Liquid ring heat engine

摘要

A method and at least two devices demonstrate improvements to energy extraction from a compressible working fluid in a liquid ring heat engine, which has a rotor mounted in a case. A space in the case is occupied by a liquid that establishes a liquid ring piston for the rotor. The rotor defines at least a first and a second operating zone. In the first zone, the working fluid is expanded against the liquid and, in the second zone, the working fluid is re-compressed. Between the two zones, the working fluid is cooled. In one device, the cooling step occurs on the rotor in a third zone. In another device, the cooling occurs outside of the case.

主权项

1. A liquid ring heat engine for extracting energy from a working fluid, comprising:
a cylindrical case; a rotor, located inside the cylindrical case, the rotor defining, on a face thereof, a first zone where the working fluid is expanded, a second zone where the working fluid is compressed, and a third zone, positioned in a rotational sense between the first and second zones, said third zone comprising a cooler for cooling the working fluid, operatively arranged in the third zone; a plurality of vanes, in spaced-apart relationship, on at least a portion of the rotor face; a shaft, positioned eccentric to an axis of symmetry of the cylindrical case, the shaft and rotor coupled for rotation relative to the cylindrical case; a space, internal to the cylindrical case, for receiving an amount of liquid that effects a piston ring around the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the cylindrical case; an inlet for the working fluid, open to the first zone through the shaft; a conduit in the shaft to provide a cooling liquid to the cooler; an outlet for the working fluid, open to the second zone through the shaft; and a flange, formed inside the cylindrical casing, the flange and the rotor coacting to effectively divide the internal space of the cylindrical case into an expander portion and a compressor portion, wherein energy to drive the liquid ring heat engine is extracted from the working fluid.