Rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system

• US 20080251050A1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Olivier, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/080,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20080251050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/46R
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/1028 pre-combustion chamber and cylinder having both intake ports or valves, e.g. HONDS CVCC
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/109 with injection of a fuel-air mixture into the pre-combustion chamber by means of a pump, e.g. two-cycle engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 71/04 Adaptations of such engines for special use; Combinations of such engines with apparatus driven thereby

Abstract

A rapid-fire external compression engine having an intake device configured to introduce a pre-compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture from an external source into a combustion chamber having a low-inertia rapid response component. The rapid response component is configured to extract a high percentage of the energy derived from the combustion of the pre-compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture and convert it into mechanical work, which may then be transformed via a variety of methods into usable output power to operate a powered device.

Claims

1. A rapid-fire external compression engine comprising:

a combustion chamber having a combustion portion proximate to a head end of the combustion chamber;

an intake device in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the intake device being configured to introduce a pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture into the combustion chamber through at least one fluid intake port, wherein a pressure of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture is suitable to facilitate combustion without the need for further compression within the combustion chamber;

an ignition source for selectively timing a combustion of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture, wherein the combustion functions to generate energy in the combustion chamber;

a rapid-response component situated adjacent to and in fluid communication with the combustion portion of the combustion chamber, the rapid-response component configured to extract a portion of the energy generated from the combustion; and

an out-take device in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the out-take device configured to purge exhaust gasses from the combustion chamber through at least one fluid out-take port.

2. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the external source of a pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture comprises a remote air compressor in fluid communication with a fuel source to provide the pre-compressed air/fuel mixture to the intake device.

3. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid intake port is formed in the head end of the combustion chamber.

4. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the intake device comprises a first chamber in fluid communication with the external source of pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture and at least once second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the at least one second chamber are separated by a fuel control valve.

5. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 4, wherein the at least one second chamber of the intake device is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber through the at least one intake port, wherein the at least one intake port between the least one second chamber and the combustion chamber is controlled by at least one intake valve.

6. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 5, wherein the at least one intake valve is configured to be biased in the open position.

7. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the out-take port comprises an exhaust port and an exhaust valve formed in the head end of the combustion chamber.

8. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the rapid-response component is a parasite piston disposed in the combustion chamber, the piston comprising an energy receiving portion and the energy transfer component, the energy receiving portion configured to draw the portion of the energy from the combustion in the combustion chamber.

9. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 8, wherein the parasite piston comprises a low-inertia piston, wherein the low-inertia piston is configured to displace in response to the introduction of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture into the combustion chamber and to facilitate a rapid response to combustion after the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture has been ignited.

10. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 8, wherein the position of the parasite piston is monitored using a displacement measurement device a portion of which is mounted adjacent to the parasite piston.

11. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 10, wherein the displacement measurement device is an LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer).

12. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 10, wherein the ignition of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture in the combustion chamber is controlled according to the position of the parasite piston as measured by the displacement measurement device.

13. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 1, wherein the ignition of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture in the combustion chamber is based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of a volumetric flow of the mixture into the combustion chamber, timing of the flow of the mixture into the combustion chamber, and a pressure of the mixture within the combustion chamber.

14. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 8, wherein the velocity of the parasite piston is monitored using a velocity measurement device, a portion of which is mounted adjacent to the parasite piston.

15. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 14, wherein the velocity measurement device is an LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer).

16. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 14, wherein the opening of the out-take port in the combustion chamber is controlled according to the velocity of the parasite piston as measured by the velocity measurement device.

17. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 9, wherein the rapid-response component is configured to provide greater response bandwidth than a response bandwidth supplied by a conventional internal combustion engine.

18. The rapid-fire external compression engine of claim 9, wherein the rapid-response component draws at least 90% of the portion of the energy generated from the combustion.

19. A rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system for providing instantaneous, controllable power comprising:

a rapid-fire external compression engine comprising;

a combustion chamber having a combustion portion proximate to a head end of the combustion chamber;

an intake device in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the intake device being configured to introduce a pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture into the combustion chamber through at least one fluid intake port, wherein a pressure of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture is suitable to facilitate combustion without the need for further compression within the combustion chamber;

an ignition source for selectively timing a combustion of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture, wherein the combustion functions to generate energy in the combustion chamber;

a rapid-response component situated adjacent to and in fluid communication with the combustion portion of the combustion chamber, the rapid-response component configured to extract a portion of the energy generated from the combustion; and

an out-take device in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the out-take device configured to purge exhaust gasses from the combustion chamber through at least one fluid out-take port; and

an energy transfer component configured to receive the mechanical work in the rapid-response component and convert it into usable output power for the operation of a powered device.

20. The rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system of claim 19, wherein said energy transfer component is configured to convert said mechanical work into at least one form of usable energy selected from the group consisting of hydraulic energy, pneumatic energy, electric energy and mechanical energy.

21. The rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system of claim 19, wherein said powered device is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic system, a pneumatic system, an electric generator system, and a mechanical system.

22. The rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system of claim 19, wherein said rapid-response component is coupled to a load selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic system, a pneumatic system, an electric generator system and a mechanical system.

23. The rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system of claim 19, wherein said energy transfer component comprises a pump piston configured to power a pump, said pump in fluid communication with an actuator and configured to drive said actuator and a load coupled to said actuator.

24. The rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system of claim 19 wherein said rapid-response component is configured to displace at variable lengths based at least in part on said energy transfer element coupled to said rapid-response component.

25. A method for operating a rapid-fire external compression engine comprising;

obtaining an external supply of a pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture;

introducing the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture into a combustion portion of a combustion chamber at a pressure suitable to facilitate combustion without the need for further compression within the combustion chamber;

the combustion portion being bounded by a head end of the combustion chamber and a rapid-response component;

igniting the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture enclosed in the combustion portion to initiate a combustion of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture to generate energy and drive the rapid-response component away from the head end of the combustion chamber;

causing the rapid response component to extract a portion of the energy generated from the combustion; and

purging the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to draw the rapid-response component back to an initial position.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of introducing the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture comprises varying the timing and charge of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture introduced into the combustion chamber to achieve varied outputs of the rapid-fire external compression engine.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of introducing the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture comprises selectively operating an intake device to control the introduction of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture into the combustion portion of the rapid-fire external compression engine.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising repeating each of the combined steps of obtaining, introducing, igniting, causing and purging at different intervals to vary the output of the rapid-fire external compression engine.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of igniting the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture is based on a displacement position of the parasite piston corresponding to a specific charge of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of igniting the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture is based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of a displacement position of the parasite piston, a pressure within the combustion chamber, a volume of pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture within the combustion chamber, and any combination of these.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of igniting is based upon the presence of a charge of the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture within the combustion chamber.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of obtaining a pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture comprises obtaining the pre-compressed fuel/oxidizer mixture from a pressurized supply bus.

33. A rapid-fire external compression reaction engine comprising:

a reaction chamber having a reaction portion proximate to a head end of the reaction chamber;

an intake device in fluid communication the reaction chamber and with an external source of pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel, the intake device configured to introduce the pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel into the reaction chamber through at least one fluid intake port at a pressure suitable to facilitate combustion without the need for further compression within the combustion chamber;

an trigger source for selectively triggering a reaction of the pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel, wherein the reaction functions to generate energy in the reaction chamber;

a rapid-response component situated adjacent to and in fluid communication with the reaction portion of the reaction chamber, the rapid-response component configured to extract a portion of the energy generated from the reaction and convert it into mechanical work; and

an out-take device in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, the out-take device configured to purge exhaust gasses from the reaction chamber through at least one fluid out-take port.

34. The rapid-fire external compression reaction engine of claim 33, wherein the external source of a pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel comprises a remote pump in fluid communication with a non-combustive reactive fuel source to provide the pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel to the intake device.

35. A rapid-fire rapid-response power conversion system for providing instantaneous, controllable power comprising:

a rapid-fire external compression reaction engine comprising;

a reaction chamber having a reaction portion proximate to a head end of the reaction chamber;

an intake device in fluid communication with the reaction chamber and with an external source of pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel, the intake device configured to introduce the pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel into the reaction chamber through at least one fluid intake port formed in the head end of the reaction chamber at a pressure suitable to facilitate combustion without the need for further compression within the combustion chamber;

an trigger source for selectively triggering a reaction of the pressurized non-combustive reactive fuel, wherein the reaction functions to generate energy in the reaction chamber;

a rapid-response component situated adjacent to and in fluid communication with the reaction portion of the reaction chamber, the rapid-response component configured to extract a portion of the energy generated from the reaction and convert it into mechanical work;

an out-take device in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, the out-take device configured to purge exhaust gasses from the reaction chamber through at least one fluid out-take port; and

an energy transfer component configured to receive the mechanical work in the rapid-response component and convert it into usable output power for the operation of a powered device.