Reciprocating heat transfer engine and heat transformer

Abstract

The invention enables the operation of a reciprocating steam engine without the need for timing gears on the inlet and exhaust valves. The valves in this invention are actuated and reversed when the piston reaches the end of the stroke, and are based solely on linear motion. The pistons are dual acting, which means the power stroke operates in both directions. Additionally, the system is self-starting, needing only heat to begin operating. The invention enables the use of a steam engine at low temperature differences (down to 0.5 C) between evaporator and condenser which is useful for closed loop heat transfer applications, when a pure or azeotropic working fluid is used. Additional configurations are possible with the invention, in which part of the heat input may be transformed to a higher temperature and rejected from the system. When the invention is used for either isothermal heat transfer applications or heat transformation, no energy, other than the heat input, is needed for the invention to operate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closed loop heat transfer system, comprising:
 a pump;   an evaporator;   a condenser; and   an engine having a piston positioned therein, the piston having a first side and an opposing second side, the engine having a first inlet valve allowing a working fluid to flow into the engine along the first side of the piston and a second inlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the engine along the second side of the piston, and further having a first outlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the engine from the first side of the piston and a second outlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the engine from the second side of the piston, the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve being open when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are closed, and the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve being closed when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are open, and   wherein the pump, the evaporator, the engine and the condenser are all fluidly connected to one another and the engine is configured to provide power to the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet valve and the second inlet valve are coupled to ensure that only one valve is open at a time. 
     
     
         3 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first outlet valve and the second outlet valve are coupled to ensure that only one valve is open at a time. 
     
     
         4 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure difference across the piston ensures that the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve are open when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are closed. 
     
     
         5 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure difference across the piston ensures that the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are open when the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve are closed. 
     
     
         6 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein a spring mechanism gives the valves a preferential direction to be closed/open, so that engine can start from when heat is applied. 
     
     
         7 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured with a second piston having a first side and an opposing second side, the pump having a first inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the pump along a first side of the second piston and a second inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the pump on the second side of the second piston, the pump further having a first outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the pump from the first side of the second piston and a second outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the pump from the second side of the second piston. 
     
     
         8 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid consists of a liquid and vapor. 
     
     
         9 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential from the evaporator to the condenser, together with the cross-sectional area of the engine's piston being greater than that of the pump, allows power to be transferred from the engine to the pump through a shaft connecting the engine to the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet valve actuator ensures the first inlet valve fully opens and the second inlet valve fully closes and an outlet valve actuator ensures the second outlet valve fully opens and the first outlet valve fully closes at the end of the piston's stroke. 
     
     
         11 . The closed loop heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet valve actuator ensures the first inlet valve fully closes and the second inlet valve fully opens and an outlet valve actuator ensures the second outlet valve fully closes and the first outlet valve fully opens at the end of the piston's stroke. 
     
     
         12 . A closed loop heat transformer system, comprising:
 a pump;   an evaporator;   a low temperature condenser;   a high temperature condenser;   a compressor;   an engine having a piston positioned therein, the piston having a first side and an opposing second side, the engine having a first inlet valve allowing a working fluid to flow into the engine along the first side of the piston and a second inlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the engine along the second side of the piston, and further having a first outlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the engine from the first side of the piston and a second outlet valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the engine from the second side of the piston, the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve being open when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are closed, and the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve being closed when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are open;   wherein the pump, the evaporator, the engine, the low temperature condenser, the high temperature condenser and the compressor are all fluidly connected to one another, and   wherein the pump, the evaporator, the engine, the low temperature condenser and the high temperature condenser are all fluidly connected to one another and the engine is configured to provide power to the pump and the compressor.   
     
     
         13 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein one working fluid loop is used to remove heat from the low temperature condenser and the high temperature condenser. 
     
     
         14 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein one working fluid loop is used to remove heat from the low temperature condenser and a second working fluid loop is used to remove heat from the high temperature condenser. 
     
     
         15 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein the first inlet valve and the second inlet valve are coupled to ensure that only one valve is open at a time. 
     
     
         16 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein the first outlet valve and the second outlet valve are coupled to ensure that only one valve is open at a time. 
     
     
         17 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure difference across the piston ensures that the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve are open when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are closed. 
     
     
         18 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure difference across the piston ensures that the first inlet valve and the second outlet valve are closed when the second inlet valve and the first outlet valve are open. 
     
     
         19 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein a spring mechanism gives the valves a preferential direction to be closed/open, so that engine can start from when heat is applied. 
     
     
         20 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein the pump is configured with a second piston having a first side and an opposing second side, the pump having a first inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the pump along a first side of the second piston and a second inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the pump on the second side of the second piston, the pump further having a first outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the pump from the first side of the second piston and a second outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the pump from the second side of the second piston. 
     
     
         21 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressor is configured with a third piston having a first side and an opposing second side, the compressor having a first inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the compressor along a first side of the third piston and a second inlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow into the compressor on the second side of the third piston, the compressor further having a first outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the compressor from the first side of the third piston and a second outlet check valve allowing the working fluid to flow out of the compressor from the second side of the third piston. 
     
     
         22 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid consists of a liquid and vapor. 
     
     
         23 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure differential from the evaporator to the condenser, together with the cross-sectional area of the engine's piston being greater than that of the pump, allows power to be transferred from the engine to the pump and to the compressor through a shaft or shafts connecting the engine to the pump and to the compressor. 
     
     
         24 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein an inlet valve actuator is used to ensure the first inlet valve fully opens and the second inlet valve fully closes and an outlet valve actuator is used to ensure the second outlet valve fully opens and the first outlet valve fully close at the end of the piston's stroke. 
     
     
         25 . The closed loop heat transformer system of  claim 11 , wherein an inlet valve actuator ensures the first inlet valve fully closes and the second inlet valve fully opens and an outlet valve actuator ensures the second outlet valve fully closes and the first outlet valve fully opens at the end of the piston's stroke.