US20110025065A1

US20110025065A1 - Clean steam electric engine

Info

Publication number: US20110025065A1
Application number: US12/533,082
Authority: US
Inventors: Tewodros Mulugeta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-31
Filing date: 2009-07-31
Publication date: 2011-02-03

Abstract

A clean steam electric engine utilizes a unique insulated chamber with a steel cylinder to store thermal energy. The apparatus includes: insulated chamber to prevent heat lost to the outside, steel cylinder to store thermal energy, natural gas burner, heating element, a turbine to convert the thermal energy into kinetic energy, condenser coil with air conditioning unit to convert the steam back to water, steel container to store water from the condenser, electric pump to the pump water back to the cylinder to be converted back to steam, and steel container to store natural gas.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to steam engine, more specifically it relates to the energy source that was used to power the steam engine. Energy sources like coal, and nuclear are used today to generate steam to power steam engine. The present invention solves the energy source requirement by storing the electric energy produced from the generator as a heat form in the heating chamber. In the chamber the heating element heats the chamber by using the electric generated from the generator. The steel cylinder in the chamber stores the thermal energy that will be used by the system. This method not only efficient but is very clean and safe to human as well as to the environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
It can be appreciated that steam engine have been used effectively since the industrial revolution, especially for locomotive such as train, tractor, boats etc. Steams engine powered by coal and nuclear are still used today widely to produce electricity.
The main problem with conventional method is the fuel source. The fuels used to generate steam such as nuclear, and coal have adverse effect to the environment and human being. The fuel source used today not only bad to human health but also the raw material for the fuel has to always be mined from the ground and the raw material will eventually run out. The other problem with the conventional steam engine is the thermal waste. The way the system is designed, it does not require insulation to minimize heat lost, because the fuels used such as coal and nuclear are relatively inexpensive.
Attempts have been made to solve these problems by inventing a better method to generate electricity. For example wind, solar, and geothermal are good examples. These methods are much more efficient and clean than nuclear and coal but have some other limitations. Wind for example is clean, efficient, and uses renewable source, such as wind to produce electricity but wind blows sufficiently only at certain location. Solar is clean and efficient but it depends on the sun to produce electricity. Geothermal is clean source of energy but it can only be located at certain geographic location, where hot lava and water are present.
The present invention addresses the existing method problems by addressing the location, efficiency, health, and environmental problems. The system can be constructed anywhere without any problem to the environment. The system is also efficient, renewable, and clean. The system works by storing the electrical energy produced from the generator as thermal energy. The thermal energy is stored in the wall of the steel cylinder. Based on the application, the size and thickness of the steel cylinder can be small or large. Larger size steel cylinder will be able to store more energy. The thermal energy is then converted to mechanical energy in the turbine. Steam transfers the thermal energy from the cylinder to the turbine to be converted to mechanical energy to run the generator. The invention substantial departs from the conventional concept and designs, and in doing so dramatically improves steam engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problem and limitation in the known types of energy sources such as coal, oil, nuclear, wind, solar, and geo-thermal, the present invention addresses the problem and limitation by storing a thermal energy from a clean source such as electric generator and converting it to mechanical energy, without any adverse effect to the environment. The system is also not limited to certain geographic locations.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulated chamber provides a place for the steel cylinder by preventing heat loss to the outside. The heat generated from the heating element, heats the chamber to the safe temperature of 600 F. The heating element uses the electric generated from the generator. The steel cylinder in the chamber stores the thermal energy that will be converted to mechanical energy. To transfer the thermal energy, water is pumped to the cylinder. The water changes to steam in the cylinder to transfer the thermal energy to the turbine. The turbine converts the thermal energy to mechanical energy by turning the shaft that is attached to the turbine blades. The generator attached to shaft produce electricity as the shaft rotates.
In a further embodiment, the steam from the turbine goes to the condenser coil. The condenser coil condenses the steam back to water. The air conditioning unit makes the condensing process more efficient. The water from the condenser is collected in a steel container. The water in the container is then pumped to the steel cylinder. In the cylinder the water is converted back to steam. This process transfers thermal energy from the cylinder to the turbine to be converted to mechanical energy. The water pumped to the cylinder can be increased or lowered based on the energy requirement of the system. High-pressure water or large amount of water pumped to the cylinder increase the pressure inside the cylinder. This allows large amount of thermal energy to be transferred from the cylinder to the turbine. Steam with high pressure increases the turbine speed. The turbine speed can be lowered by decreasing the water pressure entering the cylinder.
In a further embodiment, the system requires energy source such as natural gas, and battery, to start the electric generator. The invention uses natural gas at the beginning to heat the chamber to 600 F to start system. When the system reaches 600 F, water is pumped to the cylinder to transfer the thermal energy to the turbine to run the generator. The electric generated from the generator will start heating the chamber along with the natural gas. When the heat generated from the generator reaches the optimal level, the heat from the natural gas will be turned off gradually because the heat from the heating element alone is sufficient to achieve the 600 F temperature required inside the steel cylinder. The opening on the bottom for combustion and the opening on top for exhaust will be closed after the system switches to the generator. This will allow the chamber to be completely insulated from the outside for maximum efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, Part A is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the air conditioning unit.

FIG. 1, Part B is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the condenser coil.

FIG. 1, Part C is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the steel cylinder and insulated chamber housing the cylinder. The chamber also includes 660 watt heating element, natural gas burner, air inlet on the bottom, and exhaust on top. The cylinder is attached to a steel pipe to bring water to the cylinder and take the steam form the cylinder to the turbine.

FIG. 1, Part D1 is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the steam turbine. Generators # 1 and #3 are attached to the turbine.

FIG. 1, Part E1 is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the smaller steam turbine. Generators # 2 and #4 are attached to the turbine.

FIG. 1, Part F is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the steel water container.

FIG. 1, Part G is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the water pump.

FIG. 1, Part H is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the natural gas container.

FIG. 2, Parts A, B, C, F, G, and H are similar to FIG. 1 drawing. Therefore description not required.

FIG. 2, Part D2, E2, are simplified cross-sectional side view of the cylinder, piston, connecting rod, shaft, and generators attached to #1, #2, #3, and #4.

FIG. 2, Part I, is a simplified cross-sectional side view of the steam distribution apparatus. The unit includes rotating device, L shape moving device connecting the rotating part to the steel rod, connecting rod, and four valves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described below with reference to the drawing; similar parts of the invention are referenced with similar number throughout. The drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, nor do they show all the various part of the invention but they merely show certain features and elements to provide enabling description of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, Part C of the invention, the insulated chamber includes: a steel cylinder, heating element, gas burner, air inlet on the bottom, exhaust on top, intake steel pipe to bring pressurized water to the steel cylinder, steel pipe for transferring steam to the turbine, several layer of insulation to insulate the chamber from the outside to prevent heat loss.
Referring again to FIG. 1, Part C, of the steel cylinder of the prototype, the steel cylinder has a total volume of 301,907 cubic centimeters (3.14*31 cm*31 cm*100 cm). The steel material that makes up the cylinder has a volume of 76,614 cubic centimeters (3.14*31 cm*31 cm*3 cm*2+195 cm*100 cm*3 cm). The 3 cm thick cylinder will be able to withstand high pressure as well as store sufficient thermal energy. The 76,614 cubic centimeters of steel cylinder will be able to store sufficient thermal energy to run the internal part of the system as well as outside such as running a generator, water pump, and locomotive. The 76,614 cubic centimeters of steel cylinder weighs 594,678 g (76,614 cubic cm*7.762 g/cubic cm). The density of steel is 7.762 g/cubic centimeters.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, once the chamber has been well insulated the steel cylinder was heated using 660 watt heating element. The data on FIG. 3 shows the time it took to increase the temperature of steel cylinder from low temperature of 200 F to high temperature of 700 F. It took 5 hours and 18 minutes to increase the temperature of the heating chamber with 680 g of steel cylinder to 700 F. The data on FIG. 3 also shows the time it took to reach the given temperature every 100 F interval. The chamber with 680 g of steel cylinder for example took 34 minutes and 50 seconds to reach 200 F, and 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds to reach 300 F, the rest of the data is shown on FIG. 3. If the steel cylinder weighs 594,678 g it will take approximately 3,411 hr (594,678 g*234 min/680 g*1 hr/60 min) using 660 watt of heating element to increase the temperature of the steel cylinder to 600 F. The 3,411 hr can be lower or higher when the actual experiment is carried out. After the time has been determined, the second experiment was carried out to find the rate of temperature increase at that specific temperature as shown on FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the temperature reading from the prototype and the calculation to find the rate of temperature increase (Degree Fahrenheit/Second) at that specific temperature. The calculation shows rate of temperature increase (Degree Fahrenheit/Second) at 200 F, 300 F, 400 F, 500 F, 600 F, and 700 F. At a high temperature the prototype insulation did not perform properly (it did not prevent large amount of heat loss to the outside). Increasing the layer of insulation or using different material will solve this problem. To prevent distortion, the data (rate of temp increase) at 600 F and 700 F were omitted from the power output calculation. The rates of temperature increase that were used for the power output calculation were 0.13 F/Sec at 200 F, 0.20 F/Sec at 300 F, 0.24 F/Sec at 400 F, and 0.29 F/Sec at 500 F. The rate of change 0.27 F/Sec at 600 F and 0.26 F/Sec at 700 F were omitted to prevent distortion to power output calculation.
Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 shows the power released at various temperature. To calculate the power released at give temperature, specific heat of steel (J/gk), the weight of the steel cylinder (g), and the rate of temperature increase (K/sec) were used. At a low temperature of 200 F, the power released from the steel cylinder is 20,148 watt (J/sec). At a high temperature of 1,355 F, the power released is 773,081 watt (J/sec). The system will run at 600 F to avoid structural failure of the steel cylinder. Steel starts loosing strength at 572 F and starts increasing after 752 F, by 1,022 F steel losses about 40% of it room temperature strength. This temperature (550 F or 1,022 F) is also known as the critical temperature of steel. After the steel cylinder reach a temperature of 600 F, water is pumped to the cylinder to carry the thermal energy from the cylinder to the steam turbine. In the turbine the thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy to run the generator. As the thermal energy is transferred to the turbine for mechanical work the system will reach equilibrium (the energy produced equal the energy used) and the temperature in the cylinder will stop going up. When the system is run at 600 F, 61,121 watt (J/Sec) of power has to be transferred from the cylinder to the turbine to keep the temperature at 600 F, as shown on FIG. 5, A. The equilibrium can be set at a lower or higher temperature depending on the system energy requirement but it is not recommended to go to a high temperature to avoid structural failure. Also the system cannot run at a lower temperature, for example around 300 F, because steam with enough power cannot be produced at this temperature.
Referring again to FIG. 5, the actual energy output can be calculated by taking into account the efficiency of the system. For example conservatively, if 75% of the energy stored in the steel cylinder can be transferred to the turbine and if 80% of the energy that reaches the steam turbine can be converted to mechanical energy and if the generator attached to the turbine is 60% efficient, the actual energy output of the system can be computed using these percentages. If the system temperature is set at 600 F the total power available for use is 61,121 watt, as shown on FIG. 5, Item A. By using the efficiency percentage the actual power output of the system is 22,004 watt (61,121*0.75*0.80*0.60). The actual power output of 22,004 watt can be higher or lower because of possible change to the efficiency percentage used. If 6,000 watt is used to run the internal part of the system (2,000 watt for running the water pump, 2,000 watt to heat the chamber, and 2,000 watt to power the air conditioning unit) the rest of the power 16,004 watt can be used for outside use such as electric power generation and run water pump for irrigation. The power output of the system can be increased by increasing the size and thickness of the steel chamber, by using a better insulation, and by using high power heating element to heat the chamber, for example using 1,000 watt heating element instead of 660 watt used for the prototype.
Referring to FIG. 1, Part D1 and E1, the steam generated in the steel cylinder is converted to mechanical or kinetic energy when it reaches the steam turbine (D1). Steam turbines are made in verity of size ranging from 1 Hp (750 w) to 2,000,000 Hp (1,500,000 Kw) and efficiency ranging form 20% to 95%. The efficiency of the turbine can be improved by insulating the turbine. The mechanical energy from the turbine can be used to run several generators. The internal part of the system can run with 11,002 watt (of 11,002 watt, 6,000 watt is used to run the internal part of the system, and the rest 5,002 watt will be used for outside application) of generator that is mounted on part D1, #1, and another generator with 11,002 watt output can also be mounted on part D1, #3 to run other application. If the first turbine (D1) is not very efficient a second turbine (E1) can be installed to run with exhaust steam from the first turbine (D1). The mechanical energy from the second turbine can also be used to run generators for other application. If the first turbine is very efficient it would not be necessary to build a second turbine, because the exhaust steam from the first turbine will not have enough power to run a second turbine.
Referring to FIG. 1, Part B, A, F, and G, these parts of the system are used for condensing the steam back to water and pumping it back to the steel cylinder. Part B of the system is copper or steel condensing coil. The exhaust steam from the turbine goes through the coil to be condensed back to water. The air conditioning unit (Part A) blows cold air on the condenser coil to make the condensing process more efficient. Other method can also be used to cool the condenser coil, such as cool air or water from the outside. Once the steam has been condensed back to water it is collected in a steel container (Part F). The water collected in the container is then pumped back to the steel cylinder by using an electric pump (Part G). The pump can pressurize the water up to 1,500 PSI. The pressure of the water can be changed based on the system energy requirement. If large amount of water is needed to transfer the thermal energy from the steel cylinder to the turbine, the setting on pump can be increased to higher pressure.
Referring to FIG. 1, Part H, the system can use different energy sources to start the electric generator such as natural gas and battery. The energy source has to be able to heat the chamber and the steel cylinder up to 600 F to run the internal part of the system as well as other application. Once the generator starts running the electric generated from the generator can be used to heat the chamber instead of the natural gas, and the natural gas can be turned off gradually. The container (Part H) will store sufficient natural gas to start the system.
Referring to FIG. 2, Part A, B, C, F, G, H are similar to FIG. 1 therefore explanation of the parts not required, but Part D2, E2, and I are different from FIG. 1. The system displayed on FIG. 2 shows two cylinders and two pistons instead of turbine for converting thermal energy of the steam to mechanical energy. A distribution apparatus (Part I) is used to distribute steam to the proper cylinder to rotate the shaft. As the shaft rotate it runs the generators (FIG. 2, #1, #2, #3, and #4) that are attached to the shaft. The distribution unit (Part I) can be powered using steam or electric. As the device rotates it opens and closes the proper valves to distribute steam to the proper cylinder (Part D2, E2). When the steam reaches the cylinder it moves the piston. The shaft that is attached to piston rotates as the piston move. This process converts the thermal energy of the steam to mechanical energy to run the generators attached to the shaft.

Claims

1. Insulated chamber apparatus with steel cylinder for use in storing thermal energy for steam engine, comprising: gas burner, air inlet, exhaust, heating element, steel pipe to bring pressurized water to the cylinder, and steel pipe to transfer steam to the turbine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the structure housing the steel cylinder is completely insulated to prevent heat loss to the outside. The system does not require air to operate therefore opening to the outside not required except at the beginning, for combustion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the system uses natural gas at the beginning. This process requires an opening for air on the bottom and exhaust on top for combustion. After the system start running the generator takes over and opening to the chamber not required.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: after the initial stage, the electric generated from the generator is used to heat the chamber. The heat from the natural gas can be turned off gradually.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the steel cylinder at a safe temperature of 600 F will be able to store sufficient thermal energy to run the internal part of the system, as well as other outside applications such as water pump, generator, and locomotive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the size and thickness of the steel cylinder determine the amount of thermal energy stored for use. The steel cylinder can be small or large based on the energy requirement of the system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the thermal energy stored in the steel cylinder is transferred to turbine to be converted to mechanical or kinetic energy to run the generator. Water is pumped to the cylinder to transfer the thermal energy to the turbine by converting the water to steam. The steam carries the thermal energy to the turbine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: from the turbine the steam goes to the condenser coil to be condensed back to water. The excess heat from the condenser can be used to heat water and building. Also the heat can be used to boil water for filtration. The air conditioning unit keeps the condenser coil cool to make the process more efficient. The water from the condenser is collected in the steel container. The water pump attached to the container pumps the water from the container back to the cylinder. In the cylinder the water is converted back to steam to carry the thermal energy to the turbine.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 uses turbine to convert the thermal energy to mechanical energy. The thermal energy can also be converted to mechanical energy by using piston and cylinder. To make this process possible the distribution apparatus distributes steam to the proper cylinder. This allows the piston to move. As the piston moves it does rotate the shaft. The generator attached to the shaft produced electricity as the shaft rotate.

10. The electric generated from the apparatus can also be used to run other application such as a capacitor to store the electrons and release it to produce a kinetic energy. This energy can be harnessed to move or fly an object.