Intrinsically irreversible heat engine

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865290

Wheatley, John C ^[1]; Swift, Gregory W ^[1]; Migliori, Albert ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos, NM
2. Santa Fe, NM

A class of heat engines based on an intrinsically irreversible heat transfer process is disclosed. In a typical embodiment the engine comprises a compressible fluid that is cyclically compressed and expanded while at the same time being driven in reciprocal motion by a positive displacement drive means. A second thermodynamic medium is maintained in imperfect thermal contact with the fluid and bears a broken thermodynamic symmetry with respect to the fluid. the second thermodynamic medium is a structure adapted to have a low fluid flow impedance with respect to the compressible fluid, and which is further adapted to be in only moderate thermal contact with the fluid. In operation, thermal energy is pumped along the second medium due to a phase lag between the cyclical heating and cooling of the fluid and the resulting heat conduction between the fluid and the medium. In a preferred embodiment the engine comprises an acoustical drive and a housing containing a gas which is driven at a resonant frequency so as to be maintained in a standing wave. Operation of the engine at acoustic frequencies improves the power density and coefficient of performance. The second thermodynamic medium can be coupled to suitable heat exchangers to utilize the engine as a simple refrigeration device having no mechanical moving parts. Alternatively, the engine is reversible in function so as to be utilizable as a prime mover by coupling it to suitable sources and sinks of heat.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4489553
• OSTI ID: 865290
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

intrinsically
irreversible
heat
engine
engines
based
transfer
process
disclosed
typical
embodiment
comprises
compressible
fluid
cyclically
compressed
expanded
time
driven
reciprocal
motion
positive
displacement
drive
means
thermodynamic
medium
maintained
imperfect
thermal
contact
bears
broken
symmetry
respect
structure
adapted
flow
impedance
moderate
operation
energy
pumped
due
phase
lag
cyclical
heating
cooling
resulting
conduction
preferred
acoustical
housing
containing
gas
resonant
frequency
standing
wave
acoustic
frequencies
improves
power
density
coefficient
performance
coupled
suitable
exchangers
utilize
simple
refrigeration
device
mechanical
moving
alternatively
reversible
function
utilizable
prime
mover
coupling
sources
sinks
compressible fluid
heat engines
positive displacement
heat conduction
engine comprises
prime mover
heat engine
resonant frequency
heat exchange
heat exchanger
heat transfer
preferred embodiment
thermal energy
fluid flow
heat exchangers
standing wave
power density
thermal contact
thermodynamic medium
housing containing
drive means
resulting heat
suitable heat
suitable source
intrinsically irreversible
phase lag
transfer process
reversible heat
typical embodiment
acoustical drive
irreversible heat
/60/62/