Patent Application
20200392844
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Filed by EFS-WEB
Statement regarding prior disclosures by the inventor or a joint inventor: “CONVERSION CHAMBER POWER DEVICE” filed with United States Patent & Trademark Office [USPTO] as Provisional Patent Application [PPA] on Jun. 18, 2018 with No. 62/763,489
The modern and up to date location for this patent would be in the America Invents Act [AIA] now the selected patent law of the land that matches up to the World Classes. Our 200 year old patent system has been replaced, and a myriad of foreign patent art is flooding into the USA.
Our patent in application would be in Section “F: Mechanical Engineering, Lighting, Heating, Weapons, Blasting, Engines or Pumps”. Our patent does include some Section “C: Chemistry, Metallurgy” and to a lesser degree, Section “H: Electricity”.
As such, it can continuously maintain a closed system of operation. Then with this in mind, this invention is seen as more closely performing its power similar to an activity of the very large power plants that are used to generate electricity that use water/steam—in CLASS 60. These power plants also maintain somewhat a closed cycle, especially when they re-use their own water again.
This invention has a “rotary piston”, albeit in a disc format wherein the pressure conversion chamber is enclosed briefly to produce the rotation force that produces the power to spin generators, pumps, vehicles, and such as requisite.
This invention will also fit into “F02G: Hot Gas or Combustion-Product Positive-Displacement Engine Plants [steam engine plants, special vapor plants] et al. Also, in “F03B: Machines or Engines for Liquids” and somewhat in the following: “F03C: Positive-Displacement Engines Driven by Liquids”.
Another often cited class is #418: “ROTARY EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER DEVICES” wherein many rotary motors, engines, and mechanisms are to be found with expansible chambers that feed into a rotary device for its operation.
This invention therefore is unique, novel, and non-obvious to those skilled in the art.
The history of gas vapor powered devices that would naturally include steam, as they go back into history a very long way. Useful art can be seen in the 18, 19, & 20 centuries, and again the dominant art would be steam. There are many other vapor gases that could serve, and have served at times, but none are as universal as water and steam that have proven over time as reliable, powerful, and useful.
There seems to have been much interest using alternative gases for such power uses, but more typically big power has used steam for more than 100 years. Herein, while not totally discounting water/steam, this invention would try to embody these alternative gases—singularly, or in combinations, to best expand in a closed cycle system using the conversion chamber to expand the gas vapor selected into a power means to drive a machine. An advantage for closed cycle system would be that it is closed, and that means no intake required such as for oxygen, and no exhaust required that spew noxious pollutants into the atmosphere—it's closed.
A review of some prior art such as the prior art in earlier disclosures is useful, and also, some of the newly found references that can be helpful with understanding the gases that might be used. The text references are useful for the most part for the charts, tables, and graphs that they contain. While there will be a complexity when these gases are combined and in prior data or knowledge may not be sufficiently available without experimenting, or by trial and error, but in this patent application only the many choices are presented, and the concept of such.
The list of cited patents will now be discussed wherein the features most relevant to this application will be shown.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,513,222 issued Apr. 7, 2009, to James Robert Orlosky of California entitled: “Combustion Steam Engine” wherein one sees an innovative approach to power devices combining water/steam and fossil fuel as gasoline in a unique adaptive 6 cycle engine. A valid purpose of inventor Orlosky's invention in part is to clean up the noxious exhaust gas pollutants associated with the fossil fuel combustion. He performs some of the task by the use of a steam cycle following the fuel combustion to isolate these noxious pollutants and also to negate or neutralize them with additions of additives in the water cycle to correct such difficulties. Inventor Orlosky states: “The six cycle steam combustion engine was invented in 2005 and uses four cycles of six to generate power. Two are fuel burning cycle and two are steam cycle.” [col. 7, lines 57-59] Further to reinforce this useful premise, he states: “When water is injected, the water can provide two important mechanical benefits—the water develops a tremendous amount of steam force to push the piston down and the water removes substantially all of the heat from the engine.” [col. 8, lines 15-18] Inventor Orlosky continues to explain that such a heat loss can alleviate many cooling procedures now commonplace and allow the use of plastic materials in many places in such engines. In this invention the use of a gas or water/steam would be to produce the power only that forces a piston or a power movement and can maintain its closed cycle operation without an exhaust pipe at all, as there is no combustion required.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,861 issued Mar. 27, 2007 to Lloyd E. Bishop entitled: “Two stroke Steam-to-Vacuum Engine” wherein the basic side to side piston engine operating back and forth using atmospheric [or slightly above this to 3-5 psi].
In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,491 issued Mar. 6, 2007 to Shuzo Oda, Shinichi Yatsuzuka, Yasumasa Hagiwara, and Toshiyuki Morishita, all of Japan, and assigned to Denso Corporation of Kariya, Japan, entitled: “Steam Engine” wherein a closed cycle is established “in which the energy is obtained by repeating vaporization and liquefaction of a fluid” [col. 1, lines 24-25]. The heat to continue this cycle can be as stated: “the heating device has a fluid pipe through heated fluid, such as exhausted gas from an internal combustion engine of a vehicle flows.” [col. 2, lines 46-49] In this invention there is a closed cycle to its operation, and it is regenerative in its function, but it is not to be connectable to any internal combustion engine as it will stand alone without fossil fuel. The uses indicated secondarily in a vehicle with an exhaust gas heating function, this Patent would seem more fitting for it to be in the Land Vehicle Class 180.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,324 issued Feb. 20, 2007, to Masami Sakita of California, entitled: “External Combustion Engine” wherein the water/steam becomes a main working force, but a fuel combustion activity is an essential powering ingredient involved. To quote Inventor Sakita, “The engine of the present invention is an externally heated type that uses generally water substance for the working fluid. The externally heated engine comprises a compressor assembly, a heater assembly, an expander assembly, a cooler assembly that includes a working fluid storage tank and an oil separator, and auxiliary system such as a lubrication system, a cooling system that cools down the engine, and a computer system that controls the engine.” [col. 2, lines 57-65] Inventor Sakita shows an ingenious device, albeit somewhat complicated, and involving both fossil fuel and water/steam to provide its motive power. In this invention, there is an essential difference as no fossil fuels are used and no combustion is used as this device is a closed system without any exhaust tailpipe that can spew out noxious gases to the atmosphere.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,512 issued Jul. 25, 2006 to Harry Schoell entitled: “Heat Regenerative Engine” wherein a radial engine is shown of at least 3 cylinders coupled to a cyclone ‘furnace’ creating superheated steam of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and 3200 pounds per square inch of pressure. “The speed and torque of the engine are controlled by a rocker and cam design which serves to open and close a needle type valve in the engine head. When the valve is opened, high pressure, high temperature steam is injected into the cylinder and allowed to expand as an explosion on top of the piston high pressure. Use of three or more pistons allows for self-starting.” [col. 2, lines 46-52] Inventor Schoell has a great design and method of producing power with his combined fuels and an external combustion heat chamber. In this invention herein to follow no combustion is required, no fossil fuel use is requisite, and the closed cycle can be maintained while producing power.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,540 issued Oct. 25, 2005 to Briesch and Mitchell entitled: “Multi-Mode Complex Cycle Power Plant” wherein a larger power plant operation is intended with both a boiler and a gas turbine unit using outside fuel to operate either together or separately. [col. 2, lines 6-8] “The power plant of the present invention combines a steam turbine unit, a boiler unit and a gas turbine unit into a highly efficient Brayton/Rankine cycle arrangement that provides improved operational flexibility when compared to prior art power plants.” [col. 1, lines 46-50] In the invention herein applied for, no outside fuel use is intended, and no separated large parts as a steam turbine, a boiler with fuel, and a gas fueled turbine is incorporated, and the cycle is closed to operate within itself without outside power or leakage.
In an application of 2011/0088399, Inventor Briesch with an inventor, Keith B. McLaurin, entitled “Combined Cycle Power Including A Refrigeration Cycle” wherein as above the inventors have added a cycle to cool and assist with controlling temperature and power from their power unit. And, of course, as above their unit is large and complex. In this application the power device is closed and self-contained and simple, unlike their evident application.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,051 issued Oct. 12, 2005 to Ovidiu Marin, Oliver Charon, and Erwin Penfornis, all of Illinois, and assigned to American Air Liquide, Inc. of California, entitled: “Steam Generation Apparatus and Methods” wherein “A first aspect of the invention is a steam generation apparatus dedicated to combustion of a fuel with an oxygen-enriched oxidant, wherein the oxygen concentration of the oxidant may range from just above 21 percent to 100 percent . . . ” [col. 2, lines 66-67, & col. 3, lines 1-3] Inventors Marin et al. further describe a complex ‘preferred apparatus’ with many features not required in this patent application, such as ‘one superheater’, ‘plurality of convection section tubes’, many ‘flue gas temperatures’, a ‘steam drum’, ‘an oxidant preheater’, choices of ‘heat exchangers’, a supercritical pressure boiler’, ‘apparatus wherein the boiler is a subcritical pressure boiler’, a ‘first expansion turbine’, a ‘second expansion turbine’, and all such can be perhaps alluded to in that “Multiple turbines and associated reheaters are envisioned to be within the invention.” [col. 3, lines 66-67, & col. 4, lines 1-33] In this invention none of these complex, large scale item requirements are presented, plus as before no fossil fuel use is intended, and this invention would be very ecologically green in its application.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,740 issued May 24, 2005 to Donald C. Erickson of Maryland and assigned to himself, entitled: “Steam Ammonia Power Cycle” wherein “An integrated steam-ammonia power cycle is disclosed which achieves a close match to a glide heat source such as exhaust from a gas turbine, and which also eliminates sub-atmospheric pressure operation.” Source: Abstract, lines 1-4] After describing the mechanical steps and requirements for such an operation, Inventor Erickson closes his “Abstract” disclosure with “feed ammonia is preheated in at least two parallel heaters.” [source: Abstract, lines 11-12] To further involve and explain the uses of ammonia with steam, Inventor Erickson states: “Ammonia Rankine cycles are well known in the prior art. They have been applied in ocean thermal energy conversion [OTEC] applications, and elsewhere using low temperature heat sources. A 22 MW [22 megawatt] experimental prototype of an ammonia bottoming cycle for a nuclear-powered steam cycle has been tested. Steam under vacuum [about 0.5 bar absolute] boiled the ammonia, which was expanded without superheating. Ammonia extraction vapor was designated for feed heating. The objective was to overcome the limitations of the conventional vacuum steam condensation.” [col. 1, lines 59-67 and col. 2, line 1] Since the cycle will produce a cool exhaust “well into the condensation range. This necessitates appropriate measures for handling acidic condensate.” [col. 2, lines 52-54] further, Inventor Erickson mentions: “It is beneficial to maintain at least about 20 parts per million to 5000 parts per million steam in the ammonia vapor, to inhibit corrosion and thermal decomposition. That is done by maintaining approximately 0.1% to five percent water in the ammonia boiler. The water in turn should be inhibited by NaOH [sodium hydroxide, a strong base] or equivalent to a pH in the approximate range of 10 to 10.5.” [col. 3, lines 3-9] In part what is said by Inventor Erickson is that ammonia will create its pressure at much lower temperatures than steam, and as such, it can use the exhaust heat effectively to perform work. If such a gas is used in this invention the ammonia at approximately 122 degrees Fahrenheit will equal steam pressures generated at approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit. [See Chart values that follows] Although the Erickson Patent and its application does elements that are possible to use in this invention, the differences in higher temperature applications for the gas turbine are selectively far different from any of this invention as described herein. The combination of the two gases in their selected work by Inventor Erickson is far different from this invention that could use one, two, or several types of gases in its power application, singly and/or in a combination series.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,491 issued Apr. 19, 2005 to David Reiner and Ben Zion Freedman, both of Israel, entitled: “Method and Apparatus for Generating Superheated Steam”, and assigned to Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. Of Haifa, Israel wherein an exothermic chemical reaction is shown using the standard industrial grade hydrogen peroxide to produce superheated steam in a short period of time. [col. 3, lines 15-18] The superheated steam is desirable as it is essentially dry steam due to the pressure and the high temperature. [col. 1, lines 33-34; col. 2, lines 35-38 & 49-51] Inventors Reiner and Freedman further state: “Superheated steam can be generated within combustion chamber 10 at any preferred mass flow rate, e.g. ranging from fractions of a gram per second to an order of kilograms per second, depending on the amount of hydrogen peroxide injected therein. The temperature of the combustible reactant mixture which generates superheated steam ranges from 500 degrees Centigrade to 1400 degrees Centigrade with a temperature gradient extent both radially and axially, when the combustion chamber has a cylindrical configuration. For example, the temperature of the reactant mixture may reach 900 degrees Centigrade in inlet chamber 15; while its temperature may reach 1200 degrees Centigrade in vortex chamber 18.” [col. 4, lines 27-37] Inventors Reiner and Freedman have presented an interesting patent and novel method to create their application for superheated steam, whereas in this invention no outside combustion is required, and no active or open flame is involved.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,503 issued Dec. 28, 2004 to Raymond Freymann entitled: “Method for the Operation of a Steam Thermal Engine, in Particular as a Vehicle Power Unit”, and assigned to Bayerische Motoen Werke Aktiengesellschaft wherein “in particular, the invention relates to a steam engine, which can be operated with waste heat, especially from a burned or a combustion engine.” [col. 1, lines 9-11] And, as another point, “Consequently, in this system as attempt is made to utilize the lost heat of a combustion engine in order to increase the total efficiency of the system”. [col. 1, lines 21-23] In this invention herein no burner or combustion engine is used to burn fossil fuel as its working medium, and the entire cycle is closed, and operates without any waste heat.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,646 issued Jul. 27, 2004 to John Edward Ford and Seyfettin Gulen, both of New York, entitled: “Rapid Power Producing System & Method for Steam Turbine”, and assigned to General Electric Company of Schenectady, N.Y., wherein the inventors state: “In particular this invention relates to methods to rapidly increase the power output of a steam turbine.” [col. 1, lines 7-10] As is stated, “Power generators, such as steam turbines and combined cycle steam and gas turbine units, are large turbomachines with generation and operation limits. Gas turbines may provide fast additional power. Steam turbines traditionally provide slower response to power change requests. To change the power output of a steam turbine, a substantial time period, e.g., 2 to 5 minutes, is generally needed.” [col. 1, lines 16-22] As this invention does not anticipate reaching such a scale of operation, it does seem beyond its scope, but perhaps not. In any event, this invention is a closed cycle, and can instantly change its temperature/pressure available for any such increased power demand. As such, no large turbomachine would be required, no super-heater, no fuel for a large boiler system, no combination power units, and this invention remains unique and non-obvious to inventors today and such large systems as General Electric produces.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,041 issued Sep. 16, 2003 to Ovidiu Marin, Oliver Charon, and Erwin Perfornis, all of Illinois, USA, and entitled: “Steam Generation Apparatus & Methods”, and assigned to L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveilliance pour l'Elude et l'Explotation des Procedes Georges Claude of Paris, France, and America Air Liquide of California, USA, wherein this invention was previously discussed as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,051 prior to this citation. This citation was included as a reference as placed in an earlier disclosure that is referenced herein in this patent application.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,575 issued Sep. 3, 2003 to Erhard Liebig entitled: “Method & Apparatus for Regulating the Steam Temperature of the Live Steam or Reheated Steam in a Combined-Cycle Power Plant”, and assigned to Alstom [Switzerland] Ltd., wherein it is stated in the “Field of the Invention”—The present invention relates to the field of power plant technology. It relates to a method for setting or regulating the steam temperature of the live steam and/or reheater steam, particularly under part load in a combined-cycle power plant for carrying out the method.” [col. 1, lines 16-23] Inventor Liebig further explains in Column 3, lines 17-32, the complexity of setting his inventive technology in a power plant involving large steam turbine units and its equipment with gas fired turbines and their special requirements in a combination cycle power plant operation. In this invention application herein no such large system is envisioned, and no working gas fired turbine is anticipated, and further this novel invention is a self-contained and operating closed cycle system, and certainly, does not envision large uses of a working fossil fuel for its motive power. In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,354 issued Aug. 12, 2003 to Chikako Oto, Ryou Oda, Sachio Shibuya Takehiro Isu, Yoichi Sugimori, all of Japan, entitled: “Combined Cycle Power Plant”, and assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba of Tokyo, Japan, wherein described in its Abstract in the opening sentence, “A combined cycle power plant generally comprises a gas turbine power facility, a heat recovery steam generator, a steam turbine power facility, and an existing boiler.” The Toshiba patent shows a large power plant that does not impede this unique application, as the Toshiba patent involves large fossil fuel use in its gas turbine, large in scale and size, and complexity in equipment, and as such, very different from the closed cycle invention described herein.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,197 issued Apr. 15, 2003 to Ravi Chandran and Momtaz M. Monsour, both of Maryland, and entitled: “SXystem Integration of a Steam Reformer and Fuel Cell”, and assigned to Manufacturing & Technology Conversion International Inc. of Baltimore, Md. wherein the opening sentence in the Abstract is claimed, “A novel process and apparatus for power generation from biomass and other carbonaceous feedstocks are provided. The process integrates a pulse combustor steam reformer with a fuel cell to generate electricity such that [i] efficiencies are higher than those of conventional and emerging advanced systems, and [ii] emissions are lower than those proposed by the new environmental regulations, i.e., one-tenth of the New Source Performance Standards.” Aside from a very wide and unusual selection of fuels to use, the addition of a fuel cell and its use of an ‘electrochemical’ cell processing a ‘product gas stream’ to generate electricity [col. 2, lines 28-34], places this patent far beyond the requirements needed in this invention for the closed cycle operation as herein described.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,060 issued Jan. 21, 2003 to Herbert Clemons and Michael Hoetger, both of Berlin, Germany entitled: “Steam Motor”, and assigned to Enginion A G of Berlin, Germany wherein is described in the opening of their Abstract, “In a steam motor with a piston engine, the piston is included in a closed steam circuit. This steam circuit includes a steam generator, a steam injector for injecting steam into the piston engine, a condenser for condensing the steam emerging from the piston engine to condensed water, and a water feeding pump for feeding the condensed to the generator.” And, all of these steps seem very logical and useful in the invention applied for herein, albeit considerably larger in scale than this invention, but to continue Inventors Clemons and Hoetger, now diverge from our application, “The steam generator is heated by hot combustion gas from a combustion unit. The combustion unit burns fuel. The fuel is mixed with fresh air supplied by an air feeding device through a fresh air passage.” [Abstract, lines 1-10] Their description continues to diverge as further devices are added and described to close the Abstract. In this invention the closed cycle remains that, closed, no added air, no burning of an operational fossil fuel, no combustion engine/device is intended in this cycle.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,017 issued Jul. 22, 2003 to Ashraf Maurice Bassily entitled “Reheat Regenerative Rankine Cycle” wherein the inventor's stated objective is ‘a gain in efficiency of up to 2.5%’ and to 50% in the mass flow rate.’ [Source Abstract] In the diagram displayed as FIG. 1, two large turbines are shown, and as well, a small turbine, three water heaters, four pumps, a condenser, a steam separator, a steam generator, an additional heat exchanger—all showing a large machine as used in a power plant. Further, Inventor Bassily states: “The present invention relates to the field of power generation system of the continuous combustion type using steam as the working medium.” [col. 1, lines 16-18] Another clearly stated difference in our inventions would be “In the systems illustrated, the working medium is water in the liquid phase, steam in the gas phase. Any kind of fuel can be applied to those systems such as fossil fuel [oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear fuel]. [col. 2, lines 45-48} There is no intention for the use requiring any such fuels in this invention as the closed cycle would admit no oxygen or air, and burn no fuel for such a combustion requirement.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,540 issued Nov. 27, 2001 to Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, and Takahiro Oshita, all of Japan entitled: “Heat Recovery System and Power Generation System” without any assignment noted wherein “In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subject to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650 degrees Centigrade . . . before heat recovery is effected.” [source: Abstract, lines 1-7] The inventors further state: “The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances and has as an objective the provision of a heat recovery system and a power generation system that can enhance the efficiency of power generation by sufficiently increasing the temperature of superheated steam without inducing corrosion of heat transfer pipes by combustion gas and which yet is capable of suppressing resynthesis of dioxins in a later stage.” [col. 6, lines 1-9] Further on, they explain burning of a heating fuel ‘with or without an auxiliary fuel’ to maintain high temperatures that will permit the heat recovery, or an added oxygen or air to gain this added heat, all to accomplish their objective of such a heat recovery for the clean burn of waste. [col. 6, lines 33-40] In this invention such complexity is not a factor, and this system uses no such auxiliary fuel, nor air, nor additional oxygen, and as is proposed, totally closed cycle to accomplish the objectives in this invention.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,396 issued Nov. 24, 1998 to Joachim Franke and Eberhard Wittchow, both of Germany entitled: “Method and Apparatus for Starting Up a Continuous-Flow Steam Generator” and assigned to Siemens Aktiengesell-schaft of Munich, Germany wherein is stated, “The invention relates to steam generator operation. More specifically, it pertains to a method for starting up a continuous-flow of once-through steam generator with a combustion chamber that includes a plurality of burners for a fossil fuel.” [col. 1, lines 14-18] Inventors Franke and Wittchow intend their invention for the large system machinery of a power plant, and as they state, the use of fossil fuel to burn a normal to gain heat. In this invention the closed cycle does not burn such fossil fuel, and it is not designed as a large machine system like a power plant. This invention can provide the force/torque necessary to rotate an electric generator, but it would not in any way follow the typical fossil fuel burning system now seen in today's power plants.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,084 issued Nov. 6, 1990 to John W. Smith entitled: “Superheated Spray Flow Control for Variable Pressure Operation” and assigned to The Babcock & Wilcox Company of New Orleans, La. wherein a cold water spray is employed to accelerate a steam superheater to raise quickly the power level of a steam boiler, and inventor Smith states, “. . . it has become desirable to develop a superheated spray control system that can be utilized in variable pressure applications and can compensate for temperature variations within the superheater.” [col. 1, lines 40-45] In this invention no large system employing a primary and a secondary superheater chamber, and external boiler, and for such, a steam turbine, as this invention encompasses a closed cycle system that would not require such measures.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,431 issued Dec. 18, 1989 to William J. Peet entitled: “Superheater Outlet Steam Temperature Control”, and assigned to The Babcock & Wilcox Company of New Orleans, La. wherein it is stated: “The present invention relates in general to steam generators, and in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for controlling the output temperature of a superheater in a steam generator.” [col. 1, lines 7-10] In this invention as just prior to this assigned patent, no superheater is required and no large steam system with generator/turbine is employed, as this invention has a closed cycle without outside air/oxygen, or exhaust pipe, as it is closed.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,185 issued Dec. 29, 1987 to Eric A. Salo of California entitled “Method and Means for Increasing Energy Output and Thermal Efficiency of an Energy Cycle such as the Rankine Steam Cycle” without any assignment stated wherein inventor Eric Salo opens his statement with “Energy cycles of the type which utilize steam turbines to drive electrical generators, are conventionally low in energy output and thermal efficiency.” [col. 1, lines 8-10] Further Inventor Salo continues describing a large type of machine system that can be more efficient with his technique of further reheating effluent steam to continue a gain the temperature that can raise the Rankine cycle system to higher efficiency. In this invention such an activity would be a waste of effort as the closed cycle is closed and is contained with whatever efficiency it has contained within the novel invented system.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,994 issued Dec. 12, 1978 to Dah Y. Cheng of California entitled: “Regenerative Parallel Compound Dual-Fluid Heat Engine”, and assigned to International Power Technology, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. wherein Inventor Cheng his version of two interactive systems, a fuel burning Brayton cycle engine, a turbine, and a Rankine cycle steam motor and the dual fluids would be air and water—although fossil fuel is evident also. The heat from the fossil fuel engine is incorporated in the regenerative heat for the superheater feeding the steam engine to increase its efficiency by the added heat. Inventor Cheng is involving large machines in a power plant system, whereas in this invention the procedure for power is in a closed cycle without the typical fossil fuel combusted in the Brayton engine cycle, and small comparatively, even in ‘power production’.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,908 issued Aug. 16, 1977 to Edward Rasinski entitled: “Super Heater”, and assigned to Morehead Machinery & Boiler Company of Minneapolis, Minn. wherein “An auxiliary steam super heater designed to be easily added to an existing steam system to boost the steam temperature to approximately 750 degrees Fahrenheit.” [source: Abstract opening sentence] This system is a series of coils within a chamber device requiring “Hot gases from a heat source are introduced through one end of the casing and into the ‘interior’ of said coil system, thus providing radiant heat directly to the inner surface of said coil system and utilizing the ‘black body’ heat transfer principle [source: again the Abstract in the third sentence] In this invention a a gas heat source is not required, and a separate ‘casing’ as a superheater is not envisioned or employed.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,789 issued Nov. 6, 1973 to Richard Niggemann of Rockford, Ill. entitled: “Rankine Cycle Engine”, and assigned to Sundstrand Corporation of Rockford, Ill. wherein “A power conversion system employing an organic fluid, toluene, including a supercritical heater for vaporizing the organic feed liquid, a turbine for expanding the vapor and providing a mechanical output, a regenerator for receiving superheated vapor from the turbine and preheating a portion of the feed liquid to the main heater, and an economizer built around the main heater for preheating a portion of the feed liquid, cooling the exiting combustion gases in the economizer and directing the Preheated to the main heater along with the feed liquid from the Regenerator.” [source: the entire one sentence of Abstract] “Toluene is the working fluid because of its 139 degree Fahrenheit freezing point, its good thermal stability, its relatively high system pressure level which leads to compact heat transfer equipment, and its commercial availability.” [col. 1, lines 43-48] It does seem that this organic fluid toluene can be a good candidate for the closed cycle intended for this invention, albeit it is not in the Rankine cycle steam system. An alternative of other working fluids to gases and/or possible combinations with other fuels and gases, is the intention for this novel and non-obvious invention, and perhaps, this one may be a good selection.
The dominant feature in these cited reference patents, more than half, would be the stationary power plant involving steam, and often combined with a gas turbine [that would consume significant amounts of diesel fuel, or natural gas] to produce most typically electricity, and on some occasion, heat for buildings. The production of electricity by such steam/gas means, and by nuclear power, seems to be the focus of the usual and available patents for reference. Of course, there are some features and elements in many of these cited patents that can be adapted or pertain to other patent activity. The power plant concerns do involve ‘mega-machines’ that are large in a scale beyond normal uses such as herein described for this invention, but even as such, they can not be excluded in this application or embodiment.
As such, a combination system can be seen in this new pending application, 2010/019411 of inventors, Alex Van Den Bossche and Bart Meersman, both of Belgium, entitled: “Combined Heat Power System” wherein the requirement for heat to boil the water is shown from several sources, including wasted heat, and amplified to perform its power functions. As in this application herein, no external fossil fuel source is required, and the system is closed so that there is no external wasted heat to be used.
Another pending application with an attractive title and purpose is seen in 2010/0095674 of Inventor George Erik McMillan of Hickory, N.C., entitled: “Vapor Powered Engine/Electric Generator” wherein many functions and components seem similar to our invention herein submitted, with one exception of the vapor source supplied by a ‘heating source’ that externally is heated to ‘vaporize at least a portion of the working fluid to provide the working pressure . . . ’ [source: Abstract]. In this invention application the working pressure is self-provided by its available supply of electricity/fuel that also is converted into an electronic means to provide its heat source. This application of Inventor McMillan seems an interesting patent application, and it will have to be detailed more fully in a non-provisional patent application.
The other referenced patents oftentimes concern combustion applications with steam for motors or engines, and in a few examples, vehicles, or alternative gases. The selection of these cited patents does offer a range of understanding of the emphasis in this field of invention in as far as can be located at this time, and continues to demonstrate the unique, novel, and non-obvious nature of this invention as shown in this patent application.
And now, we shall continue from the Background into the Summary of the Invention.
The Conversion Chamber herein described would act much as a flash boiler historically wherein power is added as needed and utilizes an auxiliary or separate chamber for this purpose. These smaller chambers served to flash water/steam instantly in order to add the extra power for a larger boiler system as an immediate demand to get the train over the hill, or up the mountainside grade with the extra power. Thus, these smaller power units served to deliver huge amounts of power at a quick demand notice, but as such they did not serve the long term power requirements of a train, or river boat.
However, the term flash boiler serves this invention well as an operative system, as this concept is that of a flash boiler producing immediate gas pressure that is required to provide this increased power. This separated power system can supply the pressure from a gas such as water/steam, or other similar useful gases used in the past such as ammonia, chloroform, chlorine, even superheated toluene, or from secondary sources like carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide, or in combination of such. A chamber can provide the means of expanding gases to make pressure that powers this power device, or motor system. And such gases can be a single gas, or placed in combinations with other gases, and as in these examples, but not to be limited to these listed gases only: [a] steam; [b] nitrogen; [c] hydrogen; [d] carbonic acid; [e] alcohol; [f] ether; [g] chloroform; [h] carbon bisulphide; [i] carbon tetrachloride; [j] acetone; [k] sulphur dioxide; and [l] ammonia. Although just the inclusion of such a conversion chamber that even at ambient temperatures can be the physical site and available means to convert applicable gases and water/steam into gas vapor, the preferred way likely would require a heat means to be available for converting the liquid gases into gas vapor. It is evident that selected and applicable gases can, in a closed system provide the power/force against a mechanical surface to power/rotate a mechanical means that will provide the power to a conversion chamber power device. The best means to provide the force/thrust against a mechanical surface is in a rotary turbine configuration, albeit a piston engine would be workable. The expansion chamber as a flash boiler can be identified as a conversion chamber herein that provides the site for converting gases including water/steam into gas vapor to power the power device.
It is the pressure/torque that is required to derive the power required to reciprocate an engine, or required to power up a mechanical rotary device, or required to spin up a turbine. In this invention the power device can be of various delivery types or systems that would respond to the various delivery types or systems that would respond to the delivery of pressure and torque at the best moment to produce and match the power required. Herein, a conversion chamber can serve to be an expansion chamber for all such applicable gases and steam so chosen to provide the power/force to operate this power device or motor.
From Professor Goodenaugh's Tables that are appended herein for the delivery of 300 pounds per square inch [psi], the wet steam, or saturated steam, would require 417.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and for the same 300 psi in ammonia the required temperature would be 122.4 degrees Fahrenheit. While steam is the gas of common use historically, and even today in power plants, there are many other gases that can deliver the performance/pressure/torque/power that steam can and at more moderate temperatures. Oftentimes steam has been employed as it is so available and usable and totally Inexpensive, and many other gases are scarce and difficult to put to use. Leakage or exhausting of steam while at higher temperature can be uncomfortable, even dangerous, but it does soon return to be just water, and thus, of no real concern as it is just water.
In this invention as described herein any such gases as selected, including water/steam, would be in a closed system and retained to work again and again and again continuously cycling—as it is a regenerative function with all material/gas, vapor, liquid being recoverable. Wherein some gases selected may have difficult features or characteristics, and even deadly consequence at higher concentrations, all would be retained in the closed system and even minor leakages can today be contained and controlled to be of no consequence or issue. The conversion chamber power device as described herein further provides that the expansion chamber be airtight to remain so as a closed system. This conversion chamber is provided with means to retain gas vapors even at high pressures, and is thereby provided with a depressurizing release means for safety if or when the pressures reach an explosive level of pressure. Further this depressurizing release means will be directed back into the closed system by a return means so that no fluid or gas would be lost or expelled outside of the closed system. Thus, all gases, fluids, or vapors that are used to provide power to this power device will remain within the closed system wherein all such are recovered for reuse in the conversion chamber time and time again.
The power device herein described can be an external chamber for such gases as selected to be activated that can produce the desired pressure to operate a power device. From this external chamber or flash boiler, the pressure would fed into the power device, for example, such as a reciprocating four cylinder engine that would be common in use today to thereby provide its power and torque.
One objective for this invention would be that of a closed system to operate the power device, in that no external oxygen would be needed, and there would be no combustion in the common sense of the word as no continuous fossil fuel use is required, and thus no exhaust pipe/tailpipe to give out noxious fumes. Such a closed system in its operation, requiring no external means or accessing combustible fuels that can thus work submersible under water, or other oxygen deprived conditions such as in an artificial vacuum environment, and outside the earth's atmospheric region.
The conversion chamber would heat its operative gas by such various means as required to produce the vapor pressure to power the device. The type of gas and its temperature would dictate as charted herein to follow the pressure required for power. As no external oxygen is needed, this invention as a closed system becomes superior to many of the current power devices in use. In point of fact many of the gases in their operation can actually produce oxygen if such were required to improve the outside atmosphere.
The primary activation to produce the requisite pressure typically is a heat means that will interact upon the selected gas to produce its vapor that in turn will produce the power/pressure to operate a device, or an engine or turbine system. This means for heat would deliver the amount required for the task at hand and with such heating means even the high temperature/pressure gas can be produced to benefit from its pressure and power and torque function. These various heat means as applied herein would be selected as required for the gas and its activity as needed in this invention. The various heat means can be low in some instances, or high in others, and would be from best use choices for the selected gas. Heat means can be provided as exothermic using solar with storage, chemicals performing battery tasks and storage, indothermic by forced expansion valving of a gas [as in the opposite of a refrigeration cycle], by rotative means developed from the rotative action or mechanical system, as singularly, or in combinations of these, but not limited to these means.
A frequent choice can be electricity that would charge and maintain batteries and capacitors, supplement solar and wind turbine gains, and add functions in electronic means to maintain the heat in a conversion chamber, or to amplify the force of a capacitor, in addition to computer and module functions serving the timing, volume, and delivery of a gas vapor means that powers the device.
An example would be ammonia wherein its gas would be almost volatile at ambient air temperature in a desert condition, and as such, requiring little external heating to provide the pressure to provide the pressure required for a power device. Since this use of ammonia would not be involved with refrigeration as is normal, but for its heating potential, the use of ammonia gas can be considered a good choice for a closed system. Ammonia also can be combined in its functions with water/steam if such can be combined in its functions with water/steam is such would be a desired to expand its pressure range. Such characteristics are available with other choices of liquids into gas for power devices, other than the usual water/steam that require a very high temperature for its heat and pressure potential. Other selected gases that demonstrate work potential, singulary or in combinations, to produce power/pressure with the external operating conversion chamber can all be good choices in that they can be put into use and can give the performance needed in a closed cycle system.
The, selection of a best case liquid into gas can depend on the requirements for pressure and its demands, such the amount of power or force that is required, and its field conditions or location. In this invention these issues and best choices of gases will be considered and dealt with as we proceed. Since one object of this invention is to maintain a closed system regenerative without an inlet of oxygen or air, and without an exhaust pipe such as a tailpipe as required on most of today's fossil fuel powered devices, the production of power can be clean and ‘green’. While the use of power producing heated gases can serve well for this purpose, some gases will serve better that others, and water to steam should not be ignored as it has served well over the centuries to provide power conveniently for many uses. The amount of activity, duration, and the pressure/power required can guide the best selection of any gas, or force system, to serve in this closed cycle system. As such, the term ‘flash boiler’ returns to mind as it identifies such power requirements for the many years in such as steam engines serving farms, transport, and vehicle, or stationary power of electric demands, including the large scale turbine units of both steam and gas.
For the term ‘flash boiler’, the size of such a unit and its ability to produce heat into quick power, would dictate its capability to serve in this invention. It is an external chamber in its operation and operates as an auxiliary system in its basic design, that provides pressure/power to perform its work. The pressure/power to reciprocate a 4 cylinder standard engine seems to be a good mode to incorporate, additionally, the velocity or pressure of this process to power a turbine system can be another model. These models and applications are more to be described in the best embodiments and detailed descriptions of this patent and other patent applications to follow.
In the first embodiment to follow an example of a small heated chamber is described as attached to the
In the second embodiment to follow the issues and data on the applicable gases and steam that can be utilized in the operation of this closed cycle power device. As can be obvious, the price point and external demands as to temperature and heavy grades and weights to be moved can all affect the selection of gases to be used. Again, as it should be obvious, the demands of cold high latitudes and high mountains would require selective gases and mixtures to avoid freezing and deliver requisite power and heavy grades and slopes. Additionally, the requirements in desert regions, lower latitudes, and high ambient temperature areas would require additional selections in the applicable gases to be used. And, additionally, most selected gas choices would have to consider all of these factors, as well as the power needed to operate therein, and have available a satisfactory selection for all requirements.
While descriptions of a normal power device have been given, it can be foreseen in this invention that a movement from the ‘macro, embodiment to ‘micro’, or even to ‘nano’, can be undertaken. Examples of extreme miniaturizing have been seen in steam motors that can turn very high speeds in the thousands of revolutions per minute [rpm] to achieve the necessary inertia and power to sustain itself for a demonstration for limited or brief use. In the world of the nanometer technology the utilization of very small self-powered power deices would develop in science and medical uses in the future.
In this embodiment such uses can be envisioned from the
In the conversion chamber power device since the gas vapor is in a closed system, there will be a recovery means to gather for reuse the expended vapor after use in the power device. Further, this power device will contain a sufficient volume of storage space for gas vapor requisite for operation of the power device. This storage space being by gravity below the operation of the device as a ‘sump’ or engine/motor pan that would facilitate the reversing of a gas vapor into a liquid/fluid accumulating in the lower section that can be pumped upward into the designated supply tank for a continued reuse of these fluids. These various functions are to be claimed fort the reuse and total recovery of the working fluids for this power device.
Thus, in
In modern terms such a small heated chamber as is seen in
Incoming fluids such as the applicable gases and water are timed and metered in amounts desired typically by a solenoid means for just the correct small amounts to flash into power in the small conversion chamber shown attached upon the engine as an injector. Voltage and amperage for the electric means that will heat up and flash the incoming fluids is shown surrounding the conversation chamber. Such demands for power that can be foreseen in the operation of an engine, and the resultant requirement for power can be administered by electronic control means that is a command module [typically a small computer means]. As the power demands of an engine increase, this command module will serve to meet this increased demand by the increase of temperature, and if needed, the volume of fluids that in turn will flash up into vapor in the conversion chamber to meet this higher demand for power. As is seen in
As the requirement for movement of a vehicle can be as low as 250 pounds per square inch [psi] for low speed and on a flat, non-hilly, road to hundreds of ‘psi’ for highway speed, or passing acceleration, the amount of required applicable gas or water to achieve this power is very small, and such fluid is recoverable and reusable in its closed system. Even the heavy demands to pass up a steep hill, the pressure would be 600 to 800 psi in a gas vehicle. In the realm of a new diesel requirements, the pressure is much higher both for its ignition, and for its ‘clean-burn’ technology now at 2,800 psi and attempting to reach 3,500 psi. Many applicable gases are quite comfortable in these pressure ranges, and the superheated steam even up to more than 20,000 psi is possible. There is no real need for these very high pressures in normal power devices as a maximum torque and power can be available at low revolutions per minute [rpm] and the mhigh ranges in gas or diesel engine performance would not be required.
In this example of a single cylinder being operated the means to operate and method should be clear enough, and the possible power to be developed can be understood to be very powerful. In my prototypes this means and method of power has been achieved and demonstrated, and with the additionally important closed cycle operation, leaving a clean and safe power environment easily and exceeding today's engines without fossil fuel and without a tailpipe. Continue your review with the drawings, claims, and appended items that follow in the pages ahead that can complete your understanding of this novel and unique and non-obvious invention.
The issues and data on gases becomes of a strong interest for this invention as selected ones are shown, and many others are not. When many compatible types of gases can be combined, there seems to be a gain in pressure ranges, temperature ranges, and the continued power made available by a selective combination of vapors and gases.
In part, selective vapors and gases are to be listed herein as being singular in use, and in combinations for use, but not being limited to these such vapors and gases, such as:
a. water;
b. steam;
c. nitrogen;
d. hydrogen;
e. carbonic acid;
f. alcohol;
g. ether;
h. chloroform;
i. carbon bisulphide
j. carbon tetrachloride;
k. acetone;
l. sulphur dioxide; &
m. ammonia.
From the liquid state of these aforesaid gases and others, it is the pressure that can be produced or achieved to perform work that is sought in the power device of this invention. It is the pressure that is used to make reciprocating engines rotate, and rotary engines, and machines rotate, and the turbine systems—large or small—spin to produce work and power. The conversion chamber as cited herein as an expansion chamber that provides the vessel that expands a liquid gas into a working vapor or gas that produces the required power or torque. It therefore, seems that the temperature serves to excite the liquid gas or low-end vapor into work, and to perform enough work or pressure. Then the temperature will rise by a heat means to reach the stated objective that in turn will produce a powerful gas that provides the necessary pressure. The control and careful administration of temperature serves to bring the desired power or torque into action to perform work. An objective thusly, is to control the temperature to avoid disastrous or explosive overheating of the gas [controllable by a pressure release mean], and so, the critical temperature needs to be cited and understood.
The critical temperature by definition is called, “that temperature the distinction between the liquid and its vapor vanishes, and above that temperature the vapor or gas cannot be liquefied by pressure alone. It has been proposed that to call a substance which is above the critical temperature a gas, and the one which is below a vapor.
“Experiments on liquids strongly heated in strong glass tubes show that vaporization proceeds gradually as the temperature rises, until a temperature is reached at which the line of demarcation between the liquid and its vapor becomes indistinct. Above that temperature the liquid all disappears, and the tube is full of gas.” [Cecil Peabody, Chapter on Saturated Vapors, by reference cited, page 111]
Mixtures of potential and compatible gases can be advantageous in quick power, a longer power range, steady delivery of torque, reduced overall temperature requirements when such features are desired. Since this invention will operate in a closed system, additives for corrosion and molecule adhesion can be included as well, and the types of combined gases can be in open air toxic or dangerous, and so, all such elements can be tolerated in a closed system.
One mixture to consider in combination can be that of ammonia with water as both are tolerant of each other. It is stated by Goodenough, “The critical temperature of ammonia, which is taken as 273.2 Fahrenheit.” [Goodenough, cited herein, page 221] In Goodenough's Chapter on ‘Thermal Properties of Ammonia’, page 21, in his section on ‘Pressure-Temperature Relation’ is stated, “The ratio of saturation temperatures of two different substances at two different pressures, and T1 denote the absolute temperature of one of the vapors corresponding respectively to the pressures. Let water and ammonia be the two substances and let Tw and Ta denote respectively the absolute temperatures of saturated steam and ammonia at the same pressure.” Goodenough incorporates these two substances—water and ammonia—in the title of his book, and includes the tables [see
Additives, oils, emollients, surfactants, and combinations of such can be incorporated in this closed cycle invention. Certainly, the values of not using up oxygen, or adding noxious gases by the means of an exhaust pipe to the atmosphere, and not using up fossil fuel as a working motive heat source, all tend to show that this invention can be a worthwhile improvement to the known art in producing power.
The timing and precise control for these vapor/gas concepts will be provided by a control means shown separately in the drawings. While basically a computer/module means, the control means would serve for data and information as well as directions for measurements of temperature at selected locations, for pressure as required throughout the system, and for the precise timing of the power device. Additional data can be available as to the reserve level of liquid in its recovery tank, and the flow measurement of recovering liquid by pump means, any detectable leakage, any undue failure, or any incursion by unauthorized parties, and that maintenance fees and service fees are current and paid. In this additional data the control means would have for each power device a time notices prior to being shut down. The control means can be accomplished such activities within its directives and scope, typically through a wireless communication means, or extended through a maintenance contract.
This NPA claims priority benefit of “CONVERSION CHAMBER POWER DEVICE” filed as PPA No. 62/763,489 on Jun. 18, 2018.
