JPS5877108A - Absorption engine externally cooled - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an external combustion engine, more particularly a closed cycle, two
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for fluid, external cooling, and steam-based engines.

Conventional external combustion engines receive energy from an external combustion source to vaporize the only working fluid. The working fluid is utilized within the expansion engine device, where the thermal energy of the working fluid is converted into mechanical energy. In a closed cycle system, the working fluid condenses after passing through the mechanical expansion engine and returns to the boiler, where it is vaporized again. Although some savings may be realized by returning the working fluid to the boiler, unless extensive condensing equipment is provided, substantial back pressure can be created within the working fluid, thereby reducing mechanical expansion. It is well known that this reduces the efficiency of the institution.

Binary fluid systems are known in the ζρ field and generally involve the cooperation of a low boiling point working fluid and a high boiling point solvent. The solvent is selected to have a relatively high absorption capacity for the working fluid. One such system is well known as the ammonia/water system, which has been used in many applications, although primarily in the field of refrigeration.

However, until the present invention, any number of prior art systems utilized a closed steam-based heat engine to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, whereby a solution consisting of a working fluid and a solvent was used. None allowed for the working fluid to be distilled from and then superheated before being pumped into the mechanical expansion engine. This discharged working fluid is absorbed by the solvent and the absorbed heat is recovered by an external cooling source.

Therefore, it would be a significant advance in the art to provide a closed cycle, steam-based heat engine for converting thermal energy from an external combustion source into mechanical energy utilizing a dual fluid system. It would also be an advance in the art to provide a dual fluid system in which the solvent fluid has a high absorption capacity for the working fluid and the heat absorption of the system is recovered by an external cooling source. ``Such novel apparatus and methods are disclosed and claimed herein.

This invention relates to a closed-cycle, dual-fluid, externally cooled, steam-based engine that utilizes thermal energy from an external combustion source to distill a working fluid from an absorbent solution of the working fluid dissolved in a solvent. In the superheater, additional thermal energy is added to the vaporized working fluid, thereby expanding the gas and bringing it to high pressure.The gas is expanded in a mechanical expansion engine, thereby increasing the heat in the gas. Converts energy into mechanical energy.The system backpressure downstream of the mechanical expansion engine causes the working fluid to be absorbed into the solvent from the still, while recovering the absorbed heat resulting from that absorption, thereby converting the mechanical expansion A significant vacuum is created by creating a normally low backpressure in the system downstream of the engine. The resulting solution is pumped through a counterflow heat exchanger to remove the solvent. Thermal energy is removed from the solvent before it is pumped into the absorber and the solution is evaporated back.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to a closed cycle steam-based heat engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy.

Another object of the invention is that the first working fluid is vaporized in the distiller and superheated before being introduced into the mechanical expansion engine, and the working fluid is absorbed into the solvent from the distiller apparatus. The object of the present invention is to provide a closed cycle steam-based heat engine in which back pressure downstream of a mechanical expansion engine is reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closed cycle steam-based engine system in which the thermal energy generated within the absorption device is removed from the outside by a heat conversion device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for absorbing working fluid downstream of a mechanical expansion engine and removing the fever generated thereby.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals have been used throughout the drawings to refer to like parts.

Distillation is a well-known method for separating various components contained in a solution. The distillation process is based on the distribution of all substances in the solution between gas and liquid phases and is applied when both components are present together in both phases. Distillation differs from absorption and desorption in that no new material is introduced into the mixture to provide a second phase. Instead, a new phase is created from the original solution by vaporization or condensation. Distillation therefore concerns the separation of solutions in which all components are appreciably volatile.

A well-known example of this category is the separation of components of a solution of ammonia (the working fluid) and water (the solvent) by distillation. The application of heat to the solution causes partial evaporation of the solution, forming a gas phase consisting of water and ammonia, and this gas phase has a certain amount of evaporation since the remaining solution is also rich in ammonia. Separation will be obtained.

By suitably manipulating both phases and/or repeating evaporation and condensation, one can achieve the desired complete separation, thereby recovering both components of the original solution in the desired pure state. This is usually possible.

Therefore, in distillation, the new phase differs from the original phase by its heat capacity. Heat can be easily applied and removed without difficulty, but
Of course, it is inevitable that the costs involved in doing so must be considered. A large body of technical literature is available for multicomponent systems, especially binary liquid-gas equilibrium diagrams.

The relationship between pressure, temperature, and the components of a mixture has been extensively studied and analyzed for a large number of components. This is especially true for the well-known ammonia/water system.

Therefore, in summary, distillation involves distilling a mixed binary solution in an isolated high-pressure still, distilling the solution into vapor (
This is accomplished by producing a working fluid (working fluid) and leaving another solvent-rich fluid (solvent) as the residual product of the still.

Thermal energy is transferred to the solution to cause separation and the vaporized fluid is directed through a one-way valve where heat may be added to the fluid if desired. for example,
Thermal energy can be added to the vaporized working fluid by a superheater that also utilizes thermal energy from an external combustion source.

Conventional mechanical expansion engine devices can be utilized to convert the thermal energy content of heated working fluid vapor into mechanical energy. A number of devices are available for this purpose, primarily in the form of turbines and the like. The mechanical energy thereby obtained is used for various purposes, including the generation of electrical energy. Importantly, an absorption device is provided downstream of the mechanical expansion engine device for the purpose of absorbing working fluid inside this device, thereby reducing back pressure on the mechanical expansion engine to improve mechanical efficiency. is to substantially reduce the pressure. The solubility of a working fluid in a solvent is generally determined by the temperature of the solution as well as the partial pressure involved. It is therefore advantageous to lower the temperature of the solvent before introducing it into the absorber. It is therefore well known that since dissolution of gas generally results in the generation of heat, removing the thermal energy thereby generated is beneficial in improving the absorption of the working fluid into the solvent.

Referring now to FIG. 1 attached hereto, the externally cooled engine system of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a distiller 12, a superheater 14, a mechanical expansion engine. 16
, an absorption device 20 and a heat exchanger 60. Peripheral devices include a generator 18, a pump 22, and a control valve 24.
and 26 are included. Each control valve 24 and 26 is controlled by a controller 25 and 27, respectively.

With particular reference to distiller 12, distiller 12J/i is formed as a cylindrical column 30 surrounded by an insulating sheath 32, with a coaxial line of smoke extending upwardly and in spaced relation from combustion chamber 36 through column 30. Contains road 34. As shown schematically by flame 40,
A burner 38 provides the necessary thermal energy to the combustion chamber 36. The heat energy generated in this way is transferred to the flue 34.
is transmitted upward through the air, where it is discharged into the atmosphere as cooled exhaust gas 42. The flue 34 therefore functions as a heat exchange surface for transferring thermal energy into the interior of the column 30.

The column 30 is generally separated into an upper distillation section and an after-heater section below the solvent reservoir 50.
This will be described in more detail below. The upper distillation section includes a plurality of frusto-conical dispersion rings 44 attached to the outer circumference of the flue 34. Each distributed ring 44
serves as a series of collectors for the solution reservoir sent in by the inflow pipe 48. The incoming solution is distributed over the outer surface of the flue 34 by passing downwardly and sequentially through the dispersion ring 44 through a plurality of holes 46 adjacent to the flue 34 .

In this way, thermal energy is efficiently transferred to the solution 51, thereby evaporating the working fluid from the solution.

The evaporated working fluid flows up the cylindrical column 30 and through the check valve 58 where it is introduced by conduit 59 into the counterflow heat exchange device of the superheater 14.

After successively passing through a series of dispersion rings 44 , the working fluid is substantially evaporated from the solution 51 and the remaining fluid is a relatively pure solvent 50 . Solvent 50 collects as a pool within the pace afterheater portion of distiller 12. The lower end of the flue 34 is surrounded in heat exchange relation by a coil of tubing 54 having an inlet 52 . Solvent 50 from near the lower end of distiller 12 is pumped through coil 54 in heat exchange relationship with the lower end of flue 34 before being directed by conduit 56 to counterflow heat exchanger 60 . Additional thermal energy is added to the solvent 50 through the use of the heat exchange coil 54 so that the solvent 50 is not only cooled in the counterflow heat exchanger 60 but also cooled through the conduit 48 before being introduced into the distiller 12. It should be noted that the above-mentioned thermal energy is transferred to the solvent 51 passing through and upwardly. Next solvent 5
0 is controlled by the valve 24 and introduced into the upper end of the absorption column 20 by the inlet pipe 57.

Similarly, with particular reference to FIG. 2, superheater 14 is defined as a generally cylindrical column 62 surrounded by an insulating layer 64 and extending upwardly through the column 62 in spaced relation thereto. It includes a coaxial flue 66 extending therefrom. The combustion chamber 70 includes a burner 72e,
Moreover, since it is connected to the flue 66, the thermal energy generated in this combustion chamber rises through the flue 66, as schematically shown by the flame 74, and as cooled exhaust gas 76. be discharged. The annular space between the flue 66 and the cylindrical shell 62 is laterally delimited by a plurality of annular discs 68, which have holes 69 inside. The disk 68 serves as a heat transfer fin for the conduction of thermal energy from the flue 66 to the working fluid vapor in the surrounding annular space. The holes 69 ensure complete mixing and intimate heat exchange contact between the working fluid vapor and the disk 68 as the working fluid passes downwardly through the superheater 14 to the outlet conduit 78. In this manner, additional thermal energy is added to the working fluid by the superheater 14, thereby increasing the efficiency of the mechanical expansion engine through which the working fluid passes.

Control valve 26 is operated by controller 27 to control the flow of high pressure, high temperature working fluid vapor into mechanical expansion engine 16 . Mechanical expansion engine 16 is illustrated as a conventional mechanical expansion engine, preferably in the form of a turbine, for converting thermal energy of working fluid vapor into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is
It is then transmitted to the generator 18 by a flexible belt 28 cooperating between the sheeps 17 and 19. This generator 18
This converts mechanical energy into lightning energy. However, mechanical expansion engine 1
Other conventional devices can also be co-operated to utilize the mechanical energy generated by 6.

Downstream of the mechanical expansion engine 16, the working fluid discharged from this engine is directed by the high pressure section 79 to the absorption column 20. In detail, the high pressure section 79 enters the absorption column 20,
It extends downward as a coaxial perforated cylinder having a plurality of holes 81 . The perforated column of the high pressure section 79 is spaced apart from the inner wall of the cylindrical column 82 of the absorption column 20.
The annular space around it is filled with a heat exchange coil 84 extending between the inflow pipe 92 and the outflow pipe 90. The upper end of the absorption column 82 includes a dispersion screen 86 having a plurality of holes 87 for pouring the solvent 50 onto the heat exchange coil 84.
It is equipped with The solvent passing downwardly joins the passing working fluid vapor into the hole 811 to form a solution 51 . Solution 51 is then withdrawn through conduit 47 and inlet tube 4
High pressure Denzo 22 before being led to distiller 12 through 8 ft.
is pumped to the counterflow heat exchanger 60 by.

The absorbed heat generated by the absorption process described above is recovered by being transferred to the fluid passing through heat exchange coil 84. For example, if the coolant 93 at a low temperature is
The coolant 91 is injected through the heat exchange coil 2 and recovered as a heated coolant 91 through an outflow pipe 90 from the heat exchange coil. Conveniently, the recovered absorbed heat carried by the heated coolant 91 can be utilized as a heat source in any suitable process or equipment (not shown).

The counterflow heat exchanger 6o is used to transfer thermal energy from the relatively high temperature solvent 50 from the afterheater portion of the distiller 12 to the relatively low temperature solution 51 from the absorption column 20, thereby reducing the absorption The solvent fed into the upper end of the column 20 is kept at a relatively low temperature. Accordingly,
The resulting relatively hot solution 51 flows into the inlet tube 4"8.
It will be sent to the distiller 12 through. In this way, much less thermal energy is required in distiller 12 to create working fluid vapor. In addition, the inflow pipe 57
Because the solvent entering through is at a substantially lower temperature, the back pressure created in the absorption column 20 is substantially lower. Importantly, further efficiency gains are obtained by cooling the resulting solution 51, and this solvent 5
1 is to greatly contribute to the cooling of the solvent 50 which in turn enters the counterflow heat exchanger 60.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics.

The embodiments described herein are to be considered illustrative and not limiting in any respect, and the scope of the invention is therefore limited in any respect. It is as indicated by the claims rather than by the description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the invention, partially shown in cross-section and broken away for ease of understanding. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. Explanation of symbols of main parts 10... Externally cooled absorption engine device 12... Distiller 14... Superheater 16... Mechanical expansion engine 18... Generator 20... Absorption device
34, 66... Flue 36.70... Combustion chamber
38.72...Burner 50...Solvent
51...Solution 60...Heat exchanger 91,93
...Refrigerant patent applicant New Energy 'Dimension/-1 1.1 to 1.1

Claims (9)

[Claims] (1) consisting of a first working fluid having a first low boiling point and a second solvent fluid having a second high boiling point, said second fluid having a relatively high absorption relative to the first fluid; a distillation means for separating the first fluid from the second fluid by applying thermal energy from an external combustion source to selectively vaporize the first fluid; , superheater means for superheating the vaporized first fluid; mechanical expansion engine means downstream of the superheater means for converting thermal energy of the first fluid into mechanical energy; downstream of the mechanical expansion engine means, absorbing the first fluid from the mechanical expansion engine means, whereby the second fluid reduces the back pressure in the first fluid and causes the second fluid to absorb the first fluid from the mechanical expansion engine means; and an externally cooled absorption means in which the absorbed first fluid forms a third dissolved fluid. (2) A closed-cycle steam-standard engine according to claim 1, wherein the distillation means comprises an after-heater for a second fluid reservoir consisting of a heat exchange coil whose inlet is immersed in the second fluid. . (3) The absorption means further includes a heat exchange means for absorbing absorption heat generated when the first fluid is absorbed by the second fluid, and the heat exchange means converts the external fluid into a solution. A closed cycle steam-based engine as claimed in claim 1, comprising heat exchange means for conducting into a heat exchange relationship. (4) The absorption unit further includes a counterflow heat exchanger for cooling the solvent flowing into the absorption means with a cooling solution produced by the absorption means, and the cooling solution is heated by the solvent and then distilled. 2. A closed cycle steaming standard engine according to claim 1, wherein the steaming standard engine returns to the vessel, thereby improving the thermal efficiency of the still. (5) comprising a first working fluid and a second solvent fluid, the first fluid having a first relatively low boiling point and the second fluid having a second relatively high boiling point and a first relatively high boiling point; a closed cycle system in which the fluid absorbed into the second fluid forms a third dissolved fluid and selectively evaporates the first fluid; still means for separating the first fluid from the second fluid leaving a second residual fluid within the still; and increasing the thermal energy of the vaporized first fluid from the still means. a mechanical expansion engine means downstream of the superheater means for converting thermal energy of a first fluid from the superheater means into mechanical energy; downstream, by absorbing the first fluid into the second fluid to form a third fluid;
an externally cooled absorption means that reduces back pressure on the first fluid from the mechanical expansion engine means and is externally cooled to substantially increase the efficiency of the absorption means; and delivering solvent to the absorption means. a closed cycle externally cooled absorption engine apparatus comprising heat exchange means for heating the solution from the absorption means before feeding the solution to the distillation means while recovering thermal energy from the solvent from the distillation means. (6) consisting of a first fluid having a relatively low boiling point as a working fluid and a second fluid having a relatively high boiling point as a solvent for the second fluid; obtaining a binary fluid system having a relatively high absorption capacity for one fluid and in which the mixed first fluid and second fluid form a three-fluid solution; a distiller, a superheater; enclosing the binary fluid system within a closed system consisting of mechanical expansion engine means, an absorption column and a heat exchanger; and distilling a third fluid within distiller means, thereby converting the first fluid into a second fluid. converting thermal energy in the working fluid into mechanical energy by creating a working fluid separately from the fluid; superheating the working fluid in superheater means; and passing the working fluid through mechanical expansion engine means. and absorbing the working fluid from the mechanical expansion engine means into the solvent from the distiller, thereby reducing back pressure on the mechanical expansion engine means and improving the efficiency of the mechanical expansion engine means. , A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. (7) The absorption step further includes improving the efficiency of the absorber means by externally cooling the absorber means by removing the absorbed heat generated during absorption of the working fluid into the solvent. A conversion method according to claim 6. (8) The absorption step further includes increasing the efficiency of the absorption means by cooling the solvent from the distillation means with the cooled solution from the absorption means, and correspondingly transferring the solution to the heat exchange means. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the efficiency of the still means is improved by heating the solution before feeding it to the still means within the distiller. (9) The conversion method of claim 8, wherein the heating step further comprises passing the solvent through an after-heater in the distiller before passing the solvent through the heat exchange means.