| 摘要 |
<p>A closed Rankine cycle steam engine which is used to propel underwater vehicles without exhausting combustion products to the surrounding water. A solid metallic fuel (14) comprising lithium and aluminium reacts in the first chamber (12) with water to produce hydrogen which is subsequently reacted in a second chamber (16) with oxygen to produce superheated steam. Heat produced in the first chamber (12) is used to raise steam in a heat exchanger (30) which is used to quench partially the superheated steam before this is used to drive a turbine (20). The amount of water produced in the second chamber (16) is equal to the amount of water consumed in the first chamber (12) Consequently, no excess water is produced.</p> |
