Dual open cycle heat pump and engine

• US 4,444,024 A
• Filed: 01/28/1983
• Issued: 04/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Mcfee
• Original Assignee: Richard Mcfee
• Inventors: McFee, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US06/462,031
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 62/6, 62/88, 62/401, 62/402, 62/403, 62/116, 62/117, 62/501, 62/510, 165/62, 165/4, 165/7, 165/10, 60/517
• US Class Current: 62/401
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 29/00 Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point

Abstract

The heat pump/engine operates in an open cycle between a cold air reservoir and a hot air reservoir to pump heat or to obtain energy by exchanging air at atmospheric pressure between the two reservoirs at different temperatures.

The heat pump/engine employs a positive displacement compressor, heat exchanger and a positive displacement expander to transfer the air flows. A means is also provided for adjusting the stroke volume of the expander during expansion in the heat pump version. Also, a snowmaker preheater can be used with the heat pump to decrease power consumption.

Claims

1. A dual open cycle engine comprising:

a cold air reservoir for storing air at a first temperature and pressure;

a hot air reservoir for storing air at a second temperature greater than said first temperature and at a pressure equal to said first pressure;

a positive displacement compressor connected to said cold air reservoir to receive and compress a flow of cold air therefrom;

a heat exchanger having a pair of countercurrent flow paths therein, one of said flow paths being connected to said compressor to receive a flow of compressed air therefrom and the other of said flow paths being connected to and between said reservoirs to conduct a flow of hot air from said hot air reservoir to said cold air reservoir in heat exchange relation with a flow of compressed air in said one path; and

a positive displacement expander connected to and between said one path of said heat exchanger and said hot air reservoir to expand and deliver a flow of expanded air from said heat exchanger to said hot air reservoir.

2. A dual open cycle engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compressor and said expander are mounted on a common shaft.

3. A dual open cycle engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said expander has a shaft for extracting work therefrom.

4. A dual open cycle heat pump comprising:

a cold air reservoir for storing air at a first temperature and pressure;

a hot air reservoir for storing air at a second temperature greater than said first temperature and at a pressure equal to said first pressure;

a heat exchanger having a pair of counter-current flow paths therein, one of said flow paths being connected between and to said reservoirs to conduct a flow of air from said cold air reservoir to said hot air reservoir;

a positive displacement compressor connected to and between said hot air reservoir and the other of said flow paths of said heat exchanger to compress and deliver a flow of hot air from said hot air reservoir to said other flow path; and

a positive displacement expander connected between and to said other flow path of said heat exchanger and said cold air reservoir to expand and deliver a flow of expanded air from said heat exchanger to said cold air reservoir.

5. A dual open cycle heat pump as set forth in claim 4 which further includes a motor for driving said compressor and wherein said compressor and expander are mounted on a common shaft.

6. A dual open cycle engine comprising:

a cold air reservoir for storing air at a first temperature and pressure;

a hot air reservoir for storing air at a second temperature greater than said first temperature and at a pressure equal to said first pressure;

a positive displacement expander connected to said hot air reservoir to receive and expand a flow of hot air therefrom;

a heat exchanger having a pair of countercurrent flow paths therein, one of said flow paths being connected to said expander to receive a flow of expanded air therefrom and the other of said flow paths being connected to and between said reservoirs to conduct a flow of cold air from said cold air reservoir to said hot air reservoir in heat exchange relation with a flow of air in said one path; and

a positive displacement compressor connected to and between said one path of said heat exchanger and said cold air reservoir to compress and deliver a flow of compressed air from said heat exchanger to said cold air reservoir.

7. A dual open cycle heat pump comprising:

a cold air reservoir for storing air at a first temperature and pressure;

a hot air reservoir for storing air at a second temperature greater than said first temperature and at a pressure equal to said first pressure;

a heat exchanger having a pair of countercurrent flow paths therein, one of said flow paths being connected between and to said reservoirs to conduct a flow of air from said hot air reservoir to said cold air reservoir;

a positive displacement expander connected to and between said cold air reservoir and the other of said flow paths of said heat exchanger to expand and deliver a flow of cold air from said cold air reservoir to said other flow path; and

a positive displacement compressor connected between and to said other flow path of said heat exchanger and said hot air reservoir to compress and deliver a flow of compressed air from said heat exchanger to said hot air reservoir.