| 摘要 |
A thermodynamic system and method of operating such a system, to absorb thermal energy originating externally of the system and power an engine. The system comprises a heat absorber (30) arranged to absorb external thermal energy by heating cooler working fluid passed through the absorber, a compressor (12) arranged to compress gaseous working fluid supplied thereto from the heat absorber. A heat exchanger (16) has first (17) and second (18) thermally-linked fluid paths, the compressor being connected to the first fluid path (17) to transfer heat from the compressed working fluid to cooler working fluid in the second fluid path (18). First (27) and second expansion valves (28) are arranged to expand and so cool respective portions of cooled working fluid from the first fluid path (17) and supply the expanded and further cooled portions to the heat absorber and to the second fluid path (18) of the heat exchanger, to absorb heat from the first fluid path (17). A vapour-powered engine (11) is drivingly connected to the compressor, fluid from the downstream end (23) of the second fluid path (18) of the heat exchanger 16 being supplied directly or indirectly to the engine (11) whereby the supplied fluid effects the operation thereof. Fluid from the downstream end of the heat absorber (30) is supplied either directly or indirectly to the engine (11) or directly or indirectly to the compressor (12). |
