Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine

Patent · Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6548562

Hindes, C J

This patent describes a working gas control system for use in connection with a hot gas engine including a power controller for admitting the working gas to the engine to increase engine power and for releasing working gas from the engine to decrease engine power. A compressor compresses the working gas released from the engine. Storage vessels are included for storing the working gas received from the compressor and supplying the gas through the power controller to the engine. Each vessel stores the working gas at a different pressure. A valve means selectively couples the vessels to the controller and selectively couples the vessels to the compressor so that the selected vessel can supply the working gas to the engine or receive the gas from the compressor. Respective gas lines connect the valve means with the compressor and the power controller. The improvement described here is wherein the vessels include a high pressure vessel and a low pressure vessel. The valve means includes a low-pressure solenoid two-position valve on the line to the low pressure vessel, a first portion permitting flow of the gas in either direction, a second position permitting flow only in the direction towards the engine; and a high-pressure solenoid two-position valve on the line to the high-pressure vessel. One position permits flow of the gas in either direction; the other position permits flow only in the direction towards the high-pressure vessel.

• Assignee: Mechanical Technology Inc., Latham, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4655036
• OSTI ID: 6548562
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 7 Mar 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
CONTROL SYSTEMS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TANKS
GAS COMPRESSORS
GAS FLOW
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
SOLENOIDS
VALVES
COMPRESSORS
CONTAINERS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
HEAT ENGINES
330100* - Internal Combustion Engines