High efficiency energy conversion

摘要

A high efficiency energy conversion system disclosed herein incorporates a piston assembly including a sealed cylinder for storing a working fluid and an energy conversion element attached to the piston assembly. A kinematic mechanism such as a cam lobe or a scotch yoke may be used as the energy conversion element. In one implementation, the kinematic mechanism may be configured to provide rapid piston expansion in a manner so as not to allow the expanding working fluid inside the piston to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium. In an alternate implementation, the kinematic mechanism is further adapted to generate a compression stroke in a manner to provide the working fluid inside the piston to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium conditions throughout the compression stroke.

主权项

1. An energy conversion system, comprising:
a piston assembly including a variable volume substantially sealed cylinder; a working fluid stored within the substantially sealed cylinder; and a kinematic mechanism attached to the piston assembly and configured to provide piston expansion at a rate that outpaces a rate of condensation of the working fluid and in a manner sufficient to create one or more meta-stable thermodynamic states of the working fluid during an expansion stroke of a power cycle for the energy conversion system.