Energy Changer

Abstract

A self-contained energy converter, suitable for powering a vehicle for example, includes an assembly for gasification of a liquid fuel to produce a combustible gas. A number of burners are provided burn the combustible gas in order to heat a heat exchanger for heating water from a tank to produce wet steam. A superheated steam generator is provided in communication with the heat exchanger and includes a number of heating assemblies arranged to heat cylindrical surfaces for converting the wet steam into a superheated steam. Nozzles are provided to direct the superheated steam to a turbine to produce mechanical motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for converting thermal energy to mechanical motion, comprising:
 a heat exchanger configured to produce wet steam comprising:
 a combustible fluid reservoir and a combustible fluid pump to circulate a combustible fluid from the combustible fluid reservoir to a gas generator; 
 a first heater means to heat the combustible fluid in the gas generator to produce gasification of the combustible fluid; 
 an ignition source and burner to burn the combustible gas; 
 a water reservoir and a water pump to circulate a supply of water from the water reservoir to the heat exchanger; 
 a second heater means to heat the water in the steam generator; 
 a superheated steam generator comprising:
 at least one steam separator to separate water droplets from the wet steam produced in the heat exchanger; 
 a cylindrical surface within the superheated steam generator, the surface of which is heated by at least one heater element such that when the steam contacts the cylindrical surface a superheated steam with a higher temperature and no water is produced; and 
 wherein the gas from the gas generator is ignited to provide a heat source to heat the water in the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger provides the wet steam source for the superheated steam generator and the superheated steam generator provides a superheated steam which is directed to a turbine to produce mechanical motion. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser placed between the turbine and the water chamber to condense the steam to a liquid state and provide a closed loop system. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus comprises three superheated steam generators connected in an end-to-end arrangement and each generator comprises three heater elements to produce a dry superheated steam for driving the turbine. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each said superheated steam generator comprises:
 a separator vessel presenting a substantially cylindrical inside surface;   an inlet for directing incoming wet steam containing a mixture of steam and water into the vessel in a manner to effect a swirling motion of the wet steam around said cylindrical inside surface;   a steam chamber in the upper portion of the separator vessel for receiving the separated dry steam which rises above the water;   a generally cylindrical baffle plate mounted in the steam chamber at a location spaced apart from the cylindrical inside surface of the separator vessel to form a partition which provides a surface which is heated by the three heater elements to produce a superheated steam; and   a steam outlet conduit extending from the steam chamber for discharging superheated steam.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet of the first superheated steam generator is fed to the inlet of the second superheated steam generator and the outlet of the second said superheated steam generator is fed to the inlet of the third superheated steam generator and the outlet of the third superheated steam generator provides the superheated steam at a higher temperature and with no water to the turbine to produce the mechanical motion. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the baffle plate and cylindrical inside surface of the separator vessel are constructed from copper. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the combustible fluid comprises any one of the group consisting of ethanol, methylated spirits or LP gas. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical source to power the heater means and heater elements and the ignition source. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical motion produced by the energy converter can be used as a power source for any one of the group comprising:
 a generator;   a house;   an automobile;   a boat;   a pump;   or any steam driven vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the saturated steam is directed by nozzles onto a rotor of the turbine to cause the rotor to turn and produce mechanical motion. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger, the gas generator, the at least one superheated steam generator and the turbine further comprise a pressure relief valve to control or limit the pressure at each stage of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas generator further comprises a gas regulator valve to automatically control the flow of a gas at a pre-determined pressure. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a one way valve between each stage of the apparatus to allow a liquid or gas to flow through it in only one direction. 
     
     
         14 . A method of converting thermal energy to mechanical motion, the method comprising:
 heating a combustible fluid to produce a combustible gas;   igniting the combustible fluid to heat water in the heat exchanger to produce a wet steam;   separating water droplets from the wet steam produced by the heat exchanger using a steam separator;   heating the separated dry steam in a superheated steam generator to produce a superheated steam;   and using the superheated steam to turn a turbine to produce mechanical motion.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  performed with the apparatus of claim 
     
     
         16 . A self contained energy converter comprising:
 a gas generator housed within a first container and comprising:   a combustible fluid reservoir and a combustible fluid pump to circulate a combustible fluid from the combustible fluid reservoir to the gas generator;   a first heater means to heat the combustible fluid in the gas generator to produce gasification of the combustible fluid;   and an ignition source to ignite and burn the combustible gas;   a heat exchanger housed within a second container comprising: a water reservoir and a water pump to circulate a supply of water from the water reservoir to the heat exchanger;   and a second heater means to heat the water in the steam generator to produce a wet steam;   a superheated steam generator housed in a third container and comprising: at least one steam separator to separate water droplets from the wet steam produced in the heat exchanger;   and a cylindrical surface within the at least one steam separator the surface of which is heated by at least one heater element such that when the steam contacts the cylindrical surface a superheated steam with a higher temperature and containing no water is produced;   wherein the gas generator provides the gas and when ignited provides a heat source to heat the water in the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger provides the wet steam source for the superheated steam generator and the superheated steam generator provides a superheated steam which is directed to a turbine to produce mechanical motion.   
     
     
         17 . A self contained energy converter according to  claim 16  performed with the apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . An energy converter including:
 an assembly for delivery of a combustible gas;   at least one burner to burn the combustible gas;   a heat exchanger in communication with a water reservoir for producing wet steam thereform, said heat exchanger located to be heated by the at least one burner;   a superheated steam generator in communication with the heat exchanger including:
 at least one heating assembly arranged to heat at least one cylindrical surface for converting said wet steam into a superheated steam; and 
   an arrangement for directing the superheated steam to a turbine to produce mechanical motion.