Engine having external combustion chamber
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An engine that utilizes the compression energy of pressurized natural gas from a high pressure natural gas main line comprising:
- at least one positive displacement chamber;
a reciprocating piston disposed in said at least one positive displacement chamber;
an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;
an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;
at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;
at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;
a high pressure main connector for connecting a high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber;
a high pressure main valve in communication with the high pressure main connector and combustion chamber for controlling the flow of natural gas from the high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber;
a high-pressure air vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;
at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber; and
at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure air vessel with compressed air from an external pressurized air source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is an engine having positive displacement chambers containing pistons and an external combustion chamber which utilizes the compression energy in compressed natural gas from a high pressure main line and compressed air in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel to drive the pistons. Energy expended compressing the natural gas and air are recovered. Also provided is an electrical generator driven by the engine.
10 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An engine that utilizes the compression energy of pressurized natural gas from a high pressure natural gas main line comprising:
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at least one positive displacement chamber;
a reciprocating piston disposed in said at least one positive displacement chamber;
an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;
an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;
at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;
at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;
a high pressure main connector for connecting a high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber;
a high pressure main valve in communication with the high pressure main connector and combustion chamber for controlling the flow of natural gas from the high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber;
a high-pressure air vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;
at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber; and
at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure air vessel with compressed air from an external pressurized air source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fast response time electrical generator that utilizes the compression energy in compressed natural gas from a high pressure natural gas main line comprising:
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a generator having an electric output connector; and
an engine connected to the generator, wherein the engine comprises;
at least one positive displacement chamber;
a reciprocating piston disposed in said at least one positive displacement chamber;
an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;
an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;
at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;
at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;
a high pressure main connector for connecting a high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber constructed;
a high pressure main valve in communication with the high pressure main connector and combustion chamber for controlling the flow of natural gas from the high pressure natural gas main line to the combustion chamber;
a high-pressure air vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;
at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber; and
at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure air vessel with compressed air from an external pressurized air source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of making electricity and recovering the compression energy in an engine comprising:
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supplying compressed natural gas from a high pressure main line to a combustion chamber;
supplying compressed air from a high pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber from the high-pressure air vessel;
burning said fuel and air in said combustion chamber to form a compressed combustion gas;
opening an intake valve and supplying said compressed combustion gas to a positive displacement chamber containing a reciprocating piston such that said compressed combustion gas expands forcing said piston in a direction that increases the volume of the positive displacement cylinder to form an expanded gas;
closing said intake valve and opening an exhaust valve and allowing the expanded gas to exit said displacement chamber while said piston is moving in a direction which decreases the volume of the positive displacement chamber to provide a exhaust gas ad thereby produce rotational energy; and
driving an electrical generator with said rotational energy to produce electricity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification