JP2001020706A - Heat pipe type thermal engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently convert into kinetic energy solar energy and thermal energy of relatively low temperature that has not been conventionally utilized as well as thermal energy of high temperature. SOLUTION: This engine comprises two spaces formed within a closed container, for heating 1 and cooling 2 communicated with each other through a nozzle. These spaces are vacuumed and also filled with working fluid. The working fluid in the heating space vaporizes and expands by heat applied from outside. This engine is also provided with a turbine 6 that converts energy so as to move into the cooling space into kinetic energy, and means that returns the working fluid, which is cooled, coagulated, and rechanged into the water in the cooling space to the heating space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external combustion engine that converts a temperature difference into kinetic energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of converting heat energy into kinetic energy (rotational energy) is an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. These have a combustion chamber consisting of a cylinder and a piston, and the kinetic energy when the piston moves due to the explosion force generated by igniting a mixture of air and fuel introduced into the combustion chamber through a crank mechanism. Converts to rotational energy. These devices require complicated fuel supply devices such as carburetors (carburetors) and fuel injection pumps for feeding fuel into the combustion chamber almost every cycle. On the other hand, there is an external combustion engine called a steam engine or a steam turbine engine. They heat water and generate steam pressure, much higher than atmospheric pressure, to operate pistons and turbines and convert it into rotational energy. Therefore, high temperature and high pressure are required to efficiently convert the kinetic energy. There is also an engine called a Stirling engine that converts pressure fluctuations generated by locally heating and cooling the working fluid using air, helium, hydrogen gas, or the like into rotational energy. Also in this case, a high temperature and high pressure working fluid is required to increase the efficiency. Therefore, the container must be made of a material that can withstand this high temperature and high pressure, a complicated sealing mechanism is required, and a mechanism that replenishes the working fluid that leaks over a long period of operation must not be provided. did not become.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An engine is provided which has a simple structure and converts a relatively low temperature difference (for example, 100 ° C. or less) into rotational energy without using high temperature and high pressure.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems A completely closed structure,
Since the working fluid is vaporized in a vacuum in which the working fluid does not leak and has a very low vapor pressure, the working fluid is sufficiently vaporized even at a low temperature, and the expanded steam can be efficiently converted into kinetic energy.

[0005]

[Working] The working fluid is instantaneously turned into a steam flow when heated in a vacuum, and moves to a low-temperature part at a speed close to the speed of sound. The steam stream is impinged and converted into rotational kinetic energy. Since the inside is evacuated, there is no air that becomes a resistance when the turbine rotates, so that the rotation can be efficiently converted into rotational motion. This phenomenon has the same effect whether the high-temperature part is at room temperature or the low-temperature part is cooled, since the vapor flow moves to the low-temperature part.

[0006]

【Example】

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical heating space, and reference numeral 2 denotes a cylindrical cooling space. These spaces are communicated by three nozzles. Water 4 is sealed therein as a working fluid, and the inside is evacuated. In the cooling space 2, a plurality of independent heat pipes 5 are arranged so as to penetrate through the top portion. Reference numeral 6 denotes a turbine having a plurality of blades provided with magnets 7 arranged in a ring shape inside, and supported by bearings 8 and 9 so as to be rotatable coaxially with the axis of the cylindrical cooling space 2. The blades of the turbine 6 are arranged so as to receive steam from the jet port of the nozzle 3 and rotate by the reaction force. The axis of the cooling space 2 is fixed, and the coil 10 is assembled facing the magnet 6. Both ends of the coil 10 are led to the outside of the container. Reference numeral 11 denotes a disk having a hole at an eccentric position which rotates integrally with the turbine. A hole 14 is provided at a portion corresponding to the hole 13 of the disk in the radial direction at the bottom of the working fluid reservoir 12 on the cooling space side. On the other hand, on the heating space side, the hole 13 of the disc also coincides with the hole 13 of the disc in the radial direction.
A hole 15 that does not communicate with the hole of the cooling unit even through the hole is provided. In this way, the two spaces for heating and cooling are made difficult to conduct heat by the minimum connection for returning the nozzle and the working fluid to the heating space 1. Next, this operation will be described. When the bottom of the heating space 1 is heated, the water 4 as the working fluid inside is vaporized to become steam, and the inside of the heating space 1 is filled. Then, the steam gushes through the nozzle 3 into the cooling space 2 with great momentum. At this time, the turbine 6 collides with the blades of the turbine 6 to rotate the turbine 6. Then, the magnet 7 rotating integrally with the turbine 6 changes the magnetic flux density in the fixed coil 10 and generates a voltage in the coil 10 to generate power. Electricity is extracted from the wiring terminals that are located outside. The bearings 8 and 9 that support the rotation of the turbine are ball bearings and have a large heat capacity. This water droplet acts as a lubricant. Further, since the inside is vacuum, even if a commercially available inexpensive ball bearing is used after being degreased, it functions stably for a long time without rust. Thereafter, the water vapor is cooled near the wall surface of the cooling space 2 or near or on the surface of the heat pipe 5 protruding into the cooling space 2 and aggregates to form water droplets.
It is collected by the action of gravity to 2. The hydraulic fluid collected in the hydraulic fluid reservoir 12 in the cooling space is rotated by the disk 11, and the hole 14 at the bottom of the hydraulic fluid reservoir 12 and the hole 13
Move to the hole 13 of the disk when the communication is established. Then, when the disk is rotated by about 180 degrees, the hole 15 of the heating space and the hole 13 of the disk communicate with each other,
The hydraulic fluid falls. With this configuration, when the working fluid is returned to the heating space 1, there is no movement of water vapor from this part to the cooling space, and the vaporized vapor moves to the cooling part only from the nozzle, Turn the turbine 6 effectively. The above operation is performed continuously, and heat energy can be extracted as electric power. From cooling space 2 to heating space 1
Means for returning the working fluid 4 to the turbine may be a pump mechanism that operates via rotation of the turbine, a rotating screw mechanism disposed on the shaft of the turbine, or the like.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 is a cross section of an apparatus in which a turbine is arranged vertically, and FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view thereof. 2 and 3, reference numeral 101 denotes a cylindrical heating space, and reference numeral 102 denotes a cooling space in which a turbine shaft is arranged in a direction perpendicular to a symmetry axis of the cylindrical heating space. These spaces are communicated by 103 nozzles. In the working fluid, water 1
04 is enclosed and the inside is evacuated. Heat pipe 1 with independent fins
05 are arranged so as to penetrate through the plurality of top portions. Numeral 106 denotes a turbine having a plurality of blades provided with a magnet 107 arranged in a ring shape on the inner side thereof.
It is rotatably supported by bearings 108 and 109 coaxially with the second shaft. The blades of the turbine 106 are arranged in a direction intersecting at right angles with the ejection port of the nozzle 103.
Further, a coil 110 is attached to the outside of the cooling space 102 so as to face the magnet 106 with the wall of the non-magnetic container interposed therebetween. Electric power is obtained from both ends of the coil 110. Reference numeral 120 denotes an eccentric cam that rotates integrally with the turbine shaft. 121 is a connecting rod, 122 is a piston with a one-way valve, 123 is a piston pin, 124 is a cylinder, and 125 is a one-way valve to a heating space. Connecting rod 121 rotatably supported by eccentric cam 120
The other end is supported by a piston 122 with a piston pin 123. 126 and 127 are outside the cooling space 102,
A bearing coaxially fixed to the turbine 106 inside the cooling space 102, a disk 128, and a magnet 1 disposed at the turbine 106 inside the cooling space 102
A magnet 130 is disposed on the disk 128 in opposition to 07 and is a shaft integral with the disk 128 and is rotatably supported by bearings 126 and 127. Next, this operation will be described. When the bottom of the heating space 101 is heated, the water 104, which is the working fluid inside, is vaporized into steam,
The inside of the heating space 101 is filled. Then, the steam is nozzle 1
The fuel is squirted into the cooling space 102 through 03. At this time, the blade collides with the blades of the turbine 106 to rotate the turbine 106. Therefore, a coil 110 fixed to the outside by a magnet 107 rotating integrally with the turbine 106.
When the magnetic flux density inside the coil 110 changes and a voltage is generated in the coil 110, power is generated. Electricity is extracted from the terminals of the coil 110. After that, the steam is applied to the heat pipe 1 with fins protruding into the wall surface of the cooling space 102 and the inside of the cooling space 102.
The water is cooled near the surface 05 and on the surface thereof and aggregates to form water droplets. Eccentric cam 1 integrated with turbine 106
While the connecting rod 121 swings by the rotation of 20, the piston 122 supported at the other end by the piston pin 123 moves up and down. A one-way valve attached to piston 122 is configured to open when piston 122 heads for planting. Thus, when the piston 122 heads for planting, the hydraulic fluid is formed by the piston 122, the cylinder 124 and the one-way valve 125 and is sucked into the space. Next, when the piston 122 moves downward, the one-way valve of the piston 122 closes, the hydraulic fluid inside is compressed, and accordingly the one-way valve 125 opens, and the hydraulic fluid is discharged into the heating space 101. With this configuration, the working fluid is supplied to the heating space 10.
When returning to 1, the water vapor from this part does not move to the cooling space, and the vaporized vapor
Only to move the turbine 106 effectively. The above operation is performed continuously, and heat energy can be extracted as electric power. The magnet 129 facing the magnet 107 of the turbine 106 is located in the cooling space 1.
Since the magnets 129 also rotate when the turbine 106 rotates because the magnets 129 are attracted to each other via the wall of the magnetic field via the wall of 02, rotational energy can be extracted to the outside.
In addition to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the embodiment, as a means for increasing the efficiency of transferring heat to and from the working fluid in both the heating space and the cooling space, dimples and / or dimples are used to increase the contact surface area without using an expensive heat pipe. Apply drawing to make unevenness. Alternatively, a fine mesh called a fin, a mesh, or a wick is adhered or integrated. Alternatively, a device such as roughening the surface by etching or the like, or a combination thereof is also effective. Even if these vacuum containers are sufficiently degassed and evacuated in the early stage, even if they are used for a long period of time, gas is generated from the internal turbine, magnet, bearings, etc. In many cases, the degree of vacuum is reduced and the efficiency is reduced. For this purpose, an unillustrated deaeration port with a one-way valve for evacuating, a vacuum gauge for checking the degree of vacuum, a diaphragm for simplicity, etc. may be provided. Although it is large, it is connected to a vacuum gauge that constantly monitors the degree of vacuum and a vacuum pump that evacuates according to the change, and automatically increases the degree of vacuum according to the detection state, stably kinetic energy May be configured.

[0007]

According to the present invention, since the inside is evacuated, there is no resistance when the turbine rotates. Also, if the temperature difference is a little between the heating part and the cooling part even at low temperatures,
The working fluid instantaneously becomes a steam flow, and moves to a low-temperature portion at a speed close to the speed of sound, so that the steam flow collides with a turbine provided near the connection portion, and can be efficiently converted into rotational kinetic energy. Further, since the heat source only needs to have a temperature difference from the surrounding environmental temperature, it may be a low-temperature heat source or a high-temperature heat source. The cooling means may be natural air cooling, forced air cooling, or water cooling. The heating means is not limited to heat, such as hot waste water, hot springs, solar energy, fuel combustion, and heat generated by chemical reactions. This phenomenon has the same effect whether the high-temperature part is at room temperature or the low-temperature part is cooled, since the vapor flow moves to the low-temperature part.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of a device in which a turbine is arranged vertically, and FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

In FIG. 1, 1 is a heating space, 2 is a cooling space, 3
Is a plurality of nozzles, 4 is a working fluid, 5 is a heat pipe, 6
Is a turbine, 7 is a magnet, 10 is a coil, 11 is a disk, and 12 is a working fluid reservoir. 2 and 3, 101 is a heating space, 102 is a cooling space, 103 is a nozzle, and 104 is a working fluid. 105 is a finned heat pipe, 106 is a turbine, 107 is a magnet, 1
10 is a coil. 120 is an eccentric cam, 121 is a connecting rod, 122 is a piston with a one-way valve, 123 is a piston pin, 124 is a cylinder, 125 is a one-way valve to a heating space, 126 and 127 are bearings, 128 is a disk, 129 , Magnets 107 and 130 are shafts integral with the disk 128.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 4, 1999 (1999.10.
4)

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a device in which a turbine is vertically arranged.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an apparatus in which a turbine is vertically arranged.

[Description of Signs] In FIG. 1, 1 is a heating space, 2 is a cooling space, 3
Is a plurality of nozzles, 4 is a working fluid, 5 is a heat pipe, 6
Is a turbine, 7 is a magnet, 8 and 9 are ball bearings, 10 is a coil, 11 is a disk, and 12 is a hydraulic fluid reservoir. 13 is a hole in the disk, 14 is a hole in the bottom of the working fluid reservoir, and 15 is a hole in the heating space. 2 and 3, 101 is a heating space, 102 is a cooling space, 103 is a nozzle, and 104 is a working fluid. 105 is a finned heat pipe, 106 is a turbine, 107 is a turbine 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes a magnet, 108 and 109 are bearings, and 110 is a coil. 120 is an eccentric cam, 12
1 is a connecting rod, 122 is a piston with a one-way valve, 12
3 is a piston pin, 124 is a cylinder, 125 is a one-way valve to a heating space, 126 and 127 are bearings,
128 is a disk, 129 is a magnet arranged on the disk 128 facing the magnet 107, and 130 is a shaft integrated with the disk 128.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A closed container formed of two spaces for heating and cooling, wherein the inside is evacuated, and water, alternative chlorofluorocarbon or the like is sealed inside as a working fluid, and a heating space and a cooling space are provided. A means for converting the moving energy of the vaporized working fluid into kinetic energy near the connecting portion of the apparatus, wherein the temperature difference is converted into kinetic energy. 2. An apparatus for converting a temperature difference into kinetic energy according to claim 1, wherein the cooling space has a larger volume than the heating space. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for returning the working fluid, which has been cooled in the cooling space into a liquid, to the heating section again, and continuously converts the temperature difference into kinetic energy. Device that can do it. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generator is turned by the converted kinetic energy to generate electric power. 5. A means for converting the kinetic energy into a kinetic energy is a turbine, and means for taking out the rotational motion of the turbine from the closed vessel to the outside by means of magnetic means rotating substantially synchronously with the turbine by a magnetic force. The device is characterized by taking out rotational kinetic energy to the outside by this rotation. 6. An apparatus for converting a temperature difference into kinetic energy, wherein a working fluid sealed inside is used for lubrication of a sliding portion.