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US 4,044,558 AGranted
Thermal oscillator
AssigneeNew Process Industries, Inc.
InventorGlendon M. Benson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermomechanical oscillator for generating electricity, pressurizing fluid or pumping heat is disclosed. The device includes a heat source and sink, positive displacement oscillating elements that subject a working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle in which work and heat are exchanged, and a load that extracts enthalpic energy from the working fluid by positive displacment oscillating elements. A thermodynamic cycle produced by such oscillator is also disclosed.
Claims92
A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising:
- heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink;
- a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink;
- and
- at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate out of phase with one another and in resonance in combination with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle.
1 more element
A thermal machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said positive displacement elements are mechanically coupled.
A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising:
- heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink;
- a compressor stage including a compression chamber and a positive displacement compression element adapted to oscillate in a resonant fashion in the compression chamber to compress the working fluid as the compression element oscillates;
- an expander stage including an expansion chamber and a positive displacement expansion element adapted to oscillate in resonance with the compression element to expand the working fluid as the expansion element oscillates in the expansion chamber in a resonant fashion in combination with the compression element;
- a working fluid;
- and
- conduit means for conducting the compressed working fluid from the compression stage through the thermal source to the expansion stage for heating and expansion of the working fluid and
- for conducting the expanded working fluid through the thermal sink to the compression stage for cooling and compressing of the working fluid,
- whereby the working fluid is subject to a thermodynamic cycle and a heat energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the heat exchange means and an energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the positive displacement elements oscillating in resonance with one another.
5 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber;
- heat exchange means including a thermal source, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber;
- a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D';
- a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber;
- coolant exchange means including a second thermal source and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber;
- a phaser cylinder;
- a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means;
- and
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween.
7 more elements
A thermal machine comprising a closed system containing a fixed mass of working fluid and having at least two regions of generally diverse temperatures, and at least two positive displacement elements that cyclically transfer working fluid between said regions where said elements function as damped mechanical oscillators that are self-excited by the periodic variation in pressure of said fluid when subjected to the thermodynamic cycle produced by interaction of said elements and said fluid transfer and oscillate in a phase shifted relationship and in resonance with one another and where said elements effect a net thermal energy conversion.
A thermal machine comprising:
- heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink;
- a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink;
- and at least one positive displacement element which has at least two different sealing diameters that is interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle wherein said element is self-excited by the periodic pressure variation of the working fluid to oscillate at a resonant frequency wherein said oscillation periodically transfers said working fluid through said heat exchange means where said fluid is subject to a frictional pressure drop therein and where said pressure drop provides damping action to said displacement element thereby causing said element to oscillate at damped resonant frequency.
A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising:
- heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink;
- a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink;
- at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle;
- and
- a ballast fluid of similar composition to said working fluid said ballast fluid being subjected to a pressure variation in phase opposition to said working fluid.
2 more elements
A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising:
- heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink;
- a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink;
- at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle;
- and
- means for oscillating at least one of the positive displacement elements which provides a net heat energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means.
2 more elements
A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising:
- heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink;
- a working fluid adapted to flow through one heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink;
- at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle;
- and
- gas spring means adapted to oppose the inertial force of at least one of the positive displacement elements throughout the entire travel of said element.
2 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber;
- heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- an alternator cylinder;
- an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin;
- and
- a phaser cylinder and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in said phaser cylinder and define therewith a phaser chamber in fluid communication with the compression chamber to maintain the relative phase of the displacer and alternator cylinders.
5 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber
- heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- an alternator cylinder;
- an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- and
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin.
4 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber,
- heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- an alternator cylinder;
- an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin;
- and
- a phaser cylinder integral with the displacer cylinder, and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser
5 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber,
- heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- an alternator cylinder;
- an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin;
- and
- a phaser cylinder integral with the alternator cylinder, and phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser cylinder.
5 more elements
A thermal machine comprising:
- a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D;
- a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber;
- heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exhange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber;
- a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D';
- a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a secondary end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber;
- coolant exchange means including a second thermal source, a second thermal regenerator, and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber;
- a phaser cylinder;
- at least one phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means;
- a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween;
- and
- an alternator cylinder and at least one alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of said heat exchange means and said coolant exchange means.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.