Heat engines

A heat engine comprising a reaction chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by float means, a substantially non-volatile liquid and a volatile working fluid substantially chemically non-reactive with the non-volatile liquid in the upper portion, liquid introducing means for transporting the non-volatile liquid from a source of heat to the reaction chamber, fluid introducing means for introducing the volatile working fluid into the reaction chamber in direct physical contact with the non-volatile liquid for conversion of the volatile working fluid into a vapor, vapor removal means for removing the vapor from the chamber, liquid removal means connected to reservoir means physically elevated with respect to the reaction chamber for removing the non-volatile liquid from the chamber, each of said liquid introducing means, said fluid introducing means, said liquid removal means and said vapor removal means including valve means to control pressurization of the reaction chamber for forcing the non-volatile liquid through the liquid removal means, an additional liquid contained in the lower portion, additional liquid introducing means for transporting the additional liquid to the reaction chamber and valve means for selectively controlling the flow therein, additional liquid removal means for removing the additional liquid from the chamber and valve means for selectively controlling the flow therefrom, and energy conversion means connected between said vapor removal means and said fluid introducing means for utilization of heat energy from said vapor.