EP1645719A1 - Engine and method for power generation - Google Patents

Abstract

The engine has a connecting structure (20) placed between a compression unit (10) and an expansion unit (30). The structure has an air inlet area (23) for receiving compressed air from the compression unit, and a gas outlet area (24) for transferring gas to the expansion unit (30). The structure includes a gas volume which is delimited by the unit (10) in the area (23) and by the unit (30) in the area (24). An independent claim is also included for a power generating method .

Description

The invention relates to a motor comprising a compression unit, an expansion unit and a connection device comprising an air inlet area and a gas outlet area. Furthermore, the invention relates to a power generation process.

Various motor concepts are known from the prior art, which are based on the principle of exploiting the forces acting in the expansion of compressed and high pressure gases. Examples of such engine concepts are piston engines, such as the Otto, the diesel or Wankel engine, called, but also gas turbines. In all these engine concepts, the gas pressure is first increased by compression and temperature increase, wherein the compression of the gas either, as in piston engines, by reducing a displacement occurs, or, as in gas turbines, by the compression in a compression stage. The heating of the gas is carried out either by a pulsed combustion at the time of maximum compression of the gas, as in the case of the piston internal combustion engines, or by continuous combustion of a fuel, as in the case of the gas turbine.

Both concepts have specific night-time effects that reduce the efficiency of the engine and the yield of available energy during combustion. In reciprocating engines, this is because every cycle in which a fuel-air mixture is initially drawn in, compressed and ignited, all the gas in the displacement is removed and the cycle must begin again with fresh, cold gas. With removal of the gas after the expansion, however, there is still a residual pressure, which remains unused.

For gas turbines, no closed, constant volume is given. Rather, air flows through a combustion chamber and is heated there by means of a continuous combustion. This leads to an expansion of the air, which escapes at high speed in the flow direction from the combustion chamber. In this case, the air in the combustion chamber to a constant pressure. For small gas turbines without heat exchangers the efficiency is less than 20%.

The said systems have in common that they are composed of many moving parts and have a relatively low efficiency in the use of energy released during combustion.

In contrast, the object underlying the invention is to provide an engine and a power generation process available, which is based on a novel concept.

This object is achieved by an engine, in particular based on the principle of expansion of gases, comprising a compression unit, an expansion unit and a connection device with an energy supply device, wherein the connection device comprises an air inlet region and a gas outlet region, wherein the connection device in the air inlet region of the compression unit and in the gas outlet region of the expansion unit, in particular at least temporarily, in particular final, is limited. Advantageously, a gas volume enclosed by the connecting device, the compression unit and the expansion unit has a substantially constant volume.

This motor principle is based on the basic concept that an energy supply takes place in a gas that is enclosed in a closed, substantially constant volume of a connecting device. Energy supply can be in the form of heat energy, but also in other suitable ways, eg. B. by further air or gas supply, done.

In the case of the supply of heat energy, use is made of the specific heat capacity (c _P , c _V ) of air measured at constant volume (c _V ) being 40% lower than that measured at constant pressure (c _P ). Thus, the supply of energy into a constant volume results in a greater increase in the temperature of the amount of gas therein than when the volume increases. A temperature increase of a gas in a constant volume leads at the same time to an increase in pressure, as long as the volume is closed and the gas can not escape.

Some reciprocating engines, such as the diesel engine, have no constant Volume up for a burn. Due to the slow combustion of the fuel, the combustion of the diesel engine is approximately isobaric, ie at constant pressure. This is different in gas turbines, where there is no complete gas volume at all. Instead, a continuous flow of air flows through the gas turbine, wherein in the combustion chamber, a continuous combustion takes place in the flowing gas. The gas pressure in the combustion chamber of the gas turbine is constant.

Since the heating of the gas is particularly efficient due to the high specific heat capacity c _V in a constant volume, a particularly efficient gas pressure increase in a gas volume is also effected in the engine according to the invention.

In the context of the invention is understood by a gas volume, the uniform total volume of the connecting device plus the air or gas volume In the compression unit and expansion unit, which are directly connected to the volume of the connecting device and not separated from this. The air inlet area is the transition area between the compression unit and the connection device, the gas outlet area is the transition area between the connection device and the expansion unit. If appropriate, the air inlet area and gas outlet area extend into the compression or expansion unit insofar as they are directly connected to the gas volume.

In an engine according to the invention, the gas volume contains in particular air, or optionally a mixture of air and combustion residues of fuel, or further supplied air or gas, and is in the air inlet region of the compression unit and in the gas outlet of the expansion unit so limited that the gas volume is completely enclosed and, at least substantially, can not escape.

A compression unit is understood to mean devices suitable for compression of gas, such as reciprocating or rotary compressors. An expansion unit is understood to mean, inter alia, a turbine, for example an axial or radial turbine, but also other devices which make use of forces acting on the expansion of high-pressure gases, such as piston systems or compressors or compressors that operate in the reverse direction.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that a heating means is arranged in or on the connecting device. Preferably, the heating means is a combustion unit, which in particular comprises a fuel supply line and a combustion nozzle for, in particular optional, continuous or pulsed combustion of the fuel. This advantageous embodiment allows a direct and thus very efficient entry of energy in the form of heat in the gas volume located in the boiler room. Alternatively, other types of heat supply are possible within the meaning of the invention, such as e.g. by heating coils or heat exchangers outside or inside the helical space or by a heat bath. Furthermore, the gas pressure in the connecting device can also be increased by further supply of air or gas.

Since the combustion or the heating of the gas takes place in a closed volume, either continuous or pulsed combustion is possible, but in the case of continuous combustion, the wear on possibly necessary detonators is considerably lower than in the case of pulsed combustion. Exemplary combustion processes are deflagration, catalytic combustion, detonation or heat conversion, also in the context of a fuel cell and a heat exchanger.

In one embodiment of the engine according to the invention, the compression unit is designed to include an amount of air. Furthermore, the compression unit is designed to compress the trapped air quantity, and the compressed air quantity can be connected to gas in a gas volume in the connection device. This embodiment has the advantage that unconsumed and precompressed air is supplied to a combustion process in the gas volume without the gas volume being opened and a loss of gas density occurring in the connection device. The supplied air preferably has the same density as the gas in the gas volume In the connecting device, but a lower temperature and a lower pressure, since the compression takes place without supply of heat.

In the context of the invention, the volume of the air quantity is added to the gas volume after connection with the gas volume in the connecting device as Lufteintassbereich.

If, in a further development of the engine according to the invention, the expansion unit is designed for separating and enclosing a gas quantity from the gas volume in the connecting device, this has the advantage that used gas is removed from the gas volume without the gas volume being opened.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the engine according to the invention, the gas quantity when separated from the gas volume substantially the same volume as the amount of air when connected to the gas volume. The supply of air to the Gas volume and the removal of gas quantities from the gas volume in the connecting device takes place cyclically and with the same frequency. This has the advantage that the total volume of the gas in the connecting device including the transition areas in the compression unit and in the expansion unit remains substantially constant, and that the mass of the gas in the total volume remains constant over many cycles, thus forming a constant mass flow , As a result, a particularly effective, volume-constant heating of the gas in the connecting device is possible. However, during incineration, small amounts of combustion products that have to be removed in addition to the amount of air introduced must be included.

It is particularly advantageous if the volumes of the air and gas in the compression and expansion unit are smaller than the gas volume in the connecting device, so that only a part of the gas is renewed and removed during each cycle. In such a case, fluctuations in the total volume with inaccurate synchronization of the cycles of the compression and expansion units are small compared to the total volume. In this case, the total volume is still substantially constant.

In the context of the invention is alternatively also provided that the amount of air has a different volume than the amount of gas. In this case, a uniform mass flow is achieved in that the connecting and disconnecting cycles take place at different speeds or frequencies. Such an embodiment has the advantage that it can be flexibly dimensioned for different purposes, if, for example, different construction concepts for the compression and expansion unit are realized. In addition, the formation of unwanted standing waves in the gas volume is prevented in this way.

If in further developments of the engine according to the invention, the expansion unit is designed for expansion of the volume of gas, and if a device is provided for harnessing the force acting in the expansion of the gas amount, there is the advantage that the pressure difference between the high, by compression and heating gas pressure of the gas used in the connecting device and, for example, the atmospheric pressure of the ambient air for other uses, such as power generation or movement of mechanical devices, made usable. This happens, for example, by driving a connecting rod by means of a piston or by the rotational movement of a rotary body in an asymmetrically arranged around the rotary body housing portion.

In particular, such a motor utilizes the effect of allowing an expansion ratio in the expansion unit greater than the compression ratio in the compression unit when the high gas pressure attained by energizing the connecting device. In this case, the achievable expansion ratio is the ratio of the volume of a gas quantity before expansion to the volume after expansion and decrease of the gas pressure to the ambient pressure. The compression ratio is the volume ratio of an amount of air before and after compression. Without energy supply, the achievable expansion ratio would ideally be only equal to the compression ratio without creating a negative pressure during the expansion itself. Because of occurring friction losses, it is actually even smaller.

For example, in internal combustion piston engines, such as the gasoline engine, the expansion ratio is structurally equal to the compression ratio, because compression and expansion in the run off the same cylinder. At about the point of greatest compression energy is supplied in the form of combustion, which greatly increases the gas pressure on the piston. In the expansion but due to the limited stroke of the piston only the same expansion ratio is achieved as bel the previous compression, so that an unused residual pressure remains.

In a further development of the motor according to the invention, a device for driving the compression of the air quantity in the compression unit is provided from at least part of the force acting on expansion of the gas in the expansion unit. This is particularly advantageous because a further drive of the compression unit is unnecessary. The drive is done by decoupling energy Depending on the type of compression unit and the expansion unit, for example by transmission rods, V-belts or the like, but also by generating electric power for intermediate storage or for direct drive of an electric motor.

An advantageous development of the invention is that a device for, in particular alternating, synchronization of the connection of the volume of air with the gas volume and the separation of the volume of the gas amount is provided by the gas volume. Alternating synchronization in the context of the invention means that the connection of the amount of air with the gas in the gas volume and the separation of the amount of gas from the gas volume in the connecting device happen substantially simultaneously. Because in such a synchronization, the amount of air is connected at a time with the gas volume at which a, in particular the same amount of gas is separated from the gas volume of the connecting device, the total volume of the gas volume remains substantially constant. This is one more more efficient use of combustion energy to increase the gas temperature and gas pressure achieved.

The ideal synchronization depends on the operating conditions, i. from the flow rate of the mass flow, the proportions of the volumes of the air amount, the amount of gas and the volume of the connecting device, and the intensity of the power supply in the connecting device. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous that the synchronization of the working cycles of the compression unit with inclusion and compression of an air quantity, connection of the amount of air with the gas in the gas volume and the working cycles of the expansion unit, namely inclusion of a gas quantity and expansion of the gas amount, run at the same frequency, the phases of However, duty cycles of compression unit and expansion unit are mutually verschlebbar. In the case of a rotating embodiment of the expansion unit, the phase shift can be achieved, for example, by means of a controllable angular adjustment of the rotation element on the axis of rotation. With electronic control of an electric motor for the compression unit results in a particularly simple control of the phase shift.

If, in one embodiment of a motor according to the invention, the compression unit comprises a first rotation element, which is arranged in particular in a housing section, and if the first rotation element has slots in the radial direction, in which first surface elements are arranged to be radially movable, a particularly simple and compact construction is advantageous Construction achieved. The slots are arranged with the surface elements at regular intervals along the circumference of the rotary member. The housing portion is advantageously designed in one piece with the housing of the connecting device, so that a tight transition between compression unit and connecting device is realized. Further preferably, the housing portion around the rotation member describes a curvature whose center is spaced from the rotation axis of the rotation member.

Preferably, the compression unit is further developed in that the amount of air after confinement by two successive first surface elements, an outer wall of the first rotation member and an inner wall of the housing portion is limited. In this particularly simple manner, a cyclic inclusion of amounts of air is effected, which are transported by means of the rotation of the rotary member and the inclusion between the housing portion, the rotary member and successive surface elements.

The center of curvature of the housing portion is preferably spaced from the axis of rotation of the rotary member such that in the course of rotation of the rotary member, the volume of the trapped air quantity is reduced because it is transported to an area where the distance between the inner wall of the housing portion and the housing Outside wall of the rotary member is smaller. To include the amount of air in the compression unit, it is also necessary that the surface elements seal with the side walls or flush.

In a development of the invention, in particular mechanical or electrical means are provided for the rotation angle-dependent control of the radial movement of the first surface elements. It is thereby achieved that the surface elements in each case move radially in their slots far enough from the axis of rotation of the rotary element that they engage with the inner wall of the housing section finish flush. This ensures the most dense possible inclusion of the air volume. Mechanical means for controlling the radial movement of the first surface elements are, for example, guide rails or lever systems, electrical control means are, for example, angle-controlled electric motors.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expansion unit comprises a second rotation element, which is arranged in particular in a housing section. Analogously to the above-mentioned case of the compression unit, it is also advantageous in this case that the second rotation element has slots in the radial direction, in which second surface elements are arranged to be radially movable, and the gas quantity, after separation by two successive second surface elements, an outer wall of the second Rotational element and an inner wall of the housing portion is limited. Also in this case, the housing portion is preferably made in one piece with the housing of the heating chamber and seal or close the surface elements flush with the side walls of the housing portion.

Conversely, similar to the compression unit, the curvature of the housing portion is selected in this case so that the distance between the inner wall of the housing portion and the outer wall of the rotary member grows in the course of rotation of the rotary member. Consequently, the volume of trapped gas also increases. This has the advantage that the expansion of the gas heated in the heating chamber contributes to the rotation of the second rotating element. Due to the increased pressure, a larger expansion ratio than compression ratio is possible.

With the same arguments as the compaction unit Also provided in a development of the motor according to the invention, in particular mechanical or electrical, means for rotational angle-dependent control of the radial movement of the second surface elements. With regard to the embodiments, reference is made to the above-mentioned embodiments.

In the present case of a first or a second rotary element in the compression unit or in the expansion unit is further provided that a device for, in particular releasable, connection of the rotation of the first rotary member and the second rotary member is provided, in particular an axis, a V-belt or a Shaft. In this way, the force acting on expansion of the volume of gas in the expansion unit is used to compress the amount of air in the compression unit.

When the torques acting on the first and second rotation elements from the pressure differences between the gas pressure in the connection device and the air pressures outside the compression unit and expansion unit are oppositely directed and substantially equal, this has the advantage that the expansion of the gas in the Expansion unit does not have to act against a torque difference between the rotating units. To adjust the torques acting on the first and second rotation elements, the effective areas of the surface elements in the air inlet and gas outlet area and their distances from the axes of rotation of the first and second rotation elements are preferably chosen to be suitable. In the context of the invention, an effective surface is understood to be the part of the surface of a surface element which projects beyond the outer wall of a corresponding rotation element and thus delimits an air or gas volume.

Further preferably, a motor according to the invention is further developed in that the rotation of the first rotation element in the compression unit is driven by the rotation of the second rotation element in the expansion unit. This has the advantage that a separate drive of the rotary element in the compression unit is eliminated.

A further advantageous embodiment of the motor according to the invention undergoes the fact that the compression unit is preceded by a Vorverdichtungsstufe. In this way, the entire torque acting on the first rotation element is effectively reduced and the work won by combustion in the heating chamber and decoupled in the expansion unit is used more effectively and less branched off to drive the first rotation element in the compression unit than without the precompression stage.

Furthermore, the object underlying the invention is achieved by a motor comprising a compression unit with a means for enclosing an air quantity, an expansion unit and an energy supply means, wherein the expansion ratio in the expansion unit is greater than the compression ratio in the compression unit. In such an engine, it is possible to increase the air or gas pressure in air or gas that has been enclosed and compressed in a compression unit by supplying energy. With regard to the type of power supply and the energy supply means, reference is made to the previous statements. The air pressure which is further increased from the pressure generated by energy supply in the compression unit corresponding to the compression ratio allows an expansion ratio In the expansion unit to be larger than the compression ratio.

In an advantageous embodiment of the engine, the energy supply means is arranged in the expansion unit. In this way, a particularly compact design is achieved.

Thus, for example, if a portion of the energy decoupled in the expansion of the air or gas in the expansion unit of the engine of the present invention is used to operate the compression unit, there remains an excess for other purposes, as described above. Alternatively, unlike in the previously described embodiments, the energy can also be supplied in the expansion unit.

• Einschließen einer Luftmenge in einer Verdichtungseinheit,
• Verdichten der Luftmenge durch Verkleinern des Volumens der Luftmenge in der Verdichtungseinheit,
• Verbinden des Volumens der Luftmenge mit einem Gasvolumen in einer Verbindungsvorrichtung,
• Vermischen der Luftmenge mit dem in der Verbindungsvorrichtung enthaltenen Gas,
• Erhöhen des Gasdrucks in der Verbindungsvorrichtung,
• Abtrennen einer Gasmenge vom Gas im Gasvolumen und Einschließen der Gasmenge in einer Expansionseinheit,
• Expandieren der Gasmenge in der Expansionseinheit und Nutzbarmachen der bei der Expansion der Gasmenge wirkenden Kraft.

The object underlying the invention is further solved by a power generation method with the following steps:

• Including an amount of air in a compression unit,
• Compressing the air volume by reducing the volume of air in the compression unit,
• Connecting the volume of the air volume to a volume of gas in a connecting device,
• Mixing the amount of air with the gas contained in the connecting device,
• Increasing the gas pressure in the connecting device,
• Separating a gas amount from the gas in the gas volume and enclosing the amount of gas in an expansion unit,
• Expanding the amount of gas in the expansion unit and making use of the force acting on the expansion of the gas quantity.

This power generation process essentially describes the process steps taking place in the engine according to the invention. Also by this method, it is possible to continuous heating a gas in a sealed gas volume of substantially constant volume to achieve the addition of limited amounts of air and by completing limited amounts of gas still fresh air is supplied regularly and spent gas is removed. Also in the power generation method according to the invention, the gas in the closed connection device is heated particularly effectively and the gas pressure is correspondingly increased effectively. The preceding explanations of the engine according to the invention apply in the following accordingly for the power generation process. The same applies to the definition of the gas volume.

In a preferred embodiment of the force-generating method according to the invention, the increase in the gas pressure in the connecting device takes place essentially by heating the gas. Preferably, the heating of the gas in the connecting device is carried out continuously, which advantageously allows a particularly simple and compact construction energy supply. To compensate for possible pressure fluctuations, however, it is also provided that the heating of the gas in the connecting device is pulsed. Particularly preferably, the heating of the gas takes place in the connecting device by means of combustion. This represents a direct, thus particularly effective energy input.

In order to achieve an advantageous constant mass flow of supplied air and discharged gas, it is provided that the masses of the gas volume in the connecting device supplied or discharged air and gas quantities are substantially equal. It should be noted that in the case of combustion in the connecting device, the combustion products of imported fuel must be removed, which is generally, however, only a small part of the amounts of air and gas. The same applies to the case where energy in the form of compressed or compressed air is supplied to the connecting device.

In a preferred embodiment of the power generation method according to the invention, it is provided that the method steps of opening and reducing volumes of air quantities in the air inlet region and increasing the gas volume and closing gas quantities in the gas outlet region proceed equally fast and simultaneously, and that the total volume of air inlet region, gas volume and gas outlet region substantially remains constant.

In order to ensure the smallest possible fluctuation of the gas pressure in the heating chamber in the course of the cycle, the volume of air when connecting to the gas volume and the gas quantities when separating from the gas volume is smaller than the gas volume, in particular less than 50% of the gas volume, and in particular smaller than 30% of the gas volume. In this way, only a small part of the gas is replaced in the connecting device, which has the advantage that pressure fluctuations make up only a fraction of the maximum pressure. Preferably, gas pressure fluctuations in the gas volume are less than 50% of the maximum gas pressure in the connecting device, in particular less than 30% of the maximum gas pressure.

To ensure continued operation of the force recovery process, it is contemplated that the process steps of the force recovery process be repeated cyclically and that two or more of the process steps be performed simultaneously, particularly including the amount of air, compressing the amount of air, heating the gas in the connection device, and / or expanding the amount of gas.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Motors,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der im Motor gemäß Ausführungsbeispiel ablaufenden Prozesse,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung der zeitlichen Abfolge der Positionen der Luft- und Gasvolumen gemäß Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 4

eine beispielhafte Darstellung der zeitlichen Entwicklung des Gasdrucks in der Luftmenge, im Gasvolumen Im Heizraum und in der Gasmenge sowie die Schließungs- und Öffnungszustände der ersten und zweiten Flächenelemente gemäß Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 5

eine Gegenüberstellung der prinzipiellen thermodynamischen Prozessabläufe eines Otto-Motors und eines erfindungsgemäßen Motors in einem p-V-Diagramm.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings for all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a motor according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the running in the engine according to the embodiment processes,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of the time sequence of the positions of the air and gas volumes according to the embodiment,

Fig. 4

an exemplary representation of the temporal evolution of the gas pressure in the air flow, in the gas volume in the heating chamber and in the amount of gas and the closing and opening states of the first and second surface elements according to the embodiment,

Fig. 5

a comparison of the basic thermodynamic processes of a gasoline engine and an engine according to the invention in a pV diagram.

In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding renewed idea is dispensed with and only deviations of the embodiments shown in these figures from the first embodiment be explained.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an inventive engine 1 is shown. Through an air inlet 2, air is guided in a direction represented by an arrow to the compression unit 10, which is designed as a rotary compressor. The rotary compressor 10 comprises a housing section 14, a rotary element 12 with radial slots 16 and radially movable first surface elements 17 arranged in the slots. The first surface elements 17 are, for example, lamellae, rigid blades or the like, and seal flush with the housing section 14 and with the side walls of the housing portion 14 so as to enclose amounts of air 11, 11 ', 11 "The axis of rotation of the first rotary member 12 is offset from the center of the curvature of the housing portion 14, so that in the region of the inlet 2 the distance between the inner wall of the housing section 14 and the outer wall 13 of the first, in FIG. 1 counterclockwise rotating, rotary element 12 is larger than in the air inlet region 23.

The volumes of the air volumes 11, 11 ', 11 "trapped between the inner wall 15 of the housing section 14 of the compression unit 10, the outer wall 13 of the first rotary element 12 and the surface elements 17 are determined by rotation of the first rotary actuator 12 from the inlet 2 in the direction of the air inlet region 23 the connecting device 20, ie from 11 to 11 'to 11 ", transported and thereby reduced, which increases both the density and the temperature and the pressure of the air quantities 11, 11', 11".

In Fig. 1 opens after further rotation of the first rotary member As a result, the air inlet region 23 of the gas volume 22 extends from an interior 21 of the connecting device 20 into the compression unit 10, specifically until the following first surface element 17 delimiting the air volume 11 "at the rear.

At the connecting device 20, a combustion unit 25 is arranged with a fuel supply 26, wherein a nozzle 27 of the combustion unit 25 in the interior 21 of the connecting device 20 is arranged. The combustion of the fuel leads to a flame 28 in the gas volume 22, through which the gas in the interior 21 of the connecting device 20 is heated. Other means for supplying energy, such as e.g. catalytic heating processes, explosions or heating coils, which are supplied for example by fuel cells, or a compressed air supply line.

In the gas outlet region 24 of the gas volume 22, an expansion unit 30 is arranged, which is configured in this embodiment analogous to a reverse operated rotary compressor. The expansion unit 30 comprises a curved housing section 34, a second rotary element 32 with radially arranged slots 36 and radially movably arranged second surface elements 37, wherein the axis of rotation of the second rotary element 32 is offset from the center of the curvature of the housing section 34 of the expansion unit 30. The second rotation element 32 rotates in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 counterclockwise. In this case, gas quantities 31, 31 ', 31 "are cyclically closed off from the gas volume 22, which are transported under expansion in the direction of outlet 3.

Since the gas volume 22 is completely closed both by the chamber wall of the inner space 21 and by outer walls 13, 33 of the first and second rotation elements 12, 32 and the effective surfaces of first and second surface elements 17, 37 in the compression unit 10 and expansion unit 30, respectively and is included, the heating of the gas volume 22 is largely isochoric, ie at an approximately constant total volume of the gas volume 22 with associated transition regions 23, 24. This results in a particularly effective implementation of the released during combustion energy In a temperature and pressure increase of in the connection device 20 located gas.

The displacement of the rotation axis of the second rotation member 32 with respect to the center of the curvature of the housing portion 34 of the expansion unit 30 is so selected that upon rotation of the second rotation member 32, the volumes of trapped gas quantities 31, 31 ', 31 "in the course of rotation of the second rotation member 32 be enlarged (31 ', 31 "). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the gas quantities 31, 31 ', 31 "are removed in a direction indicated by an arrow after rotation of approximately 135 ° through the outlet 3. The expansion ratio realized in the expansion unit 30 is greater than the compression ratio In the compression unit 10.

The operating principle of the motor according to the invention is based essentially on the isochoric temperature and pressure increase of the gas volume 22, which generates a gas pressure which is substantially above the pressure of the ambient air in the inlet 2 and in the outlet 3. The pressure difference causes the first and the second rotary element 12, 32 torques in opposite directions, namely in the first rotary element 12 against the rotational direction, and the second rotating member 12 in the rotational direction (both rotate counterclockwise). Second contributions to the torques acting on the first and second rotating members 12, 32 and each having the same directions as the contributions from the pressure differences; are derived from the pressure in the amounts of air 11, 11 ', 11 ", 31, 31', 31" which produce a clockwise torque in the compression unit 10 and a counterclockwise torque in the compression unit 30. Because of the higher pressure in the Gas quantity as in the air quantity, a higher expansion ratio is possible.

The excess force acting in the expansion unit 30 due to the higher gas pressure compared to the air pressure in the compression unit 10 and the higher expansion ratio enabled thereby, is partly made available for the compression of air in the compression unit 10 and partly elsewhere, for example by means of the second Rotary element 32 connected electrical generators or other suitable means known per se.

The compression takes place adiabatically, ie without further energy supply, so that an enclosed amount of air 11, 11 ', 11 "at the position 11", ie shortly before the connection of the volume of the air 11 "with the gas volume 22, the same density as the gas in the gas volume 22, but a lower pressure and a lower temperature.On further rotation of the first rotary member 12, the volume of the air volume 11 "opens to the gas volume 22, with the amount of air 11" mixed with the gas 11 "compared to the gas volume 22 is small, results in a moderate pressure and temperature reduction of the gas in the gas volume 22, while the gas density remains constant. Because of the pressure equalization occur in the Air inlet area 23 for a short time local density variations, but do not affect the average gas density in the gas volume 22.

After connecting the volume of the air amount 11 '' with the gas volume 22, the amount of air 11 "and gas in the gas volume 22 mix. In the course of rotation of the first rotary member 12, the volume of the air inlet portion 23 (formerly 11 ''), by the next At the same time, the gas volume 22 in the gas outlet region 24 increases into the expansion unit 30 by rotation of the second rotary element 32. The reduction of the gas volume 22 in the air inlet region 23 in the compression unit 10 and the enlargement in the gas outlet region 24 the balance is held in the expansion unit 30 so that, in spite of the rotation of the first and second rotation elements 12, 32, the gas volume 22 remains approximately constant in the course of a cycle.

For driving the first rotary member 12 in the compression unit 10 by the rotation of the second rotary member 32 in the expansion unit 30, the first and second rotary members 12, 32 are connected to each other, for example via an axle, a V-belt or a shaft. Also, a separate drive of the first rotary member 12, for example by an electric motor, is provided, wherein the energy for the drive from the during the expansion of the gas quantities 31, 31 ', 31 "supplied in the expansion unit 30 work.

Depending on the operating conditions, tuning of the torques acting on the rotating elements 12, 32 may be necessary, which may be effected by phase-shifting the synchronization of the rotation of the rotating elements 12, 32 and thereby the effective surface of the surface elements 17, 37 is increased or decreased. By tuning the torques acting on the first and second rotating members 12, 32; is prevented that abruptly high pressure differences or pressure peaks occur and act on the surface elements 17, 37, so that they wear out quickly and possibly break.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the processes taking place in the engine 1 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the inlet 2 flows, represented by an arrow, air and is limited and enclosed in an amount of air 11 'between the outer wall 13 of the rotary member 12 and the inner wall 15 of the housing portion 14 of the compression unit 10 and two first surface elements 17.

In the course of the rotation of the first rotation element 12, the trapped air quantity 11 'is compressed, represented by the reduced space 11 ". In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is done by rotation into a region in which the distance between the outer wall 13 of the first rotation element 12 and inner wall 15 of the housing portion 14 of the compression unit 10 is smaller than at the inlet 2. The angle between the converging lines is a measure of the compression ratio.

As soon as the first surface element 17, which leads in the direction of rotation of the first rotation element 12, reaches the connection device 20, the volume of the air quantity 11 'opens, forming the air inlet region 23 of the gas volume 22 in the connection device 20, represented by a retracting first surface element 17. There is a very fast mixing or a very fast compensation of the amount of air 11 'in Air inlet portion 23 with the gas volume 22, so that the gas volume after a short time and the air inlet portion 23 includes.

In the gas volume 22, combustion takes place with a coming from a nozzle 27 flame 28, which heats the gas volume 22 continuously. On the output side of the gas volume 22 is a gas amount 31, the temperature, pressure and density of the gas in the gas volume 22 has been included in the expansion unit 30 by means of two second surface elements 37. In the course of the rotation of the second rotating member 32, the gas amount 31 expanded by the enlarged surfaces 31 'and 31 "expands as the rotation advances the gas amount 31 to an area where the distance between the outer wall 33 of the second rotating member 32 and The expansion ratio which is greater in relation to the compression ratio is represented by the larger angle between the diverging boundary lines 33, 34 after the compression unit 20. After the further transport has been completed, the volume of the gas quantity 31 "opens to the outlet 3, from which the gas is discharged in the direction of the arrow, for example, to an exhaust or a heat exchanger.

3 shows the time sequence of the positions of the air quantities 11, 11 ', 11 ", of the gas volume 22 and of the gas quantities 31, 31', as well as the closing and opening states of the first and second area elements 17, 37 In Fig. 2, however, the symbolic representation of the compression and expansion in the compression unit 10 and the expansion unit 30 has been omitted for clarity, compression and expansion take place in the manner described above.

The uppermost illustration in Fig. 3 shows the engine state after inclusion an amount of air 11 'has been included and an amount of air 11 "has been transported, after being enclosed under adiabatic compression, to the air inlet area 23 of the gas volume 22, the air volume being 11". has the same density, but lower temperature and lower pressure than the gas in the gas volume 22, which is continuously scavenged by means of a nozzle 27 and a flame 28. In the direction of the arrow downstream of the connecting device 20 is a gas quantity 31 with density, temperature and pressure of the gas Gas volume 22 has been trapped by inclusion between two second surface elements 37. A further enclosed amount of gas 31 'has been further transported under adiabatic expansion to position 31'.

In the next step, shown in the second line, the air quantities 11 ', 11 "have been transported so far that the first surface element 17, which had previously separated the air quantity 11" from the gas volume 22, is withdrawn, symbolized by an arrow pointing downwards. As a result of its higher pressure, gas from the gas volume 22 flows into the air inlet region 23 and mixes with the air contained therein, whereby a higher gas density occurs locally for a short time in the expansion unit 30, the trapped gas quantities 31, 31 'have also advanced with expansion in the direction of the outlet 3. In this case, the gas volume 22, following the rotation of a second area element 37, has moved somewhat into the expansion unit 30.

In the following step, shown in the third line of Fig. 3, the air in the air inlet portion 23 has completely mixed with the gas in the gas volume 22, and is the trapped air quantity 11 'has been transported further in the direction of the connecting device 20. In the direction of the arrow on the output side of the helical space 21, a second surface element 37, represented by an upward arrow, closes and includes a quantity of gas in a closure zone in a gas outlet region 24 in which the gas is still connected to the gas of the gas volume 22 and its properties having. The enclosed gas quantities 31, 31 'have been transported further in the direction of outlet 3.

The bottom line of Fig. 3 represents the state after closure of the second surface element 37. This state is in principle equal to the state of the engine 1 shown in the top line of Fig. 3. On the side of the inlet 2, a new amount of air 11 is included which is transported in the direction of the connecting device 20. The initially trapped air quantity 11 'has been transported on until immediately before connection to the gas volume 22, but is still separated from it by a first area element 17. The inclusion of gas from the gas volume 22 in a closure volume 24 'in the expansion unit 30 analogous to the volume of the gas amount 31 in the first step in Figure 3 is completed. The enclosed gas amount 31 has been transported further in the direction of the outlet 3, while the initially still enclosed amount of gas 31 'has meanwhile been opened and was discharged from the outlet 3. Thus, a duty cycle of the engine 1 is completed.

FIG. 4 shows over a number of cycles the time profile of the pressure in the air inlet region 23 (upper illustration), in the gas volume 22 (middle illustration) and in the gas outlet region 24 (lower illustration) for the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. The upper illustration of FIG. 4 shows the time profile of the pressure in the air inlet region 23 of the gas volume 22 in the interior 21 of the connecting device 20 after opening the volume of the air volume 11 "to the gas volume 22. The successive cycles of the periodic function relate to successive amounts of air 11 '', 11 ', 11, etc.

Immediately after opening the volume of the air volume 11 "to the gas volume 23, this has in the compensating zone 23 formed thereby the pressure P ₁ , which had already reached the enclosed air volume 11" by adiabatic compression in the compression unit 20. While the formerly trapped air amount 11 "after opening in the air inlet area 23 continues to be transported toward the heating space 21, the pressure and the temperature of the gas in the air inlet area 23 equalize with the pressure and the temperature of the gas in the gas volume 22, whereby very quickly medium pressure P is achieved. ₂ After complete compensation isochoric heating is by combustion in the gas volume 22 is heated so that the gas in the air inlet region 23 with a high efficiency and a maximum pressure P is generated. ₃

With the opening of the next surface element 17, a new Luftelnlassbereich 23 forms in the form of an open volume of the air flow 11 ', which connects to the gas volume 22, and the cycle begins again. This results in the transitionless case of the function of the value P _{3 of} the gas volume 22 immediately before opening the volume of the air 11 'to the pressure P _{1 of} the volume of the air 11' before mixing and the compensation in the air inlet 23rd

4 shows the pressure curve over several cycles in the gas volume 22. The peak at the pressure P ₃ corresponds to the time just before an air volume 11 "or 11 'is connected to the gas in the gas volume 22. After connection the amount of air 11 ", 11 ', 11 with the gas in the gas volume 22, a mixing and balancing of the various pressures and temperatures, so that the gas pressure in the gas volume 22 falls very quickly to a value P _2. After complete compensation with the amount of air 11th In the air inlet area 23, the heating of the gas in the gas volume 22 in the heating space 21 gains the upper hand and a maximum pressure P _{3 is} reached. With the opening of another air volume 11, the cycle begins again.

4 shows the pressure curve in the closure zone 24 'after inclusion of a quantity of gas 31, 31', 31 "in the expansion unit 30. Since the inclusion of gas quantities 31, 31 ', 31" in the closure zone 24' only on the peak of pressure regeneration in the gas volume 22 happens, the pressure in the closure zone 24 'always the maximum pressure P ₃ . The vertical bars represent the time of Gasmengenseinschlusses in the closure zone 24 '.

5 shows a comparison of the basic thermodynamic process sequences of an Otto engine and an engine according to the invention in a pV diagram in a schematic representation, the volume V being plotted on the X axis and the pressure p on the Y axis. In either case, an amount of air or gas is trapped in a first volume, the amount of air occupying the volume and pressure at point 41 of the diagram. The pressure at point 41 is, for example, the ambient air pressure. By moving a piston in a cylinder or by reducing the volume of air in the compression unit 10 of the engine according to the invention adiabatic compression of the amount of air, ie a compression without energy supply takes place. The volume decreases and increases the pressure in the air flow, according to the direction of the arrow in the direction of the state point 42nd

The state point 42 describes the state of greatest compression. In the gasoline engine, a fuel-air mixture is ignited at this point, whereby the temperature and the pressure increase at an approximately constant volume, up to a state which is indicated by the state point 43. In the embodiment of the engine according to the invention according to FIG. 1 connects at this point an enclosed amount of air 11, 11 ', 11 "with the gas volume 22 in which a combustion takes place constant volume, by which the temperature and pressure are increased.

In the place of the state point 42 is in Flg. 5 shows no increase in volume for the engine according to the invention, because the air does not undergo a change in density from the amount of air 11, 11 ', 11 "After mixing with the gas of the gas volume 22, the amount of air 11, 11', 11" in the larger gas volume 22 takes a partial volume which is equal to the volume of the air quantity 11, 11 ', 11 "achieved in the compression unit 10. The gas in the gas volume 22 can therefore be subdivided into a plurality of similar partial volumes which, because of the mixing, all have the same properties, ie temperature , Pressure and density.

After connecting an amount of air 11, 11 ', 11 "with a volume indicated at the state point 42 with the gas volume 22, the amount of air 11, 11', 11" thus assumes an unchanged partial volume. Due to the mixing with the larger pressure gas volume and the heating by combustion, the amount of air at a constant remained partial volume, a higher pressure, corresponding to state point 43, on.

The next step in the gasoline engine is to increase the gas volume by moving the piston in the cylinder. Here, the hot gas in the piston undergoes adiabatic expansion, indicated by an arrow, with decreasing pressure, up to the volume at the state point 44, which is limited by the maximum displacement of the cylinder and equal to the volume at the beginning of the cycle at state point 41. Since both compression and expansion in the same cylinder volume, and therefore run with the same compression and Expahsionsverhältnis, the gas at the state point 44 still has a relation to the starting point 41 increased pressure escaping when discharging the gas from the cylinder.

In the engine according to the invention, the expansion ratio by design is greater than the compression ratio. As a result, the endpoint of the adiabatic expansion of the gas, starting in a partial volume and pressure corresponding to state point 43, is at a state point 44 ', which has both a greater volume and a lower pressure than the end point 44 of the gasoline engine. The shift of the end point of the cycle from 44 to 44 'means an increase in the efficiency of the engine according to the invention compared to, for example, conventional internal combustion engines. The use of residual heat of the gas z. B. in a heat exchanger in the exhaust gas further increases this efficiency.

The engine and power harvesting method of the present invention allow for small-sized and lightweight construction, high fuel efficiency, low cost of ownership and versatility such as aircraft power turbine, propeller aircraft, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV), missile systems, auxiliary power units, in industrial applications, such as drying, cooling, heat and electricity generation for offices, hotels, swimming pools, shopping malls and residential buildings. Furthermore, they can be used for emergency generators, mobile power generators for use and for connection at peak loads, as uninterruptible power sources (UPS) or as main propulsion units for ships, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trains and the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

engine

2

inlet

3

outlet

10

compacting unit

11, 11 ', 11 "

air flow

12

first rotation element

13

Outer wall of the first rotation element

14

housing section

15

Inner wall of the housing section

16

radial slots

17

first surface element

20

connecting device

21

Interior of the connection device

22

gas volume

23

Air intake area

24

gas outlet

24 '

closing zone

25

combustion unit

26

Fuel supply

27

jet

28

flame

30

expansion unit

31, 31 ', 31 "

amount of gas

32

second rotation element

33

Outer wall of the second rotation element

34

housing section

35

Inner wall of the housing section

36

slots

37

second surface element

41-44, 44 '

State points in the p-V diagram

Claims (37)

A motor (1) comprising a compression unit (10), an expansion content (30), and a connection device (20) having a power supply means, said connection device (20) comprising an air inlet area (23) and a gas outlet area (24), characterized in that the connecting device (20) is delimited in the air inlet region (23) by the compression unit (10) and in the gas outlet region (24) by the expansion unit (30). Motor (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a gas volume (22) enclosed by the connecting device (20), the compression unit (10) and the expansion unit (30) has a substantially constant volume. Motor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in or on the connecting device (20) has a heating means is arranged. Engine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the energy supply means is a combustion unit (25), in particular a fuel supply line (26) and a combustion nozzle (27) for, in particular optional, continuous or pulsed combustion of the fuel. Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the compression unit (10) for enclosing an amount of air (11, 11 ', 11 ") is formed. Motor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the Verdichterseinhelt (10) for the compression of the trapped air quantity (11, 11 ', 11 ") is formed. Motor (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the compressed air quantity (11, 11 ', 11 ") is connectable to gas in a gas volume (22) in the connecting device (20). Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the expansion unit (30) for separating and enclosing a quantity of gas (31, 31 ', 31 ") from the gas volume (22) in the connecting device (20 ) is trained. Engine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the gas quantity (31) when separated from the gas volume (22) has substantially the same volume as the air volume (11 ") when connected to the gas volume (22). Motor (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the expansion unit (30) for expansion of the volume of the gas quantity (31, 31 ", 31") is formed. Motor (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that a device for utilization of the forces acting on the expansion of the gas quantity (31, 31 ', 31 ") is provided. Engine (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a device for driving the compression of the air quantity (11, 11 ', 11 ") in the compression unit from at least a part of the expansion of the gas quantity (31, 31', 31 ") is provided in the expansion unit (30) acting force. Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a device for, in particular alternating, synchronization of the connection of the volume of the air volume (11, 11 ', 11'') with the gas volume (22) and the Separation of the volume of the amount of gas (31, 31 ', 31 ") from the gas volume (22) is provided. Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the compression unit (10) comprises a first rotation element (12). Motor (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the first rotation element (12) in the radial direction slots (16), in which first surface elements (17) are arranged radially movable. Motor (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the Air quantity (11, 11 ', 11 ") after inclusion by two successive first surface elements (17), an outer wall (13) of the first rotation member (12) and an inner wall (15) of a housing portion (14) is limited. Motor (1) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that , in particular mechanical and / or electrical means for rotational angle-dependent control of the radial movement of the first surface elements (17) are provided. Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the expansion unit (30) comprises a second rotation element (32). Motor (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the second rotation element (32) in the radial direction slots (36), in which second surface elements (37) are arranged radially movable. Motor (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the gas quantity (31, 31 ', 31'') after separation by two successive second surface elements (17), an outer wall (33) of the second rotation element (32) and an inner wall (35) of a housing portion (34) is limited. Motor (1) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that , in particular mechanical and / or electrical means for rotational angle-dependent control of the radial movement of the second surface elements (37) are provided. Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that a device for, in particular detachable, connection of the rotation of the first rotary member (12) and the second rotary member (32) is provided, in particular an axis, a V-belt or a shaft. Motor (1) according to claim 22, characterized in that the rotation of the first rotation element (12) in the compression unit (10) is driven by the rotation of the second rotation element (32) in the expansion unit (30). Motor (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the compression unit (10) is preceded by a Vorverdichtungsstufe. Engine (1), in particular according to one or more of claims 1 to 24, comprising a compression unit (10) with means for enclosing an amount of air (11, 11 ', 11 "), an expansion unit (30) and an energy supply means, characterized in that the expansion ratio in the expansion unit (30) is greater than the compression ratio in the compression unit (10). Motor (1) according to claim 25, characterized in that the energy supply means in the expansion unit (30) is arranged. Force extraction method with the following steps: Including an amount of air (11, 11 ', 11 ") in a compression unit (10), Compressing the amount of air (11, 11 ', 11 ") by reducing the volume of air (11, 11', 11") in the compression unit (10), Connecting the volume of the air quantity (11, 11 ', 11'') to a gas volume (22) in a connecting device (20), Mixing the quantity of air (11, 11 ', 11'') with the gas contained in the connecting device (20), Increasing the gas pressure in the connecting device (20), Separating a quantity of gas (31, 31 ', 31 ") from the gas in the gas volume (22) and enclosing the amount of gas (31, 31', 31") in an expansion unit (30), - Expanding the amount of gas (31, 31 ', 31 ") in the expansion unit (30) and making use of the expansion of the amount of gas (31, 31', 31") acting force. A force extraction method according to claim 27, characterized in that the increasing of the gas pressure in the connecting device (20) is effected substantially by heating the gas. Power harvesting method according to claim 28, characterized in that the heating of the gas in the connecting device (22) takes place continuously. Power harvesting method according to claim 28, characterized in that the heating of the gas in the connecting device (22) is pulsed. Power harvesting method according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the heating of the gas in the connecting device (20) takes place by means of combustion. Force extraction method according to one or more of claims 27 to 31, characterized in that the masses of the gas volume (22) in the connecting device (20) supplied and discharged amounts of air and gas (11, 11 ', 11 ", 31, 31 ', 31 ") are substantially the same size. Power recovery process according to one or more of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that the method steps of opening and reducing the volume of a quantity of air (11, 11 ', 11') in the air inlet region (23) and increasing the volume of gas (22) and terminating a gas volume ( 31, 31 ', 31 ") in the gas outlet region (24) run equally fast and simultaneously, and that the total volume of air inlet region (23), gas volume (22) and gas outlet region (24) remains substantially constant. Force extraction method according to one or more of claims 27 to 33, characterized in that the volume of the air flow (11, 11 ', 11 ") when connected to the gas volume (22) and the amount of gas (31, 31', 31") during separation of the gas volume (22) are smaller than the gas volume (22), in particular less than 50% of the gas volume (22), in particular less than 30% of the gas volume (22). Force extraction method according to one or more of claims 27 to 34, characterized in that gas pressure fluctuations in the gas volume (22) are smaller than 50% of the maximum gas pressure in the connecting device (20), in particular less than 30% of the maximum gas pressure. Force extraction method according to one or more of claims 27 to 35, characterized in that the Verfahrensrect the Kraftgewinnungsverfahrens be repeated cyclically. Force extraction method according to one or more of claims 27 to 36, characterized in that two or more of the method steps are carried out simultaneously, in particular including an amount of air (11, 11 ', 11 "), compressing the amount of air (11, 11', 11") , Heating the gas in the connecting device (20) and / or expanding the amount of gas (31, 31 ', 31 ").

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