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Rankline-Brayton Engine Powered Solar Thermal Aircraft

  • US 20100162702A1
  • Filed: 07/30/2009
  • Published: 07/01/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A Rankine-Brayton hybrid thermodynamic cycle heat engine comprising:

  • a pump for pressurizing a sub-critical pressure liquid-phase working fluid to a supercritical pressure;

    heat storage means for storing thermal energy and using the stored thermal energy to heat the supercritical pressure liquid-phase working fluid to a supercritical temperature, supercritical pressure phase;

    a positive displacement expander for substantially adiabatically expanding the supercritical temperature, supercritical pressure working fluid to reduce the pressure of the working fluid back to a sub-critical pressure level; and

    a condenser in thermal contact with the ambient environment for condensing the sub-critical pressure working fluid back to the sub-critical temperature liquid phase, whereby thermal energy from said heat storage means is converted to mechanical energy.

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