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Title: Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy

Abstract

A device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy includes a reservoir of a hot fluid and a rotor assembly mounted thereabove so a portion of it dips into the hot fluid. The rotor assembly may include a shaft having four spokes extending radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, a floating ring and four flexible elements composed of a thermal memory material having a critical temperature between the temperature of the hot fluid and that of the ambient atmosphere extending between the ends of the spokes and the floating ring. Preferably, the flexible elements are attached to the floating ring through curved leaf springs. Energetic shape recovery of the flexible elements in the hot fluid causes the rotor assembly to rotate.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5028877
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31-109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; NITINOL HEAT ENGINES; DESIGN; WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION; DIAGRAMS; OPERATION; ROTATION; SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT; WASTE HEAT; ENERGY; ENERGY SOURCES; ENGINES; HEAT; HEAT ENGINES; MOTION; WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION; WASTES; 425007* - Engineering- Power Cycles- Other- (1980-); 200105 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Heat Utilization

Citation Formats

Golestaneh, A A. Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy. United States: N. p., 1980. Web.
Golestaneh, A A. Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy. United States.
Golestaneh, A A. Mon . "Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy". United States.
@article{osti_5028877,
title = {Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy},
author = {Golestaneh, A A},
abstractNote = {A device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy includes a reservoir of a hot fluid and a rotor assembly mounted thereabove so a portion of it dips into the hot fluid. The rotor assembly may include a shaft having four spokes extending radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, a floating ring and four flexible elements composed of a thermal memory material having a critical temperature between the temperature of the hot fluid and that of the ambient atmosphere extending between the ends of the spokes and the floating ring. Preferably, the flexible elements are attached to the floating ring through curved leaf springs. Energetic shape recovery of the flexible elements in the hot fluid causes the rotor assembly to rotate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1980},
month = {1}
}

Patent:
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