GB1451361A - Thermal power plant particularly for driving automobiles camera shutters - Google Patents

Abstract

1451361 Thermal power plant N LAING 12 Sept 1973 [12 Sept 1972 7 Oct 1972] 42797/73 Heading F1Q [Also in Division B7] A thermal power plant with a closed working fluid circuit, which may be installed in the rear of a vehicle, comprises an expansion engine 12, first heat exchanging means 11 upstream of the engine wherein in operation the working fluid absorbs heat, second heat exchanging means 13 downstream of the engine wherein in operation the working fluid gives up heat, heat generating means 23 outside the closed circuit, heat storage means 17 outside the closed circuit and control means operable to render either the heat generating means or the heat storage means effective to supply heat to the working fluid in the first heat exchanging means. The first and second heat exchanging means are respectively an evaporator and a condenser for the working fluid. As shown the heat generating means 23 is a fuel burner and the heat storage means 17 is a latent heat battery. It is possible to use these two heat sources together when the power plant is required to supply more than its normal rated power. For shorter term "boost" power secondary heat batteries 21 are provided. If the propulsive power requirement drops to one third of the rated power only one third of the heat output from the burner is supplied to the working fluid circuit and the remaining two thirds are fed to the battery 17. The battery 17 can be charged through an electrical heater 22 which may utilize "off peak" electricity. As shown the first and second heat exchanging means are rotary heat exchangers which promote flow of heating fluid or cooling fluid past the heat exchanging surfaces. The rotary heat exchangers are arranged to rotate as a unit and are driven by the expansion engine 12. The expansion engine may be a rotary piston engine. Specifications 1366652 to 1366656 are referred to.