Fluid Energy Machine Adiabatic Expansion Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam power plants face inefficiencies due to the complexity of heat removal and the need for fossil energy sources, which results in carbon dioxide emissions and reduced mechanical energy conversion.
Innovation Solution
A fluid energy machine design featuring a working fluid that undergoes adiabatic expansion in a large expansion tank, allowing for condensation by Joule-Thomson effect without external heat removal, coupled with a piston machine and storage tank configuration that enhances mechanical energy production and reduces the need for continuous fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heat is removed from the working fluid in a cooling tower or natural body of water, then the working fluid can be condensed, but the process becomes complex and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat removal function from the system by using a large expansion tank where heat is naturally dissipated to the ambient environment, eliminating the need for complex cooling towers or water bodies while maintaining condensation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the ambient environment to naturally absorb heat from the working fluid through the large expansion tank surface area, allowing the system to self-regulate condensation without active cooling mechanisms
2Loss of energy
If the expansion tank is dimensioned large enough to enable condensation by Joule-Thomson effect, then heat removal is unnecessary and efficiency increases, but the tank size and system volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the volume parameter of the expansion tank to be sufficiently large to enable natural heat dissipation and Joule-Thomson condensation, accepting the increased size as a trade-off for eliminating complex heat removal systems and improving overall efficiency
3Reliability
If the delivery device continuously delivers working fluid, then the system operates smoothly, but service life is reduced and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements periodic delivery of working fluid based on level sensors that trigger delivery only when liquid levels reach specific thresholds, converting continuous operation into periodic cycles that reduce power consumption and wear while maintaining reliable system operation
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 design achieves high efficiency by utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect for condensation, minimizing heat loss, and optimizing piston machine operation to increase mechanical work output while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the working fluid is condensable by the expansion of the gaseous fluid in the expansion tank
Implementation Method 2
a substantially adiabatic expansion tank
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator in which the working fluid can be converted from its liquid state to its gaseous state with the supply of heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid energy machine comprising a working fluid, an evaporator (10) in which the working fluid can be converted from its liquid state to its gaseous state by supplying heat, a substantially adiabatic expansion vessel (6), at least one piston engine (84, 85) with a piston (14, 15) by means of which the energy of the working fluid can be converted into mechanical energy and which has at least one cylinder chamber (37, 39) bounded by the piston, which during operation of the fluid energy machine is alternately fluid-conducting connected to the evaporator, whereby the cylinder chamber enlarges by moving the piston, and to the expansion vessel, whereby the cylinder chamber shrinks by moving the piston, a storage vessel (9) which is fluid-conducting connected to the evaporator and to the expansion vessel, and a conveying device (8).which is set up to convey the working fluid from the expansion vessel to the storage vessel, wherein the expansion vessel is dimensioned in relation to the cylinder chamber such that the working fluid can be condensed by the expansion of the gaseous fluid in the expansion vessel, and in the storage vessel the working fluid is present in both its gaseous and its liquid state, so that if the working fluid does not condense in the expansion vessel, it can be condensed in the storage vessel, and the working fluid can be conveyed to the evaporator.