Engine for converting thermal energy to stored energy
OwnerRichard Laurance Lewellininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The engine for converting thermal energy to stored fluid energy includes expansion cylinders (61a–f) with expansion chambers (62a–f) and flexible membranes (63a–f). Heating and cooling of working fluid inside the cylinders (61a–f) is carried out by fluid supply lines (73, 71) communicating with external heat resources and sinks. Pressure accumulator (66a) is adapted to store a pressurised fluid (64a–f), such as hydraulic oil, from the individual cylinders (61a–f). In use, this pressurised fluid is delivered at an elevated and above a minimum threshold pressure level, irrespective of the irregularities of the movement of the expansion cylinders (61a–f).
Claims20
An engine for converting thermal energy to stored energy, the engine including:
- (a) a thermal energy converter including an expansion chamber which is adapted to vary in volume by the movement of a movable wall forming one part of said expansion chamber, said expansion chamber capable of performing an expansion-contraction cycle;
- (b) a working fluid in said expansion chamber which expands upon being heated whereby to displace the movable wall in a first direction to expand the volume of said expansion chamber and contracts upon being cooled to displace the movable wall in an opposed direction to reduce the volume of said expansion chamber;
- (c) a temperature modifier adapted to draw on:
- (i) a heat source to heat the working fluid to expand the volume of the expansion chamber by the displacement of the expansion wall to increase the volume of said expansion chamber as a first expansion part of said cycle;
- and
- (ii) a cooling source to cool the working fluid to reduce the volume of the expansion chamber and to permit the return of the movable wall as a second part of said cycle;
- and
- (d) pressure storage means operatively associated with said movable wall and adapted to deliver pressurised fluid to an accumulator means, said accumulator means for storing said pressurised fluid at an elevated pressure,
- wherein said accumulator means is capable of being bled of said pressurised fluid at a predetermined rate such that the accumulated said elevated pressure is maintained at a minimum threshold level, irrespective of the irregularity of the movement of said movable wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.