Thermal Engine Batch Operation with Dual Storage Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat engines are unable to implement the more efficient triangular process, which could generate 30% more mechanical power from available heat, due to challenges in maintaining continuous operation and preventing condensation in expansion machines.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a heat engine using two containers that can alternately connect to the heat source or evaporator, with a heat transfer medium to prevent overheating and condensation, and a desuperheater to manage overheating heat, allowing for batch operation and efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If continuous operation is implemented using conventional heat engines, then the system can maintain steady power output, but the exergetic quality drops rapidly when deviating from the optimal pressure ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic batch operation where the heat engine alternates between charging the storage container from the heat source and discharging to the evaporator. This periodic action allows the system to maintain high exergetic quality during each batch cycle while achieving continuous operation through alternation between multiple containers, resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and exergetic quality maintenance.
2Reliability
If the working medium is overheated to prevent condensation in the expansion machine, then condensation is avoided, but additional energy is consumed and the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the waste heat from the working medium after expansion to preheat the heat transfer medium in the storage container. This self-service approach recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted, reducing the overall energy consumption required for overheating while maintaining condensation prevention, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.
3Temperature
If the heat transfer medium is used to preheat and overheat the working medium, then the working medium temperature is optimized, but heat dissipation occurs in the batch process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the heat still present in the working medium after expansion by using it to preheat the heat transfer medium in the storage container through the preheater. This recovery process minimizes heat dissipation losses while maintaining optimized working medium temperature, resolving the contradiction between temperature optimization and energy loss prevention.
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 enables continuous operation and prevents condensation, achieving a 30% to 50% increase in electrical efficiency and utilizing inexpensive, durable components for the heat engine.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal energy for the evaporation is transferred to the evaporator (40) from a container (1a, 1b) which is filled with heat transfer medium (1)
Implementation Method 2
During loading, warmer working medium flows from the heat source (21) into the top of the container (1a or 1b) and colder working medium flows out of the bottom of the container
Implementation Method 3
In the evaporator, added heat is used to vaporize a working fluid, often water, at elevated pressure
Implementation Method 4
The liquid working medium is first preheated in one or more heat exchangers, evaporated and in most cases overheated
Implementation Method 5
The steam generated in heat exchangers is fed to the expansion machine (feed steam) and expanded in it. The mechanical energy obtained with the expansion machine
Implementation Method 6
The expanded steam is usually fed to a condenser and condensed there
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat engine that can be used to implement batch processes, as well as to its construction and function. The heat engine allows for the extensive implementation of a highly efficient triangular process. Batch operation with a heat engine can be carried out using one or more storage tanks. The heat engine includes a heat exchanger (40) for evaporating the working fluid. The heat exchanger (40) combines a preheater, evaporator, and superheater. Depending on the valve opening of valves (19) or (20), the tank (1a) can be hydraulically connected to the heat source (21) or the heat exchanger (40), thus enabling the exchange of the heat transfer medium. When valve (19) is open, warm heat transfer medium flows from the heat source (21) through the valve (19) into the tank (1a) at the top.From the lower connection of the tank (1a), colder heat transfer medium flows back to the heat source (21) via the pump (17). With the valve (20) open, heat transfer medium flows from the heat exchanger (40) via the pump (41) to the lower connection of the tank (1a). From the upper connection of the tank (1a), heat transfer medium flows back to the heat exchanger (40) via the valve (20).