GB1537496A - Energy converters - Google Patents

Abstract

1537496 Power generating systems D POOL 16 Aug 1976 [15 May 1975 4 Aug 1976] 20520/75 and 32431/76 Heading F1Q [Also in Division F2] Conversion of heat energy into mechanical or electrical energy is effected by a system including a heat pump/heat engine 22 operating between two heat sinks 13, 14 and being coupled via a shaft 23 to a flywheel 55, the flywheel storing energy when the engine 22 acts as a motor, but giving up energy to drive the engine when the engine acts as a heat pump. As shown, the heat sinks are two vapour chambers 13, 14 connected to the engine via a changeover valve 18 so that fluid-flow through the engine, and hence rotation of the engine, is always in one direction. The two chambers are on a common heat exchange block. With the flywheel rotating, e.g. by a starter motor, the heat pump 22 serves to draw vapour from one chamber, e.g. 13, and deliver it to the other chamber 14, thus increasing the pressure and temperature therein. When the speed of the flywheel falls to a predetermined value, the changeover valve 18 is manually or automatically switched so that chamber 14 is connected to the engine 22 inlet, and the engine is driven by the high pressure, high temperature vapour from chamber 14, the expanded vapour returning to chamber 13. When the temperatures and pressures are again equal in chambers 13, 14, the flywheel will take over to drive the engine as a heat pump, pumping vapour into chamber 13. A heat exchanger 21, e.g. oil or gas-fired, is provided to replace lost heat, and to provide an energy input to allow energy to be extracted from the system. As shown, the flywheel 55 is formed as the rotor of an alternator 56, which generates electricity directly Again, Figs. 1 to 4, (not shown), copper/constantan thermopiles (11, 12) are inserted between each chamber 13, 14 and the heat exchange block 10, and electric power is withdrawn from them, and is used to charge an accumulator (50). The heat exchanger may utilize solar energy, Fig. 6, (not shown). Warm air is drawn in by a compressor (62) for heat exchange with the working fluid and then expansion through a turbine (63), the compressor (62) and turbine (63) being mounted on a common shaft with the heat pump/heat engine (64), the flywheel (65), and an alternator (66) driven thereby. The exhaust air may be used in a building air conditioning system. Again, Fig. 7, (not shown), in a vehicle power system the flywheel forms the rotor of an alternator supplying electricity to D.C. motors 91 mounted on the vehicle wheels.