Regenerative Gas Generator

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that overcome the deficiencies of traditional steam engines and internal combustion engines. In an embodiment, a system is disclosed for generating reaction products having elevated temperature and pressure. The system comprises a first chamber including a reactor to decompose hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen and water vapor. The system further comprises a second chamber including a reactor to catalytically combust a mixture of the generated oxygen and a fuel to generate reaction products having elevated temperature and pressure. The system further comprises a passageway to receive reaction products exiting the second chamber and to channel the reaction products to come into contact with external surfaces of the first and second chambers to thereby transfer heat to the first and second chambers, and an outlet to allow the reaction products to exit the system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 706,345 filed Dec. 5, 2012, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 682,087 entitled “REGENERATIVE GAS GENERATOR AND EXPANSION ENGINE SYSTEM” and filed on Aug. 10, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The disclosed embodiments relate to the field of power generation based on combustion of a fuel.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Traditional systems and methods for generating power based on combustion of a fuel suffer from a number of drawbacks.[0006]A traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), for example, generates more heat than it effectively can convert to mechanical work. An undesirable side effect is that its components will be damaged by high temperatures unless the heat is removed by an air or liquid cooling system. In typical ICE automotive applications 15% of the fuel energ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention discloses a system and method for generating reaction products at high temperature and pressure. The system includes a first chamber to receive hydrogen peroxide and decompose it to produce oxygen and water vapor, which is then combined with a fuel in a second chamber to create a fuel / oxygen / water mixture. The mixture is then catalytically combusted to generate reaction products with elevated pressure and temperature. These products are then allowed to come into contact with external surfaces of the chambers to transfer heat to them, before being expanded to create mechanical power using an expansion engine. This system and method produce a sustained power supply by utilizing heat transferred from the combustion process and the heat transferred to the chambers to drive the decomposition and combustion of the fuel / oxygen / water mixture. The technical effects of this invention include improved energy conversion efficiency, greater operational efficiency, and reduced emissions.

Problems solved by technology

Traditional systems and methods for generating power based on combustion of a fuel suffer from a number of drawbacks.

An undesirable side effect is that its components will be damaged by high temperatures unless the heat is removed by an air or liquid cooling system.

Moreover, about 80%-87% of the chemical energy in fuel is wasted overall in ICEs, mostly as hot gases and un-burnt fuel vented from the exhaust stream.

ICE technology produces low torque at low speed which leads to a scale mismatch between time averaged power utilization and on demand low speed performance requirements.

It also requires a complicated power transmission system and gear box to provide adequate torque throughout the useful operating range.

The combination of an oversized engine and the mechanical inefficiencies of the power transmission system contribute to the inefficient use of energy.

It also represents an opportunity loss by the fact that heat and vapors generated in the converter aren't harnessed for productive work.

In an automobile a hot catalytic converter presents a fire hazard for combustible debris under a vehicle and so contributes to the rate of accidental automobile fires.

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