Combined Mixer Assembly for Working Fluid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat engines face challenges in efficiently combining working fluids to optimize expander performance, as existing methods fail to effectively control the energy content and expansion profile of the working fluid mixture, leading to suboptimal mechanical work output.
Innovation Solution
A combined mixer assembly that integrates a compressor and expander within a mixing chamber, where a high-pressure portion of the first working fluid is expanded and the second working fluid is compressed before mixing, forming a saturated working fluid by vaporizing or atomizing a liquid, which is then expanded to perform work.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If working fluids are combined before expander extraction, then energy content and expansion profile can be optimized, but control over pressure, temperature, and density becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the working fluid combination process into distinct segments: the first working fluid F1 is processed separately through an expander, the second working fluid F2 is processed separately through a compressor, and only then are they combined in a mixing chamber. This segmentation allows independent control of each fluid's parameters before mixing, resolving the control difficulty while maintaining optimized energy content for maximum mechanical work output.
2Temperature
If the second working fluid is compressed before mixing, then its temperature is maintained and cooling is delayed, but the compression process increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor for the second working fluid F2 is integrated with the mixing chamber into a unified assembly. The compression process is spatially merged with the mixing process, allowing the compressed fluid to be immediately combined with the expanded first working fluid F1. This merging enables temperature maintenance through immediate mixing while the compression energy is efficiently utilized to prepare the fluid for optimal mixing conditions, rather than being wasted as heat loss.
3Quantity of substance
If liquid is atomized and vaporized into the third working fluid, then a saturated working fluid is formed improving density, but the process adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The atomization and vaporization functions are merged into the mixing chamber assembly, where a liquid injection system introduces liquid into the chamber and utilizes the thermal energy from the incoming working fluids F1 and F2 to vaporize it. This merging eliminates the need for separate atomization and vaporization devices, reducing overall system complexity while achieving the desired saturated working fluid with improved density for better expander performance.
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
This approach enhances the performance of heat engines by maintaining the temperature of the second working fluid, delaying cooling, and increasing the density and energy transfer efficiency of the working fluid mixture, thereby improving mechanical work output and energy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
facilitate a transfer of thermal energy directly between the F1 vapor and the F2 vapor, exclusive of any intervening structure
Implementation Method 2
A nozzle assembly is configured to vaporize and/or atomize a liquid into the third working fluid F3 to form a saturated working fluid
Implementation Method 3
A nozzle assembly is configured to vaporize and/or atomize a liquid into the third working fluid F3 to form a saturated working fluid
Implementation Method 4
An expander is configured to expand the saturated working fluid to perform work
Implementation Method 5
a compressor configured to compress the F2 working fluid before it is communicated to the mixing chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing work from heat including mixing a first working fluid F1 vapor with a second working fluid F2 vapor to form a third working fluid F3; atomizing and/or vaporizing a liquid into the third working fluid F3 to define a saturated working fluid; and expanding the saturated working fluid to perform useful work. A high pressure F1(2) portion of the first working fluid F1 may be expanded prior to the mixing step while the F2 vapor is compressed prior to the mixing step. The steps of compressing the F2 vapor and expanding the high pressure F1(2) portion of the first working fluid F1 may be carried out by an integral compressor and expander assembly (204/209). The integral compressor and expander assembly (204/209) may be positioned within a combined mixer assembly (300) with an internal mixing chamber (206) and outlets (375, 351) of both the compressor (204) and expander (209) are directed toward the mixing chamber 206.