Solar-powered rankine cycle pumping engine

Patent · Tue Jan 26 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5280267

Spacer, J P

A heat engine is described comprising: (a) a source of heating fluid; (b) a two phase working fluid; (c) a first heat exchanger for heating the working fluid with energy from the heating fluid; (d) first double acting cylinder means comprising opposing ends, and a piston which reciprocates within the cylinder means between the ends, the piston being affixed to a piston rod which extends through at least one of the ends; (e) means for doing work operably connected to the piston rod; (f) means connected to the first heat exchanger for passing only working fluid above predetermined pressure and temperature; (g) a pair of three-way valves positioned between the first cylinder means and the working fluid passing means and between the first cylinder means and a second heat exchanger; (h) condenser means; (i) double acting cylinder circulating pump means for pumping the working fluid through a working loop, and (j) means for operating the three-way valves to control working fluid entry into and exit from the first double acting cylinder means to cause the heat engine to do work.

• Assignee: NOV; EDB-88-078535; NOV-88-003054
• Patent Number(s): US 4720978
• OSTI ID: 5280267
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330202* -- External Combustion Engines-- Rankine Cycle
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CYLINDERS
DESIGN
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
OPERATION
PISTONS
POWER PLANTS
PUMPING
RANKINE CYCLE ENGINES
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
VALVES