Solar-powered rankine cycle pumping engine

Patent · Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6487037

Spacer, J P

This patent describes a heat engine 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 extend through one of the ends; (e) a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each having a free piston between a working fluid containing end and a lubricating fluid containing end. The lubricating fluid containing end of each of the hydraulic cylinders being connected to a separate one of the opposing ends of the first cylinder means, the lubricating fluid containing ends and the first cylinder means being filled with and sharing a common lubricating fluid; (f) means for doing work operably connected to the piston rod; (g) means connected to the first exchanger for passing only working fluid above a predetermined pressure and temperature; (h) a pair of three-way valves positioned between the hydraulic cylinders and the working fluid passing means, and between the hydraulic cylinders and a second heat exchanger, each of the valves connecting one of the working fluid ends of one of the hydraulic cylinders to the fluid passing means for conducting pressurized working fluid form the first heat exchanger to the hydraulic cylinder end, and to the second heat exchanger for exhausting the working fluid from the hydraulic cylinder end through the second heat exchanger.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-89-039273; EDB-89-032787
• Patent Number(s): US 4765144
• OSTI ID: 6487037
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 15 Dec 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
RANKINE CYCLE ENGINES
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR HEAT ENGINES
RANKINE CYCLE
CYLINDERS
DESIGN
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
LUBRICATION
OPERATION
PUMPING
ENGINES
FLUIDS
HEAT ENGINES
RADIATIONS
STELLAR RADIATION
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
330202* - External Combustion Engines- Rankine Cycle
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems