Synchronized Regenerators and an Improved Bland/Ewing Thermochemical Cycle

Abstract

For efficiently exchanging heat between two streams of fluid at approximately equal pressure while simultaneously reducing the internal volume and general overall mass of the heat exchange means per quantity of heat exchanged over time, a means termed a Synchronized Thermal Regenerator Exchange Pump (STREP) is proposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . For efficiently exchanging heat between two streams of fluid at approximately equal pressure while simultaneously reducing the internal volume and general overall mass of the heat exchange means per quantity of heat exchanged over time, a means termed a Synchronized Thermal Regenerator Exchange Pump (STREP) composed of (1) a piston and cylinder means termed a receiver, said receiver having an intake valve means and an exhaust valve means, (2) a second piston and cylinder means termed a synchronizer, said synchronizer having an intake valve means and an exhaust valve means, (3) a hollow housing means containing a metallic sponge or regenerator means termed a regenerator, said regenerator having an intake valve means, an exhaust valve means, a port means connected to the exhaust valve of said receiver means, and a second port means connected to the synchronizer intake valve means, (4) piston movement means such as a crankshaft with a crank throw and a connecting rod between the crankshaft and a piston connecting pin termed a prime mover, said prime mover able to move said receiver piston and said synchronizer piston synchronously such that both pistons will reach Top Dead Center (TDC) and Bottom Dead Center (BDC) simultaneously and cyclically, and (5) a force means for operating said prime mover means, where a charge of fluid at a given temperature is taken in by (a) said receiver means through (b) said receiver intake valve means as (c) said receiver piston means is moved by said (d) prime mover means from TDC to BDC, and where a second charge of fluid at a different temperature is simultaneously and synchronously taken in by (e) said synchronizer piston means past (f) the intake valve means of (g) said regenerator means, (h) through said regenerator means, (i) out said regenerator port means connected to (j) said synchronizer intake valve means, and (k) into said synchronizer means, where in the process of said synchronizer cylinder means taking in said charge of fluid heat is either given up to said regenerator means or removed from said regenerator means, thus raising or lowering the temperature of the fluid entering said synchronizer means, and where, upon reaching BDC, both pistons simultaneously and synchronously (l) reverse direction and begin moving towards TDC by action of said prime mover means, whereby said receiver cylinder, synchronizer cylinder, and regenerator means' intake valve means ideally instantaneously, simultaneously and synchronously (m) close as said receiver cylinder, synchronizer cylinder, and regenerator means' exhaust valve means ideally instantaneously, simultaneously and synchronously (n) open, resulting in the simultaneous (o) expulsion of fluid out of said receiver and synchronizer cylinder means by (p) action of said piston means driven by (q) said prime mover means, in the case of said synchronizer cylinder means its fluid being (r) driven out of its exhaust valve means while in the case of said receiver cylinder means its fluid being (s) driven out of its exhaust valve means, (t) through said regenerator means, and (u) out said regenerator exhaust valve means, where in the process of said receiver means (v) passing fluid through said regenerator means its charge of fluid will either (w) receive heat from or give up heat to said regenerator means, said heat having been earlier either (x) deposited by or removed from said regenerator means but in any case the opposite effect achieved by said synchronizer means, thus resulting in an efficient exchange of heat between the two streams at approximately equal pressure while simultaneously reducing the internal volume per quantity of heat exchanged over time and general overall mass.