Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system

Abstract

The rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system provides a rapidly rechargeable thermal energy storage bank operably connected to a heat engine capable of use in an electric power generation facility. Microwave energy is supplied to the system via a network of waveguides. Thermal storage bank has a slurry in a heat exchanger capable of sustaining operation of the engine without requiring the microwave source. The slurry provides a mixture of powdered stainless steel and silicone oils functioning as the working fluid in the hot side of the heat exchanger. The slurry may be heated by plugging the system into standard AC power for a predetermined microwave heat charging duration. A closed, triple-expansion, reciprocating Rankine cycle engine capable of operating under computer control via a high pressure micro-atomized steam working medium is provided to propel the vehicle. A variety of working fluids are capable of powering the Rankine cycle engine.

1 . A Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system, comprising:
 a vapor phase change engine connected to electrical production means;   an energy storage heat exchanger;   an energy source proximate the heat exchanger, wherein the energy source includes a waveguide network connected to the energy source;   a high operating temperature slurry capable of rapid heating under electromagnetic microwave energy exposure and being capable of retaining the high temperature for a substantial duration, whereby the waveguide network guides energy from the energy source to the slurry;   means for circulating the slurry in a closed loop within the heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   means for circulating the working fluid through the heat exchanger to pick up sufficient heat content from the slurry in order to change phase to a high pressure vapor/steam; and   means for directing the high pressure vapor/steam to an inlet of the engine in order to operate the engine;   whereby electricity can be produced under vapor/steam power from stored heat energy in the slurry until the slurry temperature cools down to a temperature ineffective to cause the work fluid to vaporize.   
     
     
         2 . A Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system, comprising:
 a vapor phase change engine mechanically coupled to an electrical generator that supplies power to a power grid;   an energy storage heat exchanger operably connected to the vapor phase change engine  1  the heat exchanger including a permeable powdered metal-ceramic matrix disposed within the heat exchanger;   an energy source proximate the heat exchanger, wherein the energy source includes a waveguide network connected to the energy source   a high operating temperature slurry capable of rapid heating under electromagnetic microwave energy exposure and being capable of retaining the high temperature for a substantial duration, whereby the waveguide network guides energy from the energy source to the slurry and the matrix is coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating the heating of the slurry when the energy is applied;   a slurry pump circulating the slurry in a closed loop within the heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a working fluid pump circulating the working fluid through the heat exchanger to pick up sufficient heat content from the slurry in order to change phase to a high pressure vapor/steam; and   a high pressure steam output line directing the high pressure vapor/steam to an inlet of the engine in order to operate the engine;   whereby the generator can be actuated under vapor/steam power from stored heat energy in the slurry until the slurry temperature cools down to a temperature ineffective to cause the work fluid to vaporize.   
     
     
         3 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic energy exposure comprises:
 a microwave energy source proximate the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 manifolded high pressure output lines extending from the working fluid pump; and   a plurality of gasifier tubes proximate the heat exchanger, the gasifier tubes receiving high pressure fluid from the manifolded high pressure output lines, the gasifier tubes outputting a rapid phase change of the working fluid from liquid to the high pressure vapor steam/vapor.   
     
     
         5 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 output manifolds disposed on the gasifier tubes; and   a computer operably connected to the gasifier output manifolds, the computer modulating the high pressure vapor steam/vapor to the engine inlet.   
     
     
         6 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 4 , further comprising atomizers disposed within the gasifiers, the atomizers atomizing high pressure fluid at the inputs to the gasifiers. 
     
     
         7 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of waveguide continuation tubes disposed within the gasifier tubes, the continuation tubes centrally conducting thermal energy about an axis through which atomized working fluid is dispersed by the atomizers, wherein atomized working fluid is exposed to the maximum possible area of heat exchanger wall surface area to promote efficient heat transfer to the working fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 4 , wherein the gasifier tubes are disposed in a housing of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 4 , wherein the gasifier tubes are made from a high grade, high temperature capable superalloy, the gasifier tubes maintaining structural integrity at sintering temperatures. 
     
     
         10 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 7 , wherein a first atomizer within a gasifier tube is disposed in a non coplanar manner with respect to a second atomizer disposed in the same gasifier tube, the non-coplanar atomizers facilitating a spiraling action of working fluid finely atomized spray/steam around the central coincident conductor tube, thereby maximizing the time in contact with a highest temperature regime of the gasifier tube. 
     
     
         11 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the engine has a closed, triple-expansion, reciprocating configuration utilizing the Rankine cycle to do work based on adiabatic expansion of the working medium in the engine. 
     
     
         12 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 2 , further comprising an engine control computer, the engine control computer controlling a set of inlet and outlet valves of the engine, thereby precisely controlling timing of steam power through the engine. 
     
     
         13 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 12 , further comprising a control line forming an interconnection between the engine control computer and the atomizers, the engine control computer controlling the atomizers via the interconnection, wherein only the minimum necessary amount of working gas is produced based on real-time evaluation of current throttle position versus a load calculation computed by the engine control computer. 
     
     
         14 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source is microwave. 
     
     
         15 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a permeable powdered metal/ceramic matrix disposed within the heat exchanger and coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating the heating of the slurry when the electromagnetic energy is applied. 
     
     
         16 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source is microwave. 
     
     
         17 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a resonant cavity formed around said heat exchanger; and   said slurry being co-located within said resonant cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 a permeable powdered metal/ceramic matrix (PPM) disposed within the heat exchanger and coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating the heating of the slurry when the microwave energy is applied, said PPM having a tetrahedral geometry tuned by height to a multiple or heterodyne of a frequency of said microwave energy source. 
 
     
     
         19 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 18  wherein said PPM has a high surface area to volume ratio so that a high end porosity of said PPM is as high as approximately ninety five percent at an entry point of said waveguide network. 
     
     
         20 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 19  wherein said microwave energy source includes means for tuning said microwave energy source responsive to a voltage standing wave ratio caused by warming of said slurry. 
     
     
         21 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 20  further comprising:
 means for dividing a plurality of said microwave energy source and said PPM into segmented ceramic tubes feeding a common thermal reservoir; and 
 means for incrementally adding power from said plurality of said microwave energy source to bring said slurry up to a predefined operating temperature. 
 
     
     
         22 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 20  further comprising means for emulating a turbine device driven by said Rankine engine. 
     
     
         23 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 20  wherein said microwave energy source is a magnetron. 
     
     
         24 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 means for electromagnetic deflection of said working fluid; 
 means for heating said PPM to incandescence wherein said PPM is mixed with finely atomized working fluid thereby transferring heat directly to atomized working fluid and returning said working fluid endlessly to a reservoir via said means for electromagnetic deflection. 
 
     
     
         25 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 24  further comprising:
 a resonant cavity formed by said means for heating said PPM to incandescence; and 
 means for trapping said microwave energy inside said resonant cavity while still allowing said PPM to flow through said cavity. 
 
     
     
         26 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 means for adding energy to said slurry when supply of said power grid exceeds demand required of said power grid; and 
 means for rapidly actuating said electric generator to provide electrical power to said power grid when demand required of said power grid exceeds supply of said power grid. 
 
     
     
         27 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 manifolded high pressure output lines extending from the working fluid pump; and   a plurality of gasifier tubes proximate the heat exchanger, the gasifier tubes receiving high pressure fluid from the manifolded high pressure output lines, the gasifier tubes outputting a rapid phase change of the working fluid from liquid to the high pressure vapor steam/vapor.   
     
     
         28 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 27 , further comprising atomizers disposed within the gasifiers, the atomizers atomizing high pressure fluid at the inputs to the gasifiers. 
     
     
         29 . The Rankine engine according to  claim 28 , wherein said gasifiers further comprise nozzles that combine piezo-electric disperser elements along with multiple tiny exit passages in tips of said nozzles.