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The present invention pertains generally to steam engines, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a reciprocating steam engine.
Steam engines are well known in the art. For these engines a burner heats a boiler containing water. The water is evaporated into water vapor and thence into steam. The steam is routed to an engine where the steam expands thereby producing mechanical energy. In a reciprocating steam engine the steam drives a piston which is connected to a drive shaft in a manner similar to an internal combustion engine. The expanded steam is exhausted from the engine, condensed into water and routed back to the boiler for reuse. It is known in the art that the power and efficiency of a steam engine increases as the temperature of the engine increases.
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a steam engine. The method and apparatus employ the flue gas (including hot gases and other combustion products) from the boiler/burner (normally wasted) to heat the steam engine. The flue gas is routed via a conduit from the boiler to the steam engine, where it flows around and heats the cylinders of the steam engine. A jacket of insulation may be disposed around the steam engine to retain heat and conserve energy.
In accordance with an embodiment, a steam engine receives steam from a boiler which is heated by a burner which produces flue gas. The steam engine includes a body which has a plurality of passages which are shaped and dimensioned to receive and pass the flue gas, so that the flue gas heats the body.
In accordance with another embodiment, the body has a first side and an opposite second side. The flue gas passes through the plurality of passages from the first side of the body to the second side of the body.
In accordance with another embodiment, a baffle is disposed between a flue gas intake portal and the body. The flue gas passes through the baffle before being received and passed by the plurality of passages.
In accordance with another embodiment, the baffle includes a rectangular sheet which has a plurality of apertures for passing the flue gas.
In accordance with another embodiment, insulation is disposed around the body to retain the heat provided by the flue gas.
In accordance with another embodiment, the body includes a plurality of cylinders. The plurality of passages are arranged so that the flue gas is passed around the plurality of cylinders.
In accordance with another embodiment, the plurality of cylinders are disposed in parallel side-by-side spaced apart relationship. The plurality of passages include a slot disposed between adjacent said cylinders, the slot being parallel to the cylinders.
In accordance with another embodiment, the body includes a crankcase. A pressure relief valve is connected to the crankcase. The pressure relief valve opens when pressure in the crankcase exceeds a predetermined pressure.
In accordance with another embodiment, the steam engine has a flue gas exhaust portal. An exhauster is connected to the flue gas exhaust portal, the exhauster pulls the flue gas from the steam engine.
In accordance with another embodiment, the steam engine is part of a steam engine system, wherein the flue gas exists the boiler through a flue gas exhaust portal. The steam engine has a flue gas intake portal. A conduit is connected between the flue gas exhaust portal and the flue gas intake portal.
Other embodiments, in addition to the embodiments enumerated above, will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the method and apparatus.
Referring initially to
Now referring to
Steam engine 22 further includes a baffle 42 which is disposed between flue gas intake portal 25 and body 24. The flue gas passes through baffle 42 before being received and passed by the plurality of passages 38. The purpose of baffle 42 is to evenly distribute the flue gas to all of the cylinders 34. In the shown embodiment, baffle 42 includes a rectangular sheet 44 which has a plurality of apertures 46 for passing the flue gas (refer also to
Steam engine 22 further includes insulation 50 which is disposed around body 24 to retain the heat provided by the flue gas. In the shown embodiment insulation comprises a jacket which surrounds steam engine 22, the jacket being fabricated from insulation having a protective metal exterior.
Referring specifically to
In terms of use, a method for increasing the efficiency of a steam engine 22 includes: (refer to
(a) providing a boiler 502 which produces steam;
(b) providing a burner 506 which produces hot gas which heats boiler 502, the hot gas exiting boiler 502 as flue gas through a flue gas exhaust portal 508;
(c) providing a steam engine 22 having a body 24 and a flue gas intake portal 25;
(d) providing a conduit 28 connected between flue gas exhaust portal 508 and flue gas intake portal 25; and,
(e) passing flue gas through conduit 28 so that the flue gas is directed toward and heats body 24 of steam engine 22.
The method further including:
in (c), steam engine 22 including a baffle 42 which is disposed between flue gas intake portal 25 and body 24; and,
in (e), the flue gas passing through baffle 42 before heating body 24.
The method further including:
in (c), baffle 42 including a rectangular sheet 44 having a plurality of apertures 46 for passing the flue gas in (e).
The method further including:
in (c), body 24 having a plurality of passages 38 which are shaped and dimensioned to receive and pass the flue gas; and,
in (e), the plurality of passages 38 receiving and passing the flue gas.
The method further including:
in (c), body 24 having a first side and an opposite second side; and,
in (e), the flue gas passing through the plurality of passages 38 from the first side of body 24 to the second side of body 34.
The method further including:
in (c), body 24 including a plurality of cylinders 34; and,
in (c), the plurality of passages 38 arranged so that in (e) the flue gas is passed around the plurality of cylinders 34.
The method further including:
in (c), the plurality of cylinders 34 disposed in parallel side-by-side spaced apart relationship; and,
in (c), in the plurality of passages including a slot disposed between adjacent cylinders 34, the slot being parallel to cylinders 34.
The method further including:
in (c), providing insulation disposed around body 34 to retain the heat provided by the flue gas in (e).
The method further including:
in (c), body 34 including a crankcase 52;
in (c), providing a pressure relief valve 54 connected to crankcase 52; and,
pressure relief valve 54 opening when pressure in crankcase 52 exceeds a predetermined pressure.
The method further including:
in (c), steam engine 22 having a flue gas exhaust portal 30;
an exhauster 32 connected to flue gas exhaust portal 30; and,
in (e), exhauster 32 pulling flue gas from steam engine 22.
The embodiments of the method and apparatus described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, combinations, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims. Further, nothing in the above-provided discussions of the method and apparatus should be construed as limiting the invention to a particular embodiment or combination of embodiments. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3991574 | Frazier | Nov 1976 | A |
4395885 | Cozby | Aug 1983 | A |
7650933 | Gilbert et al. | Jan 2010 | B2 |