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US 4,170,116 AGranted
Method and apparatus for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy
OwnerKenneth A. Williamsinventor
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OwnerKenneth A. Williamsinventor
Estimating the term…
A continuous method and closed cycle system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy comprises vaporizing means, including an energy conversion tube comprising at least one nozzle section, for converting a liquid working fluid stream to a predominantly, by volume, vapor or an all vapor stream, turbine means operated by the stream for converting a portion of the vapor stream energy to mechanical shaft work; means for increasing the thermal and potential energy of the turbine exhaust stream and for condensing it to a substantially liquid stream; and means for recycling the liquid stream to the vaporizing means. The system has particular application to conventional refrigeration/heat pump cycles wherein the conventional throttling valve is replaced by a non-throttling nozzle and a turbine for capturing and using the work of expansion. Energy conversion tubes of the present system also find application in high flow rate, two phase flow applications, such as pressure vessel safety relief valves.
In a method for achieving heating or refrigeration including the steps of compressing a refrigerant vapor stream, condensing said vapor, expanding said resulting fluid stream to reduce its saturation temperature and pressure, and passing said expanded fluid stream in heat exchange relationship with a source of thermal energy to re-vaporize at least a portion thereof, the improvement comprising:
In a closed cycle mechanical vapor heating or refrigeration system including compressor means for raising the temperature and pressure of a refrigerant vapor stream, condenser means for cooling said vapor stream to at least a substantially saturated liquid condition, means for expanding said liquid stream for reducing its saturation temperature and pressure, and evaporator means for passing said expanded stream in heat exchange relationship with a source of thermal energy to re-vaporize at least a portion thereof, the improvement comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.