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Title: Harmonic engine

Abstract

A high efficiency harmonic engine based on a resonantly reciprocating piston expander that extracts work from heat and pressurizes working fluid in a reciprocating piston compressor. The engine preferably includes harmonic oscillator valves capable of oscillating at a resonant frequency for controlling the flow of working fluid into and out of the expander, and also preferably includes a shunt line connecting an expansion chamber of the expander to a buffer chamber of the expander for minimizing pressure variations in the fluidic circuit of the engine. The engine is especially designed to operate with very high temperature input to the expander and very low temperature input to the compressor, to produce very high thermal conversion efficiency.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Livermore, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1001787
Patent Number(s):
7603858
Application Number:
11/801,987
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01L - CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02G - HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Bennett, Charles L. Harmonic engine. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Bennett, Charles L. Harmonic engine. United States.
Bennett, Charles L. Tue . "Harmonic engine". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1001787.
@article{osti_1001787,
title = {Harmonic engine},
author = {Bennett, Charles L},
abstractNote = {A high efficiency harmonic engine based on a resonantly reciprocating piston expander that extracts work from heat and pressurizes working fluid in a reciprocating piston compressor. The engine preferably includes harmonic oscillator valves capable of oscillating at a resonant frequency for controlling the flow of working fluid into and out of the expander, and also preferably includes a shunt line connecting an expansion chamber of the expander to a buffer chamber of the expander for minimizing pressure variations in the fluidic circuit of the engine. The engine is especially designed to operate with very high temperature input to the expander and very low temperature input to the compressor, to produce very high thermal conversion efficiency.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2009},
month = {10}
}