Expansible heat pipe engine
OwnerVince Kellyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A regenerative heat pipe phase-change engine is disclosed, and may include an evaporator, a piston cylinder fluidically coupled to the evaporator, a piston configured to move within the piston cylinder, a condenser fluidically coupled to the piston cylinder, and a closed-loop fluid return system. The evaporator may be configured to absorb external thermal energy and to vaporize a working fluid within the evaporator. The piston may be configured to be driven by pressure exerted by the vapor generated in the evaporator. The condenser may be configured to condense the vapor into a condensate, such that a pressure differential is created between the condensate and the vapor. The closed-loop fluid return system may be configured to transport condensate from the condenser to the evaporator.
Claims20
A regenerative heat pipe phase-change engine, comprising:
- an evaporator configured to absorb external thermal energy and to vaporize a working fluid within the evaporator;
- a piston cylinder fluidically coupled to the evaporator;
- a piston configured to move within the piston cylinder, the piston configured to be driven by pressure exerted by the vapor generated in the evaporator;
- a condenser fluidically coupled to the piston cylinder, the condenser configured to condense the vapor into a condensate, such that a pressure differential is created between the condensate and the vapor;
- and
- a closed-loop fluid return system configured to transport condensate from the condenser to the evaporator.
A method of producing mechanical work, comprising:
- vaporizing a working fluid within an evaporator;
- driving a piston within a piston cylinder by way of pressure exerted by the vapor generated in the evaporator;
- condensing the vapor driving the piston into a condensate, such that the pressure differential between the vapor and the condensate retracts the piston;
- and
- returning the condensate to the evaporator by way of a closed-loop fluid return system.
An expansible heat pipe phase-change engine, comprising:
- an evaporator configured to absorb external thermal energy and to vaporize a thermal fluid within the evaporator;
- a piston cylinder housing a piston and a working fluid, the working fluid on an evaporator side of the piston and configured to exert increased pressure when heated such that the heated working fluid drives the piston;
- and
- a barrier positioned between the evaporator and the piston cylinder configured to separate the thermal fluid and the working fluid, the barrier configured to enable heat transfer therethrough,
- wherein the working fluid is configured to be heated by the vaporized thermal fluid in the evaporator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.