GB238293A - Improved means for the production of mechanical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

238,293. Duvieusart, F. May 14, 1924. Engines working on special systems or cycles; vapour engines.- In a closed-cycle engine, water or other working substance is caused to pass through a semipermeable membrane, through which a solute dissolved in the water &c. cannot pass, the water &c. after passing through the membrane being evaporated, allowed to expand to perform work, and finally condensed into the solution. The membrane D, Fig. 1, divides a receptacle into two chambers A, B, the solution being in the chamber A, and the water or other solvent passing through the membrane into the chamber B. The receptacle, is immersed in a bath R at a temperature between the boiling point of the solvent and that of the solution, and steam or vapour from the chamber B bubbles intermittently through mercury in a U-tube S, passes to means for performing work, and is condensed and returned at atmospheric pressure to the chamber A. The solution may consist of glucose in water, the membrane D being of cellulose impregnated with copper ferrocyanide. In a modification, the solution is only partly separated by the membrane, the solute passing through more slowly than the solvent, e.g. a solution of alcohol in ether, for which a membrane of vulcanized caoutchouc may be employed. A series of chambers containing such membranes may be employed in this case, the separation of the solvent from the solute thus being effected in stages.