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US 10,851,733 B2Granted
Engine with differential evaporation pressures
OwnerStephane Willocxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine comprising: a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture of gas and steam from the liquid, a heat source able to heat the liquid, a cold source able to cool the work mixture, a movable device positioned within the case, which can move between a first position where the movable device minimize the contact between the work mixture and the cold source, and maximize the contact between the liquid and the work mixture, and a second position where the movable device maximize the contact between the work mixture and the cold source, and minimize the contact between the liquid and the work mixture, an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa.
Claims30
An engine comprising:
- a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture comprising at least steam from the liquid, with the case comprising at least one cooling wall and at least one heating wall;
- a cold source so configured as to cool the at least one cooling wall and the work mixture, with the cold source and the work mixture being able to be placed on either side of the at least one cooling wall;
- a heat source so configured as to heat the liquid or at least one heating wall, with the heat source and the liquid being placed on either side of the at least one heating wall;
- a movable device positioned within the case, which can move between a first position and a second position, with the engine being so configured that:
- the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the second position is greater than the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the first position;
- the movable device enables the contact between the liquid and the work mixture in the first position and that the movable device is inserted between the liquid and the work mixture in the second position;
- an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa;
- and
- at least one cylinder comprising at least one piston, with said piston being different from the movable device and the actuator, with one space of said cylinder being in fluid communication with the case so as to contact the work mixture,
- wherein, during the whole operation thereof, the engine is configured to apply temperature and pressure conditions to the liquid so that the liquid does not boil.
7 more elements
The engine according to 13, wherein the movable device comprises a second wall so formed as to release or uncover at least a part of the surface of the liquid in the first position and to cover at least a part of the surface of the liquid in the second position.
A system comprising at least one engine, the engine comprising:
- a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture comprising at least steam from the liquid, with the case comprising at least one cooling wall and at least one heating wall;
- a cold source so configured as to cool the at least one cooling wall and the work mixture, with the cold source and the work mixture being able to be placed on either side of the at least one cooling wall;
- a heat source so configured as to heat the liquid or at least one heating wall, with the heat source and the liquid being placed on either side of the at least one heating wall;
- a movable device positioned within the case, which can move between a first position and a second position, with the engine being so configured that:
- the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the second position is greater than the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the first position;
- the movable device enables the contact between the liquid and the work mixture in the first position and that the movable device is inserted between the liquid and the work mixture in the second position;
- an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa;
- and
- at least one cylinder comprising at least one piston, with said piston being different from the movable device and the actuator, with one space of said cylinder being in fluid communication with the case so as to contact the work mixture,
- wherein, during the whole operation thereof, the engine is configured to apply temperature and pressure conditions to the liquid so that the liquid does not boil, and
- a generator coupled to the piston and so configured as to produce electricity from the mechanical energy available on the piston.
8 more elements
A method for controlling an engine, the engine comprising:
- a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture comprising at least steam from the liquid, with the case comprising at least one cooling wall and at least one heating wall;
- a cold source so configured as to cool the at least one cooling wall and the work mixture, with the cold source and the work mixture being able to be placed on either side of the at least one cooling wall;
- a heat source so configured as to heat the liquid or at least one heating wall, with the heat source and the liquid being placed on either side of the at least one heating wall;
- a movable device positioned within the case, which can move between a first position and a second position, with the engine being so configured that:
- the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the second position is greater than the heat exchange between the work mixture and the at least one cooling wall in the first position;
- the movable device enables the contact between the liquid and the work mixture in the first position and that the movable device is inserted between the liquid and the work mixture in the second position;
- an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa;
- and
- at least one cylinder comprising at least one piston, with said piston being different from the movable device and the actuator, with one space of said cylinder being in fluid communication with the case so as to contact the work mixture,
- wherein, during the whole operation thereof, temperature and pressure conditions are applied to the liquid so that the liquid does not boil.
7 more elements
A heat pump comprising:
- a sealed and rigid case containing a liquid and a work mixture comprising at least steam from the liquid,
- a heat source able to heat the liquid,
- a cold source able to cool the work mixture,
- movable device, positioned within the case, which can move between:
- a first position where the movable device minimizes the volume of the heat exchange between the work mixture and the cold source, and maximizes the volume of the heat exchange between the liquid and the work mixture, and
- a second position where the movable device maximizes the volume of the heat exchange between the work mixture and the cold source, and minimizes the volume of the heat exchange between the liquid and the work mixture, and
- an actuator able to move the movable device from the first position to the second position and vice versa;
- and
- at least one cylinder comprising one piston, with said piston being different from the movable device and the actuator, with one space of said cylinder being in fluid communication with the case so as to contact the work mixture,
- with the heat pump being so configured that the displacements of the piston and of the movable device cause a transfer of heat from the heat source to the cold source,
- wherein, during the whole operation thereof, the engine is configured to apply temperature and pressure conditions to the liquid so that the liquid does not boil.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.