Heat transfer element
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorLouis J. Danis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heater head for use in hot gas engine is formed using improved heat transfer structures. The heat transfer structures used in the heater head are formed of an oxidation resistant enclosure enclosing a tube of high strength, gas impermeable material. A chamber is formed between the enclosure and the tube, and filled with a metal or alloy which is liquid at the operating temperature of the heater head. The structure transfers combustion heat rapidly from the oxidation resistant metal to the strong, gas impermeable tube via the liquid metal. The strong gas impermeable tube is filled with working gas, such as hydrogen or helium maintained at a high pressure.
Claims10
In combination, a Stirling cycle hot gas reciprocating engine and a heat transfer element for transferring heat formed by the combusting fuel to the pressurized contained working gas comprising:
- an enclosure having an outer surface exposed to the hot gases caused by said combustion and defining an internal cavity;
- a relatively gas impermeable, high strength container located within the cavity to hold the pressurized working gas to be heated;
- and
- a low melting temperature metal disposed in the chamber defined between the inner surface of the enclosure and the outer surface of the container, the metal being a liquid at the operating temperature of the heat transfer element.
In combination, a Stirling cycle hot gas reciprocating engine and a heater pipe in the combustion chamber of the heater head mounted on the engine block of the hot gas engine, the pipe containing a pressurized working gas being joined to the heater head and in fluid communication with the power piston of the hot gas engine, said pipe comprising:
- an elongated metal enclosure having an outer surface and an internal bore;
- a tube located within the bore of the enclosure and adapted to contain the working gas therewithin, the tube being relatively impervious to the working gas and having a relatively high tensile strength to withstand the working gas pressure and the enclosure and tube being joined near their ends to form a closed-ended chamber;
- and
- a low melting temperature metal disposed in the chamber to transfer heat therethrough from the metal enclosure to the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.