UA102562C2 - Device for receiving mechanical work from nonthermal energy source - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to atmospheric engines. The engine comprises a body, executive mechanism with working chamber with varying volume, and kinematical pair with possibility of reciprocal motion with respect to the body, and systems for filling and evacuation the working chamber, mechanism for transformation of mechanical energy to the other forms of energy, and de-compensation vacuum chamber with vacuum pump where executive mechanism is placed. The executive mechanism can be arranged as two opposing silphons, or as a cylinder-piston group of 2 opposing cylinders. Movable end surfaces of those are rigidly attached to the rods and are connected into a kinematical pair with possibility of synchronous reciprocal motion. The executive mechanism can be arranged as two membranes connected to each other with one rod. The engine promotes transformation of pressure drop between environment and vacuum to energy.

Description

The device belongs to the field of mechanical engineering, in particular to the development of engines that use an external energy supply to generate mechanical work, and may be used to create engines, as well as combined autonomous power units, to provide electrical power, in particular, in high-altitude conditions and for space vehicles , working in outer space.

Atmospheric engines are known, the principle of operation of which is based on the use of atmospheric pressure as an external source of non-thermal energy, which is transformed into mechanical work.

For example, a device in which atmospheric pressure is used to obtain mechanical work contains a classic cylinder-piston group of two pistons connected by a common rod, which move reciprocatingly in stationary cylinders, while the reciprocating stroke of the rod is transmitted to the main shaft by means of a ratchet mechanism (patent B 2 023746 A, GO1 B dated February 29, 1980).

The disadvantage of such a device is the complexity of the design, in which the transmission of mechanical work by the ratchet mechanism to the main shaft, through a closed vacuum shell, does not make it possible to obtain an acceptable coefficient of effectiveness (hereinafter - efficiency) for the practical use of this device.

A known device in which, to obtain mechanical work, atmospheric pressure is used as an external energy source (patent application OE 41 31 627 AT, BO18 29/02, 03/25/1993).

Such a device consists of a stationary cylinder in which a piston connected to a crank by means of a connecting rod moves reciprocatingly. The atmosphere is pumped in and pumped out through channels made in the closed end of the cylinder.

The disadvantage of this device is that, as shown by bench tests of a similar device conducted by the authors of the stated technical solution, when the frequency of the reciprocating movement of the piston is increased above 3 hertz (180 revolutions per minute) in the area of the open part of the cylinder, where the piston is in contact with the air environment , atmospheric pressure on the outer side of the end surface of the piston begins to fall, which leads to a sharp decrease in the efficiency of the device. This is due to the turbulent processes occurring with the air environment in the well of the open part of the cylinder. That is, this device cannot

З to be used to obtain electrical energy by generators at a standard frequency з

Efficiency acceptable for practical use.

The closest to the proposed one is a device in which, to obtain mechanical work (in particular, moving the load, relative to the supporting and subceiling surfaces), atmospheric pressure is used as an external energy source (patent OA Mo 89112, B650 7/00, 2009, and also EAPO patent No. 013312, 2010).

Such a device consists of a support installed on the sub-ceiling surface, a platform with a supporting surface, a loading platform rigidly connected to the moving load, a working chamber with a working environment made in the form of a bellows with an elastic side surface, which is rigidly connected by its upper base to the supporting surface, and the lower base - with a loading platform. The working chamber is connected to the means of pumping through the exhaust valve, and to the system of entering the working medium - through the inlet valve. The device also provides a closed cycle of movement of the working medium. At the same time, a moving load or a crank mechanism with a rotating shaft can be rigidly attached to the lower base of the working chamber.

This device, although it consumes additional external energy for pumping and filling systems, has significant advantages compared to analogues, as it is technologically and structurally simpler than similar devices, which favorably distinguishes it in terms of practical application possibilities.

However, its disadvantage is that this device cannot work effectively in high-altitude conditions and in open space, due to reduced pressure or the complete absence of an atmosphere, as well as at high altitudes, due to low atmospheric pressure, in which the efficiency is significantly reduced device.

The object of the claimed invention is to improve the known device for obtaining mechanical work, in which, by modifying its design, the possibility of its operation in environmental conditions is ensured, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption to support the operation of the device with maximum efficiency. As a result, the productivity of the device as a whole increases and the scope of its application expands.

The task is solved by the fact that the device for obtaining mechanical work from a source of non-thermal energy contains a housing with a working mechanism located inside it, a system of inlet and vacuum pumping of the working medium, and an executive mechanism that contains a moving working element and converts non-thermal energy of the working medium into useful work The working mechanism of the device includes a working chamber with a variable volume, connected through inlet and outlet valves with systems of inlet and vacuum pumping of the working medium, part of the surface of which is made movable, with the possibility of its reciprocating movement under the influence of the pressure of the working medium, and rigidly with connected to a rod kinematically connected to the moving working element of the executive mechanism.

The claimed device is distinguished by the fact that it additionally contains a vacuum decompensation chamber (hereinafter - VKD) with a vacuum pump, and its working mechanism contains an additional similar working chamber with a variable volume, coaxial with the first working chamber.

At the same time, the moving parts of the surface of both working chambers are oppositely located inside

VKD, and their movable end surfaces are rigidly connected to each other by a single rod, with the possibility of simultaneous synchronous reciprocating movement with a constant force on the rod.

The working end of the rod is hermetically removed from the VKD housing and is connected to the moving working element of the executive mechanism of the device.

The moving parts of the surface of both working chambers can be made: - in the form of a bellows, with a closed working end that hermetically contacts the fixed part of the working chamber surface; - or in the form of a hollow cylinder with a closed working end, which hermetically contacts with the stationary part of the surface of the working chamber, with the possibility of sliding reciprocating movement relative to it; - or in the form of a flexible membrane that hermetically contacts the fixed part of the surface of the working chamber.

As an executive mechanism of the claimed device, a linear generator of electric current or a crank mechanism can be used, the torque of the crankshaft of which is subsequently converted into electrical energy or into mechanical work.

Thus, the main principle underlying the functioning of the claimed device is the creation of a force gradient due to the pressure difference in the working mechanism of the device, in this case - an artificially created vacuum environment inside the VKD, which gives

The ability to use atmospheric pressure to generate mechanical work with further conversion into electrical energy or useful work.

Opposite working chambers with a variable volume, made in several alternative technical solutions described above, work in the claimed device on the same physical principle, namely: - the moving parts of the surface of the chambers are always in a vacuum, which is constantly maintained in the VKD: a) in in the case of work in the atmosphere or another environment - a vacuum pump; b) in the case of work in open space - by natural continuous pumping through the open holes of the VKD; - the movable ends of the chambers perform reciprocating motion under the influence of atmospheric pressure due to the pressure difference in the VKD and in the working chamber.

In the claimed device, a fundamentally different, compared to, for example, internal combustion engines (ICE), scheme of operation of the working mechanism is laid, which can perform useful work only in the presence of two opposite working chambers, which make up a power pair connected by a rod. A power pair of two chambers forms a single whole, in which the moving parts of the surface of the chambers are in the LCD in a vacuum, have the ability to move freely under the influence of the pressure of the external environment, in this case - the atmosphere, which is cyclically pumped into the working chamber, and the pressure on the outer surface of the moving its end is compensated due to constant pumping of the VKD.

The movable end surface of the working chamber is not subjected to the compensating pressure of the external environment - the atmosphere from the outside, and, in the stroke of the atmospheric entry (which occurs naturally when the intake valve is opened), the working chamber makes a working stroke, increasing to its maximum size. At the same time, the opposite working chamber at this time is in the pumping stage and does not resist the movement of the movable end surface of the first working chamber, shrinking to a minimum size under the action of the rod, that is, the idling cycle passes for it.

Thus, the energy costs for the production of the working cycle of the device will be required only for the operation of the vacuum pumps for pumping out the working chambers, during their idling, and maintaining the necessary vacuum in the LCD when working in the atmosphere or other environments.

Energy costs for vacuum pumping of working chambers can be significantly reduced due to the use of a receiver of the required volume, which is calculated for the given useful power of the device that is given.

According to the Boyle-Marriott law, the ratio of the product of the pressure Pi on the volume Mi of the working chamber to the product of the pressure P» on the volume U2 of the receiver, at a constant temperature, will be:

RiMi - RaM2 (1) respectively:

Re - RiM/M2, (2).

From which it follows that in order to maintain a pressure in the receiver approximately 100 times less than in the working chamber with the exhaust valve open with minimal energy expenditure for pumping, it is necessary to have a volume M" 100 times greater than the volume Mi. At the same time, the pumping speed of the vacuum pump must be greater than the speed of the inflow of the working medium - atmosphere or gaseous medium from the working chamber into the receiver.

Thus, the increased energy consumption of the device is required only during the start-up period for preliminary pumping by the vacuum system of the working mechanism, receiver and LCD. When the device enters the working mode, the energy consumption of the pumping system is significantly reduced, since the pumping system, in this case, works only to maintain the specified pressure difference in the working chamber and the receiver.

The claimed device can work in a closed cycle, i.e. without air intake and exhaust, while the working medium introduced into the working chambers, such as inert gas, is pumped and pumped by the pumped system in a closed circuit using a pre-dilution receiver, as shown above.

In this case, the total energy consumption of the pumping system may increase, but in this case the efficiency of the claimed device will not depend on the height above sea level, which is a significant advantage. At the same time, the working mechanism of the device does not emit spent working medium into the environment, that is, the device is environmentally friendly.

The presence of a vacuum in the LCD eliminates the resistance of the external environment to the working parts

From the moving mechanism, which allows you to use working chambers with end surfaces of large diameter and any shape - flat, concave or roundly curved outwards, and choose the optimal shapes to obtain the maximum useful power output.

To ensure long-term operation of the claimed device in open space, it is very important to minimize the presence of rubbing vapors in it. For this purpose, in the proposed design of the device, a form of execution of the movable end surfaces of the working chambers is proposed in the form of at least two membranes of elastic material, for example, of rubber made on the basis of nanotechnology. It is in such conditions that the use of the claimed device, the use of membranes, as an alternative implementation of the moving parts of the surface of the working chambers, in contrast to their implementation in the form of a hollow cylinder with a closed working end, is preferable because it significantly simplifies the design and reduces the weight of the device.

In addition, such an alternative solution has the possibility of placing several additional membranes sequentially attached to the rod on one and the other side of the LCD, which will significantly increase the power of the power couple without changing the radial dimensions of the device.

The working chambers formed in this way are filled and pumped out synchronously through a single system of pumping and inlet valves, so the force of the membranes acting synchronously on the rod is composed accordingly.

In open space, the energy consumption to support the operation of the device with the maximum efficiency will be minimal, relative to the useful power given, since the pumping of the KCD, in this case, does not require energy costs.

The claimed device can also work in a water environment, while vacuum water ring pumps or other means of pumping liquids must be used to pump out the external medium - liquid, depending on the intended use of the device.

As follows from the above, the claimed alternative implementations of the moving parts of the camera surface with a variable volume of the working mechanism of the device do not violate the principle of the unity of the invention. Since, in any of the claimed alternative embodiments, the working chambers perform the same function, they work in the claimed device on the same physical principle, when the movable ends of the chambers, regardless of the form of their implementation, perform reciprocating movements under the influence of atmospheric pressure due to the pressure difference in the LCD and in the working chamber. And, in combination with other structural elements of the device, they equally contribute to the achievement of the same technical result when using the device - obtaining mechanical work from an external source of non-thermal energy.

Alternative executions of the moving parts of the surface of the working chambers are caused exclusively by the special conditions in which the claimed device can be used, as well as by the manufacturing technology and the necessary resource of the device as a power plant.

That will allow you to flexibly use it depending on the purpose.

Thus, the design of the claimed device with the implementation of moving parts of the surface of its working chambers in the form of bellows can be economically used for the generation of electric current of small and medium capacities for non-industrial purposes - for powering houses, household appliances, etc.

The design of the claimed device with the implementation of moving parts of the surface of its working chambers in the form of hollow cylinders can be used for industrial purpose generators with a design generated power from 50 kW to 2-10 MW.

The design of the claimed device with the implementation of moving parts of the surface of its working chambers in the form of flexible membranes can be used in mobile small-sized generators for various purposes, in particular in special conditions of space or water space, as already mentioned above.

In general, the principle in the claimed device is that, as indicated above, the artificially created vacuum environment in the VKD creates a change in the balance of the forces of two environments acting on the moving end surfaces of the working chambers - atmosphere and vacuum. That is, the external environment, in this case atmospheric pressure, when the atmosphere enters the working chamber is a source of force that activates the device. Thus, in this case, the diametrically opposite physical principle is used, in contrast to the principle of operation of internal combustion engines, closed pneumatic and hydraulic systems, in which the working medium with increased pressure, reaching 107 Pa, is the source of force that controls the working and executive mechanisms of the device .

The claimed device works in the mode of a one-stroke cycle, in which each stroke of the power pair is working with a constant uniform force on the rod. That is, any movement of the power pair back and forth is a working stroke, in contrast to the classic two- and four-stroke cycles of internal combustion engines, in which the pistons move in an opposing pair towards each other.

This makes it possible to effectively use linear generators in the claimed device as converters of mechanical energy into electrical energy, which, in turn, allows, if it is necessary to operate the device in non-standard conditions, to exclude the crank and connecting rod executive mechanism as a link of the kinematic scheme of the device, and therefore to simplify the kinematics of the device and increase the output power at the same given parameters.

Thus, the totality of the claimed features of the invention is necessary and sufficient to solve the problem.

The scheme of the claimed device is presented in the drawings, where the moving parts of the surface of both working chambers are made:

Fig. 1 - in the form of a bellows, with a closed working end, which hermetically contacts the stationary part of the surface of the working chamber;

Fig. 2 - in the form of a hollow cylinder with a closed working end, which hermetically contacts with the stationary part of the surface of the working chamber, with the possibility of sliding reciprocating movement relative to it;

Fig. C - in the form of a flexible membrane that hermetically contacts the fixed part of the surface of the working chamber.

The claimed device contains (see Fig. 1, or Fig. 2, or Fig. 3) contains left 1 and right working chambers with a variable volume with movable working ends, respectively, 2 and 2a, which are rigidly connected to each other by a single by a rod 3, the working end 4 of which is hermetically brought out of the VKD housing 5 and kinematically connected to the moving element of the executive mechanism (not shown in the diagrams), which transforms the non-thermal energy of the working environment into useful work.

The moving parts of the surface of both working chambers are oppositely located inside the VKD 5, which also houses the vacuum pump 6.

The system of inlet and vacuum pumping of the working medium includes inlet 7 and outlet 8 valves of the left working chamber and corresponding valves 7a and va of the right working chamber, receiver 9 and vacuum pump 10.

At the same time, the inlet and outlet valves are made in the fixed parts of the working chambers, because they are located outside the VDC 5 (the contour of the VDC 5 on the diagrams is conditionally highlighted with a thick line).

The working chambers 1 and 1a are connected to different air intake systems through valves 7 and 7ai and to one pumping system through valves 8 and va, receiver 9 and vacuum pump 10.

All the drawings show an open working medium circulation scheme for each vacuum working chamber, that is, it is made for the operation of the power couple of the device on an open circuit with direct admission of the atmosphere - working medium - through valves 7 and 7a into the working chamber and pumping of the working medium into the environment through valves 8 and into receiver 9 and vacuum pump 10.

The device works as follows.

In the initial position, the receiver 9 and VKD 5 are pumped up to a pressure of Ро - 10-2 Pa and are constantly pumped out by vacuum pumps 10 and 6. At the beginning of the cycle, the pump-out valve 8 and the intake valve 7а are opened, and the intake valves 7 and the intake valve VA are closed. At the same time, the moving ends of both working chambers synchronously move towards the compression of the working volume of the left chamber 1 under the influence of atmospheric pressure on the inner moving end surface of the right working chamber and which begins to fill with atmosphere through the filter of the open valve 7a, making a working stroke. The left working chamber 1 is pumped through the open valve 8.

After that, the pump-out valve 8 and inlet valve 7a are closed, and the pump-out valves va and inlet valve 7 are opened. At the same time, the movable ends of both working chambers move synchronously in the direction of compression of the working volume of the right chamber under the action of atmospheric pressure on the end surface of the left working chamber 1, which is filled with atmosphere through the valve filter 7.

That is, the movable end of the left chamber 1 makes a working stroke, and the right working chamber is compressed without resistance, since it is pumped to a pressure equal to the pressure in the vacuum decompensation chamber 5. At the same time, the force of the movable end of the left chamber 1, through - rod 3, is transmitted to the moving working element of the executive mechanism of the device, which is kinematically connected to the working end 4 of the rod 3, and which converts the non-thermal energy of the working environment into useful work.

After that, the exhaust valves 8 and inlet 7a are opened again, and the exhaust valves va and inlet 7 are closed, and the cycle is repeated. That is, now the right camera

Zo carries out a working stroke during the movement of the movable ends of both chambers in the opposite direction of compression of the working volume of the left chamber. In this way, a one-stroke cycle is carried out, in which each stroke of the power pair from two chambers is working.

On Fig. 1st Fig. 2 presents the moment of operation of the device, when the power pair of two chambers is inside the cycle of the working stroke, that is, when the right and left working chambers have the same volume.

In Fig. 3 presents the moment of operation of the device, when the power couple is at the end of the stroke of the working stroke of the left working chamber, that is, when the left 1 and right 1a working chambers at this point have the maximum and minimum volumes, respectively.

That is, the opposite moving end parts of the surface of both working chambers, forming a single structure, move synchronously in one direction during the stroke, providing a continuous working stroke in time with a constant force on the rod in one direction, and continuing the other working stroke with a constant force in the other direction , i.e. on a single-cycle cycle.

In order to ensure the possibility of cyclic, periodically returning to the initial position, movement of the movable ends of the working chambers under the influence of atmospheric pressure Rat, or the pressure of another external environment in which the power pair is located, it is necessary to provide sequential rapid pumping to the pressure:

Ro « (107 - 1072) Rath and inflow of the working medium to the pressure Ri - Rath into the working chambers of the power pair.

This is achieved due to the fact that the working chambers of the power pair are connected to the systems of inlet and outlet of the working medium through inlet and outlet valves located at their fixed ends.

In turn, ensuring the possibility of a rapid change in pressure in each working chamber allows to obtain a continuous cyclic process of movement of the moving ends of the power pair, which performs work on a one-stroke vacuum-atmospheric cycle. At the same time, the force acting on the moving end is constant in magnitude along the entire length of the working stroke and is determined only by the area of the moving end surface of the chamber and the difference between the external and internal pressure in the chambers.

To reduce energy losses and losses of the working environment, as well as to ensure the possibility of working in open space, the pumping system can be connected to the inlet system, thereby ensuring a closed cycle of movement of the working environment. At the same time, a gas with optimal parameters (for example, hydrogen, helium, argon, etc.) is selected as the working medium for efficient pumping of the working chambers by the selected types of pumps.

The presence of a power pair of two oppositely located working chambers, which are rigidly fastened by a single rod, allows to ensure a constant force in time during the cycle, which ensures smooth operation of the device nodes without jerks and vibrations.

At the same time, the balance of the useful power consumed by the pumping and inlet systems, and the useful power supplied to the rod by the power pair, is determined by the speeds of the pumping systems of the working chamber and the systems of pumping the working medium into the chamber, as well as the number of cycles per unit of time.

In the case of an alternative execution of the moving parts of the surface of both working chambers in the form of flexible membranes, the attachment of the membrane to the fixed part of the surface of the working chamber can be vacuum-tight, rigidly fixed or sliding, and is determined by the design feasibility of the device.

The possibility of vacuum-tight sliding movement of the membranes along the walls of the LCD makes it possible to increase the useful volume of the working chamber to the specified calculated dimensions, and, accordingly, the output power at other specified device parameters.

As mentioned above, the claimed device can also work in a closed cycle, i.e. without air inlet and outlet.

When working on a closed circuit of the working environment, the power couple can perform increased work relative to the basic cycle, for example, double during one cycle. This can happen under the condition that the vacuum pump, when pumping out the first working chamber, will provide at the outlet in the intermediate receiver such a pressure Pi of the working medium, which, when entering the opposite working chamber, will exceed, for example, twice the atmospheric pressure of the external environment Ragm At the same time, the pressure RO in the first chamber during idling should be provided by means of pumping at the level

Ro x (107-107) Rat, which is constantly maintained in the decompensation chamber. In this case, each working chamber has a continuous working stroke with a double force on the rod.

At the same time, the work of the power couple Asp, which it can perform in the event that Res - Rat - Ri

Ko) will be equal to:

Asp - 2KRatO-I, (3) where: K - n/4 - 0.785 r - the effective diameter of the surface of the movable end of the camera;

Y - the length of the working stroke of the moving end of the camera.

In the event that Ri is 2Rvs and Ro is x10-2-10-7 Rvs, the power couple performs work that is equal to:

Asp - 4KRvsO-I, (4)

Example.

The working chamber, in any of the declared alternative versions, has a cylindrical shape, so its maximum volume M (mu) will be equal to:

M - KOYAI, (5) where: p - effective diameter of the cross-section of the chamber, m;

Y - the length of the working chamber, which is equal to the distance between the upper and lower points of the movement of its moving end, m.

If the chamber is in a vacuum, then the force E of atmospheric pressure Rat (Pa) on the end effective area of its surface 5 (m) will be equal to:

ES Rag5, (6) or:

E - KRatO-, (7)

If the working chamber is filled with atmospheric air to the pressure of Rat, then the work A (J) performed by it under the influence of atmospheric pressure will be equal to:

A - K RatO-I, (8)

If the volume of the working chamber is 1 liter, then at normal atmospheric pressure Rat - 101325 Pa, its moving end in one cycle, without taking into account possible losses, can perform work A - 101 J.

And, accordingly, a power couple can perform the work Asp - 202 J in one cycle.

Cyclic pressure change in the working chamber from Rat - 1.01-105 Pa to 1.01-105-1.01-102 Pa provides the possibility of reciprocating movement of the moving ends of the power pair relative to the device body due to an external energy source - atmospheric pressure , i.e. to perform continuous work regardless of the time of day and weather conditions.

The application of the claimed device for obtaining mechanical work from an external energy source will allow the creation of economical vacuum-atmospheric energy modules with increased efficiency and powerful engines with low fuel consumption, which will provide significant fuel savings for combined autonomous gasoline and diesel power plants at the same output power.

The closed circuit of the movement of the working environment in the stated device excludes emissions into the atmosphere, which ensures environmentally friendly operation of the device in the atmosphere and the possibility of working in the conditions of high mountains and open space.

Claims (3)

FORMULA OF THE INVENTION 1. A device for obtaining mechanical work from a source of non-thermal energy, containing a housing with a working mechanism located inside it, a system of inlet and vacuum pumping of the working medium, and an executive mechanism containing a moving element and converting the non-thermal energy of the working medium into useful work, while the working mechanism includes a working chamber with a variable volume, connected through inlet and outlet valves with systems of inlet and vacuum pumping of the working medium, part of the surface of which is made movable, with the possibility of its reciprocating movement under the influence of the pressure of the working medium, and rigidly with connected to a rod kinematically connected to the moving element of the executive mechanism, which is characterized by the fact that the device additionally contains a vacuum decompensation chamber with a vacuum pump, and its working mechanism contains an additional similar working chamber with a variable volume, coaxial with the first working chamber, while the movable parts of the surface of both robots of the chambers are oppositely located inside the vacuum decompensation chamber, and their movable end surfaces are rigidly connected to each other by a single rod with the possibility of synchronous reciprocating movement with a constant force on the rod, the working end of which is hermetically brought out of the vacuum decompensation chamber housing and connected to the movable working element executive mechanism of the device. 2. The device according to claim 1, which is characterized by the fact that the moving parts of the surface of each working chamber are made in the form of a bellows with a closed working end that is in hermetic contact with a stationary part of the surface of the working chamber, or in the form of a hollow cylinder with a closed working end that is in hermetic contact with a fixed part of the surface of the working chamber with the possibility of sliding back and forth movement relative to it, or in the form of a flexible membrane that hermetically contacts the fixed part of the surface of the working chamber. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, which differs in that a linear generator of electric current or a crank mechanism is used as an executive mechanism, the torque of the crankshaft of which is subsequently converted into electrical energy or mechanical work.