Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
29 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTI ON
31 Method and means ~or generating power using a working fluid
32 which circulates in a closed loop path are, o~ course, well .
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1 known as shown, for example, in United States Patent Numbers-
2 2,942,41l; 3,152,442; 3,234,738; 3,287,90i; 3,903,700; 3; 995,4~9,
3 4,010,732; and 4,171,617. However, in none of the patents is
4 there shown an eVapQration chamber partially filled with working
liquid, adjacent the bottom of which chamber is located a conden-
6 ser within the working liquid, through which condenser working
7 fluid in vapor fo~m from a prime mover is passed for condensing
8 the vapor. Operating liquid within the evaporation chamber is
9 cooled as heat therein is absorbed as heat of vaporiza~ion by
10 evaporating working fluid in the evaporation chamber.
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12 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS
13 -
14 An obJect of this invention i~ the provision of improved
15 method and apparatus for generating power economicall~.
16 An object of this invention is the provision of an improved
17 power genèrating source which includes solar heàting means for -
18 heating circulating working liquid, which source is of compact
1~ design, suitable for use in propelling a vehicle.
An object of this invention is the provision o~ a power
21 generating system having a closed loop working ~luid circulation
22 path wherein heat for the vaporization of a working fluid used
23 to operate/pr me mover îs obtained from working fluid discharged
24 from the prime mover to condense the discharged fluid~ ~or improvec
25 operating efficiency.
26 The above and other objects and advantages of this invention
27 are achieved by use of a fluid-tight evaporation chamber which
28 contains working fluid, a portion of ~lhich fluid is in liquid
29 form, partially filling the chamber with said liquid. Operating
30 fluid vapor is supplied to the inlet of a prime mover, such as a
31 turbine. A condenser is located in the working liquid within the
32 evaporation chamber adiacent the bottom of the cham~er, through
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1¦ which condenser working fluid vapor is passed for condensing the
21 same to`reduce the pressure of the vapor at the turbine outlet.
31 Working liquid from the condenser is pumped through a solar col~
4 ¦ lector to heat the liquid without vaporization thereof. Heate~
liquid from the solar collector is discharged into the evaporation
6 ¦ chamber above the working liquid contained therein ~or vaporiza-
7 ¦ tion thereof. Heat is absorbed ~rom the operating liquid within
8 ¦ the e~aporation chamber as heat of vaporization o~ the liquid
9 therein for cooling the liquid~ and the condenser submerged there-
in. The turbine'may be used to drive a vehicle, or to ~rive a
11 generator for the generation of electrical energy which may be
12 used to energize an electric motor for propelling the vehicle.
13 ¦ The solar collector for heating the working liqu~d may be mounted
14 on the vehicle for direct exposure thereof to solar energy.
The invention, as well as other objects and advantage~
16 1 thereof will become apparent from the following detailed '
-17 ¦-de'scription considered'-with the'-accompanying drawings',`-`a ~ -
18 l
19 - ~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF T Æ DRAWINGS
'
21 In the drawings,w~erein like reference characters re~er t~
22 ¦ the same parts in the several views: -
23 I Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a closed loop~power
24 generating system which enbodies the present invention, ~nd
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of vehicle showing
22268 ¦ th power gen~Pating system therewith for driviP~ the v-hicle.
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1 Reference first is made to Fig. 1 of the drawings wherein
2 the novel power generating system o~ this in~ention is shown
comprising an evaporation chamber 10 filled with a working or
4 operating fluid 12, a portion of which ~luid is in liquid form to
partially fill the chamber with working liquid. A highly volatile
6 working medium is employed, such as ammonia, methyl chloride,
7 propane, ''Freon", or the like, having a boiling point well below
8 ambient temperature. Obviously, the invention is not limited ta
~ use with the above-identified working fluid. Depending upon the
temperature and fluid employed, a vapor pressure on the order o~
11 say, 140 psi may be provided inside the chamber. Condensing means
12 14 are located inside the evaporation chanber 10 adjacent the
13 bottom thereof for use in condensing operating vapor from a prime
14 mover 16 in a manner described below. Preferably, the evaporation
chamber is well insulated to minimize heat transfer through the
16 walls thereof. Also, a rslatively deep chamber is employed ~or
17 maximum temperature difference between the top and bottom o~ the -
18 working liquid contained therein for reasons which will become
19 apparent hereinbelow.
- The prime mover 16, such as a turbine, is provided with
21 operating vapor, or gas, from the eVaporatiQn cha~er 10 through
22 conduit 18 extending from the top of the chamber to the turbine
23 inlet. In the closed loop working fluid circulation path includ-
24 ed in the system, broken line arrows identify the flow ~ working
25 Yapor, and arrows shown in full line identify the flow of working
26 liquid. Vaporized working fluid from the outlet of the turbine 1~
27 is supplied through a conduit 20 to the condenser 14 at the bottom
28 of the evaporation chamber where vapor is cooled and conden~ed.
31
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1 Condensed working liquid from the condenser 14 is pumped by
2 pump 22 through conduit 24 to heating means 26, here sho~m com-
prising a solar collector, for heating the fluid to a temperature .
4 less than boiling. Heate~ ~:ork;ng liquid ~rom the solar collect-
or 26 is discharged into the evaporation chamber 10, above the
6 liquid in the chamber, through conduit 28. ~ throttle valve 30
7 may be included in the conduit 28 adjacen~ the evaporation .
8 chamber to reduce the pressure o~ the ~luid discha~ged into
g evaporation chamber and provide for the control o~ the rate at
which fluid is discharged into the evaporation chamber. Upon
11 discharging into the evaporation chambe~, the heated liquid from
12 the solar co~lector vaporizes, with heat of va.po~i~.ation passing
13 to the heated liquid from working liquid in the bottom of the
14 chamber to cool said working liquid. Because o~ heat stratifica-
tion within the chamber lG, working liquid àt the bottom of the
16 cha~ber tends to be coldest, which results in maximum cooling
17 of the tùrbine discharge by condenser 14 located at the bottom ..:.
18 of the ch~mber.
19 To maximize vapor pressure within the evaporation chamber
10, he~ting means may be included adjacent the surfa~e Or the
21 working liquid in th_ chamber~ In Fig. l, heating means compris-
22 ing a heat exchanger 32 is located in the e~aporation ch~mber 10
23 within the wor~ing liquid 12 adjacent the surface thereof. The
24 heat exchar,ger 32 is supplied with heated worXing li~uid from
the solar collector 26 throu~h ~ valve 34. Fluid from the heat
26 exchanger 32 is returned to the inlet of the pump 22 through con-
27 duit 36 for circuiation of heated operating liquid through the
28 heat exchange~ 32 when the valve 34 is open. The surface tempera
29 ture of the operating liquid within the eva~o~a~ion chamber is .
thereby raised to increase the vapor pressure in the chamber.
31 . .
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1 -`~A valve operator 38 which is responsive to the output from a
2 temperature sensing transducer 4O within the evaporation chamber
3 may be included ~or automatic operation of the valve 34 in
- 4 response to the temperatu~e, and therefore pressure, of the work-
ing vapor within the chamber. As the temperature o~ the working
6 vapor- decreases, the valve 34 is opened further for increased
7 flow of heated operating liquid through the heat exchanger 32.
8 Power from the output shaf-t o~ the turbine may be employed
9 as desired. In the illustrated arrangement the turbine l6 is
shown driving a generator 4~ ~or generation of electrical energ~
11 Energy for operation of the pump 22 may be provided, ~or example,
12 by an electric motor 44 supplied with electricity ~rom the gener-
13 atbr 42. Also, in Fig. 1 the generator output is shown supplied
14 to a second electric motor 46 which motor, as illustrated in
Fig. 2, may be used for dri~ing a vehicle. Obviously, the elec-
16 trical system may include a battery 48 and associated regulating
means, not shown, which battery is charged by the generator out-
18 put during system operation.
19 - Alth~ugh the operation of the system is believed to be
apparent, a brief description thereo~ now ~ill be provided. The
21 temperature of operating liquid pumped into the evaporation
22 chamber lO from the heating means 26 is above the ~emperature of
23 operating liquid already in the vacuum chamber. Operating liquid
24 is heated to ambient temperature, or above, by ~he heating means
26, here sho~m as a solar collector. The pump 22 is operated by
26 energization o~ motor 44 to pump working liquid through the hea~-
27 ing means 26 and, thence, into the evaporation chamber lO under
28 pressure supplied by the pump. Working liquid pumped into the
evaporation chamber lO is at a higher temperature than working
liquid in the bottom o~ the chamber and vaporizes upon entering
3zl the evap tion chamber, with heat for such vapori~ation being
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1 extracted from operating liquid contained in the evapo~ation
2 chamber; Working liquid in the evaporation chamber 10 is thereby
8 cooled, with the liquid at the bottom o~ the cham~er tending to
4 be c~ldest due to stratification ther~o~. The cooled operating
liquid in the chamber serves to remo~e heat from the condenser 14
at the bottom of the ch~mber.
7 ~ith bperation of the pump 22, the pressure at the turbine
8 out et also is reducPd, and a vapor pressure di~ferential exist~
9 across the turbine between the turbine inlet and outlet ~or
driving the same. ~orking vapo~ from the turbine outlet enteræ
11 the condenser 14 where it iæ condensed, with the heat o~ YapOri-
12 zation passing into the operating liquid at the bottom o~ evapora-
13 tion chamber 10. From the condenser 14, working liquid i8 pumped
through the solar collector 26, and the cycle is repeated for
15 continuous operation o$ the system.
16 The pump 22 a~so functions to circulate heated working
17 liquid from the solar collecto~ 26 through the heat exchanger
18 32 to heat the surface of the operating liquid within the e~apora-
19 tion chamber for increased evaporation of liquid and resulting
increased vapor pressure within the chamber. Automatic control
21 of the valve 34 in response to the vapoi temperature, o~ pressure,
22 wit~in the evaporation chamber is provided.
23 An alternative, or auxiliary7 method of fitar*ing operation
24 o~ the power ~ource involves venting some of the wor~ing ~apor
from the evaporation chamber to reduce the pressure o~ ~apor
26 within the cham~er. In Fig. 1 a conduit 50 with a ~1Y~ ~
27 therein i8 provided at the top sf the ch~mber 10 th~ough which
28 working vapor is vented when the valve 52 i8 opened. During
29 such venting the pressure is reduced and operating liquid evapor--
30 ~tes to cool working liquid remaining in the chamber. With the
31 condenser 14 at a lower temperature, the pressure at the tu~bine
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1 outlet is reduced. When the valve is reclosed, pressure within
2 the evaporation chamber returns to normal to provide a vapor
3 pressure differential ac~oss the turbine to drive the same. The
pump 22 is dri~en by the motor 44~ and the system continues to
operate.in the manner descr-ibed above. If dPsired, working vapo~
6 from conduit 40 may be vented into another chamber, or reservoir~
7 not shown, which previously had been evacuated, to prevent loss
8 of operating vapor into the atmosphere. Fluid in such chamber,
9 or reservoir, may be returned, as by pumping, to the circulation
path'of the closed loop system once the system has become opera-
Il ti~e. '' ' - ' '
12 ~he novel power generating system is well adapted for use
13 as a vehicu~r propulsion system, and reference now is made to
14 Fig. 2 wherein there is shown a vehicle 60 equipped_with the
1$ system. In the'diagrammatic illustration, the evaporation cham-
'16 ber lO, turbine 16, generator 42, 'traction motor 46, and pump 22
17 are shown mounted inside the engine compartment of the vehicle.
18 ~he solar collector 26 is shown mounted on the roof of the vehicle
'19 with the conduits 24 and 28 for connection of the solar collector
to assoc'iated system elements being shown extending through a
21 roof support post to hide the conduits from normal ~iew thereat~
22 The output shaft of motor ~6 is diagrammatically shown connected
23 by mechanical csnnecting m-eans 62 to the front wheels of the
24 vehicle. For simplicity, other elements of the system are not
shown in Fig. 2.
26 The im ention having been described in detail in accord-
27 ance with requirements of the Patent Statues, various changes and
28 modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in-'this
29 art. For example, other heating means in place of or in addition
to, those shown may be used fQr heating the working liquid for
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1 conversion thereof to vapor. For example, electrical heating mea~
~ may be employed. Alternatively, ambient air may be circulated
3 through a heat exchanger, such as ~he illustrated heat exchanger
4 32, for heating the surface o~ the operating liquid in the
evaporation chamber. Also, the heat exchanger 10 may be proYided
6 with a light-transmitting top mlember, or cover-, and located so
7 as to receive sun light, for additional heating of the surface
8 of the operating li~uid 12 within the tank. Also a solar collect-
9 or, or other such heating means, may be located in the conduit
lô for ~urther heating of operating fluid enter;ng the turbine~
11 It is intended that the above and other such changes and modî-
12 fications shall fall within the spirit and scope of the inven-
16 tio efined in the appended Claims.
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