WO2011036636A1

WO2011036636A1 - Thermal motor system

Info

Publication number: WO2011036636A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/054302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Sermenghi
Original assignee: Bruno Sermenghi
Priority date: 2009-09-28
Filing date: 2010-09-24
Publication date: 2011-03-31
Also published as: ITBO20090618A1; EP2483544A1

Abstract

A thermal motor system comprises a combustion chamber connected to an accumulating chamber of the fluid produced by combustion by a control valve. A fluid actuator is driven by an operating fluid coming from the accumulating chamber. The combustion chamber has a fixed volume and does not contain elements moved by the fluid produced by combustion.

Description

Background of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a thermal motor system, in particular for transforming thermal energy into mechanical energy with great efficiency.

[0002] Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention can be usefully applied to make an integrated cogeneration system.

Summary of the invention

[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a high- efficiency thermal motor system.

[0004] An advantage is to make an integrated high- efficiency cogeneration system.

[0005] An advantage is to provide a motor system which is constructionally simple and cheap.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention, the thermal motor system comprises a combustion chamber connected to an accumulating chamber of the fluid produced by combustion via a control valve; a fluid actuator^* is driven by an operating fluid coming from the accumulating chamber; the combustion chamber has a fixed volume and doesn't contains any mechanical element moved by the fluid produced by combustion.

[0007] The thermal motor system can be used to make an integrated system for producing and consuming one or more forms of energy (in particular mechanical energy) , starting from one or more sources of energy (for example a fossil-fuel source and/or renewable source) .

[0008] Such objects and advantages, and still others, are achieved by the motor system according to any one of the claims set out below.

Brief description of the drawings

[0009] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate two non-limiting embodiments thereof.

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram of a first example of a thermal motor system.

[0011] Figure 2 is a diagram of a second example of a thermal motor system.

Detailed description

[0012] With reference to figure 1, with 1, 2 and 3 there are shown three combustion chambers/ with 4 an accumulating chamber (storage unit for containing pressurised fluid) , with 5 a liquid fuel tank, with 6 the supplying devices (injectors) of gaseous fuel, with 7 the supplying devices (injectors) of liquid fuel, with 8 the combustion ignition devices, with 9 the detecting devices of one or more chemical"physical parameters (for example temperature and pressure) in the combustion chambers, with 10 the supplying devices (injectors) of a non combustible liquid (for example water) , with 11 a tank of non combustible liquid (water) , with 12 a detecting device of one or more chemical-physical parameters (for example temperature and pressure) in the accumulating chamber, with 13 control valves for controlling a flow of fluid (in particular for controlling the discharge of pressurised fluid from the combustion chambers to the accumulating chamber) , with 14 an (insulated) conduit supplying pressurised fluid (operating fluid) from the accumulating chamber to one or more users, with 15 a (delivery) control valve to control the flow along the supply conduit (in particular for controlling the flowrate and/or pressure of the operating fluid that is supplied to the user) , with 16 an actuator (for example of rotating type, as in the specific example, or a linear actuator, or an actuator of another known type) configured to use the pressurised operating fluid, with 17 a (discharge) control valve for controlling the flow exiting from the actuator (in particular for controlling the flowrate and/or pressure of the operating fluid that is discharged by the user) , with 18 an (insulated) conduit for recovering the discharge fluid exiting the actuator, with 19 an energy recovery motor (for example a gas turbine) that is drivable by an operating fluid (discharge luid), with 20 an (electronic) control unit for controlling the motor system, with 21 a silencing device arranged at the outlet of the discharge gases exiting from the recovery motor, with 22 an electric energy accumulating device, with 23 an electric energy generator configured to convert solar energy into electric energy (solar panel) , with 24 an electrode generating hydrogen, with 25 an electrode generating oxygen, with 26 an electrolytic device for decomposing water into oxygen and hydrogen in gaseous state (system for producing hydrogen by electrolysis) , with 27 a filter on the comburent (air) inlet to enable suitable comburent to be sucked to supply combustion, with 28 a compressor to supply the pressurised comburent, with 29 an electric motor/generator, with 30 a supplying (injector) device of a non combustible liquid (for example water) , with 31 a non-return valve, with 32 a tank of injectable non combustible liquid (water) , with 33 a pressurised sealed container for containing the comburent compressor, with 34 a pressurised comburent (compressed air) tank, with 35 an oxygen supply conduit, . with 36 a compressor for supplying pressurised hydrogen, with 37 a detecting device for · detecting chemical-physical parameters (temperature and pressure) of the comburent compressor container, with 38 and 39 two non-return valves, with 40 a detecting device for detecting chemical -physical parameters (temperature and pressure) of the comburent tank, with 41 non-return valves, with 42 the flow control valves for controlling the discharge of fluid from the combustion chambers to the recovery motor, with 43 control valves for controlling the supply flow of the comburent to the combustion chambers, with 44 a pressurised gaseous (hydrogen) fuel tank.

[0013] The system in figure 1 comprises three combustion chambers. It is possible to provide other embodiments, which are not illustrated, which differ from the system in figure 1 by the number of combustion chambers and, consequently, of the elements (indicated in the figure by numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 41, 42, 43 and the corresponding fluid conveying conduits) associated with each combustion chamber. It is in particular possible to provide systems with one, two, four or more combustion chambers. Each combustion chamber comprises a container with a structure and dimensions such as to enable combustion internally with the consequent considerable increase in pressure and temperature. The number of combustion chambers may depend on the quantity of pressurised fluid that it is desired to produce.

[0014] Each combustion chamber l, 2, 3 is partially or wholly housed inside the accumulating chamber 4. Each combustion chamber 1, 2, 3 is connected to the tanks S, 11, 34, 44 and to the recovery motor 19 by respective fluid conveying conduits. Bach combustion chamber 1, 2, 3 has a fluid outlet that is connected, via a valve 13, to the accumulating chamber 4, and a further fluid outlet that is connected, via a valve 43, to the recovery motor 19. With each combustion chamber a valve 41 is associated that prevents the return flow from the motor 19 to the combustion chamber. The tank 33 is connected to the recovery motor 19 via a conduit along which the valve 31 operates that prevents the return flow to the tank 33.

[0015] The motor/generator 29 is interposed operationally between the recovery motor 19 and the comburent compressor 28. The accumulating device 22 is connected to the generator 23. The generator 23 is connected to the motor/generator 29. The motor/generator 29 is connected to the electrolytic device 26. In other embodiments that are not illustrated, the thermal motor system may comprise the system of figure l with the exclusion of any one, or any two, or any three or all four, of the accumulating device 22, the generator 23, the motor/generator 29 and the electrolytic device 26.

[0016] In other embodiments that are not illustrated, the thermal motor system may comprise the system of figure 1 with the exclusion of the tank 33 and/or of the tank 32 and of the elements associated therewith, such as the supplying device 30 and/or the detecting device 37. in other embodiments that are not illustrated, the thermal motor system may comprise the system of figure l with the exclusion of the recovery- motor 19 and of the elements associated therewith (for example valves 41 and 42) .

[0017] The operation of the system in figure 1 is as follows. This operation will be under the control of the suitably programmed electronic control unit 20. The combustion chambers 1, 2, 3 will be supplied with one or more fuels (for example liquid and/or gaseous fuels) , with the comburent (for example air and/or oxygen) , and possibly with water. The supply step will be followed by a combustion ignition step and thus, in succession_/ of discharge of the combustion fluid. The fluid will be discharged from the various combustion chambers, through the valves 13, inside the accumulating chamber 4. The function of the accumulating chamber 4, or storage unit, is in particular that of providing the fluid to the actuator or actuators substantially with continuity and, in practice, without pulses, in particular alternating the three steps of supply, combustion and discharge between the three combustion chambers, which are each out of phase compared with the others, in such a manner that the various steps of discharging hot pressurised fluid inside the accumulating chamber occur in succession for the three combustion chambers, one after the other, substantially without interruption and/or overlap (or with minimum interruption and/or overlaps) . Substantially, combustion can occur in a combustion chamber whilst the second combustion chamber can receive the supply of fuel and comburent and in the third combustion chamber discharge of the combustion fluid can occur with a consequent reduction of pressure to enable the fuel and comburent to be supplied again. The accumulating chamber 4 will be insulated to retain the thermal energy stored in the fluid. The control unit 20 will control the discharge valves 13 and the supplying of fuel and comburent on the basis of the temperature and/or pressure signals coming from the detecting devices 9 and 12. The usable fuels could be liquid and/or gaseous (or also solid) and could be supplied, for example alternatively (or in simultaneously) , ■ by the supplying devices (injectors) 6 or 7. The quantity of the various combustion components will be managed by the control unit 20, depending on the temperature and pressure values measured by the devices 9.

[0018] As said, the tank 11 containing water can be provided that, by means of the supplying devices 10 (controlled by the control unit 20) , can be injected into each combustion chamber 1, 2, 3 together with the fuel and the comburent. The injection can serve to reduce and keep under control the temperature in the combustion chambers and to generate pressurised steam.

[0019] The combustion will be activated, in each combustion chamber 1, 2, 3 independently of the other (for example according to the sequence described before) by the respective ignition device 8 (of electric type) controlled by the control unit 20.

[0020] The pressurised operating fluid exiting the accumulating chamber 4 will supply, via the (insulated) conduit 14, the actuator 16 driven by the fluid. It is possible to provide one or more further actuators (not illustrated in figure 1) connected for receiving the operating fluid from the accumulating chamber 4. The valves 15 and 17 will control, upon the command of the control unit 20, the pressure and flowrate of the fluid entering the actuator 16 and exiting the actuator 16, so as to define the operation (motion) of the actuator, for example on the basis of the request for mechanical energy.

[0021] The recovery motor 19 can serve to drive the comburent compressor 28, which, in turn, will have the function of compressing in the tank 34 the comburent (air) that is necessary for combustion. At the inlet of the recovery motor 19 the discharge fluid (gas) arrives coming from the actuator 16 (through the conduit 18) and from the combustion chambers 1, 2 and 3 (through the valves 42) such as to recover at least part of the residual energy still contained in the discharge fluid.

[0022] The non-return valves 41 prevent the flow to the combustion chambers l, 2, 3, in particular during scavenging of the chambers.

[0023] The valves 42 control the discharge of fluid from the combustion chambers 1, 2, 3. The valves 43 control the delivery of the pressurised comburent, in particular in function of the quantity of comburent required by combustion in each combustion chamber, and/or in function of the pressure in the tank 34, and/or in function of the driving energy that the comburent compressor 28 receives (from the motor/generator 29 and/or from the recovery motor 19) .

[0024] The recovery motor 19 can be provided, as in the specific example, with the silencing device 21 and heat exchanger arranged on the discharge, configured in such a manner as to recover at least part of the heat of the discharge fluid (for example for the purposes of heating, in particular for pre-heating the liquid contained in the tank 11 and/or in the tank 32) and to silence the outlet of the fluid.

[0025] The electric motor 29 can act, as said, also as a generator. In particular, the motor/generator 29 can intervene as a generator to drive the comburent compressor 28, for example if at the start-up of the motor system the pressure of the comburent (air) in the tank 34 is insufficient .

[0026] During normal operation the electric motor/generator 29 will be dragged by the recovery motor 19 and can be used to recover the excess energy supplied by the motor 19 in order to generate electric energy that can be used, for example, to load the accumulating device 22 and/or to activate the electrolytic device 26.

[0027] The comburent compressor 28 sucks fluid (air) by means of the filter 27 and compresses the fluid in the tank 34. The non-return valve 38 is in particular used to prevent the gaseous comburent from the tank 34 being able to flow outside during a rest step.

[0028] The tank 34, the temperature and pressure of which can be controlled on the basis of the measurement carried out by the device 40, contains the compressed gaseous comburent (air) that serves to supply combustion.

[0029] As the compression of the comburent is accompanied by production of heat, the compressor 28 can be cooled by the heat recovery system comprising the supplying device 30 to inject water from the tank 32 into the tank 33 that contains the compressor 28. The tank 33 is thus connected to the inlet of the recovery motor 19, for example by means of a conduit on which the non-return valve 31 operates to supply the motor with the hot fluid (steam) generated in the tank 33 by means of the compressor 28. In fact, the device 30 delivers a dosed quantity of water, coming from the tank 32, that in the hot environment of the tank 33 is transformed into steam that is usable by the recovery motor 19.

[0030] As said, the valves 43 control the pressure and the quantity of comburent entering each combustion chamber 1, 2, 3.

[0031] The solar-powered generator 23 can be used, in particular, to supply the electrolytic device 26 (cell) that performs electrolysis of the water. From the electrod 25 oxygen develops that is sent through the conduit 35 to the suction of the compressor 28. From the electrode 24 hydrogen develops that, through the compressor 36, is stored in the tank 44 to supply combustion via the supplying devices 6.

[0032] The non-return valve 39 is interposed between the compressor 36 and the tank 44. The valve 39 is used to prevent the gaseous fuel from exiting the tank 44 during the rest steps of the system.

[0033] With reference to the figure 2, 101 shows a liquid fuel tank, 102 a supply (injection) device for injecting the liquid fuel, 103 a device for detecting chemical-physical parameters (temperature and pressure) in the combustion chamber_/ 104 a (pressurised) combustion chamber, 105 a control valve for controlling a fluid flow, 106 a detecting device for detecting chemica "physical parameters (temperature and pressure) in the accumulating chamber, 107 an accumulating chamber for pressurised fluid, 108 a rotating actuator, 109 the control valves of pressurised fluid for driving actuators, 110 a linear actuator, ill a comburent compressor (for example air) , 112 a non-return valve of the comburent from the combustion chamber, 113 a tank of gaseous fuel, 114 a supply (injection) device of the gaseous fuel, 115 a combustion ignition device. A control unit, which is not illustrated, for example of electronic type, is configured to receive the signals sent by the detecting devices 103 and 106 and for sending signals to control the supply device 102, the flow control valve 105, the actuators 108 and 110, the valves 109 controlling driving of the actuators, the comburent supply compressor 111, the supply device 114 of the gaseous fuel.

[0034] The combustion chamber 104 is configured to receive the liquid fuel from the tank lOl by means of the supply (injector) device 102. The combustion chamber 104 is further configured to receive the gaseous fuel from ^' the tank 113 by means of the supply (injector) device 114. The detecting device 103 comprises a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor for respectively detecting the temperature and the pressure in the combustion chamber 104. The valve 105 is configured to control the transfer of fluid from the combustion chamber 104 to the accumulating chamber 107. The valve 105 is controlled by the control unit on the basis of the signal (of temperature and/or pressure) received from the detecting device 103 and/or from the detecting device 106. Both the combustion chamber 104 and the accumulating chamber 107 are configured to contain high-pressure fluid. The compressor ill is configured to inject a comburent (for example air) inside the combustion chamber 104. The non- return valve 112 prevents the flow from the combustion chamber 104 to the compressor ill.

[0035] The operation of the system in figure 2 is as follows . The liquid uel · and/or the gaseous uel , together with the comburent, are supplied to the combustion chamber 104 and are then ignited by the ignition device 115. Combustion will generate a fluid that will increase pressure and temperature inside the combustion chamber 104. The control valve 105 will be opened to enable the fluid to flow from the combustion chamber 104 to the accumulating chamber 107. The fluid can pass through a delivery conduit to the accumulating chamber 107. The control valves 109 will then be opened, by the control unit according to programmed instructions or upon a command of an operator, in order to drain pressurised fluid from the accumulating chamber 107 to send this fluid to the fluid actuator 108 and/or to the actuator 110. The actuators will transform the force of the pressure into motion (rotational and/or rectilinear motion) . The detecting devices 103 and 106 (to measure temperatures and pressures in the combustion chamber 104 and in the accumulating chamber 107) will send to the control unit the information for activating the delivery of new (liquid and/or gaseous) fuel and comburent, so as to renew combustion' and cause the high-pressure conditions to be restored to supply pressurised fluid to the actuators.

[0036] The systems disclosed above have a relatively high efficiency. The systems disclosed above enable the dispersion of the heat generated by combustion to be reduced, for the benefit of the hot pressurised operating fluid that drives the fluid actuator/s. It should be in particular observed that inside the combustion chamber there are no mechanical elements that are directly moved by combustion energy, such as, for example, engine cylinder pistons or turbine impellers, so there is a possibility of generating a great quantity of energy without the risk of damaging or compromising the functionality of these mechanical elements.

[0037] The combustion chambers of the systems disclosed above have a fixed volume. Further, in the combustion chamber there are no complex mechanisms with a delicate operation (for example valves for controlling suction and delivery) . Possible mechanisms, which are particularly complex and delicate, are downstream of the combustion chamber, where the fluid reaches a controlled temperature, pressure and flow.

[0038] It is possible to use a vast range of fuels, in particular liquid and/or gaseous fuels, without the need to use chemical additives that, in known thermal motor, are often indispensable for obtaining extremely rapid combustion (of the order of thousandths of a second) and/or for avoiding premature combustion. Substantially, the systems disclosed above can use effectively various cheap and easily available fuels. The systems disclosed above can, for example, use a fuel comprising biogas of animal origin.

[0039] In the system in figure l, electric energy obtained from solar energy is provided (with the use of known solar panels) . As known, solar energy is abundant during sunshine, but is limited by particular atmospheric conditions or is absent at night. The combined use of the generator of electricity from solar energy (solar panel) with the electrolytic device (electrolysis cell) enables energy to be stored in the form of hydrogen in the gas state (in the tank 44), making the energy available at deferred times.

Claims

Thermal motor system comprising:

a first combustion chamber (1, 2, 3, 104) having a fixed volume;

supplying means for supplying fuel and comburent to said first combustion chamber;

ignition means for starting combustion in said first combustion chamber;

discharging means for discharging from said first combustion chamber hot pressurised fluid produced by combustion;

a pressurised accumulating chamber (4, 107) for receiving hot pressurised fluid from said first combustion chamber;

a fluid actuator (16, 108) connected to said accumulating chamber and configured to be driven by an operating fluid coming from said accumulating chamber;

a control valve (15, 109) for controlling the passage of fluid from said accumulating chamber to said fluid actuator.

System according to claim 1/ wherein said first combustion chamber (1, 2, 3) is at least partially contained inside said accumulating chamber (4) .

System according to claim 2, wherein:

said supplying means comprises a compressor (28) for introducing a pressurised comburent into said first combustion chamber by a control valve (43) ; said first combustion chamber has an outlet connected to an energy recovery motor (19) by a control valve (42) ;

said energy recovery motor (19) is connected to an outlet of said fluid actuator by a control valve (17) , such as to recover energy from the discharge fluid exiting said fluid actuator;

said energy recovery motor (19) is configured to drive said compressor (28) .

System according to claim 3, comprising:

an electric energy generator (23) configured to convert solar energy into electric energy;

an electrolytic device (26) supplied by said generator for decomposing water into oxygen and hydrogen in a gaseous state, said electrolytic device having a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet, the oxygen outlet being connected to an inlet of said compressor (28) ;

a hydrogen supply system comprising a further compressor (36) having an inlet connected to said hydrogen outlet and an outlet connected to an inlet of a pressurised hydrogen tank (44), said hydrogen tank having an outlet connected to said first combustion chamber by a gas supplying device (6) . System according to claim 4, comprising an electric motor/generator (29) interposed between said energy recovery motor (19) and said compressor (28) to receive energy from said energy recovery motor and/or to supply energy to said compressor, said electric motor/generator being connected to said electric energy generator (23) and to said electrolytic device (26) to receive energy from said electric energy generator and/or to supply energy to said electrolytic device.

System according to claim 5, comprising a water tank

(11) connected to said first combustion chamber by a liquid supplying device (7) .

System according to claim 6, comprising:

one or more further combustion chambers (1, 2, 3) each of which is at least partially contained inside said accumulating chamber (4) ; said accumulating chamber being configured to receive hot pressurised fluid from each of said one or more further combustion chambers; said supplying means being configured for supplying fuel and comburent to each of said one or more further combustion chambers; said ignition means being configured for starting the combustion in each of said one or more further combustion chambers; said discharging means being con igured for discharging from each of said one or more further combustion chambers hot pressurised fluid produced by combustion;

a control unit (20) configured for controlling said supplying means, ignition means and discharging means such that, for each combustion chamber, a first step of supplying fuel and comburent, a second combustion step and a third step of discharging hot pressurised fluid occur in sequence, said first, second and third step being controlled by said control unit independently for each combustion chamber.

System according to claim 7, wherein:

each of said one or more further combustion chambers has a respective inlet connected to said comburent compressor (28) via a respective control valve (43) ;

each of said one or more further combustion chambers has a respective outlet connected to said energy recovery motor (19) via a respective control valve (42) ;

said outlet of said hydrogen tank (44) being connected to each of said one or more further combustion chambers by means of a respective further gas supplying device (6) ;

said water tank (11) being connected to each of said one or more combustion chambers by means of a respective further liquid supplying device (7) . System according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more further combustion chambers (1, 2, 3) each of which is at least partially contained inside said accumulating chamber (4) ; said accumulating chamber being configured for receiving hot pressurised fluid from .each of said one or more further combustion chambers.

System according to any preceding claim, wherein said supplying means comprises at least a first tank (5, 101) and a second tank (44, 113) for supplying said combustion chamber, respectively with a first fuel and with a second fuel.

System according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more further fluid actuators, each of which is connected to said accumulating chamber and is configured to be driven by an operating fluid coming from said accumulating- chamber, each of said fluid actuator (108) and of said one or more further fluid actuators (110) being connected to said accumulating chamber by a respective control valve (109) .

System according to any preceding claim, comprising:

a second combustion chamber and a third combustion chamber, each of which is at least partially contained inside said accumulating chamber (4) ; said accumulating chamber being configured for receiving bot pressurised fluid from said second and third combustion chamber; said supplying means being configured for supplying fuel and comburent to said second and third combustion chamber; said ignition means being configured for starting the combustion in said second and third combustion chamber; said discharging means being configured for discharging from said second and third combustion chamber hot pressurised fluid produced by combustion;

a control unit (20) configured for controlling said supplying means, ignition means and discharging means such that, for each combustion chamber, a first step of supplying fuel and comburent, a second combustion step and a third step of discharging hot pressurised fluid occur in sequence, and such that said first, second and third step occur respectively in the first, second and third step combustion chamber (1, 2, 3) in a first period of time, respectively in the third, first and second combustion chamber (3, 1, 2) in a second period of time, and respectively in the second, third and first combustion chamber (2, 3, 1) in a third period of time.

13. System according to any preceding claim, wherein said supplying means comprises a compressor (28) for introducing a pressurised comburent into said first combustion chamber by a control valve (43) .

14. System according to any preceding claim, wherein said first combustion chamber has an outlet connected to an energy recovery motor (19) by a control valve (42) .

15· System according to claim 14, wherein said energy recovery motor (19) is connected to an outlet of said fluid actuator by a control valve (17) , such as to recover energy from the discharge fluid exiting said fluid actuator.

16. System according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said supplying means comprises a compressor (28) for introducing a pressurised comburent into said first combustion chamber, and wherein said energy recovery motor (19) is configured for driving said compressor (28) .

17. System according to any preceding claim, comprising an electric energy generator (23) configured for converting solar energy into electric energy, an electrolytic device (26) supplied by said generator for decomposing water into oxygen and hydrogen in a gaseous state, and a hydrogen supply system comprising a hydrogen compressor (36) having an inlet, which is connected to a hydrogen outlet of said electrolytic device, and an outlet, which is connected to an inlet of a pressurised hydrogen tank (44) , said hydrogen bank having an outlet connected to said first combustion chamber by a gas supplying device (6) .

18. System according to claim 17, wherein said supplying means comprises a compressor (28) for introducing a pressurised comburent into said first combustion chamber, and wherein said electrolytic device has an oxygen outlet connected to an inlet of said compressor (28) .

19. System according to any one of claims 14 to 18, comprising a compressor (28) for introducing a pressurised comburent in said first combustion chamber, and an electric motor/generator (29) interposed between said energy recovery motor (19) and said compressor for receiving energy from said energy recovery motor and/or supplying energy to said compressor.

20. System according to any one of claims 17 to 19, comprising an electric motor/generator (29) connected to said electric energy generator (23) and to said electrolytic device (26) for receiving energy from said electric energy generator and/or supplying energy to said electrolytic device.

21. System according to any preceding claim, comprising a water tank (11) connected to said first combustion chamber by a liquid supplying device (7) .

22. System according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more further combustion chambers, each having a respective inlet connected to a comburent compressor (28) by a respective control valve (43) ; each of said one or more further combustion chambers having a respective outlet connected to an energy recovery motor (19) by a respective control valve (42) ; a gas fuel tank (44) being connected to said one or more further combustion chambers by means of a respective further gas supplying device (6) ; a water tank (11) being connected to each of said one or more combustion chambers by means respective further liquid supplying device (7) .