Cross thermal flow heat engine cycle
The cross thermal flow heat engine addresses inefficiencies in Rankine cycle heat engines by reversing fluid flow and internal heat transfer, enhancing energy efficiency by reducing external cooling needs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- GB · GB
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CORNELIUS GRAHAM COLIN
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing Rankine cycle heat engines inefficiently manage heat transfer during the condensation process, leading to energy loss by ejecting heat from the system.
The cross thermal flow heat engine modifies the Rankine cycle by reversing fluid flow and transferring heat from the generating turbine output to the condenser output, maintaining heat within the system to reduce the need for external cooling.
Enhances efficiency by minimizing the need for external heat removal during condensation, thereby optimizing energy utilization.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
This invention relates to a method of improving the efficiency of a heat engine. Usually in a, for example, Rankine cycle heat engine the fluid flows in a circular path. The output from the generating turbine flows into the condenser where the temperature must be lowered in order that the fluid can condense. Condensing will raise the temperature of the fluid slightly. Once condensed the fluid will usually be fed back into the boiler for heating. Heat is intentionally ejected from the system in order to facilitate the condensing of the fluid. The cross thermal flow heat engine modifies this cycle by transferring the heat in the fluid output from the generating turbine to the output of the condenser. This allows the heat to stay in the system, instead of being ejected. It cools the fluid before entering the condenser, and heats the fluid exiting it. Therefore the condenser will need less or no heat to be removed from the fluid in order for it to condense. An example of this is shown in figure 2. Figure 1 shows an example of the usual Rankine cycle, unmodified by this invention. Figure 2 shows an example of a modified cross thermal flow heat engine cycle, as illustrated by this invention. Figure 3 shows an example of the invention from the context of the condenser only, in which the invention is considered an integrated part of the condenser rather than the heat engine cycle. This modification of the traditional Rankine cycle can be considered to occur both in the context of the whole cycle, or within the condenser itself. For greater efficiency, the flow of fluids should be in the opposite direction. In this way, with sufficient transfer between the two fluids, the temperature of one will tend to transfer entirely to the opposing fluid.
Claims
1. A heat engine cycle in which heat is transferred from the fluid located between the output of the generating turbine and the input of the condenser to the fluid located between the output of the condenser and the input of the boiler.
2. A heat engine cycle in which heat is transferred from the fluid located between the output of the generating turbine and the input of the condenser to the fluid located between the output of the condenser and the input of the boiler using cross counter flow heat transfer, whereby the fluids flow in opposing directions, matching the hottest fluid in one direction to the hottest fluid in the other.
3. A condenser in which the heat in the fluid incoming is transferred to the fluid exiting the condenser.
Citation Information
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