Engine system using liquid air and combustible fuel
AssigneeR & D Associates
InventorsAlbert L. Latter, James L. Dooley, R. Philip Hammond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine system operates on liquid air and LNG, with the LNG being burned to obtain more energy from an expansion engine using the liquid air as the working fluid; and the liquid air is employed to trap or prevent the undesired venting of LNG fumes, which could otherwise burn or explode.
Claims10
A safe and economical automobile system utilizing a combinational engine for operating on liquified cryogenic gas and LNG as energy sources comprising:
- an automobile;
- a first insulated tank for storing liquified cryogenic nitrogen or air mounted in said automobile;
- means for pumping said liquified gas to an elevated pressure;
- first heat exchanger means for warming said high pressure liquified gas toward the ambient whereby it changes to the gaseous state;
- second heat exchanger means located in the said automobile to receive heat from the ambient air and further warm the pressurized gas, as said automobile moves forward;
- a second insulated tank for storing LNG as a combustible fuel in said vehicle;
- means for venting said second tank for storing LNG;
- means for cooling said LNG venting means by cooling from said first insulated tank to cause the LNG vapor to condense and flow back into said second tank;
- means for burning said fuel to heat the pressurized gas;
- and
- multi-stage expansion engine means for receiving said pressurized gas, permitting it to expand, and obtaining useful work therefrom.
A combinational engine for operating on liquified cryogenic gas and LNG as energy sources comprising:
- a first insulated tank for storing liquified air or nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures;
- means for pumping said liquified gas to an elevated pressure;
- heat exchanger means for warming said high pressure liquified gas toward the ambient whereby it changes to the gaseous state;
- a second insulated tank for storing LNG as a combustible fuel;
- means for preventing the diffusion of LNG from said second tank by condensing vapors from the LNG by cooling from the liquified air or nitrogen;
- and
- means for burning said fuel to heat said pressurized gas;
- and
- multi-stage expansion engine means for receiving said pressurized gas, permitting it to expand, and obtaining useful work therefrom.
A combinational engine system for operating on liquified cryogenic gas and LNG as energy sources comprising:
- a first insulated tank for storing liquified air or nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures;
- a second insulated tank for storing LNG as a combustible fuel;
- means for preventing the diffusion of LNG from said second tank by condensing vapors from the LNG by cooling from the liquified air or nitrogen;
- and
- engine means for both burning said fuel and for receiving said originally liquified gas and permitting it to expand, to obtain useful work both from said LNG fuel and from the expansion of the originally liquified air or nitrogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.