Optimal heat engine
AssigneeFsnc, LLC
InventorFrank A. Tinker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conservative force coupled to the piston of a reciprocating-piston engine, refrigerator, or compressor acts to counter the pressure force on the piston that arises from the change of volume of the working substance accompanying a change in the piston position. As a result, the efficiency of the engine, refrigerator, or compressor is improved to approach the theoretical thermodynamic limit of the underlying process.
Claims76
In a reciprocating-piston engine that includes a gas exerting a conservative force on a piston resulting from a change in volume of the gas arising from a change in position of the piston during a cycle of operation of the engine, the improvement comprising a mechanism adapted to counter said conservative force with a counterforce acting on the piston, said counterforce being produced by a position-dependent force acting on the mechanism, wherein said counterforce is substantially equal in magnitude to said conservative force exerted on the piston at each point of said cycle of operation of the engine.
In a reciprocating-piston refrigerator that includes a gas exerting a conservative force on a piston resulting from a change in volume of the gas arising from a change in position of the piston during a cycle of operation of the refrigerator, the improvement comprising a mechanism adapted to counter said conservative force with a counterforce acting on the piston, said counterforce being produced by a position-dependent force acting on the mechanism;
- wherein said counterforce is substantially equal in magnitude to said conservative force exerted on the piston at each point of said cycle of operation of the refrigerator.
In a reciprocating-piston compressor that includes a gas exerting a conservative force on a piston resulting from a change in volume of the gas arising from a change in position of the piston during a cycle of operation of the compressor, the improvement comprising a mechanism adapted to counter said conservative force with a counterforce acting on the piston, said counterforce being produced by a position-dependent force acting on the mechanism;
- wherein said counterforce is substantially equal in magnitude to said conservative force exerted on the piston at each point of said cycle of operation of the compressor.
A machine comprising:
- a reciprocating piston;
- a gas exerting a conservative force on the piston as a result of a change of volume in the gas as the piston moves along a predetermined path of motion during a cycle of operation of the machine;
- means for producing a position-dependent force;
- and
- means for coupling said position-dependent force to the piston to counter said conservative force with a counterforce as the piston moves along said path of motion;
- wherein said counterforce is substantially equal in magnitude to the conservative force exerted by the gas on the piston at each point along said path of motion of the piston during the cycle of operation of the machine.
A mechanism for coupling to a reciprocating-piston machine wherein a change in position of a piston produces a change in volume of a gas and in a corresponding conservative force acting on the piston during a cycle of operation of the machine, comprising:
- a source of a position-dependent force;
- and
- a coupler converting said position dependent force into a counterforce opposing said conservative force acting on the piston;
- wherein said counter-force is substantially equal in magnitude to said conservative force acting on the piston at each point of said cycle of operation of the machine.
A method for improving the efficiency of a heat engine that includes a gas exerting a conservative force on a piston resulting from a change in volume of the gas arising from a change in position of the piston during a cycle of operation of the heat engine, the method comprising the step of countering said conservative force with a counterforce acting on the piston, wherein said counterforce is produced by a position-dependent force;
- and wherein said counterforce is substantially equal in magnitude to said conservative force exerted on the piston at each point of said cycle of operation of the heat engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.