Balanced Pressure Piston Engine Mitigating Wave Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed cycle engine systems, such as Stirling engines, face challenges in achieving improved power output, power density, and efficiency due to pressure wave propagation across fluidly connected chambers, leading to undesired operation, power losses, and potential damage from mechanical forces rather than thermal differences.
Innovation Solution
A balanced pressure piston engine apparatus with interconnected piston assemblies and walled conduits, where the first and second chambers are fluidly connected in a way that pressure waves are mitigated, allowing pistons to operate in balanced phase without mechanical linkages, ensuring equal and opposite forces at adjacent piston assemblies, thus preventing pressure wave propagation and maintaining stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If closed cycle engine systems use fluidly connected chambers, then power output can be increased, but pressure wave propagation causes mechanical forces that lead to undesired operation, power losses, and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The engine system is divided into multiple independent piston assemblies (first, second, third, and fourth assemblies) with separate cylinders and chambers. Each piston assembly operates independently within its own cylinder, preventing pressure waves from propagating across the entire system. The chambers are fluidly connected through conduits to enable power output while maintaining isolation between piston assemblies to eliminate harmful mechanical forces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pistons are mechanically linked to achieve balanced phase operation, then stable operation can be achieved, but mechanical linkages increase device complexity and may transmit harmful mechanical forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical linkages with fluid connections through conduits. The pistons achieve balanced phase operation through fluid pressure equilibrium rather than mechanical coupling. The conduits allow fluid to move between chambers to balance pressures while eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages that would transmit harmful forces and increase system complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple piston assemblies are used to increase power density, then power output improves, but pressure wave propagation across interconnected chambers causes power losses and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple segmented piston assemblies (four assemblies total) that operate in parallel within separate cylinders. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high power density through multiple independent power-generating units while preventing pressure wave propagation that would cause energy losses. Each assembly processes fluid independently, converting thermal energy to mechanical work without harmful pressure wave interactions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides stable operation, reduced vibrations, improved power output, and reduced risk of damage by eliminating pressure wave propagation, allowing pistons to move based on thermal differences rather than mechanical forces, enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of the engine.
Implementation Method 1
pistons to move based on thermal differences rather than mechanical forces
Implementation Method 2
pressure waves are mitigated, allowing pistons to operate in balanced phase without mechanical linkages, ensuring equal and opposite forces at adjacent piston assemblies
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine apparatus including at least four piston assemblies is provided. Each piston assembly includes a piston attached to a connection member at a first end and a second end. Each piston of the piston assembly defines a first chamber and a second chamber separated by the piston. The first chamber and the second chamber are each defined at the first end and at the second end. Each first chamber of one piston assembly is fluidly connected to the second chamber at a different piston assembly. At least one first chamber at the first end is fluidly connected to a respective second chamber at the second end. At least one first chamber at the second end is fluidly connected to a respective second chamber at the first end. At least one first chamber at one end is fluidly connected to a respective second chamber at the same end.