Open-Cycle Steam Engine Double Rotation Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steam engine with a piston having a double center of rotation experiences impulsive operation due to pressure waves generated during the thermodynamic cycle, leading to inefficient condensate compression and potential blockage of the machine.
Innovation Solution
An open-cycle steam engine design with a piston having a double center of rotation, where the compression chamber is inactive and disconnected from the external environment, eliminating the need for connection valves and preventing pressure waves by ejecting expanded fluid directly into the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed thermodynamic cycle is used with condenser and boiler connection, then the steam engine can recycle condensate back to the boiler, but pressure waves are generated causing impulsive operation and potential machine blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the condenser component from the closed cycle system. By removing the condenser and its connection to the compression chamber, the source of pressure wave generation is eliminated. The system transitions from a closed cycle with condensate recycling to an open cycle where expanded fluid is discharged to the environment, preventing the harmful pressure wave phenomenon while maintaining continuous operation.
2Productivity
If connection valves are used to regulate fluid flow between chambers, then the thermodynamic cycle can be controlled, but valve wear and potential blockage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the connection valves from the system by eliminating the closed cycle architecture. Without the condenser-boiler connection and without needing to recycle condensate, the regulating valves are no longer required. The open cycle design achieves productivity through continuous fluid discharge rather than controlled recycling, eliminating valve wear and blockage risks.
3Loss of energy
If the compression chamber is active and connected to the condenser, then condensate can be compressed back to the boiler, but the machine experiences impulsive operation and efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active compression chamber function from the system. By making the compression chamber inactive and disconnecting it from the condenser, the patent eliminates the impulsive compression-stroke operation. The open cycle design allows continuous fluid flow through discharge to the environment, removing the energy losses and operational irregularities associated with active compression and condensate recycling.
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 enhances the thermodynamic cycle efficiency by eliminating pressure waves and reducing valve wear, allowing for a continuous flow and improved mechanical energy generation without the accumulation of condensate, thus preventing machine blockage.
Implementation Method 1
the piston (3) with double center of rotation performs an open thermodynamic cycle comprising the following steps: heating a fluid
Implementation Method 2
heating a fluid in a heater (5) to a higher temperature
Implementation Method 3
a subsequent introduction into an expansion chamber (9), ideally at the pressure in the boiler, until the volume (Vi) equivalent to the volume (Ve) in figure 4 or the optimal mass for the cycle is reached
Implementation Method 4
an ideally adiabatic expansion of the fluid introduced into the expansion chamber (9) until reaching the final expansion volume (Vf) equivalent to the volume (Ve) in figure 5
Implementation Method 5
introduction of the expanded fluid into a condenser (11) with temperature reduction to the lower level (Tc), the condensate leaving by gravity and/or pressure wave enters the compression chamber (15)
Implementation Method 6
This results in the creation of pressure waves in the 'low pressure/temperature' zone in the condenser area shown in figure 9. Such pressure waves are due to the reduction of the volume of fluid exiting the expansion chamber Ve (with impulsive trend) which, when entering the condenser undergoes a volume reduction, causes a suction effect from the ducts 75 and 76
Implementation Method 7
The rotor behaves like a bellows, sucking and expelling during the arc of rotation. The total internal volume of the stator chamber is kept constant at all times. During a rotation step, the expansion volume increases, the remaining volume decreases by the same amount. The fluid at the center of the machine with the decrease in volume thereof increases the pressure.
Implementation Method 8
the condensate leaving by gravity and/or pressure wave enters the compression chamber (15) with volume (Vc)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Steam engine (L) with a piston with double center of rotation comprising a stator (A) and a rotor (B) configured to expand a fluid to generate useful mechanical work, the stator (A) and the rotor (B) defining: an expansion chamber (Ve) configured to expand a pressurized fluid and having an inlet duct for receiving a pressurized fluid and an outlet duct for expelling the expanded fluid from the expansion chamber (Ve) to the external environment and an inactive compression chamber (Vc).