Rankine-Brayton engine powered solar thermal aircraft
First Claim
1. An aircraft powered by the heat of the sun comprising:
- an aircraft body;
a Rankine-Brayton hybrid thermodynamic cycle heat engine carried by said aircraft body for producing power, said heat engine having 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;
an expander for substantially isentropically expanding the supercritical temperature, supercritical pressure working fluid to reduce the pressure of the working fluid back to a sub-critical pressure level; and
an air-cooled condenser in thermal contact with the ambient environment for condensing the sub-critical pressure working fluid back to the sub-critical temperature liquid phase;
propulsion means powered by said heat engine means for enabling sustained flight of said aircraft;
solar concentration means movably connected to said aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy;
solar tracking means including means for determining whether said solar concentration means is optimally aligned with the sun, and means for actuating said solar concentration means into optimal alignment with the sun based on said determination; and
heat collection/transport means for collecting the concentrated solar energy and transporting heat to said heat storage means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar thermal powered aircraft powered by heat energy from the sun. A Rankine-Brayton hybrid cycle heat engine is carried by the aircraft body for producing power for a propulsion mechanism, such as a propeller or other mechanism for enabling sustained free flight. The Rankine-Brayton engine has a thermal battery, preferably containing a lithium-hydride and lithium mixture, operably connected to it so that heat is supplied from the thermal battery to a working fluid. A solar concentrator, such as reflective parabolic trough, is movably connected to an optically transparent section of the aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy from within the aircraft. Concentrated solar energy is collected by a heat collection and transport conduit, and heat transported to the thermal battery. A solar tracker includes a heliostat for determining optimal alignment with the sun, and a drive motor actuating the solar concentrator into optimal alignment with the sun based on a determination by the heliostat.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An aircraft powered by the heat of the sun comprising:
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an aircraft body; a Rankine-Brayton hybrid thermodynamic cycle heat engine carried by said aircraft body for producing power, said heat engine having 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;
an expander for substantially isentropically expanding the supercritical temperature, supercritical pressure working fluid to reduce the pressure of the working fluid back to a sub-critical pressure level; and
an air-cooled condenser in thermal contact with the ambient environment for condensing the sub-critical pressure working fluid back to the sub-critical temperature liquid phase;propulsion means powered by said heat engine means for enabling sustained flight of said aircraft; solar concentration means movably connected to said aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy; solar tracking means including means for determining whether said solar concentration means is optimally aligned with the sun, and means for actuating said solar concentration means into optimal alignment with the sun based on said determination; and heat collection/transport means for collecting the concentrated solar energy and transporting heat to said heat storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification