Regenerator for a thermal cycle engine
AssigneeNV Bekaert SA
InventorsFrank Verschaeve, Inge Schildermans
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Abstract
A regenerator (100), for a thermal cycle engine with external combustion, according to the invention comprises a network of metal fibers wherein a majority of the fibers at least partially encircles the axis of the regenerator. The fibers were part of a fiber bundle which is coiled and sintered thereby obtaining the regenerator.
Claims14
A regenerator for a thermal cycle engine, the regenerator having an axis, said regenerator comprising a network of metal fibers wherein at least 85% of said fibers at least partially encircling said axis, wherein said metal fibers are part of fiber bundles which are supercrimped, said supercrimped fibers having a crimp wave satisfying the following formulas:
- 3 mm≦R≦½H, wherein R is the distance between the top and the bottom of the crimp wave shape and H is the height of the regenerator;
- and
- 1 mm≦S≦4×R, wherein S is the distance between two successive tops of the crimp wave shape.
A method for manufacturing a regenerator for a thermal cycle engine, said regenerator having an outer diameter, the method comprising:
- providing a consolidated fiber structure comprising metal fibers, the consolidated fiber structure having at least a leading edge;
- cylindrically winding said consolidated fiber structure, parallel to said leading edge, until the predetermined diameter, being said outer diameter of said regenerator, is obtained;
- providing a mesh having at least a mesh leading edge;
- cylindrically winding said mesh around said wound consolidated fiber structure, parallel to said mesh leading edge;
- sintering the wound consolidated fiber structure in such a manner as to cross-link the fibers at points of close contact between said fibers;
- removing said mesh from around the sintered regenerator;
- wherein at least 85% of said fibers at least partially encircling an axis of said regenerator, said fibers are part of fiber bundles which are supercrimped, and said supercrimped fibers having a crimp wave satisfying the following formulas:
- 3 mm≦R≦½H, wherein R is the distance between the top and the bottom of the crimp wave shape and H is the height of the regenerator;
- and
- 1 mm≦S≦4×R, wherein S is the distance between two successive tops of the crimp wave shape.
A method for manufacturing a regenerator for a thermal cycle engine, said regenerator having an inner and an outer diameter, the method comprising:
- providing a consolidated fiber structure comprising metal fibers, the consolidated fiber structure having at least a leading edge;
- providing a reel, said reel having a diameter almost equal to the internal diameter of said regenerator;
- cylindrically winding said consolidated fiber structure onto said reel, parallel to said leading edge, until the predetermined diameter, being said outer diameter of said regenerator, is obtained;
- providing a mesh having at least a mesh leading edge;
- cylindrically winding said mesh around said wound consolidated fiber structure, parallel to said mesh leading edge;
- sintering the wound consolidated fiber structure in such a manner as to cross-link the fibers at points of close contact between said fibers;
- removing said mesh and said reel from around the sintered regenerator;
- wherein at least 85% of said fibers at least partially encircling an axis of said regenerator, said fibers are part of fiber bundles which are supercrimped, and said supercrimped fibers having a crimp wave satisfying the following formulas:
- 3 mm≦R≦½H, wherein R is the distance between the top and the bottom of the crimp wave shape and H is the height of the regenerator;
- and
- 1 mm≦S≦4×R, wherein S is the distance between two successive tops of the crimp wave shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.