Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine
Abstract
A two-tank working gas supply and pump-down system is coupled to a hot gas engine, such as a Stirling engine. The system has a power control valve for admitting the working gas to the engine when increased power is needed, and for releasing the working gas from the engine when engine power is to be decreased. A compressor pumps the working gas that is released from the engine. Two storage vessels or tanks are provided, one for storing the working gas at a modest pressure (i.e., half maximum pressure), and another for storing the working gas at a higher pressure (i.e., about full engine pressure). Solenoid valves are associated with the gas line to each of the storage vessels, and are selectively actuated to couple the vessels one at a time to the compressor during pumpdown to fill the high-pressure vessel with working gas at high pressure and then to fill the low-pressure vessel with the gas at low pressure. When more power is needed, the solenoid valves first supply the low-pressure gas from the low-pressure vessel to the engine and then supply the high-pressure gas from the high-pressure vessel. The solenoid valves each act as a check-valve when unactuated,more »
- Inventors:
-
- Troy, NY
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866205
- Patent Number(s):
- 4655036
- Assignee:
- Mechanical Technology Incorporated (Latham, NY)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02G - HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- DEN3-32
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- two-tank; gas; storage; heat; engine; supply; pump-down; coupled; hot; stirling; power; control; valve; admitting; increased; releasing; decreased; compressor; pumps; released; vessels; tanks; provided; storing; modest; pressure; half; maximum; solenoid; valves; associated; line; selectively; actuated; couple; time; pumpdown; fill; high-pressure; vessel; low-pressure; check-valve; unactuated; low-pressure gas; high-pressure gas; storage vessels; gas supply; power control; heat engine; pressure gas; pressure vessel; hot gas; stirling engine; control valve; maximum pressure; gas engine; gas storage; selectively actuated; increased power; engine power; high-pressure vessel; gas line; storage vessel; solenoid valve; /60/
Citation Formats
Hindes, Clyde J. Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Hindes, Clyde J. Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine. United States.
Hindes, Clyde J. Thu .
"Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866205.
@article{osti_866205,
title = {Two-tank working gas storage system for heat engine},
author = {Hindes, Clyde J},
abstractNote = {A two-tank working gas supply and pump-down system is coupled to a hot gas engine, such as a Stirling engine. The system has a power control valve for admitting the working gas to the engine when increased power is needed, and for releasing the working gas from the engine when engine power is to be decreased. A compressor pumps the working gas that is released from the engine. Two storage vessels or tanks are provided, one for storing the working gas at a modest pressure (i.e., half maximum pressure), and another for storing the working gas at a higher pressure (i.e., about full engine pressure). Solenoid valves are associated with the gas line to each of the storage vessels, and are selectively actuated to couple the vessels one at a time to the compressor during pumpdown to fill the high-pressure vessel with working gas at high pressure and then to fill the low-pressure vessel with the gas at low pressure. When more power is needed, the solenoid valves first supply the low-pressure gas from the low-pressure vessel to the engine and then supply the high-pressure gas from the high-pressure vessel. The solenoid valves each act as a check-valve when unactuated, and as an open valve when actuated.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}