Dual shell Stirling engine with gas backup
OwnerWayne T. Bliesnerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Stirling engine which utilizes an inner and outer dual shell pressure containment system surrounding the high pressure and temperature engine components. The space between the shells is filled with a pressure backup gas and an insulation material with the backup gas being in communications with the working fluid. The backup gas and insulation provide a time varying pressure field, driven by the pressure variations in the Stirling engine working fluid, which cancels the pressure differential on the heat transfer tubing and allows an averaging of pressures during each cycle of engine operation. In one embodiment the backup gas is placed inside the inner shell.
Claims48
An insulating high temperature dual shell pressure chamber comprising;
- an inner container adapted to contain a working fluid which is operating in a time varying high temperature and pressure field,
- an outer pressure container surrounding said inner container defining a space therebetween,
- heat insulating material contained in the space between said inner and outer container for holding said pressure field and minimizing heat transfer between hot and cold regions of said pressure chamber, and
- a pressure backup region containing a pressurized gas medium constructed and arranged to transmit a uniform backup gas pressure to said working fluid.
In a thermal engine having a hollow heat exchange element subjected to a time varying high temperature and pressure field source, a dual shell pressure containment system comprising;
- an inner pressure container adapted to receive heat from an external heat source and filled with a substantially incompressible liquid heat transfer medium surrounding said heat exchange element,
- said heat exchange element adapted to contain a working fluid which is operating in a time varying high temperature and pressure field,
- an outer pressure container surrounding said inner container and spaced therefrom,
- heat insulating material contained in the space between said inner and outer containers for holding said pressure field and minimizing heat transfer between hot and cold regions of said engine, and
- a pressure backup region containing a pressurized gas medium constructed and arranged to transmit a uniform backup gas pressure to said working fluid.
A method of providing a thermally insulated time varying pressure field which matches the working fluid pressure within the heat exchange conduit of a thermal engine comprising the steps of;
- surrounding said conduit with a heat transfer liquid medium contained in a pressure transmitting inner shell,
- subjecting the liquid medium to the working fluid pressure within said engine,
- incorporating a thermal insulating medium contained in a rigid outer pressure shell to minimize heat transfer between said inner and outer shells, and
- forming a pressurized gas backup region containing a gaseous medium and transmitting a uniform backup gas pressure to said working fluid.
A method of providing a thermally insulated time varying pressure field which matches the working fluid pressure within the heat exchange conduit of a thermal engine comprising the steps of
- surrounding said conduit with a heat transfer liquid medium contained in a pressure transmitting inner shell,
- subjecting the liquid medium to the working fluid pressure within said engine,
- incorporating a thermal insulating medium contained in a rigid outer pressure shell to minimize heat transfer between said inner and outer shells,
- forming a pressurized gas backup region containing a gaseous medium in fluid communication with said working fluid, and
- selectively pressurizing said gaseous medium to transmit a uniform backup gas pressure to said working fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.