EP2625391A2

EP2625391A2 - Steam engine

Info

Publication number: EP2625391A2
Application number: EP11813593.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tollef Lund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-05
Filing date: 2011-10-05
Publication date: 2013-08-14
Also published as: WO2012047116A2; WO2012047116A3; NO20101379A1; NO332899B1

Abstract

A sateam engine (1) with a main axis (0) with a rotating hollow axial chamber (2) about said main axis (0), wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) is arranged for receiving water from a reservoir (9); wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) has a base radius (R0) and is provided with generally radial centrifugal channels (3) arranged for conducting the water out to a first radius (R1) which is larger than said base radius (R0) and centrifugally pressurising the water by rotation about said main axis (0); from where the water is conducted through steam generating pipes (4) which are heated by a heat source (Q) and runs inwardly towards a second radius (R2) less than said first radius (R1); from where the water in said steam generating pipes (4) is heated and converted partially or entirely to steam, wherein the steam is conducted outwardly from said second radius (R2) via outlet channels (6) to generally tangentially directed jet nozzles (7) at a third radius (R3), and arranged to drive their own and thus the steam engines rotation.

Description

Steam engine

Introduction

The invention concerns a rotary steam engine. Specifically, the invention concern a steam engine wherein the rotor

comprises steam generating pipes and jet nozzles which run the rotor by the jet principle.

Background art

Steam engines utilize pressure or kinetic energy in the steam and transform it to a rotational energy. It has been designed very many steam engines throughout the ages . Some of those closest with regard to the present invention are the following:

"Herons pot": Heron of Alexandria was a mathematician and engineer who is believed to have lived in the first century, as he described a lunar eclipse in March in the year 62. He is known for Heron's pot, which is heated spherical steam boiler with two oppositely oriented outlet pipes with tangential jet nozzles which work in the same rotational direction, and make the boiler to rotate. It may rotate until it runs out of steam.

GB173918 describes a steam turbine with a rotor with steam turbine pipe arranged in a heat chamber. Water is fed into the center of the rotor shaft and is guided back and forth through the gently inclined steam generating pipes that run between two manifold plates. Thus, the water running from the inner part and is transferred into steam in the steam generating pipes until it runs out of the outermost steam generator tubes where it has been superheated steam, until it again is guided radially inwards towards the circular space near the shaft, and therefrom out between the stator and rotor turbine blades.

GB173918 has a possible disadvantage in that it may form slugs of liquid in the steam generating pipes that may cause imbalance and uneven rotational speed. It is obvious that water, which has higher density than steam, will displace any steam due to the centrifugal effect. GB173918 also has a disadvantage that the water supply must be controlled.

US4059961 describes a turbine in an overlying compartment with a hollow horizontal shaft that pumps water into a rotor with tangentially directed nozzles. The nozzles flush the water out and it flows down to an underlying arranged chamber with a heating element, and wherein the heated water (which is not steam) is pumped up to the overlying rotor shaft of the chamber. The U.S. patent has no steam jets but water jets, and do not utilise volume increase from generation of steam. It is also entirely unclear whether the condensation of any vapor formed may occur when fluid shall return to the

underlying arranged chamber.

US53035645 describes a rotary absorption heat pump with a technical design that is similar to the above patent

US4059961, but is not a steam engine. It has a concentric and rotating condenser and vaporizer arranged end to end outside of the absorber and absorber-cooler.

Short summary of the invention

The invention solves several of the above-mentioned problems and is defined in patent claim 1. The invention is a steam engine (1) with a main axis (0) with a rotating hollow axial chamber (2 ) ;

- wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) is arranged for receiving water from a reservoir (9);

- wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) has a base radius (RO) and is provided with generally radial centrifugal channels (3) arranged for conducting the water out to a first radius (Rl) which is larger than said base radius (R0) and centrifugally pressurising said water by rotation about said main axis (0);

- from where the water is conducted through steam generating pipes (4) which are heated by a heat source (Q) and runs inwardly towards a second radius (R2) which is less than said first radius (Rl) ;

- wherein the water in said steam generating pipes (4) is heated and transformed partially or entirely to steam,

- wherein the steam is conducted outwardly from said second radius (R2) via outlet channels (6) to generally tangentially directed jet nozzles (7) at a third radius (R3), and arranged to drive itself and thus the steam . engine ' s rotation.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are provided in the depended claims .

Advantage of the invention

Herons pot runs out when the water is used up. The invention has the advantage over the Herons pot in that it may run continuously when the water is supplied from a reservoir through the hollow shaft which comprises a channel.

An important difference between the present invention and GB173918 is that while the water in GB173918 patent is guided in by the smallest radius of the rotating steam generator, the water, according to the present invention, is guided into the steam generator pipes at a large radius . The steam engine according to the invention thus has the advantage over

GB173918 that water that has not yet been transferred to the steam will be separated out and kept back "upstream", while the lighter and lighter steam generated is released inwards "downstream" and runs into the natural centrifugal separation. In this way will the centrifugal separation both provide pressure and naturally separating water and dry steam

generated with lower density than water. Thus the need for the water supply does not need to stopped but will be regulated naturally by the rotational speed and heat input.

Another important difference between the present invention and GB173918 is that while the steam according to GB patent is released between static engine blades on stator part and rotating engine blades on the rotor part, which is limited by the vapor velocity and thus limits the rotational speed, then release the steam of the present invention via Jets on the rotor, so that the motions of speed and thus the rotation speed is limited by the vapor velocity.

Short figure caption

The invention is illustrated in a simplified manner in the attached drawings wherein,

Figure 1 illustrates a principle embodiment of the invention provided with a rotor and water inlet via an axial rotating chamber from a reservoir and wherein the axial rotating chamber is provided with the centrifuge channel guiding water to a large radius at the beginning of the inwardly running heated steam generating pipe, and wherein the steam generating pipes ends up in the outlet channels with tangentially

oriented Jet nozzles engaged themselves by reaction principle and thereby the rotor of the rotation motion. The rotational energy may be taken out on a rotor shaft.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises circle shaped manifold pipes arranged between the outer centrifuge channels and the inwardly running steam generating pipes. Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows an circle shaped manifold pipe with smaller radius and arranged closer to the axis of rotation which is part of the inward running steam generating pipes and where only a few steam generating pipes guides all the way to a smaller rotation radius of the steam generating pipes . Figure 3 shows the cross-section A-A' indicated in Fig.2, through a circle shaped manifold pipe. Fig.4 shows the cross-section B-B' indicted in Fig. 2, through a circle shaped manifold pipe and outlet channels.

Fig. 5 shows the cross-section C-C indicated in Fig. 2, through a circle shaped manifold pipe.

Fig. 6 shows the cross-section D-D' indicated in Fig. 2 through a circle shaped manifold pipe and centrifuge channels.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the centrifuge channels form a generally continuous space. This space in an embodiment of the invention comprises an

insulator .

Steam generating pipes are arranged axial and radial and passes/ go beyond in 2 circle shaped axial outside on one another horizontal concentric circle shaped channels near the center axis. Furthermore Fig. 7 shows outlet channels in the form of the outlet pipe with Jet nozzles .

Figure 8 shows the cross-section E-E' indicated in Fig. 7, viewed from below. The cross-section shows a fluid equalizer on the opposite side of the inlet.

Figure 9 shows the cross-section F-F' indicated in Fig.7, through the radially arranged steam generating pipes.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

The invention concerns a steam engine wherein the rotor comprises steam generating pipes and Jet nozzles that drives the rotor by the jet principle. In an embodiment of the invention the invention is a steam engine (1) provided with a main axis (0) comprising a rotatable hollow axial chamber (2) about the main axis (0) , wherein the hollow axial chamber (2) is arranged to receive water from a reservoir (9) . The hollow axial chamber (2) has a base radius (R0) and is provided with generally radial centrifuge channels (3) arranged to guide the water out to a first radius (Rl) that is larger than the basis radius (R0) and centrifugally pressurising the water by rotation about the main axis (0) . From here, the water is guided through a (second) steam generating pipe (4) which is heated by a heat source (Q) and run inwardly towards a second radius (R2) which is less than the radius (Rl) . The water in the steam generating pipes (4) is heated and converted

partially or entirely to steam and wherein the steam is separated and runs inwardly with regard to water and water droplets which are centrifuged outwardly back towards in the direction of the larger radius (Rl) . These water droplets that are centrifuged outwardly back in the direction of the larger radius (Rl) may evaporate longer out in the steam generating engines (4) or end up back at the first radius (Rl) , and not be lost but be entered and evaporated. Furthermore, the steam is conducted outwardly from the second radius (R2) via the outlet channels (6) to a third radius (R3) . The steam is then dropped out via generally tangentially directed Jet nozzles (7) arranged to drive their own and thus the steam engine (1) rotation. Aperture of the nozzle is determined by the heat supply and water supply so as to achieve a good efficiency. In a model with about 12 cm. radius of the rotor, we have used nozzles between 3 and 5 mm, but these must be determined as stated in the individual case.

The steam engine may be installed with the main axis (0) horizontally or vertically depending on further application area and / or water sources . The steam engines application areas may be to run a generator for electricity production, operating a centrifuge utilizing rotational energy by means of mechanical transmission via the shaft, gear wheel or pulleys or as an propulsion engine.

In an embodiment of the invention the outlet channels (6) comprises outlet pipes (6B) . In an embodiment of the invention the steam is conducted outwardly from the second radius (R2) via the outlet channel (6) to a third radius (R3) that is larger than the radius (R2). In an embodiment of the invention, the outlet channels (6) comprise a cylindrical rotating chamber (6C), which carries the generally tangentially directed jet nozzles (7) .

I an embodiment of the invention, the outlet direction of the jet nozzles may be changed. The direction of the nozzles is crucial for the direction of the rotation.

In embodiments of the invention the outlet direction of the nozzles may be changed. The direction of the nozzles is crucial for the direction of rotation.

In an embodiment of the invention, a component of jet force may be taken out in a partial axial direction and thus the steam engine is driven in the axial direction.

In an embodiment of the invention may at least the steam generating pipes (4) be arranged in the heat chamber (5) . This will provide good utilization of the heat source with reduced hit loss to the surroundings. One may arrange a fan (51) that drives hot gas through the heating chamber (5) . In an

embodiment of the invention the heat chamber (5) is arranged in a way that it does not rotate, e.g. it is static. Like the heat source (Q) may the most of heat sources be powerful enough to be used in order to raise the temperature of the water above the boiling point. The heat may be guided towards the hollow axial chamber, as e.g. a burning gas. In practical experiments with the inventor used a huge blowpipe with nozzle that mixes propane and air.

In an embodiment of the invention the engine is provided with a starting motor (M) arranged to form the required rotational speed of the main axis (0) .

In an embodiment of the invention, the first radial centrifuge channels (3) connected to steam generating pipes (4) via a first circle shaped manifold (31) with the first radius (Rl) . In an embodiment of the invention, the inwardly running steam generating pipes (4) comprise a second circle shaped manifold (41) with a radius smaller than the first radius (Rl) and larger or equal to the second radius (R2) . In an embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises ring manifolds as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inwardly running steam generating pipes (4) run generally monotonous towards the center from the first radius (Rl) to the second radius (R2) . This is illustrated in the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and 2.

In an embodiment of the invention, the hollow rotating chamber (2), centrifuge channels (3), steam generating pipes (4), and outlet channels (6) are arranged directly or indirectly on a rotating shaft (10) , as in an embodiment may be massive, or that is hollow if one shall desire to bring water into centrifugal channels (3) through this.

In an embodiment of the invention the centrifuge channels (3) are shaped such that they form a largely continuous space. This room, in an embodiment of the invention, comprises an insulator (11) as illustrated in Fig. 7. The steam generating pipes may, (4) in an embodiment of the invention, be arranged axial and radial and go beyond the two circle shaped axial outside on one another underlying concentric channels close to the main axis. In the opposite side of the inlet may the steam generating pipes (4) be connected to a circle form shaped liquid equalizer (42) in order to avoid imbalance in the generator .

In an embodiment of the invention, drainage channels (52) are arranged for steam and / or water back to the reservoir (9) . It is advantageous if the water in the reservoir (9) is close to the boiling point of the reservoir (9) .

The radial generater pipes (4r) of the steam generater pipes (4) lead to the innermost of the concentric channels. The radial generater pipes (4r) have, in an embodiment of the invention, their outlet at a fourth radius (R4) which is less than the basic radius (R0) .

Two or more of the foregoing features may be combined in combination embodiments of the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention it is arranged a rotary damper (53) in the reservoir (9), see Fig. 7, in order to prevent the water in the reservoir (53) to be centrifuged away from the inlet to the chamber (2) of the pipe's and shaft's rotation.

In an embodiment the water may be taken into to the reservoir through a feeding pipe (54) and surplus water is released out via a reciprocal overflow pipe (55), see Fig. 2. Here, it may possibly circulates cooling water in order to control the temperature in the reservoir (9) if the temperature in the reservoir would be too high, or guide in hot water (or steam) if the temperature is desired to increase in the reservoir in an initial phase.

Claims

1. Steam engine (1) with a main axis (0)

Characterized by

a rotating hollow axial chamber (2) about said main axis (0), - wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) is arranged for receiving water from a reservoir (9) ;

- wherein said hollow axial chamber (2) has a base radius (R0) and is provided with generally radial centrifugal channels (3) arranged for conducting the water out to a first radius (Rl) which is larger than said base radius (R0) and centrifugally pressurising the water by rotation about said main axis (0) ;

- from where the water is conducted through steam generating pipes (4) which are heated by a heat source (Q) and runs inwardly towards a second radius (R2) less than said first radius (Rl) ;

- from where the water in said steam generating pipes (4) is heated and converted partially or entirely to steam,

- wherein the steam is conducted outwardly from said second radius (R2) via outlet channels (6) to generally tangentially directed jet nozzles (7) at a third radius (R3), and

arranged to drive their own and thus the steam engines

rotation.

2. The steam engine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet channels (6) comprises outlet pipes (6B) .

3. The steam engine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said outlet channels (6) comprise a cylindrical rotating chamber (6C) , which carries generally tangentially oriented jet nozzles (7) .

4. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein at least said steam generator pipes (4) is arranged in a heat chamber (5) .

5. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1-4, provided with a starter motor (M) arranged to provide the required rotational speed of said main axis (0) until the water is set under pressure towards said first radius (Rl) .

6. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the first radial centrifuge channels (3) are connected with said steam generating pipes (4) via a first ring manifold (31) with said first radius (Rl) .

7. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein said steam generating pipes (4) comprise a second ring manifold (41) with a radius smaller than said first radius (Rl) and greater than or equal to said second radius (R2) .

8. The steam Engine (1) according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein said steam generating pipes (4) run generally

monotonously inwardly from said first radius (Rl) to said second radius (R2) .

9. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1 - 8, wherein said hollow rotating chamber (2) and said centrifuge channels (3) , steam generating pipes (4), and outlet channels (6) are installed directly or indirectly, on a rotating shaft (10) .

10. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein said centrifuge channels (3) form a mainly continuous space (3B) .

11. The steam engine (1) according to claim 10, wherein said space (3B) comprises an insulator (11) .

12. The steam engine (1) according to any of claim 4-11, wherein said heat chamber is not rotated.

13. The steam engine (1) according to any of claims 1-12, wherein the steam is separated and runs inwardly towards relative to water and water droplets which are centrifuged outwardly back in the direction torwards the larger radius ( l) .