Installation and method for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy

Abstract

An installation and method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. The installation includes at least two closed containers, a converter for the conversion of flow energy into mechanical energy, a switching system as well as a supply line, a discharge line and a heat supply system. Each time, the converter is supplied with a fluid under high pressure and temperature from one container and the temperature-reduced fluid is then collected in another container. As soon as the other container is filled and the first container becomes empty, these containers are exchanged or replaced by other containers.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . Installation for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy, whereby the installation comprises:
 at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;   a converter for converting flow energy into mechanical energy;   a switching system;   a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;   a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;   a heat supply system;   whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching system;   whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is connected to the converter for supplying the converter with the fluid;   whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the converter;   whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is connected to the switching system for supplying the switching system with the fluid;   whereby the heat supply system is made connectable via the switching system with each of the containers for heating the fluid in said containers;   whereby each container is made connectable via the switching system with the supply line for the supply of fluid to the converter and with the discharge line for the receipt of the fluid discharged from the converter;   whereby the switching system is switchable between at least two switching positions;   whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when switching from one switching position to another, it repeatedly connects other containers than those in the previous switching position to the supply line or discharge line;   whereby, on the one hand, the switching system is further arranged in order to connect, in each switching position, at least one of the containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said container and, on the other hand, the supply line for the supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time, another of those containers is disengaged from the heat supply system and connected to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from the converter,   whereby each container ( 9 ,  11 ) acts cooperatively with a heater ( 102 ) which is present in a space ( 103 ) which is isolated in relation to at least the most substantial part of the internal volume of the respective container, through which said heaters ( 102 ) each respective container ( 9 ,  11 ) is connected with the switching system.   
     
     
         24 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby the supply line is provided with an evaporator for evaporating the liquid-state fluid; 
     
     
         25 . Installation according to  claim 24 , whereby the evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger which is connected to the heat supply system. 
     
     
         26 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby the discharge line is provided with a cooler for cooling the fluid flowing through the discharge line. 
     
     
         27 . Installation according to  claim 26 , whereby the cooler is arranged in order to supply the heat-exchanger with the cooling medium, the temperature of which is determined by the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         28 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby the converter comprises a turbine, in particular a liquid turbine. 
     
     
         29 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby the converter comprises a flywheel. 
     
     
         30 . Installation according  claim 23 , whereby each heater ( 102 ) is positioned exterior to the container ( 9 ,  11 ) and is connected to the container via connection lines ( 104 ,  105 ). 
     
     
         31 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby each container ( 9 ,  11 ) acts cooperatively with a cooler ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         32 . Installation according to  claim 23 , whereby a heat pump is provided which is connected to the heat supply system and the discharge line for extracting heat from the discharge line and for the supply of the heat extracted from the discharge line to the heat supply system. 
     
     
         33 . Assembly comprising an installation according to  claim 23 , including an electricity generator, whereby the generator is coupled to the converter for generating electricity from the mechanical energy generated from the converter. 
     
     
         34 . Method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy,
 whereby the method is performed with the use of at least two containers,   whereby the method comprises the following steps:   a) heating a liquid-containing fluid present in a first mentioned container, by means of a medium with a high temperature, in such a manner that a portion of the liquid is converted to a gaseous phase and the pressure in the container increases;   b) increasing the pressure in the first container in order to transfer the liquid-phase fluid, such as a liquid-state fluid, from the first container to a converter;   c) converting flow energy in the converter, present in the fluid supplied to the converter, into mechanical energy;   d) discharging the energy-reduced fluid to a second said container;   e) collecting in the second container all the fluid discharged from the converter;   f) exchanging the first container with another container with a higher liquid level when the liquid level of the first container drops below a certain minimum level;   g) exchanging the container in use with another container with a lower filling level when the liquid level of the second container has exceeded a predetermined upper threshold;   whereby a container made available in a step g) is used in step f);   whereby a container made available in a step f) is used in step g)   whereby in step a) a portion of the liquid in the container is separated from the rest of the liquid, the separated portion is heated and whereby the gaseous phase thus obtained from the separated portion is transported back to the container.   
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 34 , whereby steps f) and g) take place simultaneously. 
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 35 , whereby the method is performed with the use of two containers which, when steps f) and g) are executed, are both mutually exchanged. 
     
     
         37 . Method according to  claim 34 , whereby the fluid is evaporated during step b). 
     
     
         38 . Method according to  claim 34 , whereby the fluid is cooled during step d).