Power plants – Motor operated by expansion and/or contraction of a unit of... – Unit of mass is a gas which is heated or cooled in one of a...
Patent
1997-06-09
1999-03-09
Kamen, Noah P.
Power plants
Motor operated by expansion and/or contraction of a unit of...
Unit of mass is a gas which is heated or cooled in one of a...
60508, 6064114, F01B 2910
Patent
active
058785710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device with a drive of a type having a gas chamber with a plate moveably disposed therein, a heater for heating the gas in the gas chamber, a cooler for cooling the gas in the gas chamber, and a regenerator for intermediate storage of heat of the gas. The present invention further refers to a method for operating a drive.
A device of this type is known from, for example, DE 41 09 289 A1. The pressure variations generated with such a device are mainly used for driving water pumps, mechanical pistons, refrigeration equipment and for generating electricity. Such device has the disadvantage that a crankshaft and, in particular, a heavy flywheel are required for starting the drive and keeping the drive in motion. Starting the device consequently requires large forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to design a device of this type which can be started easily.
This object is attained in accordance with the present invention by an auxiliary drive arranged in such a way as to be capable of moving the plate without driving the machine.
The invention is based on the understanding that on one hand, an auxiliary drive is required when the mechanical link between machine and drive is decoupled, but that, on the other hand, starting the machine becomes significantly easier as a result.
Since the device does not require a flywheel, a crankshaft or any other intermediate mechanical storage device, it can be made very light-weight. During the starting phase, only the plate has to be moved, and since the plate can be made with very little weight, the plate can be moved without having to overcome significant inertial forces.
By decoupling the machine from the auxiliary drive, the device can have various dynamic properties which are determined by the auxiliary drive and which can be varied over a wide range. Furthermore, it is possible to operate the machine with a cycle frequency which is different from the cycle frequency of the drive.
The construction of the entire device requires only a small number of wear-resistant components, and the entire device can be sealed against the environment.
In a preferred embodiment, the plate is permeable to gas and the regenerator is connected to the plate. This results in a very compact construction wherein the regenerator is located and protected inside the gas chamber.
For reducing, in this embodiment, the weight of the plate connected to the regenerator, it is advantageous if the cooler is located on a side opposite from the plate and is provided with a profile capable of being meshed with a corresponding profile of the plate. The meshing profiles provide good heat conduction from the cooler to the plate, since the air turbulence generated in the region of the profile improves the heat transfer.
In an alternate embodiment, the plate is essentially impervious to air and is preferably light-weight and heat-insulating, and the gas chamber has one opening on each side of the plate, wherein the opening is connected to the regenerator. Decoupling of the regenerator from the plate results in an additional weight reduction, thereby further reducing the force which has to be supplied by the auxiliary drive. Preferably, the plate is sealed with respect to the gas chamber when the plate is guided therein. It is, however, advantageous if the pressure loss in the regenerator is so small that the loss in the gap between the plate and the wall of the gas chamber can be neglected, thereby obviating the need for sealing means.
It is advantageous, if the cooler has a water surface disposed inside the gas chamber. This simplifies the construction of the device and provides very efficient cooling. The water surface can be a free water surface, but may also be covered by a membrane.
In order to keep the losses during heat transfer from the cooler to the plate as small as possible, it is advantageous if at least a portion of the cooler is connected to the plate.
In this case, the invention advantageously provides that the
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Kleinwachter Hans
Kleinwachter Jurgen
Rochelt Gunther
Bomin Solar Holding AG
Feiereisen Henry M.
Kamen Noah P.
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