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US RE50,556 E1Granted
Heat engines, systems for providing pressurized refrigerant, and related methods
AssigneeHeat Source Energy Corp.
InventorKeith Sterling Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for generating power from a heat source includes mixing a refrigerant in a liquid phase with a lubricating oil, heating the mixture to evaporate the refrigerant, mixing the heated mixture with additional refrigerant in a superheated phase, and atomizing the lubricating oil to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant. The atomized lubricating oil and the refrigerant are passed through a decompressor to generate an electrical current. The refrigerant may be an organic material having a boiling point below about −35 C. Related systems and heat engines are also disclosed.
Claims35
A method comprising:
- mixing a lubricating oil with a first portion of a refrigerant in a bypass zone of a heat engine to form a mixture, the first portion of the refrigerant in a liquid phase;
- heating the mixture of the lubricating oil and the first portion of the refrigerant in a high-pressure zone of the heat engine to form a heated mixture, wherein at least a portion of the first portion of the refrigerant is in a gaseous phase, wherein the refrigerant exhibits a boiling point below −35° C.;
- mixing the heated mixture with a second portion of the refrigerant, the second portion of the refrigerant in a superheated phase;
- atomizing the lubricating oil in an atomizer comprising a mixing media to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant;
- and
- cooling the refrigerant in a low-pressure zone of the heat engine through at least one heat sink;
- wherein the high-pressure zone, the low-pressure zone, and the bypass zone form a closed-loop path for the refrigerant.
4 more elements
A heat engine, comprising:
- a high-pressure zone configured to transfer heat from at least one heat source to a refrigerant and configured to contain a first portion of the refrigerant in a gaseous phase, the refrigerant exhibiting a boiling point below −35° C.;
- a low-pressure zone configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to at least one heat sink and configured to contain a second portion of the refrigerant in a liquid phase;
- a bypass zone configured to mix a third portion of the refrigerant with a lubricating oil, the third portion of the refrigerant and the lubricating oil in a liquid phase;
- and
- an atomizer comprising a mixing media configured to atomize the lubricating oil and disperse the lubricating oil within the first and third portions of the refrigerant;
- wherein a closed-loop path for the refrigerant comprises the high-pressure zone, the low-pressure zone, and the bypass zone.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- mixing a lubricating oil with a first portion of a refrigerant in a bypass zone of a heat engine to form a mixture, wherein the first portion of the refrigerant is in a liquid phase;
- heating the mixture of the lubricating oil and the first portion of the refrigerant in a high-pressure zone of the heat engine to form a heated mixture, wherein at least a portion of the first portion of the refrigerant is in a gaseous phase;
- mixing the heated mixture with a second portion of the refrigerant, wherein the second portion of the refrigerant is in a gaseous or superheated phase;
- atomizing the lubricating oil in an atomizer holding a mixing media to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant;
- and
- cooling the refrigerant in a low-pressure zone of the heat engine through at least one heat sink,
- wherein the high-pressure zone, the low-pressure zone, and the bypass zone form a closed-loop path for the refrigerant.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- mixing a lubricating oil with a first portion of a refrigerant in a bypass zone to form a mixture;
- heating the mixture of the lubricating oil and the first portion of the refrigerant to form a heated mixture, wherein at least a portion of the first portion of the refrigerant is in a gaseous phase, and wherein the lubricating oil and the refrigerant are mixed in a mixing device to form the mixture;
- mixing the heated mixture with a second portion of the refrigerant, wherein the second portion of the refrigerant is in a gaseous or superheated phase;
- atomizing the lubricating oil in an atomizer holding a mixing media to disperse the lubricating oil within the refrigerant;
- and
- cooling the refrigerant through at least one heat sink.
3 more elements
A heat engine, comprising:
- a high-pressure zone configured to transfer heat from at least one heat source to a refrigerant and configured to contain a first portion of the refrigerant in a gaseous phase;
- a low-pressure zone configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to at least one heat sink and configured to contain a second portion of the refrigerant in a liquid phase,
- a bypass zone configured to mix a third portion of the refrigerant with a lubricating oil, the third portion of the refrigerant and the lubricating oil in a liquid phase;
- and
- an atomizer holding a mixing media configured to atomize the lubricating oil and disperse the lubricating oil within the first portion of the refrigerant,
- wherein a closed-loop path for the refrigerant includes the high-pressure zone, the low-pressure zone, and the bypass zone.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.