Heat energy conversion apparatus

Abstract

A heat energy conversion apparatus having a heat exchanger into which a heating fluid is introduced and an inlet and an outlet for a gaseous second fluid that is to be heated and pressurized by heat transfer from the heating fluid. The heat exchanger outlet is connected to the inlet of a gas motor, and the heat exchanger inlet is connected to the outlet of a gas pump driven by the gas motor. The gas motor removes the heated gaseous second fluid from the heat exchanger at a higher volumetric flow rate than the pump delivers the gaseous second fluid in its unheated state into the heat exchanger.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An energy transfer apparatus comprising: 
 a heat exchanger having an inlet for a heating fluid, said heat exchanger also providing a pathway for a gaseous second fluid in heat exchange relationship with said heating fluid having opposite ends, with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposite end;    a gas pump having an inlet for said gaseous second fluid and an outlet connected to said inlet of said second pathway in said heat exchanger for delivering said gaseous second fluid thereto;    and a gas motor having an inlet connected to said outlet of said second pathway in the heat exchanger to be driven by said gaseous second fluid after it has been heated and pressurized by heat transfer from said heating fluid in said heat exchanger, said motor being coupled to said pump to drive the latter, said motor being operative to pass the heated gaseous second fluid from the outlet of said pathway in the heat exchanger at a higher volumetric flow rate than said pump delivers said gaseous second fluid to the inlet of said pathway in the heat exchanger.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said gaseous second fluid is ambient air.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to claim to  claim 1  wherein said pump and said motor are the same size, and said motor is coupled to said pump through a mechanical drive providing the motor a mechanical advantage over the pump.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said mechanical drive comprises a pulley of one diameter on said motor, a pulley of a larger diameter on said pump, and a flexible endless belt driving said pump pulley from said motor pulley.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said mechanical drive comprises gearing acting between said motor and said pump.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said motor is larger than said pump, and further comprising a rotary shaft coupling said motor directly to said pump so that the larger size of said motor provides said higher volumetric flow rate.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to claim to  claim 2  wherein said pump and said motor are the same size, and said motor is coupled to said pump through a mechanical drive providing the motor a mechanical advantage over the pump.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said mechanical drive comprises a pulley of one diameter on said motor, a pulley of a larger diameter on said pump, and a flexible endless belt driving said pump pulley from said motor pulley.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said mechanical drive comprises gearing acting between said motor and said pump.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said motor is larger than said pump, and further comprising a rotary shaft coupling said motor directly to said pump so that the larger size of said motor provides said higher volumetric flow rate.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second gaseous fluid is air, said pump has an ambient air inlet, and said motor has an outlet open to the surrounding air.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising a conduit connecting the outlet of said motor to the inlet of said pump, and means for cooling said second gaseous second fluid in said conduit.