US 10,767,595 B2Granted

Power generation using enthalpy difference gradient for subatmospheric regenerative piston engine

AssigneeM-Cycle Corporation Ltd.

InventorValeriy Stepanovich Maisotsenko

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method for power generation via a liquid-gas phase transition. The method includes receiving atmospheric air as input to create an enthalpy difference gradient. A regenerative piston engine received atmospheric air. The regenerative piston engine collects heat generated from the enthalpy difference gradient. The regenerative piston engine converts the collected heat to a mechanical form of energy at the regenerative piston engine.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A subatmospheric regenerative engine comprising:

an M-regenerator including:
at least one dry channel capable of operatively receiving an outside airflow and passing thereof in a first direction forming an intermediate airflow;
at least one wet channel, adjacent to the at least one dry channel, and capable of passing the intermediate airflow in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby forming a saturated hot airflow, further acting as a first working fluid;
at least one product channel, adjacent to the at least one wet channel;
a first heat-conducting wall separating the at least one dry channel from the at least one wet channel, thereby establishing a first heat transfer therebetween;
and
a second heat-conducting wall separating the at least one wet channel from the at least one product channel, thereby establishing a second heat transfer therebetween;
a water pipeline connecting a bottom of the at least one product channel with the at least one wet channel capable of operatively drawing water condensate from the at least one product channel to the at least one wet channel and forming a water layer therein;
a pipeline A disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of operatively receiving the first working fluid from the at least one wet channel;
a pipeline B disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of operatively receiving the outside airflow;
a source of heat capable of heating up the outside airflow in the pipeline B before drawing the outside airflow into the at least one dry channel;
a pipeline C disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of passing the first working fluid to the at least one product channel, thereby forming a second working fluid therein;
a pipeline D disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of passing the second working fluid from the at least one product channel;
a double-acting piston engine including:
a cylinder;
a piston capable of operatively dividing the cylinder into a compression zone and an expansion zone, said piston is capable of reciprocal motion within the cylinder thereby producing said mechanical power, and said piston is coupled with a shaft capable of outputting the mechanical power from the piston engine;
an intake expansion valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said pipeline A with said expansion zone, thereby passing the first working fluid therethrough;
an exhaust expansion valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said expansion zone with said pipeline C, thereby passing the first working fluid therethrough;
an intake compression valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said pipeline D with said compression zone, thereby passing the second working fluid therethrough;
and
an exhaust compression valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said compression zone with the atmosphere, thereby passing the second working fluid therethrough.

18 more elements

A subatmospheric regenerative engine comprising:

an M-regenerator including:
at least one dry channel capable of operatively receiving a heated airflow and passing thereof in a first direction forming a second airflow;
at least one wet channel, situated below the at least one dry channel, and passing the second airflow in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby forming a saturated airflow further acting as a first working fluid;
at least one product channel, situated below the at least one wet channel;
a first heat-conducting wall separating the at least one dry channel from the at least one wet channel, thereby establishing a first heat transfer therebetween;
and
a second heat-conducting wall separating the at least one wet channel from the at least one product channel, thereby establishing a second heat transfer therebetween;
a first water pipeline connecting a bottom of the at least one product channel with the at least one wet channel operatively drawing water condensate from the at least one product channel to the at least one wet channel and forming a water layer therein;
a pipeline A disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of operatively receiving the first working fluid from the at least one wet channel;
a source of heat for heating up a preheated airflow, forming the heated airflow;
an air cooler capable of operatively receiving outside airflow;
said air cooler defines at least an internal space and an air duct disposed within the internal space;
wherein a third heat transfer is established between the internal space and the air duct;
the air duct is capable of passing the outside airflow therethrough, thereby forming the preheated airflow;
and the internal space is capable of passing the first working fluid therethrough, thereby pre-cooling and pre-dehumidifying the first working fluid;
a second water pipeline connecting the internal space with the at least one wet channel, operatively drawing water condensate from the air cooler to the at least one wet channel;
a pipeline B disposed outside the M-regenerator, connecting the air cooler and the at least one dry channel, capable of operatively receiving said preheated airflow from the air cooler, and passing said preheated airflow to the source of heat;
a pipeline C disposed outside the M-regenerator, connecting the air cooler and the at least one product channel, and capable of passing the first working fluid from the air cooler to the at least one product channel, wherein the first working fluid is finally cooled and dehumidified, thereby forming a second working fluid;
a pipeline D disposed outside the M-regenerator;
a double-acting piston engine including:
a cylinder;
a piston operatively dividing the cylinder into a compression zone and an expansion zone, said piston is capable of reciprocal motion within the cylinder thereby producing said mechanical power, and said piston is coupled with a shaft capable of outputting the mechanical power from the piston engine;
an intake expansion valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said pipeline A with said expansion zone and operatively passing the first working fluid from the at least one wet channel to the expansion zone;
an exhaust expansion valve mounted in the cylinder, capable of controllably connecting said expansion zone with said air cooler and operatively passing the first working fluid to the internal space of said air cooler;
an intake compression valve mounted in the cylinder, capable of controllably connecting said pipeline D with said compression zone and introducing said second working fluid into the compression zone;
and
an exhaust compression valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said compression zone with the atmosphere, thereby outputting the second working fluid into the atmosphere.

24 more elements

A method for generation of mechanical power comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a double-acting piston engine including a cylinder, and a piston capable of reciprocal motion within the cylinder and operatively dividing the cylinder into a compression zone and an expansion zone;
(b) providing an outside airflow;
(c) heating up the outside airflow;
(d) passing the outside airflow having a first temperature and an absolute humidity through at least one dry channel reducing the first temperature approaching a dew point without changing the absolute humidity, forming an intermediate airflow;
(e) passing the intermediate airflow through at least one wet channel;
(f) providing a first heat transfer between the at least one dry channel and the at least one wet channel;
(g) simultaneously, in the at least one wet channel, humidifying the intermediate airflow and heating the intermediate airflow due to the first heat transfer, thereby obtaining the first working fluid characterized with atmospheric pressure and a first enthalpy rate;
(h) controllably inputting the first working fluid into said expansion zone, wherein the first working fluid is expanded, thereby reducing pressure of the first working fluid below atmospheric pressure;
(i) providing a second heat transfer between at least one product channel and the at least one wet channel;
(j) controllably outputting the first working fluid from said expansion zone into the at least one product channel, cooling the first working fluid, due to the second heat transfer, approaching a temperature of dew point, dehumidifying the first working fluid, thereby forming a water condensate in the at least one product channel;
(k) in the at least one product channel, obtaining a second working fluid characterized with a second enthalpy rate below the first enthalpy rate;
thereby establishing an enthalpy difference gradient between the first working fluid and the second working fluid;
(l) controllably inputting the second working fluid from the at least one product channel into said compression zone, wherein the second working fluid is sucked into said compression zone;
(m) compressing the second working fluid to atmosphere pressure in said compression zone, and controllably outputting the second working fluid from said compression zone into the atmosphere;
and
(n) cyclically repeating the steps (b)-(m), thereby producing said mechanical power.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A subatmospheric regenerative engine comprising:

an M-regenerator including:
at least one dry channel capable of operatively receiving an outside airflow and passing thereof in a first direction forming an intermediate airflow;
at least one wet channel, adjacent to the at least one dry channel, and capable of passing the intermediate airflow in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby forming a saturated hot airflow, further acting as a first working fluid;
at least one product channel, adjacent to the at least one wet channel;
a first heat-conducting wall separating the at least one dry channel from the at least one wet channel, thereby establishing a first heat transfer therebetween;
and
a second heat-conducting wall separating the at least one wet channel from the at least one product channel, thereby establishing a second heat transfer therebetween;
a water pipeline connecting a bottom of the at least one product channel with the at least one wet channel capable of operatively drawing water condensate from the at least one product channel to the at least one wet channel and forming a water layer therein;
a pipeline A disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of operatively receiving the first working fluid from the at least one wet channel;
a pipeline B disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of operatively receiving the outside airflow;
a source of heat capable of heating up the outside airflow in the pipeline B before drawing the outside airflow into the at least one dry channel;
a pipeline C disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of passing the first working fluid to the at least one product channel, thereby forming a second working fluid therein;
a pipeline D disposed outside the M-regenerator, and capable of passing the second working fluid from the at least one product channel;
a double-acting piston engine including:
a cylinder;
a piston capable of operatively dividing the cylinder into a compression zone and an expansion zone, said piston is capable of reciprocal motion within the cylinder thereby producing said mechanical power, and said piston is coupled with a shaft capable of outputting the mechanical power from the piston engine;
an intake expansion valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said pipeline A with said expansion zone, thereby passing the first working fluid therethrough;
an exhaust expansion valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said expansion zone with said pipeline C, thereby passing the first working fluid therethrough;
an intake compression valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said pipeline D with said compression zone, thereby passing the second working fluid therethrough;
and
an exhaust compression valve mounted in the cylinder and capable of controllably connecting said compression zone with the atmosphere, thereby passing the second working fluid therethrough.

18 more elements