140A1 (fr) * 1997-08-07 1999-02-10 von Görtz & Finger Techn. Entwicklungs Ges.m.b.H. Machine à vapeur avec condensation intégrée
US6564551B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2003-05-20 Gerhard Stock Gas expansion apparatus for a system for the conversion of thermal energy into motive energy, in particular for a hot-water motor
WO2000053898A1 (fr) * 1999-03-05 2000-09-14 Gerhard Stock Element d'expansion de gaz conçu pour un dispositif de transformation d'energie thermique en energie motrice, notamment pour un moteur a eau chaude
WO2000079104A1 (fr) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-28 Jordan Borislavov Kolev Systeme de compression et d'ejection pour moteurs a pistons
GB2376507A (en) * 2001-05-03 2002-12-18 S & C Thermofluids Ltd An engine where the working gases in the cylinder are heated by injection of hot liquid
WO2004022962A1 (fr) * 2002-09-02 2004-03-18 Powerfluid Gmbh Amplificateur thermohydrodynamique de puissance
CN100412346C (zh) * 2002-09-02 2008-08-20 流体动力股份有限公司 热-液-动力放大器
WO2005071232A1 (fr) * 2004-01-24 2005-08-04 Gerhard Stock Ensemble servant a transformer de l'energie thermique en energie motrice
US7506509B2 (en) 2004-01-24 2009-03-24 Gerhard Stock System for converting thermal to motive energy
WO2007003929A1 (fr) * 2005-07-01 2007-01-11 Disenco Limited Ensemble de refroidissement pour moteur stirling
FR2952404A1 (fr) * 2009-11-12 2011-05-13 Maneville Guy De Moteur stirling a puissance amelioree et/ou variable
FR2952405A1 (fr) * 2009-11-12 2011-05-13 Maneville Guy De Moteur stirling a rendement ameliore et a puissance amelioree et/ou variable
CN109869194A (zh) * 2017-12-01 2019-06-11 徐乐馨 低温自由活塞发电系统
FR3114349A1 (fr) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-25 “Steameas P.A.D.G. Conseil Sas Moteur à vapeur perfectionné.
WO2022064152A1 (fr) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-31 Steameas P.A.D.G. Conseil Sas Moteur a vapeur perfectionne

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0043879A3 (fr) 1982-08-11
GB2080431A (en) 1982-02-03
GB2080431B (en) 1984-03-07

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