Hot air engine for heat pump - has drive through water displaced by expansion of heated air

摘要

The engine has three cylindrical columns (1,6,16) which contain water with air above it. The water and air are separated by piston type floats (2,7). The lower water sections are connected by control valves (12,13,15) and a pump (14). Heat is added from an external source (4) to the air above the first column (1). It expands through a regenerative heat exchanger (5) and displaces the water which rises in the third column (16) to give a useful output. The air is cooled after expansion and the pump (14) and valves (12,13) are operated to produce a water flow which compresses the air and forces it back through the heat exchanger (5).