Heat engine

• US 6,269,640 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentalpha Macau Commercial Offshore Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/571,686
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 605/17, 605/18, 605/20, 605/22, 605/23, 605/24, 605/26, 605/08, 605/15
• US Class Current: 60/520
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/0435 the engine being of the free piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/0445 Engine plants with combined cycles, e.g. Vuilleumier
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/055 Heaters or coolers
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/057 Regenerators
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2243/02 having pistons and displacers in the same cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2255/20 Heater fins
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2225/08 Thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/14 characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/103 consisting of more than two coaxial conduits or modules of more than two coaxial conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/105 the means being corrugated elements extending around the tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/24 and extending transversely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines

Abstract

An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. A feedback member responsive to power demand from the apparatus by a load is provided to modulate the amount of heat provided by the heat source to the working fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a heat engine comprising;

(i) a container defining a sealed region within which a working fluid is circulated when the heat engine is in use, the sealed region having a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, the heating and cooling chambers being in fluid flow communication via a working fluid passageway;

(ii) a variable heat source thermally connected to the heating chamber whereby the variable heat source provides variable heat levels to the working fluid;

(iii) a displacer movably mounted in the sealed region between a first position and a second position to define a displacer cycle profile;

(iv) a piston movably mounted in the sealed region between a first position and a second position to define a piston cycle profile;

(b) an power output member drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying work; and

,

(c) a feedback member responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the amount of heat provided by the heat source to the working fluid.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the feedback member includes a thermal sensor thermally connected to a thermal source whose temperature changes as the power demand from the power output member varies.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the thermal sensor is reconfigurable on heating and is mechanically connected to the variable heat source to adjust the amount of heat provided by the variable heat source in response to a reconfiguration of the thermal sensor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the thermal sensor comprises a driving member which is reconfigurable on heating and is drivingly connected to the variable heat source whereby the thermal sensor adjusts the amount of heat provided by the variable heat source.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the thermal source is the heat source whereby the temperature of the heat source is used to sense the power demanded of the power output member.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable heat source comprises a combustion chamber and a variable fuel flow valve associated thereto, the variable fuel flow valve is adjustable to a plurality of positions to provide varying flow rates of fuel to the combustion chamber, the feedback member is drivingly connected to the variable fuel flow valve and includes a thermal sensor thermally connected to the combustion chamber whereby the temperature of the combustion chamber varies inversely to the power drawn from the power output member, the thermal sensor senses the temperature of the combustion chamber and the feedback member adjusts the flow rate of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to maintain the temperature of the combustion chamber within a preset range.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the variable heat source has a control member to adjust the temperature of the variable heat source and the feedback member is drivingly connected to the control member and the thermal source is the heat source whereby the temperature of the heat source is used to sense the power demanded from the power output member.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the feedback member comprises a circuit including a resistor electrically connected to the circuit to draw current proportional to the power demand drawn from the electric generator and the thermal source is the resistor whereby the temperature of the resistor is used to sense the power demand from the output.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the variable heat source comprises a combustion chamber and a variable fuel flow valve associated thereto, the variable fuel flow valve is adjustable to a plurality of positions to provide varying flow rates of fuel to the combustion chamber, the feedback member is drivingly connected to the variable fuel flow valve and comprises a circuit including a resistor electrically connected to the circuit to draw current proportional to the power demand drawn from the output, and a thermal sensor thermally connected to the resistor whereby the thermal sensor indirectly senses the power demand of a load applied to the output and the feedback member adjusts the flow rate of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to maintain the temperature of the combustion chamber within a preset range.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the variable heat source has a control member to adjust the temperature of the variable heat source and the feedback member is drivingly connected to the control member and comprises a circuit including a sensor portion which provides a signal to the control member based on the power demand drawn from the output.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a thermal sensor thermally connected to the sensor portion and the sensor portion changes temperature based on the power demand drawn from the output.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the feedback member further comprises an internal load member which draws current from the output.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the feedback member further comprises an internal load member which draws current from the output.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the thermal sensor comprises a driving member which is reconfigurable on heating and is drivingly connected to the control member whereby the thermal sensor adjusts the amount of heat provided by the variable heat source.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the feedback member further comprises an internal load member which draws current from the output.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the variable heat source comprises a combustion chamber and a variable fuel flow valve associated thereto, the variable fuel flow valve is adjustable to a plurality of positions to provide varying flow rates of fuel to the combustion chamber, the feedback member is drivingly connected to the variable fuel flow valve and comprises a circuit including an internal load member which draws current from the output and a resistor electrically connected to the circuit to draw current relative to the power demand drawn from the output, and a thermal sensor is thermally connected to the resistor whereby the thermal sensor indirectly senses the power demand of the load and the internal load and the feedback member adjusts the flow rate of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber to maintain the temperature of the combustion chamber within a preset range.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the variable heat source has a control member to adjust the temperature of the variable heat source and the feedback member is drivingly connected to the control member and comprises a circuit including an internal load member which draws current from the output and a resistor electrically connected to the circuit to draw current relative to the power demand drawn from the output and the thermal source is the resistor.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the sensor portion provides an electrical signal to the control member causing the variable heat source to adjust the amount of heat provided to the working fluid in response to the signal from the sensor portion.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the variable heat source comprises a combustion chamber and a variable fuel flow valve associated thereto, the variable fuel flow valve is adjustable to a plurality of positions to provide varying flow rates of fuel to the combustion chamber, the feedback member comprises a controller operatively connected to the variable fuel flow valve and a current sensor connected to the output whereby the current sensor senses the current drawn from the output and the controller adjusts the flow rate of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber based on the amount of current drawn from the load.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the variable heat source has a control member to adjust the temperature of the variable heat source and the feedback member comprises a controller operatively connected to the control member and a current sensor connected to the output whereby the current sensor senses the current drawn from the output and the controller adjusts the flow rate of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber based on the amount of current drawn from the load.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the variable fuel flow valve comprises a plurality of valves each of which is independently operable by the controller.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein each valve has an associated control member for operating the valve.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the variable fuel flow valve comprises a plurality of valves each of which is independently operable by the driving member.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the variable heat source comprises a combustion chamber and a variable fuel flow valve associated thereto, the variable fuel flow valve is adjustable to a plurality of positions to provide varying flow rates of fuel to the combustion chamber and the thermal source is the combustion chamber.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the control member is a solenoid or an electromagnet.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprises an adjustable signal generator which receives a signal and produces a modulated signal which is sent to an adjustable drive member wherein the adjustable drive member is associated with one of the displacer and the piston for moving the one of the displacer and the piston in response to a signal and the other of the displacer and the piston is movable in the sealed region due to forces applied thereto by the working fluid and whereby the modulated signal adjusts the cycle profile of the one of the displacer and the piston.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the piston moves at a phase angle with respect to the displacer and the adjustable signal generator modulates the signal provided to the adjustable drive member to adjust the phase angle.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the displacer moves between a first position adjacent the variable heat source and a second position distal to the variable heat source and has a dwell time in each of the first and second positions, and the cycle profile describes the velocity of the displacer as it moves between the first and second positions and the dwell time of the displacer when it is in each of the first and second positions, and the adjustable signal generator modulates the signal provided to the adjustable drive member to adjust at least one of the velocity of the displacer, the dwell time of the displacer when in the first position and the dwell time of the displacer when in the second position.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the sealed region has a cooling chamber for the working fluid and the piston moves between a first position wherein it is positioned in the cooling region and a second position wherein it is positioned out of the cooling chamber and has a dwell time in each of the first and second positions, and the cycle profile describes the velocity of the piston as it moves between the first and second positions and the dwell time of the piston when it is in each of the first and second positions, and the adjustable signal generator modulates the signal provided to the adjustable drive member to adjust at least one of the velocity of the piston, the dwell time of the piston when in the first position and the dwell time of the piston when in the second position.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the adjustable drive member is a solenoid or an electromagnet.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the adjustable signal generator has a manual adjustment control.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the heat engine has a thermal efficiency that varies under varying load conditions and the adjustable signal generator is responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the signal sent to the adjustable drive member to maintain the thermal efficiency of the apparatus in a preset range.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator and the displacer is driven by the adjustable drive member.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein the movement of the piston generates the signal that is sent to a signal modulator.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator,the displacer is driven by a drive member and the movement of the piston generates a signal that is sent to the drive member.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the adjustable drive member is a solenoid or an electromagnet.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein the heat engine has a thermal efficiency that varies under varying load conditions and the adjustable signal generator is responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the signal sent to the adjustable drive member to maintain the thermal efficiency of the apparatus in a preset range.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator and the displacer is driven by the adjustable drive member.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40 wherein the movement of the piston generates the signal that is sent to a signal modulator.

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the heat engine has a thermal efficiency that varies under varying load conditions and the adjustable signal generator is responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the signal sent to the adjustable drive member to maintain the thermal efficiency of the apparatus in a preset range.

43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator and the displacer is driven by the adjustable drive member.

44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 43 wherein the movement of the piston generates the signal that is sent to a signal modulator.

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein the heat engine has a thermal efficiency that varies under varying load conditions and the adjustable signal generator is responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the signal sent to the adjustable drive member to maintain the thermal efficiency of the apparatus in a preset range.

46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator and the displacer is driven by the adjustable drive member.

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein the movement of the piston generates the signal that is sent to a signal modulator.

48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the one of the displacer and the piston moves at a particular frequency and the cycle profile includes the frequency, and the adjustable signal generator modulates the signal provided to the adjustable drive member whereby the modulated signal adjusts the frequency of the one of the displacer and the piston.

49. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48 wherein the heat engine has a thermal efficiency that varies under varying load conditions and the adjustable signal generator is responsive to power demand from the power output member to modulate the signal sent to the adjustable drive member to maintain the thermal efficiency of the apparatus in a preset range.

50. The apparatus as claimed in claim 49 wherein the power output member comprises an electric generator drivenly connected to the heat engine and having an output for supplying current to a load, the piston comprises a portion of the electric generator and the displacer is driven by the adjustable drive member.

51. The apparatus as claimed in claim 50 wherein the movement of the piston generates the signal that is sent to a signal modulator.