LOW DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE ROTARY ENGINES

• US 20130000303A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyverga Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dyverga Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Godwin, Harold Emerson
• Granted Patent: US 9,140,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/660
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 11/04 the boilers or condensers being rotated in use
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/02 Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/10 the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/10 Alleged perpetua mobilia using hydrostatic thrust F03B17/04

Abstract

An engine is configured to extract energy from a heat source as follows. A shaft is adapted to be rotatably coupled to a support and rotatable in a first direction. A plurality of vessels is coupled to and arranged about the shaft. At least a first vessel of the plurality of vessels includes a thermally insulative portion and a thermally conductive portion. A plurality of conduits connects the plurality of vessels together. Each of the plurality of vessels is in communication with at least one other of the plurality of vessels via at least one of the conduits. The plurality of vessels is arranged to allow the thermally conductive portion of the first vessel to encounter the heat source. The thermally conductive portion is capable of transferring heat to at least partially vaporize volatile fluid within the first vessel to cause a mass to at least partially move towards a connected vessel located above the first vessel. This produces a gravitational moment that encourages rotation of the shaft and the plurality of vessels in the first direction.

Claims

1. An engine configured to extract energy from a heat source, the engine comprising:

a shaft adapted to be rotatably coupled to a support and being rotatable in a first direction;

a plurality of vessels coupled to and arranged about the shaft, at least a first vessel of the plurality of vessels comprising a thermally insulative portion and a thermally conductive portion;

a plurality of conduits connecting the plurality of vessels together, each of the plurality of vessels being in communication with at least one other of the plurality of vessels via at least one of the conduits;

the plurality of vessels arranged to allow the thermally conductive portion of the first vessel to encounter the heat source, the thermally conductive portion capable of transferring heat to at least partially vaporize volatile fluid within the first vessel to cause a mass to at least partially move towards a connected vessel located above the first vessel to produce a gravitational moment that encourages rotation of the shaft and the plurality of vessels in the first direction.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least the first vessel comprises a separator to separate the volatile fluid from the mass.

3. The engine of claim 2, wherein the mass comprises a flowable mass other than a liquid.

4. The engine of claim 3, wherein the mass comprises one or more of gels, suspensions, colloids, thixotropic pastes, solids, particulates, sand, and ball bearings.

5. The engine of claim 3, wherein the mass comprises solids or particulates, and the flowability of the solids or particulates is aided by the addition of a liquid, a lubricant or a low-friction coating.

6. The engine of claim 2, wherein the mass comprises a high-density liquid.

7. The engine of claim 6, wherein the high-density liquid comprises one of oils, iodine and mercury.

8. The engine of claim 2, wherein the separator comprises a membrane.

9. The engine of claim 8, wherein the membrane is elastic or resilient.

10. The engine of claim 2, wherein the separator comprises a plurality of membranes.

11. The engine of claim 10, wherein the first vessel comprises a vent hole between the membranes.

12. The engine of claim 11 further comprising a valve at the vent hole.

13. The engine of claim 2, wherein the separator comprises a piston.

14. The engine of claim 2, wherein the separator comprises a bellows.

15. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a valve provided in at least one vessel, the valve configured to allow filling and draining of at least a part of the volatile material in the vessel.

16. The engine of claim 15, wherein the valve is configured to adjust a vacuum pressure in the vessel, thereby allowing adjustment of the thermal properties of the volatile material in the vessel in response to at least one of the heat source and ambient conditions.

17. The engine of claim 16, wherein the valve is configured to be controllable by a controller to automatically control an amount of volatile material in the vessel.

18. The engine of claim 16, wherein the valve is configured to be controllable by a controller to automatically control a condition of volatile material in the vessel.

19. The engine of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive portion comprises a portion of a wall of the first vessel.

20. The engine of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive portion extends from a wall of the first vessel.

21. The engine of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive portion comprises a coil extending from a wall of the first vessel.

22. The engine of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive portion comprises a heat pipe.

23. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a sensor provided at the first vessel.

24. The engine of claim 23, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

25. The engine of claim 23, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

26. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a rotational position detector for measuring a rotational position in the first direction of at least the first vessel.

27. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a valve coupled between the first vessel and the connected vessel, the valve for restricting movement of the mass.

28. The engine of claim 27 further comprising a controller configured to open and close the valve at predetermined angular positions.

29. The engine of claim 27 further comprising a controller configured to open and close the valve in dependence upon at least one of the flowability of the mass, the speed at which the volatile material expands upon exposure to the heat source, and the current rotational speed of the engine.

30. The engine of claim 27 further comprising a power source for powering the valve.

31. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a shroud surrounding the plurality of vessels and the plurality of conduits.

32. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a valve at the first vessel or at a conduit connected to the first vessel for filling or draining the mass.

33. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a vane rotatable with the first vessel in the first direction.

34. The engine of claim 1 further comprising multiple stages of vessels and conduits.

35. The engine of claim 34 further comprising a controller configured to control speed, direction of rotation, and/or torque of at least one stage independently of at least another of the stages.

36. The engine of claim 1, wherein each of the first vessel and the connected vessel comprises a separator that separates the volatile fluid from the mass, so that when vapour of volatile material in the connected vessel at least partially condenses due to cooling, a partial vacuum acts on the separator of the connected vessel to assist in moving the mass into the connected vessel.

37. The engine of claim 1 further comprising a pipe connected to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft, the pipe for containing the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive portion of the at least first vessel comprises a coil extending from a wall of the first vessel and into the pipe.

38. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a controller comprising a transceiver adapted to communicate via wired or wireless communications protocols such that the engine can be remotely monitored and controlled.

39. The engine of claim 1, wherein the engine further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device to monitor the location of the engine.

40. The engine of claim 1, wherein the engine is mounted to a base structure which is configured to be controllable in order to set at least one of the position or orientation of the engine.

41. The engine of claim 1, wherein the engine further comprises an electrical generator for converting some of that rotational energy to electricity to power the power-requiring components of the engine.

42. The engine of claim 41, wherein the engine further comprises one or more rechargeable batteries for storing and supplying the electricity to power the power-requiring components of the engine and controller.