Power plants – Motive fluid energized by externally applied heat – Including heat – steam – or compressed gas storage means
Patent
1996-12-19
1999-02-09
Kamen, Noah P.
Power plants
Motive fluid energized by externally applied heat
Including heat, steam, or compressed gas storage means
165902, 165DIG539, F01K 100
Patent
active
058679898
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steam buffer operating in a steam engine power plant having a closed steam system and is designed to alternately accumulate and emit steam under high pressure and temperature.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a steam engine power plant there is a significant need for a buffer, because at any particular time the amount of steam normally generated and the amount of steam required by the plant do not always correspond to one another. Such storage in a buffer has typically been carried out in a steam accumulator. The steam accumulator consists of a pressure vessel, which is partly filled with water that is heated by a boiler or a steam generator capable of operating at a varying pace. When steam is supplied to the steam engine from the steam accumulator, the pressure tends to decrease. This pressure drop will subsequently cause a spontaneous generation of new steam from the heated water. By using this steam accumulator, large power outputs can be obtained, and the power outputs can be obtained independent of an irregular burning in the steam generator. However, this type of steam-accumulator has several drawbacks because it is heavy and bulky and because the large amount of water and steam at high temperature constitutes a great hazard in the event of fractures in the pressure vessel casing.
In a steam accumulator energy is stored in the pressurized water. There is also the consideration of storing the heat energy in other materials. Thus, it has long been desirable to use an energy storing material which can change between a solid and liquid phase for latent heat. However, when utilizing latent heat there can be problems at phase changes, such as contraction, tensions and chemical exhaustion, which gives rise to mechanical, chemical, heat transfer and functional problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A steam buffer shall accomplish a levelling between power input in the shape of the steam arriving from the steam generator and the power output to the steam engine. This will make it possible to use intermittent and variable energy sources like solar energy in stationary plants and above all will make it possible to obtain considerably higher peak power outputs for short periods than the power which the steam generator is capable of alone. This will also involve the possibility of permitting the burner in the steam generator to operate at a low and constant power even when the steam engine power output is strongly fluctuating.
In a steam engine for vehicular applications with large power output variations, an effective steam buffer makes it possible to design the steam generator at a level for the highest continuous power output required, which is considerably lower than the highest momentary power output that is necessary for only short periods, as for example at acceleration. Further, the steam buffer can also constitute a source of energy storage, which makes it possible to drive the vehicle a certain distance without any exhaust gases, that is no firing of a combustion engine.
An object of the present invention is to provide a steam buffer which is small and light and provides a high power density and energy density, so far not attained. In addition, the buffer provides such a design that it will provide increased safety from accidents when it is used together with steam engines in vehicle applications.
This is obtained by the present invention in that the steam buffer is equipped with a high temperature connection for steam and a low temperature connection for feed water. A large number of elongated flow channels with a hydraulic diameter smaller than about 0.5 mm for the steam and the feed water are between the two connections. These channels are surrounded by pressure resistance walls of a material having a melting point above the highest incident temperature in the buffer and constitutes the primary heat storage substance for the buffer.
In this way, the invention utilizes sensible heat, or temperature changes in
REFERENCES:
patent: 4192144 (1980-03-01), Pierce
Kamen Noah P.
Ranotor Utvecklings AB
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