WO2011128520A1

WO2011128520A1 - Fuelless combustion engine suited notably to the automotive and nuclear fields

Info

Publication number: WO2011128520A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/000183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Denis Baron
Original assignee: Denis Baron
Priority date: 2010-04-12
Filing date: 2011-03-29
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: FR2958685A1; FR2958687A1; FR2958686A1

Abstract

Device (1) that produces mechanical energy from converting thermal energy carried by two fluids (16) and (17) at different temperatures circulating alternately through the first medium (5) of a heat exchanger (4) giving rise to alternating variations in temperature and pressure in the second medium (6) of the exchanger (4) that a piston (18) converts into a reciprocating movement that can be exploited as mechanical power or converted into electrical energy (11). The thermal energy carried by the fluids leaving the device and that has not been converted into mechanical energy can be regenerated by reintroducing some of the fluids into the hot circuit and/or can be used in cogeneration, for example for private or communal heating and/or domestic hot water. The device (1) can be connected to an electrical mains network which it can supply with electrical power.

Description

Title of the invention

Non-fuel heat engine adaptable in particular to the automobile and nuclear. Technical area:

The present invention relates to heat engines operating from a temperature difference between two fluids.

Prior art:

There are thermal machines that extract energy from the environment, from the environment such as heat pumps. But their operation can be complex and require serious maintenance to avoid the risk of breakdowns. On the other hand these machines absorb for their operation a significant amount of energy often coming from an electrical network.

There are also heat engines, such as Stirling engines, that work with a difference in temperature between two fluids. But to achieve proper operation this temperature difference must be high, of the order of several hundred degrees Celsius, with high pressure requiring expensive technology. The Stirling engine is a four-stroke engine of which only one is engine. Presentation of the invention

The device of the present invention aims to produce mechanical energy, transformable electrical energy, without the disadvantages mentioned above that is to say a machine of simple composition, not consuming fuel and, in the best configurations, consuming no external electrical energy for its own operation, it being understood that said device extracts thermal energy from an external medium to itself to transform it into mechanical energy.

According to a first characteristic, thanks to the action of an input fluid dispenser, the first of the two media of a heat exchanger, which in a first form comprises only two media but which may comprise more, is covered

alternatively by two fluids which each have a temperature different from the other fluid, producing alternating variations of the temperature of said first medium. The second medium of the heat exchanger is part of a closed chamber containing a fluid whose temperature varies alternately according to said alternating variations of the temperature of the first medium of the heat exchanger. These alternative temperature variations in said closed enclosure produce alternative variations of the pressure. Said closed enclosure is sealingly connected to at least one engine that converts said alternative variations of the pressure in motion and therefore in mechanical energy. Said engine is a two-stroke engine, both times are engines.

According to particular embodiments:

the engine may comprise at least one bellows and / or at least one cylinder containing a piston, one face of which is subjected to said alternating pressure variations in said closed enclosure,

the piston of the engine can be double-acting, pushed on one side and pulled on the other side in its movement, in both directions, at least one second heat exchanger can improve the efficiency of operation,

the motor may comprise a turbine, or a rotary motor,

the engine can be linked to an electric generator which transforms the mechanical energy supplied by the motor into electrical energy,

at least one fluid can pass through a compression chamber before passing through the exchanger,

at least one of the fluids that pass through the exchanger may have exchanged calories by geothermal energy, for example may come from a Provençal well, also called a Canadian well, and / or be heated by a solar collector before entering the device ,

at least one of the fluids used may be in the form of a gas or a liquid depending on its temperature and / or its pressure at a given moment in the operation of the device,

a use of the device can be done in cogeneration mode,

at least one valve and / or at least one valve or any means fulfilling the same function can be arranged at at least one end of the cylinder,

at least part of the fluid which has passed through the device and which still contains a part of thermal energy may be introduced through the hot fluid inlet of the device either directly or through a solar collector or other means to increase its temperature,

a multiplier can be interposed between the mechanical motor and the electric generator,

the thermal energy used, converted into mechanical energy by the device, can come from any heat source from which thermal energy can be recovered.

Brief description of the drawings:

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 shows schematically the device of the invention with a hot fluid passing through the heat exchanger. FIG. 2 diagrammatically represents the device of the invention with a cold fluid passing through the heat exchanger.

Figure 3 shows schematically the device of the invention in another form. Figures 4, 5 and 6 schematically show several possibilities of fluid dispenser shape (s).

Figure 7 schematically shows a double-acting piston engine.

Figure 8 schematically shows a more efficient form of exchanger.

Figure 9 shows schematically the implantation of compression chambers. Figure 10 schematically shows a view of the device in a version with oval pipes.

Figure 11 shows schematically in section a version with oval pipes.

FIG. 12 schematically represents the principle of a variant of the device of the invention comprising three different media of the heat exchanger.

FIG. 13 schematically represents one of the variants comprising three media. FIGS. 14 to 19 each schematically represent a variant of the device comprising a heat exchanger comprising three media.

Figure 20 schematically shows the main elements of a pressurized water nuclear power plant.

Figure 21 schematically shows the same nuclear power plant as that of Figure 20 associated with a version of the device.

Figure 22 schematically shows an association of several devices.

Figure 23 schematically shows a form of regeneration of thermal energy. Fig. 24 schematically shows an improved variant of Fig. 23.

Figure 25 schematically shows a fluid distribution with two outputs.

Figure 26 schematically shows a diagram of the different temperature levels.

In a first non-limiting embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device (1) notably comprises an inlet distributor (2) which allows

alternatively the passage of a fluid (16) and another fluid (17) which are at different temperatures from each other. These two fluids are, each on their side, pushed towards the inlet distributor by means such as a pump, a turbine, a compressor or other means having the same effect.

The passage alternately of each of these two fluids in the first medium (5) of the heat exchanger (4) having two different media, produces alternating variations of the temperature of the first medium (5) which produce variations alternatives of the fluid temperature contained in the second medium (6) of the heat exchanger (4).

The second medium (6) of the heat exchanger (4) is part of a closed enclosure. The alternative temperature variations in (6) induce alternating pressure variations of the fluid it contains.

The closed enclosure (6) is sealingly connected to a motor which converts these alternating pressure variations into mechanical energy by the reciprocating displacement of a piston (18) in a cylinder (15).

Figure 1 shows the piston (18) pushed in the direction (7) by an increase of the pressure in (6) and in (15), the fluid (16) being the hot fluid, Figure 2 shows the piston (18). ) pulled in the direction (12) by a decrease in the pressure in (6) and in (15), the fluid (17) being the cold fluid. The cylinder (15) serves essentially to the sealed guide of the piston (18), its heat exchange with the piston or with the outside have a minor effect or no effect on the movement of the piston (18).

The reciprocating movement of the piston can be used as such, for example by connecting a shaft to the piston and using the movement of this shaft.

In this first embodiment, a connecting rod (8) movably connected to the piston (18) drives a wheel (9) or an eccentric bearing in the manner of a crankshaft which transforms the movement back and forth of the connecting rod (8) in a rotational movement which can be used as is.

The mechanical energy produced (10) can also be converted into electrical energy by driving at least one electric generator (11) which can be for example rotor or axial displacement of a magnet or a winding.

At the outlet of the first medium (5) of the heat exchanger (4), the fluids (13) and (14), thermally modified by their passage in (5), may be of the same nature.

The device (1) is shown with a volume of thermal insulating material (3) which reduces the heat losses of the exchanger (4). Other elements of (1) can also advantageously be thermally insulated.

At least one of the fluids may be in the form of steam at least one moment of operation.

The fluid whose temperature is the highest is called the "hot fluid", the fluid whose temperature is the lowest, compared to the other fluid, is called the "cold fluid", regardless of their temperature expressed in degrees .

It is intended, for example, to use, for one of the fluids, the air coming from a Provencal well and, for the other fluid, the ambient air. Depending on the season and the temperature of the ambient air, it may play the role of either cold fluid or hot fluid, the temperature of the outlet air of a Provencal well being almost identical in all seasons. At least one bellows may be associated with the piston (18) or be substituted. As for a piston, the movement of a bellows is due to alternating pressure variations in the enclosed enclosure and can be used as a means providing motion. According to a variant not shown, several pistons are associated with the same device, they can be shifted in their displacement.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the closed enclosure (19) has a large surface in alternating contact with the fluids (25) and (26) and the inlet distributor (21) has a drawer (20) which allows a wide passage of fluids arriving through the pipes (22) and (23). The movement of the slide (20) can be done mechanically (24) or electrically. Here also the piston (18), by its displacement, transforms the alternating pressure variations in the closed enclosure (19) in motion and in usable mechanical energy.

According to a non-illustrated variant, a turbine is associated with the closed enclosure and transforms pressure variations into rotational movement.

According to a non-illustrated variant, a rotary piston rotary motor is associated with the closed enclosure and transforms the pressure variations into rotational movement.

Figure 4 shows partially an example of a reciprocating spool valve (27), reciprocating passing sometimes a fluid, sometimes another. Figures 5 and 6 partially show examples of rotary input distributors (28) and (29). It is intended to use other forms of dispensers, including existing ones, for example with valves or valves.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the cylinder (30) comprises a double-acting piston (31) driven by a pressure which increases on one of its faces and a pressure which decreases on the other side. both sides. Pressure variations are here also alternatives.

A first heat exchanger, as described in the first embodiment, produces alternating pressure variations on one face of the piston, for example in the volume (32), and a second heat exchanger produces alternating pressure variations, for example in the volume. (33) with a time lag of these pressure variations so that when the pressure increases in (32), the pressure decreases in (33) and vice versa. So that the fluids (34) and (35) flow in the opposite direction.

Thus the piston is both pushed and pulled either in one direction of its displacement or in the other.

In the embodiment according to Figure 8, the heat exchanger (36) is improved by a high contact surface to the passage of fluids (40) and a faster reaction in the heat exchange. Here too, a thermal insulation (37) is preferable. The closed enclosure (41) is here also connected (38) sealingly to a motor which converts the alternating pressure variations into reciprocating movement (39) and, optionally, into rotary motion.

In the embodiment partially shown in FIG. 9, at least one of the fluids (45) or (46) passes through a compression chamber (42) or (48) where its pressure is increased by means (43) or (47). ) such as a pump or a turbine or a compressor or any other means producing the same effect such that when the inlet distributor (49) releases the passage of this fluid, the latter is then injected under pressure into the first middle of the heat exchanger which allows a thermal exchange with a larger volume of fluid and with a faster passage. When the fluid in question is a liquid, it can not be compressed, the compression chamber then has a deformable portion by a variation of the pressure or a sealed auxiliary volume which can itself be compressed.

Particular shapes of fluid conduits such as (44) or the outlet of the compression chamber may also participate in pressurizing the fluid before entering a heat exchanger.

Compressing and relaxing gases will change their temperature at a given time but overall the result of these two operations will be zero in terms of the temperature variation of the gases. According to a variant not illustrated, at least one of the fluids passing through at least one medium of a heat exchanger is a liquid. In this case the exchanger can be oriented so that it facilitates the flow of any liquid in addition to the pressure that makes it go forward.

According to a non-illustrated variant, at least one of the media of at least one heat exchanger which comprises at least two different media comprises a fluid which is liquid or gaseous or in the form of vapor according to the temperature and pressure applied to it in order to improve the heat exchange of said heat exchanger. Under certain operating conditions, at least one fluid entering the device has both exchanged calories with its environment by geothermal energy and has been heated by a solar collector at the same time. Throughout the present description the term "geothermal" includes both shallow geothermal and deep geothermal and especially the use of groundwater underground.

According to a non-illustrated variant, in addition to the other embodiments, the device that is the subject of the invention is used in the cogeneration mode, that is to say that the mechanical and / or electrical energy is recovered on the one hand. produced by the device and on the other hand the thermal energy conveyed by at least one of the fluids leaving the device, thermal energy that has not been converted into mechanical energy, for use for example for heating as individual or collective heating of buildings and / or the heating of sanitary water and / or for any other use where a supply of thermal energy is necessary, whether directly or indirectly via, for example, a heat exchanger and / or a heat pump.

According to another variant not shown, at least one valve and / or at least one valve or any means fulfilling the same function is / are arranged (s) at at least one end of the cylinder in a space not traversed by the piston, to regulate pressure variations due to temperature variations in the second medium of at least one heat exchanger.

The thermal energy stored by the fluids before passing through said device and conveyed by them as they pass through said device is not completely transformed into mechanical energy otherwise the efficiency of said device would be one hundred percent. According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 23, in order to increase the efficiency of the device and the quantity of mechanical and / or electrical energy supplied by said device, at least a portion of the fluid is recovered after at least one passage in the device. which has passed through the device and which still contains a part of thermal energy that has not been recovered by said device. This recovered fluid is introduced through the hot fluid inlet of said device either directly or it is passed through before a solar collector or other heating means to increase its temperature.

In FIG. 23, (142) is a form of the device comprising an inlet distributor, a heat exchanger and a motor driving a wheel. The outlet manifold (143) allows the fluid exiting the heat exchanger to recover fluid which is at least partially re-injected into the hot fluid circuit at (148) via a optional pumping means (144) and a heating means which is shown in this example as a solar thermal panel (145). The reheated hot fluid (146) is then at an increasing temperature at the start of the device as indicated below in FIG. 26. (147) is the cold fluid, in this example ambient air at room temperature. The other part of the outgoing fluid (149) can be recovered for use in cogeneration.

According to another variant illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the hot circuit is fed solely by a part of the fluid leaving the heat exchanger, that is to say that all the fluid supplying the hot circuit of said device comes from at least a portion of fluid exiting said device, after being heated, whatever the means, which increases the temperature of the hot fluid and therefore the temperature difference with the cold fluid and the efficiency of the assembly. Here too, a fluid pumping means can be present in the circuit.

FIG. 24 shows a reservoir (151) for partially storing the hot fluid (152) which is, in this variant, supplied cyclically by means of the outlet distributor (150) which makes it possible to select the outlet fluid when it is hottest, (164) Figure 26, or remove it from the hot circuit, Figure 25, when it is colder. The reservoir (150) continuously provides a sufficient amount of hot fluid even when the dispenser (150) is not positioned to provide hot fluid to the device. This is equivalent to overheating the hot fluid, without heat exchanger, before entering a heating means such as (145) or other and get even hotter (153) in the device. In this variant also it is possible to use in cogeneration for another use, at least a portion of the thermal energy remaining in the fluid that has passed through the device and is not reused. The connections of the fluid conduits are only partially represented.

The diagram of FIG. 26 represents indicative curves which can vary according to the construction and the efficiency of each device.

The curve (157) represents the variation of the temperature of the fluids entering the heat exchanger, for example from (154) to (155) for the hot fluid, from (155) to (156) for the cold fluid.

The sectors A, C and E represent the periods of passage of the hot fluid, sectors B and D the passage of the cold fluid.

The curve (158) represents the variation of the fluid temperature in the closed enclosure. This variation is most visible in its maximum thanks to the dashed line (160).

The curve (159) represents the variation of the temperature of the fluid leaving the heat exchanger. The curve (159) shows that by selecting a part of the outgoing fluid when its temperature is located in the upper portion of the curve, such as portion (164), to be reinjected into the hot circuit, as in Figure 24, we recover more heat energy which is recycled in part in a following passage in the heat exchanger. The dashed line (161) makes it possible to visualize that the temperature of the outgoing fluid is increasing as the operation progresses, increasing the amplitude between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature, which increases the efficiency of the engine. The temperature of the hot fluid is at each higher cycle, this rise is noted by the differences (162) then (163) and so on until the automatic establishment of a thermal equilibrium at a higher level of the temperature. maximum compared to the starting temperature.

According to another variant not shown, when the rotation speed of the engine of the device is not high enough to drive an electric generator in good conditions, a multiplier is interposed between the motor and the electric generator.

According to another variant not illustrated, thermal energy from at least one other heat source than those mentioned in the previous variants and in the first embodiment, including means for cooling an explosion engine and / or its exhaust system, is used for the purpose of

operation of the device.

The best way to realize the invention:

Figures 10 and 11 show schematically and partially the device in a variant in which at least a portion of the closed enclosure comprises at least one oval pipe such as (53) to optimize the contact surfaces between the different media, to through their walls, heat exchange and the passage of fluids such as (52) for heating or cooling.

In a particular and non-limiting form comprising a plate heat exchanger, FIG. 10 shows an end of the heat exchanger, the outer partition (50), a seal (51) when the plates are not welded, oval pipes such as (53), one of said plates (54) traversed by said pipes such as (53), the cylinder (55) in which the piston of the motor (61) represented in FIG. 11 moves. FIG. inlet of the cold fluid which can be actuated by a pump or a compressor such as (56) and the inlet of the hot fluid which can also be actuated by a pump or by a compressor such as (57), said hot inlet being isolated here by an optional thermal protection (62), the inlet distributor (60) which is here rotatable, the motor (61) which transforms the pressure variations in the closed enclosure into movement, an optional fluid extractor (58) which can increase the speed of displacement of the heating and cooling fluids between the plates as in (59) and thus increase the efficiency of the heat exchanges.

In FIG. 11, a single-acting piston is shown, in this configuration as in all those which follow or which precede, the piston can be double-acting in

using two heat exchangers or two different sectors of the same heat exchanger used at different temperatures between these two sectors, temperatures may vary with time to operate a single engine.

When the fluid which heats the closed enclosure and the fluid which cools it are of different nature, for example water vapor and air, it may be preferable or useful not to mix these two fluids and for this reason to realize different circuits and different media in the heat exchanger or in the heat exchangers when several exchangers are used. Thus at least one of the heating or cooling fluids can circulate in a closed circuit. This separation of fluids is shown in Figure 12 in which are not shown the different possibilities of disposal of the various media, some of which will be exposed later.

In Figure 12, the medium (67) is part of a closed enclosure sealingly connected to at least one motor (70) which converts the pressure changes in said closed enclosure in motion. The inlet distributor (63) allows passage and cutting of the passage alternately corresponding fluids in the medium (66) for heating the closed chamber, in the medium (65) for cooling the closed enclosure.

As in the versions of the device comprising at least one heat exchanger comprising only two media, the temperature variations of the closed chamber produce pressure variations that actuate the piston of the motor (70). In this version, the inlet manifold (63) has valves such as (64) for alternately passing the hot fluid (69) or the cold fluid (68). Any other variant of the inlet distributor can be used here as on other versions or variants.

According to a variant illustrated schematically in FIG. 13, the heat exchanger comprises a separate medium (76) for the cold fluid (72) and a separate medium (77) for the hot fluid (73). The cold and hot fluids arrive through the conduits (80) and (81), which can be equipped in another non-illustrated variant of valves or valves at the fluid inlet between the plates such as (82) and ( 83). Like the pipes (53) of FIGS. 10 and 11, this variant can be equipped with pipes opening at (84) towards the piston of the engine (71). The closed enclosure also has spaces between the plates as in (78). In this variant, the plates of the heat exchanger are arranged in such a way that each space of the closed enclosure (78) situated between two plates has on one side a hot medium (77) and on the other side a medium cold (76). According to one or the other of these hot or cold fluids is in action and passes through the heat exchanger, the space such as (78) and heated or cooled alternately by a plate or the other. The three points (79) indicate that the number of plates is not defined nor limited to the number in Figure 13. It is the same for the following figures.

At least one of the hot or cold fluids can be recovered at the outlet of the exchanger for example by a collector such as (75) or discharged to the outside of the device by at least one outlet such as (74). As indicated above, the arrow on the piston of the engine (71) indicates that the displacement of the piston towards the outside of the device because it is the hot fluid that is in action as in the following figures until Figure 21.

Most of the illustrated examples represent heat exchangers plates, the device object of the invention, in all its versions and variants, may comprise at least one heat exchanger of another type for example with cylindrical pipes or oval pipes or a assembly of different types or other forms of media.

The arrows indicate the passage intended for each fluid being understood that the hot fluid and the cold fluid circulate alternately.

Figures 14 to 19 show different variants distinguished by special provisions of the plates of the heat exchanger and by the presence or absence of thermal insulation between some plates.

Thus, FIG. 14 illustrates a variant in which the plates are arranged in such a way that the hot medium (85) is in contact on the one hand with the closed enclosure and on the other hand with the cold medium (86).

The variant of FIG. 15 is almost identical to the previous one with in addition a thermal insulator (89) which separates the hot medium (87) from the cold medium (88). Thus the hot medium (87) or the cold medium (88) is in direct contact only with the closed enclosure.

In another variant illustrated schematically in FIG. 16, each space delimiting the closed enclosure such as (90) or (90 ') has on its two faces either a hot medium such as (92) or a cold medium such that (91) ). As in the other variants, at least one passage, here in the form of a pipe such as (93), connects the different volumes of the closed enclosure.

The variant of Figure 17 is almost identical to the previous one but with a thermal insulation (94) which separates the hot medium from the cold medium.

In another variant illustrated schematically in FIG. 18, the cold medium (95) is disposed between plates arranged in one sector of the heat exchanger while in another sector are arranged plates between which the hot medium such as (96). And spaces between plates delimit the closed enclosure as in (97). The variant of Figure 19 is almost identical to the previous one but a thermal insulator such as (98) separates the sector of the hot medium from the cold environment sector. By "hot medium" is meant the medium in which the hot fluid circulates at times. The "cold environment" is the medium where the cold fluid circulates at times.

In a non-illustrated variant, when the hot fluid and the cold fluid each circulate in a different medium forming part of the heat exchanger, a regeneration mode, of thermal energy recovery, consists in producing a closed circuit at least for the circulation of the hot fluid which is heated in the heating means before passing into the inlet distributor and then into the heat exchanger where the hot fluid is partially cooled by yielding thermal energy to the device and the hot fluid returns to the heating means where it reaches a temperature above the start temperature. After a new passage in the heating means, the hot fluid is at a higher temperature than it had after the first pass. The temperature of the hot fluid is thus raised at each turn of the circuit until the automatic establishment of a thermal equilibrium and the operating temperature remains at this high temperature. The hot circuit, while being closed, may be equipped with an anti-overpressure means and / or receive fluid coming from outside.

The cold fluid is heated by passing through the device, so it is also possible to circulate in a closed circuit to use this temperature difference in the different portions of the circuit.

Before describing the particular association of the device according to the invention illustrated schematically in FIG. 21, the operation of a pressurized water nuclear power station illustrated in FIG. 20 is briefly described below.

In a confinement chamber (115), a nuclear reactor (1 4) heats pressurized water which circulates in a primary circuit (102) and supplies heat energy to at least one steam generator (116) which converts the water of its circuit, the secondary circuit (103), into pressurized steam which drives turbines (117) by the expansion of this steam which returns in the form of water in (104) to the steam generator (116) . The condenser (119) cools the steam from the turbines and condenses it through a tertiary circuit (105) in which circulates a cooling fluid, in this case water, flowing through a pump (101). The water circulating in the tertiary circuit (105) cools the condenser (119) while heating up and is then cooled in this version by a wet air cooler (100). Part of the water of the tertiary circuit (105) which is evaporated and discharged by the air cooler (100) is replaced by water from outside the plant by means such as (120) and a portion of the water contained in the air cooler (100) is rejected by means (121). In other versions the tertiary circuit can be cooled for example only by the water of a river or water pumped by the sea. To simplify the performance representation, heating circuits and low pressure turbines are not considered or represented.

In an association of the device according to the invention with a nuclear power plant illustrated schematically in FIG. 21, the tertiary circuit is split into two circuits, the first of which (108) cools the vapor in the condenser by means of a pumping means such as ( 109) and the second circuit which can be compared to a quaternary circuit (107) cools the water circulating therewith with the same means designed for the nuclear power station, here a wet cooler (100).

The device of the invention represented by (106), whatever its version, is illustrated

10 in Figure 21 on a different scale than the other elements of the nuclear power plant.

The inlet distributor (110) alternately passes the hot fluid from the condenser and cooled leaving and the cold fluid from the air cooler and leaving warmed. Means such as (118) dampen the pressure variations due to the action of the input splitter (110).

In FIG. 20, the turbines (117) drive at least one electrical generator (99) which supplies electric power to a very high voltage network (111) via unrepresented transformers. Illustrated in FIG. 21, at least the same amount of electrical energy is generated by the nuclear power plant and further, at least one other electric generator such as (112) produces electricity distributed to the users by

The same high-voltage line (111) or another line such as (113).

On the other hand, the fact of transforming a portion of the heat energy of the tertiary circuit into mechanical energy, in a first step, decreases the temperature of the cooling fluid with respect to a conventional tertiary circuit as in FIG. decreases the temperature of the secondary fluid in the condenser which increases the efficiency of the

25 nuclear power plant and the amount of electrical energy generated.

With the same air-cooler, the quantity of water consumed is less in the case of the association with the device because, at identical flow rates, the temperature of the circuit (107) of FIG. 21 is lower than the temperature of the circuit (105) of Figure 20 and therefore causes less water loss. Means (120) and (121) may be retained but for

30 smaller water transfers.

Connection means not shown in Figure 21 can directly connect the circuit (108) to the circuit (107) to short-circuit the sector of the device in case of failure or maintenance of the latter.

The device of the invention associated with a power plant, as illustrated in FIG. 21, at a nuclear power plant, can only have a low efficiency because of the small difference between the extreme temperatures of the cooling circuit which is here the tertiary circuit. However, the amount of energy released to the environment by the plant is so great that even a low efficiency allows a large electrical energy production by the associated device.

As regards the cost of the device under such conditions, the elements involved can be large but the realization is simple because it is essentially at least one heat exchanger and at least one rotating motor. at low speed, at low temperature, at low pressure and out of contact with a radioactive zone but with a high engine torque if a large piston diameter is used. The advantages of the combination of the device with a power plant: less water consumed for cooling, the rejected water is at a lower temperature which is in line with the standards for the protection of the environment especially in season hot, realization of a quaternary cooling circuit that can increase the safety for a nuclear power plant, increase the efficiency of the turbines of the plant, additional production of electricity. Figure 22 shows a possible arrangement of several associated devices, the motors (123), (124), (125), (126) and (127) having a position shifted in time to dampen or suppress the effects of cuts on the feed fluids through the conduits (129) and (130) and the different positions of the inlet distributors such as (128) or (136). In FIG. 22, the heat exchanger (122) receives the hot fluid through the conduit (131), the cooled fluid flows back through the conduit (132), the arrow (135) indicating the direction of movement of the piston of the engine (123), while that in this phase the cold fluid does not circulate in the conduits (133) and (134).

One of the other devices, comprising the motor (125), begins to let the cold fluid through the conduit (137) the fluid reheated by the pipe (138). The conduits for the hot fluid (140) and (141) do not conduct the hot fluid, for the moment, in the heat exchanger (139).

In another version, the device that is the subject of the invention is associated with a thermal power station producing electricity, whatever the product used for heating and producing steam, in order to further cool the steam produced by turbines for a certain amount of time. better efficiency of these turbines and / or to convert at least a portion of the thermal energy produced into electricity

The shape, the dimensions, the proportions and the number of the various elements can vary without changing the principle of the invention which has been described above. Throughout the present description the term "device refers to the device object of the invention. - Im possibilities of industrial application:

The device according to the invention makes it possible to produce mechanical energy and / or electrical energy using two fluids that are at different temperatures. These fluids may have only a slight difference in temperature between them and one of them may be the ambient air.

The set is simple to build, inexpensive.

By connecting the device to an electrical network, the device can provide, under certain conditions, to this network, electrical energy as is done for example with a set of photovoltaic panels assigned to this use.

The thermal energy that has not been transferred to the device by the hot fluid that passes through may be partially regenerated by introducing a portion of this fluid into the hot circuit and / or be used in cogeneration for other purposes such as heating a building and / or sanitary water heating.

Claims

claims

Claim 1: Device (1) producing mechanical energy from the conversion of thermal energy provided by a pair of two fluids (16) and (17) at different temperatures characterized in that it comprises a fluid dispenser for example (2) which allows passage and cutting of the passage alternately of said fluids (6) and (17) in the first of two media (5) of a heat exchanger (4) producing alternative variations of the temperature of said first medium, the temperature of the second medium (6) of said heat exchanger (4), forming part of a closed chamber, containing a fluid, varies alternately according to said alternative variations of the temperature of the first medium (5) of the heat exchanger (4), these alternative variations of the temperature in said closed chamber producing alternating variations of the pressure, said closed enclosure being sealed to at least one motor mportant a cylinder containing a piston, said motor transforming said alternative variations of the pressure in motion. Claim 2: Device (1) producing mechanical energy from the thermal energy conversion provided by a pair of two fluids (68) and (69) at different temperatures, characterized in that a fluid distributor of inlet for example (63) allows passage and cutting of the passage alternately said fluids (68) and (69), each in a different medium (65) and (66) of a heat exchanger comprising another different medium (67) forming part of a closed enclosure sealingly connected to at least one motor (70), said closed enclosure being alternately cooled and heated by the passage of said fluids (68) and (69), these temperature variations in said closed enclosure producing in it pressure variations transformed into motion by said motor (70) which comprises a cylinder containing a piston.

Claim 3: Device according to the combination of at least two devices as in Claim 1 and / or Claim 2, characterized in that a single motor is actuated by two heat exchangers or two different sectors of the same exchanger at different temperatures between these two sectors, said motor having a piston like (31) moving in a cylinder (30), the piston (31) being double acting, driven by both the pressure which increases on the one of its two faces and the pressure which decreases on the other of its faces, the variations of pressure being alternatives with a shift in the time so that when the pressure increases on one side of the piston (31) in the volume (32), the pressure decreases on the other face of the piston (31) in the volume (33) and vice versa.

Claim 4: Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one electric generator driven by at least one of said motors.

Claim 5: Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fluids passes through a compression chamber (42) or (48) where its pressure is increased before the inlet valve (49) releases the passage of this fluid to said heat exchanger and / or at least a second heat exchanger.