GB2128321A

GB2128321A - Solar motor

Info

Publication number: GB2128321A
Application number: GB08326269A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Salah Djelouah
Original assignee: Sorelec
Current assignee: Sorelec
Priority date: 1982-10-07
Filing date: 1983-09-30
Publication date: 1984-04-26
Also published as: MX157145A; GB8326269D0; PT77438B; BR8305537A; AU1990683A; PT77438A; IT1212091B; BE897858A; MA19923A1; IT8323164A0; ES526239A0; JPS5990776A; DE3336407A1; CH654878A5; FR2534322A1; NZ205820A; GB2128321B; ES8405898A1

Abstract

A solar motor, more particularly for the production of mechanical energy, e.g. for pumping water, comprises a condenser (45) having a large heat exchange surface with the air and an evaporator (1, 43) connected by a tube (46). A partition divides the base portion of the evaporator into two chambers, the tube (46) leading deep into one of the chambers while the other chamber acts as a heat collector for the heat transfer fluid therein. The tube (46) is secured to a drive shaft (41) which is turned as the tube, the condenser and the evaporator pivot backwards and forwards when heat is applied to the evaporator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Solar motor, more particularly for pumping water and producing electrical or mechanical energy This invention relates to a solar motor which converts thermodynamic energy into mechanical energy by means of a thermodynamic fluid in a looped circuit, the motor consisting basically of an evaporator and a condenser associated with a mechanical device actuated by the thermodynamic energy of the fluid, in which motor the mechanical device comprises a single movable rigid assembly, the reciprocating movement of which in response to the difference in pressure between the evaporator and the condenser cancels out said pressure difference at the end of the movement and the mechanical device comprises basically a tube integral with a horizontal rocking axis, said tube providing communication between the inner space of the evaporator and the inner space of the condenser, the tube wall being connected in sealing-tight relationship to the evaporator wall and to the condenser wall and the tube penetrating deep inside the evaporator while it does not penetrate inside the condenser.

The invention relates more particularly to a solar motor intended to provide mechanical work used, for example, for pumping water, irrigation, etc., or electrical energy.

The invention proposes to provide a motor of the above type which, in particular, can operate by using the hot and cold reserves of a hot and cold source, irrespective of short-term climatic variations (night-time/day-time), variations in insolation during the day, and soon, in order to provide work in a very uniform manner.

To this end, the invention relates to a motor characterised in that it comprises a condenser having a large heat exchange surface with the air and the evaporator comprises a partition which divides the base of the evaporator tank into two chambers, the tube connecting the evaporator and the condenser leading deep into one of the chambers while the other chamber contains a heat exchanger for the thermodynamic fluid.

According to one feature of the invention, the evaporator consists of a nest of tubes in contact with the air.

According to another feature of the invention, the evaporator consists of a parallelepipedal box, the outer surface of which is deformed so as to be larger than the corresponding flat surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the evaporator is of a cylindrical shape with a curved end.

According to another feature of the invention the evaporator is of parallelepipedal shape with rounded ends.

According to another feature of the invention the evaporator is made of or surrounded by a thermally insulating material and the condenser is made of a material which is a good heat conductor.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the motor according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the evaporator of the motor shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the invention in two different positions.

Figs. 6 and 7 show two embodiments of an evaporator.

Referring to Fig. 1, the motor comprises a movable or rocker part comprising an evaporator I formed by a tank 1, a condenser II formed by a volume 2 of relatively large dimensions to offer a large heat-exchange surface with the ambient air; the evaporator I and the condenser II are connected by a connecting tube 3 which leads deep into the tank 1 of the evaporator I. Tank 1 has at the base a transverse plate 4 which subdivides the base of the tank 1 into two parts 5 and 6 separated from one another and in communication only if the level of the liquid exceeds the height of the partition 4. The part 31 of the connecting tube leads into the part 5 of the tank 1 while part 6 of tank 1 has a heat exchanger 7 connected to the hot source 8 via an inlet line 9 and an outlet line 10.

Diagrammatically, the volume 2 of the condenser II comprises a nest of tubes 11, 12, 13, 14 connected by a connecting tube 1 5 at the bottom part and a connecting tube 1 6 at the top part. The connecting tube 15 in turn leads into the part 32 of tube 3.

A heat exchanger 17 is provided inside the volume 2 of condenser II and is denoted diagrammatically by a continuous line running from an inlet conduit 1 8 to an outlet conduit 1 9 connected to a cold source 20. The tube parts 31 and 32 are interconnected by a flange connection 33 provided with an insulant 34 to avoid any heat exchange by conduction between the tube part 31 on the evaporator side (hot part) and the part (32) on the condenser side (cold part).

The resulting unit pivots about an axis 21 which forms the equilibrium axis.

Tank 1 contains thermodynamic liquid which evaporates in response to the heat evolved by the heat exchanger 7. The pressure of the gaseous phase above the level of liquid in the tank 1 which cannot escape as long as the level of liquid is above the level of the orifice of the tube part 31 in the tank 1 drives the liquid which rises in the tube 31 and then in the tube 32 and causes the assembly to rock, the evaporator tank 1 being lifted. When a certain rocking position has been reached, the level of liquid in the tank 1 frees the orifice of the tubes 31 so that the gas rises through the tube 31, 32 to reach the condenser.

At the same time the column of liquid drops in the tank 1 and the gases condense in the condenser.

The movable unit then rocks in the opposite direction to return to the initial position. This corresponds to the end of an operating cycle.

The amplitude of the rocking movement should be large. The base of the tank 1 is therefore subdivided into two parts 5 and 6 by the partition 4 so that during the first stage of operation the column of liquid can rise sufficiently in the condenser and produce a considerable unbalance before the level of liquid i. the part 5 of the tank 1 frees the orifice 35 of the tube part 31. The opposite movement should also take place as quickly as possible and the descent of the liquid should not be disturbed by the liquid contained in the tank 1, by liquid being retained behind the partition 4 in the chamber 6 during this second stage of the movement of the movable unit.

Figs. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the motor according to the invention.

This embodiment comprises a frame 40 bearing the drive shaft 41 to which the movable unit described hereinbefore is secured by means of a lug 42. The movable unit comprises an evaporator 43 of cylindrical shape with a curved end 44, a condenser 45 formed by a nest of tubes, and a connecting tube 46. The evaporator 43 provided with the corresponding part of the connecting tube 46, on the one hand, and the condenser 45 provided with its tube part 46, on the other hand, are connected by an insulating connection 47 which prevents heat exchange by conduction between the evaporator 43 and the condenser 45.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the evaporator 43 and, in particular, the partition 48 corresponding to partition 4 in Fig. 1 and the tube 46 which leads into the chamber behind the partition 48.

Figs. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the motor according to the invention in two different positions. This motor corresponds basically to the motor shown in Fig. 2. It comprises an evaporator 50 in the form of a parallelepiped with rounded ends, a condenser 51 formed by a nest of tubes and a connecting tube 52 connecting the evaporator 50 to the condenser 51. Evaporator 50 comprises a partition 53 similar to partition 4 and heat exchanger 54. Condenser 51 is provided with a cooling exchanger 55. The evaporator and the condenser are separated by an insulating connection 56. The assembly is integral with an output shaft 57 which transmits the movement to the exterior.

The position shown in Fig. 4 is equivalent to the position in which the column of liquid rises in the direction of arrow A in tube 52 as far as condenser 51. Position 5 shows the rocking position corresponding to the movable unit returning to the position shown in Fig. 4 by the liquid returning from column 52 into the tank of the evaporator 50 in the direction of arrow B.

While the condenser 45, 55 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4 comprises a nest of tubes, the embodiments of the condensers 60 and 70 in Figs. 6 and 7 are solid boxes provided with an outer surface 61, 71 which is corrugated to increase the exchange surface with the air.

Generally, the evaporator is made of an insulating material or is surrounded by an insulating material to limit the heat losses.

Conversely, the condenser comprises a conductive material so as to promote the heat exchange with the air.

The cooling exchanger 11, 55 (Figs. 1, 4) can extend beyond the condenser 2, 51 and descend partly into the connecting tube 32, 52 in respect of the part of this tube which is situated on the condenser side with respect to the insulating connection 33, 56.

The heat source 8 feeding the evaporator is preferably a hot heat-vehicle fluid reserve which receives its heat from collectors, e.g. solar collectors. The reserve of the hot source 8 is preferably selected so as to permanently feed the motor day and night.

The cold source 20 is preferably a cold water source obtained from cold installations, e.g. of the solar energy type.

The motor according to the invention is particularly intended for isolated places without an electricity supply so that they can operate on their own to provide mechanical energy to drive a drinking water pump, an irrigation water pump, or alternatively an electricity generator.

Claims

1. A solar motor which converts thermodynamic energy into mechanical energy by means of a thcrmodynamic fluid in a looped circuit the motor consisting basically of an evaporator and a condenser associated with a mechanical device actuated by the thermodynamic energy of the fluid, in which motor the mechanical device comprises a single movable rigid assembly, the reciprocating movement of which in response to the difference in pressure between the evaporator and the condenser cancels out said pressure difference at the end of the movement and the mechanical device comprises basically a tube integral with a horizontal rocking axis, said tube providing communication between the inner space of the evaporator and the inner space of the condenser, the tube wall being connected in sealing-tight relationship to the evaporator wall and to the condenser wall and the tube penetrating deep inside the evaporator while it does not penetrate inside the condenser, the said motor being characterised in that it comprises a condenser (2, 51,61,71) having a large heat exchange surface with the air and the evaporator (1,43, 50) comprises a partition which divides the base of the evaporator tank into two chambers, the tube (31, 46, 52) connecting the evaporator and the condenser leading deep into one of the chambers while the other chamber contains a heat exchanger (7, 54) for the thermodynamic fluid.

2. A motor according to claim 1, characterised in that the evaporator (2) consists of a nest of tubes (11, 12, 13, 14) in contact with the air.

3. A motor according to claim 1 , characterised in that the evaporator (60, 70) consists of a parailelepipedal box, the outer surface of which is deformed to make it larger than the corresponding flat surface.

4. A motor according to claim 1, characterised in that the evaporator (1,43) is of cylindrical shape with a curved end.

5. A motor according to claim 1, characterised in that the evaporator (50) is of parallelepipedal shape with rounded ends.

6. A motor according to claim 1, characterised in that the evaporator is made of or surrounded by a thermally insulating material and the condenser is made of a material which is a good heat conductor.