US 10,358,945 B2Granted

Heat engine system

AssigneeElwha LLC

InventorsJordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An improved heat engine includes at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that includes an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings, and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g. individual heat engine or array of heat engines in series and/or in parallel) for converting thermal energy to useful work (including heat engines operating from a common heat source) is also disclosed. The system can be installed in a vehicle or facility to generate electricity.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A heat engine system comprising:

at least one heat engine comprising at least one heat pipe;
a generator assembly comprising an expander and a generator;
wherein the at least one heat pipe contains a working fluid and comprises an evaporator section and a condenser section;
wherein the at least one heat pipe has a capillary structure for the flow of working fluid in liquid phase from the condenser section to the evaporator section;
wherein the expander is installed within the at least one heat pipe;
wherein the expander is coupled to the generator by a coupling system that includes a magnetic coupling between the expander and the generator, the magnetic coupling including a first rotating member within the at least one heat pipe and a second rotating member outside the at least one heat pipe and magnetically coupled to the first rotating member;
and
wherein the capillary structure comprises a first capillary region adjacent the evaporator section having a first feature size and a second capillary region adjacent the condenser section having a second feature size, wherein the first feature size is smaller than the second feature size and gradually changes from the first feature size to the second feature size.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/064,730Filed 9 Mar 2016 · continuation
Priority: 21 Dec 2012
Published: US 2016/0186615 A130 Jun 2016
Granted: 23 Jul 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F01K 11/00
Plants characterised by the engines being structurally combined with boilers or condensers
F01D 15/10
Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby: adaptations for driving, or combinations…
F01K 11/02
Plants characterised by the engines being structurally combined with boilers or condensers: the engines being turbines
F01K 13/00
General layout or general methods of operation of complete plants

Family

Application13/724,567Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Dec 2012
Application13/723,754Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Dec 2012
Application13/724,412Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Dec 2012
US 2016/0186615 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Jun 2016
US 9,404,392 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,752,832 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/724,567Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0174085 A1Published application
US 2014/0174086 A1Published application
US 2014/0174701 A1Published application
US 10,358,945 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.