Closed-Loop Steam Engine Using Water Jet Turbine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steam engines are large, complex, and costly due to high maintenance requirements and the need for high-temperature superheated steam, which limits their use to industrial applications and poses safety and material challenges.

Innovation Solution

A closed-loop steam engine that converts steam energy into momentum energy of a moving water flow, using a steam injector to drive a turbine, with a heat exchanger to extract heat and reuse water, minimizing material costs and heat losses, and allowing low-temperature operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If high-temperature superheated steam is used to improve efficiency, then power output is improved, but manufacturing cost and maintenance cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of steam from high-temperature superheated steam to low-temperature saturated steam, allowing the use of inexpensive materials like plastic or aluminum instead of expensive high-temperature steel, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining acceptable power output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device to transfer heat from the steam to water, enabling low-temperature steam to effectively drive the turbine without requiring direct high-temperature contact, thus avoiding the need for expensive high-temperature resistant materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If high-temperature superheated steam is used to improve efficiency, then power output is improved, but maintenance requirements and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the steam temperature parameter from high to low, the patent eliminates the need for precision-machined high-temperature components, reducing maintenance requirements and improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive materials that can be easily replaced rather than expensive materials requiring precision maintenance, trading initial component cost for reduced maintenance burden and improved reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If steam temperature is limited to around 400°C to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary that allows efficient heat transfer from steam to water, compensating for the lower steam temperature and maintaining overall system efficiency despite using low-temperature steam

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses hydraulic principles by converting steam energy into kinetic energy of a water jet, which then drives the turbine, achieving efficient energy transfer without requiring high steam temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Power

If piston type steam engines are used to convert steam energy, then power conversion is achieved, but sealing problems and oil contamination occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower conversionVSAvoidsealing problems

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical piston-cylinder system with a steam injector and water jet system, eliminating the need for seals and lubrication, thereby removing sealing problems and oil contamination issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a steam-driven water jet (hydraulic system) instead of a mechanical piston system, converting steam energy through fluid dynamics rather than mechanical contact, which eliminates sealing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 results in a compact, low-maintenance, and affordable steam engine that efficiently transfers power while minimizing material costs and heat losses, enabling safe and efficient operation with reduced steam temperature.

Implementation Method 1

a steam injector that uses the steam from the boiler to propel a flow of water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam injector: Injector

Implementation Method 2

The resulting water movement then drives a turbine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbine: Turbine

Implementation Method 3

A heat exchanger 13 that receives the warm water that exits the turbine in order to extract the excess heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11008896B2Water driven turbine steam engine

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 GILL JONATHAN PAUL

AI summary

A closed loop steam engine that transfers its motive power to a flow of water using a steam injector. The resulting water jet then drives a turbine, is cooled in a heat exchanger to extract useful heat and then return to the steam injector water inlet. Part of the flow of water is reused as feed water to the boiler.