Device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy face inefficiencies due to poor separation of heat transfer fluids and thermodynamic gases, leading to suboptimal energy conversion and short equipment lifespan, particularly in high-temperature and high-speed applications.
Innovation Solution
A kinetic energy converter design that utilizes a steam generator for isothermal expansion of thermodynamic fluids, combined with a deflector to separate heat transfer fluids and high-temperature gases, and employs a hydrodynamic thrust bearing for the action wheel shaft, ensuring efficient energy conversion and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a classic Pelton turbine is used to convert kinetic energy from a two-phase jet, then mechanical energy can be produced, but the separation of heat transfer fluid and thermodynamic fluid is insufficient and the system becomes complicated with additional centrifugal separators
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the action wheel into multiple independent chambers, each handling a specific function. The separation of fluids is achieved through segmented chamber design where each chamber can be optimized for specific fluid dynamics, eliminating the need for additional external separators while maintaining effective fluid separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The action wheel is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the energy conversion mechanism and the fluid separation device. The chambers within the action wheel serve dual purposes of driving the turbine while also separating the two-phase mixture, thereby eliminating the need for separate centrifugal separators.
2Device complexity
If ball bearings are mounted inside the converter body to support the action wheel shaft, then the structure is compact, but the bearings cannot withstand high temperature and high speed operation resulting in very short lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The ball bearings are extracted from the high-temperature converter body and relocated to the external environment where they operate in cooler conditions. The shaft passes through a sealed rotary joint that isolates the bearings from the hot two-phase mixture, allowing the bearings to operate in a favorable thermal environment while maintaining structural compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
A rotary joint acts as an intermediary element between the internal high-temperature environment and the external cooler environment. This sealed connection allows the shaft to transmit rotational motion while preventing direct exposure of the bearings to the harsh thermal conditions inside the converter.
3Temperature
If ball bearings are mounted outside the converter body with rotary joints for sealing, then high temperature operation is possible, but the seals are not perfect and leaks occur which is dangerous due to spontaneous ignition of heat transfer fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary joint serves as a sealed intermediary that maintains perfect sealing between the high-temperature internal environment and the external environment. The design ensures that the heat transfer fluid cannot leak through the rotary joint, eliminating the ignition hazard while allowing high-temperature operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of high-temperature operation into a benefit by using the temperature difference to drive the separation process more effectively. The thermal energy that could have been a source of danger is instead utilized to enhance the phase separation and improve overall system efficiency.
4Ease of manufacture
If polytropic expansion is used for thermodynamic fluid transformation, then the process is simpler, but the energy conversion efficiency is lower compared to isothermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The chambers in the action wheel are pre-designed with specific geometries and thermal characteristics that enable isothermal expansion to occur naturally during operation. The preliminary design of chamber volumes, wall thicknesses, and thermal conductivities ensures that heat transfer occurs at the appropriate rates to maintain near-isothermal conditions throughout the expansion process.
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 achieves improved separation of heat transfer fluids and gases, enhancing energy conversion efficiency and extending equipment lifespan while ensuring safe operation in high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generator (201) provided with a first inlet connected to said first fluid supply line, said first fluid taking a first path between said first inlet and a first outlet, a second inlet receiving the heat transfer fluid, the heat transfer fluid taking a second path between a second inlet and a second outlet, the second path being separate from the first path, the first path being thermally coupled to the second path so as to form steam from the first fluid
Implementation Method 2
a chamber (202) provided with a first inlet connected to the first outlet of the steam generator, the first fluid taking a first path in the chamber (202) between the first inlet and a first outlet, the chamber being configured to carry out the isothermal expansion of the first fluid in the chamber by means of an expansion divided by a plurality of isothermal elementary expansions
Implementation Method 3
the first path being thermally coupled to the second path so as to heat the first fluid between each expansion
Implementation Method 4
a mixing device connected to the first outlet of the chamber and at the second outlet of the steam generator and configured so as to mix the first fluid in vapor form with a heat transfer fluid to obtain a two-phase mixture
Implementation Method 5
an action wheel mounted in rotation fixed to a shaft extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to the injector, the jet being injected onto said vanes so as to drive the shaft in rotation and to transform the axial kinetic energy of the jet into kinetic energy of rotation of the shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Kinetic energy converter (8) from a jet formed of a heat transfer fluid and a high-temperature gas, said converter comprising: - at least one injector (20) of the jet from at least one source of heat transfer fluid (2) and high-temperature gas (4), - an impeller (42) mounted for rotation integral with a shaft (44), said impeller (42) comprising a plurality of asymmetrical blades (46), the jet being injected onto said blades (46) so as to drive the shaft (44) in rotation and to transform the axial kinetic energy of the jet into rotational kinetic energy of the shaft (44), - a tank (36) surrounding said impeller (42), - at least one deflector (56) extending under the blades (46), said deflector (56) having a shape arranged to recover the mixture of heat transfer fluid and high-temperature gas at the outlet of the impeller action (42) and redirect said mixture in a direction substantially tangential to the wall (40) of the tank (36),said wall (40) being arranged to impart a cyclone effect to said mixture so as to separate the heat transfer fluid from the high-temperature gas.