External combustion reciprocating heat engine

摘要

Energy is supplied to a working end space P of the engine by direct injection into the cylinder 5 of liquid water at a high temperature and pressure through injector 51. The water acts as a heat-transfer medium. Some of the liquid water spontaneously vaporizes on injection, driving the piston. Liquid water is exhausted from the cylinder to a container T and recycled to an external heat exchanger H for reheating by burner B prior to reinjection. The engine is capable of a thermal efficiency greater than that of the Rankine cycle.