Harmonic engine
Abstract
An engine based on a reciprocating piston engine that extracts work from pressurized working fluid. The engine includes a harmonic oscillator inlet valve capable of oscillating at a resonant frequency for controlling the flow of working fluid into of the engine. In particular, the inlet valve includes an inlet valve head and a spring arranged together as a harmonic oscillator so that the inlet valve head is moveable from an unbiased equilibrium position to a biased closed position occluding an inlet. Upon releasing the inlet valve the inlet valve head undergoes a single oscillation past the equilibrium positio to a maximum open position and returns to a biased return position close to the closed position to choke the flow and produce a pressure drop across the inlet valve causing the inlet valve to close. Protrusions carried either by the inlet valve head or piston head are used to bump open the inlet valve from the closed position and initiate the single oscillation of the inlet valve head, and protrusions carried either by the outlet valve head or piston head are used to close the outlet valve ahead of the bump opening of the inlet valve.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1150738
- Patent Number(s):
- 8807012
- Application Number:
- 13/221,783
- 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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING
Citation Formats
Bennett, Charles L., Sewall, Noel, and Boroa, Carl. Harmonic engine. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web.
Bennett, Charles L., Sewall, Noel, & Boroa, Carl. Harmonic engine. United States.
Bennett, Charles L., Sewall, Noel, and Boroa, Carl. Tue .
"Harmonic engine". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1150738.
@article{osti_1150738,
title = {Harmonic engine},
author = {Bennett, Charles L. and Sewall, Noel and Boroa, Carl},
abstractNote = {An engine based on a reciprocating piston engine that extracts work from pressurized working fluid. The engine includes a harmonic oscillator inlet valve capable of oscillating at a resonant frequency for controlling the flow of working fluid into of the engine. In particular, the inlet valve includes an inlet valve head and a spring arranged together as a harmonic oscillator so that the inlet valve head is moveable from an unbiased equilibrium position to a biased closed position occluding an inlet. Upon releasing the inlet valve the inlet valve head undergoes a single oscillation past the equilibrium positio to a maximum open position and returns to a biased return position close to the closed position to choke the flow and produce a pressure drop across the inlet valve causing the inlet valve to close. Protrusions carried either by the inlet valve head or piston head are used to bump open the inlet valve from the closed position and initiate the single oscillation of the inlet valve head, and protrusions carried either by the outlet valve head or piston head are used to close the outlet valve ahead of the bump opening of the inlet valve.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
High efficiency steam engine, steam expander and improved valves therefor
patent, April 2016
- Harmon, Sr., James V.; Peoples, Jerry A.
- US Patent Document 9,316,130