Cyrogen production via a cryogenic vapor driven power piston for use in a cryogenic vapor powered vehicle with rotary vane motors attached to the axles of the vehicle next to the vehicle's four wheels, using a heat source such as solar heat, heat of compression (heat pump or air compressor, etc.) or heat of friction (as formed by an electric generator), or chemical heat, or heat formed by electrical resistance, heat of combustion, etc. to generate high-pressure, high-kinetic energy cryogenic vapor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the manufacture of a cryogenic vapor powered vehicle via the efficient onboard production of air cryogen (liquid air) produced from atmospheric air and a method to impart heat (thermal energy) to the produced cryogen to vaporize the cryogen into energetic cryogenic vapor, having high kinetic energy, capable of generating substantial work, including powering rotary vane motors attached to the axles of the vehicle next to the vehicle's wheels

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Related U.S. patent applications by the Present Applicant, Robert D. Hunt, Customer Number 27531: Titled, “Thermoelectric Vaporizer for the Efficient Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically and for the Simultaneous Vaporization of a Cryogen”; and, titled, “Solid Oxide or Solid Acid High-Temperature Steam Electrolyzer Constructed in Alternating Layers of P-Type, N-Type, and Solid Oxide or Solid Acid Materials for the Self-Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically for Electrolysis of High-Temperature Steam into Hydrogen and Oxygen”; and, titled, “Cryogen Production and Cryogenic Heating and Cooling Device Constructed Therefrom”; and, titled, “The Burning of Disassociated Water as a Direct Fuel Via a Hydrogen Thermolysis Reactor, which Sustains . . . .”

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

[0002] The Author of this Patent Application is Robert Daniel Hunt, 23707 Redfish Lane, Pass Christian, Mississippi, Telephone 1-228-452-7917, e-mail: huntband@aol.com

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] The discovery by joules that air expanded into a vacuum causes the temperature of the air to be lowered if the temperature of the air is below the inversion temperature is the basis of present day refrigeration, air conditioning, cryogenic cooling and freezing, and the production of industrial cryogenic gases, etc. A cryogen as herein used is defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a substance with a temperature of below −150C.

[0004] In prior art U.S. pat. No. 4,624,109, Minovitch, titled, “Condensing Atmospheric Engine and Method” we learn that if air is expanded (isentropic expansion with work being performed) with an expansion ratio on the order of 300times into a vacuum, a portion of the air undergoes a spontaneous, self-induced, phase transformation into the solid state, resulting in a several hundred fold reduction of its specific volume.

[0005] Heating of solid air will cause a change of state and the solid air crystals will become a liquid. Further heating will cause the liquid air to become cryogenic vapor. Still further heating will cause the cryogenic vapor to expand and will cause the pressure to increase as thermal energy is gained. The internal energy of the cryogenic vapor is increased and thus the enthalpy of the cryogenic vapor is increased (h=u+pv). The heating of the liquid air in a closed container causes the liquid to transform into a gas, energetic cryogenic vapor, that is on the order of a thousand times greater in volume than that of the liquid, and the pressure of the cryogenic vapor exceeds the pressure of the liquid cryogen. The volume and the pressure of the cryogenic vapor may be increased in relationship to the amount of thermal energy input into it. The amount of work that the hot, expanded, and pressurized cryogenic vapor can do is in direct relationship to the amount of thermal energy it contains. The heat is the source of the kinetic energy in the cryogenic vapor and the more heat (thermal energy) that is absorbed by the cryogenic vapor; the greater the work that can be performed by the cryogenic vapor.

[0006] Liquid air is generally commercially produced by compressing air using a multi-stage air compressor. The compressed air is then cooled to remove the heat of compression and is expanded within an expander or a joules-Thompson valve and becomes a super-cold liquid (cryogen) that is stored in a cryogenic tank (Dewar vessel). The liquid air is separated into liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen, etc. by the specific weight of the liquid within a separation column. Liquid air products are usually delivered by truck or by pipeline. A vaporizer is used to transform the liquid into a gas for use. Heat from the atmosphere warms the cryogen as it flows through the vaporizer and cold, pressurized gas (cryogenic vapor) is formed.

[0007] The applicant believes the compression process as currently practiced in the production of liquid air to be less efficient than the use of a vacuum for the production of liquid air because it takes a great deal of energy to compress a large volume of air and significant heat is formed that must be removed.

[0008] Prior art U.S. pat. No. 4,624,109, Minovitch, “Condensing Atmospheric Engine and Method” teaches that it is not impossible to construct a thermal engine in an open cycle to harness the thermal energy from the sun contained in the atmosphere of the earth, while not violating the second law of thermodynamics, by using a cryogen as an artificial low-temperature reservoir.

[0009] The natural environment is heated by the sun and contains essentially an unlimited amount of energy available for work. The sun's energy takes many forms, such as direct solar light and heat, wind power, geothermal heat within the earth, and thermal energy in objects around us and in our atmosphere.

[0010] Minovitch teaches that the second law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to construct an engine which, operating in a cycle, will produce no other effect than the extraction of heat from a single heat reservoir and the performance of an equivalent amount of work. The term in a cycle refers to a closed cycle in which the working fluid is re-circulated over and over again between the heating step and the expansion step such that the thermodynamic state of the working fluid always returns to its initial state. Hence, according to the Minovitch patent, the second law of thermodynamics only applies to closed cycle heat engines.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to efficiently produce liquid air (cryogen) from the air contained in the atmosphere and to impart as much heat (thermal energy) to the liquid air as possible to generate as much work as possible. While the ambient temperature of the atmosphere is sufficient to vaporize the cryogen, greater heat (thermal energy) may be obtained from the heat of compression which absorbs and acts to concentrate atmospheric heat and far greater temperature many be obtained from combustion, such as the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. Significantly high temperatures may be produced by concentrated solar energy, the heat of chemical reactions, geothermal heat, heat of friction, heat of electrical resistance, or any other form of concentrated heat.

[0012] Prior art U.S. pat. No. 6,199,317 titled “Cryogenic Thermoelectric Generator” by Volk teaches us that the production of electricity may be performed by use of a cryogenic thermoelectric solid-state generator, using a cryogen as an artificial low temperature reservoir in association with a heat source. Volk teaches that electricity may be produced using cryogenics as the cold source for the cold side of a thermoelectric device, but Volk does not use the thermoelectric device in association with vaporization of the cryogen for the purpose of performing useful work with the kinetic energy contained in the cryogenic vapor, which is the use by the applicant herein.

[0013] The applicant has filed for a U.S. patent titled, “Thermoelectric Vaporizer for the Efficient Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically and for the Simultaneous Vaporization of a Cryogen” being considered at this time.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to use electricity thermoelectrically produced as a heat source to create energetic cryogenic vapor capable of performing substantial work. Kinetic energy contained in the cryogenic vapor may be used to perform many different forms of work including: the generation of electricity, production of mechanical drive capable of operating hydraulic systems, piston driven or rotary driven motors, turbines, etc. These apparatus can power vehicles, boats, airplanes, and provide the energy needed for manufacturing and industrial processes as well as for agriculture and aquaculture, such as pumping water. In addition, heating and cooling may be accomplished by the invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0015] The invention relates to the production of liquid air and of useful and beneficial work performed by heated and pressurized cryogenic vapor produced from the liquid air, which may exceed the energy required to produce the liquid air originally, provided sufficient heat (thermal energy) is imparted to the cryogenic vapor to make the cryogenic vapor sufficiently energetic to perform a greater amount of work. Said work capacity may power a piston driven engine, a rotary vane motor, a turbine engine, a gas expander, or may produce mechanical heating and cooling or other forms of useful work.

[0016] The present invention provides the method and apparatus to construct a vehicle powered by heated, expanded, and pressurized cryogenic vapor applied directly to rotary vane motors attached to the axles of the vehicle next to the vehicle's wheels, providing thrust in the form of rotary motion to propel the vehicle

[0017] Specifically, a cryogen (liquid air) is produced from the air in the atmosphere by a series of cylinders and pistons connected by a series of connecting rods and powered by a power piston within a power cylinder by energetic cryogenic vapor. The pressure of the cryogenic vapor and the size of the power cylinder determines the force. Pascal's Law states that pressure is exerted equally in all directions. The formula for force is: pressure times area equals force. Therefore, a desired force may be obtained by providing sufficient pressure and sufficient area of the power piston. The power piston provides the force for a powerful vacuum to be formed for liquid air production and provides the force for high-pressure pumping of the cryogen formed from the cylinder.

[0018] Powerful vacuums are formed within the cryogen production cylinders as the power piston via the connecting rods pulls the pistons in the cryogen production cylinders back. A valve allows compressed and pre-cooled atmospheric air that is below the inversion temperature of air to enter into these vacuums when sufficient vacuum pressure has been formed. The air entering the vacuums is expanded by isentropic expansion within a gas expander performing work and the temperature of the air drops and its volume decreases (implosion). The vacuum within the cylinders is partially maintained because of the decrease in volume of the air entering the cylinders. Also, the cryogen production pistons continue to be drawn back, maintaining the vacuum. When the vacuum pressure within the cylinders begins to decline due to the volume of atmospheric air that has been allowed to enter the cylinders, previously produced liquid air having substantial pressure (2,500 p.s.i. or greater) and being a supercritical fluid is allowed to enter the cylinders through Joules-Thompson expansion valves until the pressure within the cylinders equals that of the pressure of the entering fluid. The liquid air entering the cryogen production cylinders is additionally cooled by isenthalpic expansion within the Joules-Thompson valves and the supercritical fluid absorbs the heat from any remaining gases from the atmospheric air previously expanded into the cylinders and melts any solid air crystals formed, which causes the gases and solid air crystals to transform into the liquid state.

[0019] Pressurized cryogenic vapor enters the power cylinder on one side of the power piston forcing the power piston forward. The connecting rods cause the cryogen production cylinders to move, with one being pushed forward and the other being pulled back. After the cylinder has been pressurized with previously produced cryogen, the cryogen that is formed in the cryogen production cylinder is forced out the cylinder by the cryogen production piston through check valves and the cryogen flows into the cryogen supply lines.

[0020] The process takes place alternately and on each side of the cryogen production pistons. As a production piston moves forward forcing produced cryogen out of the cylinder ahead of the piston, a vacuum is formed behind the piston and compressed and pre-cooled air is allowed to enter to produce more cryogen as explained above.

[0021] When the piston reverses direction, the cryogen will be compressed out of the cylinder ahead of the piston and a vacuum will form on the other side of the piston to repeat the cryogen production process alternately from one side of the piston to the other side.

[0022] The liquid air (air cryogen) produced passes through a heat exchanger (thermoelectric vaporizer) where it receives concentrated heat (thermal energy) from the atmosphere. Heat within the atmosphere is concentrated by compression of atmospheric air and the heat of compression is generated. The hot air counter-flows the air cryogen within the thermoelectric vaporizer and the heat contained in the air is conducted through the walls of the vaporizer to the cryogen. As the heat is transferred to the liquid air within the thermoelectric vaporizer, the liquid transforms into an expanded gas and gains greater pressure. The pressurized gas is then used to apply force to the power piston and rotary vane motors located in the housing of the wheels of the vehicle.

[0023] It may be possible for the amount of cold liquid product produced to exceed the amount of hot expanded and pressurized gas required to create it. This possibility exists because air expanded in the vacuums formed in the cryogen production cylinders has a reduced temperature that results in a reduction of its specific volume (implosion) and additional air can enter the cylinders. This air will also be reduced in volume allowing still more air in the cylinder, thus a significant volume of atmospheric air is allowed to enter the production cylinders before they can hold no more as the vacuum pressure decreases. Also, cryogen production may take place in multiple cryogen production cylinders powered by one power piston. In the present patent application two cryogen production cylinders and pistons are shown for demonstration purposes, however, any number of cryogen production cylinders and pistons may be used. Another factor pertaining to cryogen output performance is that cryogen is produced on both sides of the cryogen production pistons.

[0024] The cryogen produced is expanded and pressurized by taking on heat from the atmosphere or other heat sources and its volume in the gaseous state becomes near a thousand times greater than that of the liquid state and its pressure increases. Therefore, such volume of this heated and expanded product equal to the volume needed to fill the power cylinder to power the process may be only a percentage of total amount of cryogenic vapor produced from the liquid air (provided sufficient thermal energy has been absorbed by the cryogenic vapor) to create sufficient expansion and/or sufficient increase in pressure of the energetic cryogenic vapor, and the result is a possible positive net energy balance that may be derived from the thermal energy gained from the atmosphere or other heat sources that causes the cryogenic vapor to expand in specific volume and/or to exert a very high-pressure which allows the energetic cryogenic vapor to apply sufficient force against the power piston to push it forward with great force to produce the cryogen.

[0025] The volume of heated and expanded cryogenic vapor that is used to power the power cylinder in each back and forth production stroke is approximately five times greater than the volume of the liquid cryogen produced. However, the liquid cryogen undergoes an expansion in volume of near a thousand times from the liquid state to the gaseous state.

[0026] Before the compression stroke, previously produced liquid air having high-pressure (approximately 2,500 p.s.i). or greater is allowed to expand into the cryogen production cylinders through Joules-Thompson expansion valves further cooling the liquid air and pressurizing the cylinders with liquid to the system pressure. The energy expended in forcing the cold dense liquid out of the cylinders is very minimal because the pressure is approximately equal on both sides of the piston and very little compression takes place, resulting in negligible heat of compression, and resulting in a negligible use of energy The greatest expenditure of energy within the cryogen production process is used to produce the force required by the power piston to form the powerful vacuums within the cryogen production cylinders.

[0027] The amount of energy (work capacity) derived from the liquid air is a function of the amount of heat applied to it after it has been produced. The atmosphere at ambient temperature contains sufficient heat to vaporize the liquid air and generate substantial pressure having the capacity to do substantial work. The heat within the atmosphere may be concentrated by compression of the atmospheric air and the heat of compression if formed, which is greater than the ambient heat of the atmosphere. The amount of heat generated by compression is in relationship to the amount of compression that takes place and in relationship to the ambient temperature of the air compressed

[0028] Other sources of heat such as concentrated solar heat, electrical resistance heating, or combustive heating may transfer significantly more heat to the cryogenic vapor than may be transferred by ambient temperature air and can therefore impart significantly more energy to the cryogenic vapor.

[0029] A geothermal well and a solar heating unit are two examples of renewable energy sources derived from the sun's energy that can generate more heat than is usually contained in normal ambient temperature atmospheric air, which may be used in the present invention to generate heat that would be transferred to the cryogenic vapor to make it be able to produce greater work. Likewise, combustion of the cryogenic vapor with natural gas or hydrogen would produce even greater thermal energy that would be transferred to the cryogenic vapor, forming hot exhaust gases capable of producing even greater mechanical drive and jet propulsion force. The heated and pressurized cryogenic vapor may be used to power a turbine engine or a rotary vane motor which may also be used to power a vehicle, a boat, a generator, or any other useful purpose in which turbine engines or rotary vane motors may be used.

[0030] Electricity is generated on the vehicle by a unique thermoelectric solid-state generator that simultaneously serves as the vaporizer to vaporize the cryogen. Electricity can be produced by thermoelectric power generation using a p-type and n-type materials in layers with a cold source on one side of the layers of material and a heat source on the opposite side of the layers of material with the heat being able to conduct through the layers of material to generate electricity, creating a solid state generator.

[0031] The present patent applicant serves to beneficially improve the process by micro-thin layers of p-type and n-type materials into a tubular shape or rectangular shape to form a heat exchange vaporizer made up of an assembly of the tubes or parallel rectangles that are arranged in alternating layers of cryogen and a heat source, performing vaporization of the cryogen simultaneous with the thermoelectric production of electricity. This is possible because the heat conducts through the layers of material, a portion of which is transformed into electricity and the remainder of the heat is absorbed by the cold cryogen to vaporize the cryogen within the tubes or parallel rectangles. The heat is fully utilized either as electricity or thermal energy stored in the form of kinetic energy in the energetic cryogenic vapor. The applicant has filed a patent application on the herein described process titled, “Thermoelectric Vaporizer for the Efficient Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically and for the Simultaneous Vaporization of a Cryogen” with said patent application being filed simultaneous with the present patent application.

[0032] The thermoelectrically produced electricity may be used to operate an electric motor or may be stored in an electrical storage battery. The electricity may also be used to power an electrical resistance heating unit, which may act as a heat concentrator because the electrical resistance heating unit is capable of producing a much higher temperature than the temperature of the heat source applied to the thermoelectric generator that produced the electricity. Such concentrated heat may serve to further heat and highly energize a portion of the cryogenic vapor.

[0033] However, a greater degree of heat may be obtained from combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produced from high-temperature steam electrolysis, using the electric power generated thermoelectrically as the supply of electricity. The applicant has filed a U.S. patent application on a process to conduct high-temperature steam electrolysis using a thermoelectrically generated current that is titled, “Solid Oxide or Solid Acid High-Temperature Steam Electrolyzer Constructed in Alternating, Micro-thin Layers of P-Type, N-Type, Solid Oxide or Solid Acid Materials for the Self-Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically for Electrolysis of High-Temperature Steam into Hydrogen and Oxygen” with said patent application being filed simultaneous with the present patent application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1. describes a cryogenic vapor powered vehicle, the preferred embodiment of the invention, using a power piston to drive cryogen production pistons to produce liquid air (cryogen) from atmospheric air. The liquid air is heated by the heat of compression of atmospheric air via a compressor turbine that blows compressed hot air across a thermoelectric vaporizer. The air is further heated by heat of friction from an electric generator. The cryogen that counter-flows the hot air within the thermoelectric vaporizer is vaporized by the heat from the hot air and forms energetic cryogenic vapor. The thermoelectric vaporizer and electric generator produce electricity that may be used to provide electric power to electric resistance heating units to further heat the cryogenic vapor, which increases the volume and increases the pressure of the cryogenic vapor. The pressurized vapor is used to energize the power piston or to provide mechanical drive to the rotary vane motors attached to the axles of the vehicle.

[0035] FIG. 2. describes the production of a cryogen (liquid air) from atmospheric air using heated cryogenic vapor to drive a large power piston within a large cylinder as used in FIG. 1. The power piston is connected by rods to smaller cryogen production cylinders and pistons on each side of the power piston. The force developed by the power piston is used to create a high-negative vacuum for liquid air production and for high-pressurization of the created liquid air.

[0036] FIG. 3. details the vacuum insulated, cryogen cooled, cryogenic production cylinder and piston and its related valves as used in FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 4. describes cryogenic vapor powered rotary vane motors built onto the axles next to the vehicle's wheels of the vehicle to power the vehicle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1. describes the production of cryogen from the atmosphere and a vehicle powered by cryogenic vapor formed from the produced cryogen (5). Incoming air (32) from the atmosphere is compressed by a compressor turbine (27) and is cooled by passing through a thermoelectric vaporizer (12) and through a vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger (7) with a supply of cryogen (5) produced by the cryogen production unit (1) counter-flowing through the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) and thermoelectric heat exchanger (7) as the coolant. The supply of pre-cooled and compressed air (9) is allowed to flow through a cooled air supply solenoid valve (22) into a vacuum formed by drawing back the cryogen production piston (36) within the cryogen production cylinder (35). The cooled and compressed air (9) passes through a gas expander (42) performing isentropic expansion as it performs external work that results in a great drop in the temperature of the air (9) and its specific volume decreases significantly. The cooled air supply valve (22) regulates the amount of vacuum pressure, allowing air in only when sufficient vacuum pressure is present.

[0039] When the vacuum pressure declines in the cryogen production cylinder (35), previously produced pressurized cryogen (5) is allowed to enter the cylinder (35) through a pressurized cryogen supply solenoid valve (2) and the cryogen passes through a joules-Thompson expansion valve (3) and isenthalpic expansion takes place performing only internal work and resulting in further cooling of the cryogen (5), until the cylinder (35) is pressured to the system pressure of the supply of pressurized cryogen (5). The cryogen production piston (36) moves forward and the cryogen (5) within the cylinder (35) is forced out under high-pressure through a cryogen output check valve (23) into the cryogen supply line (8).

[0040] Two cryogen production pistons (36) within cryogen production cylinders (35) are connected by rods (19) to the power piston (20) that is within the power cylinder (37), with one cryogen production piston (36) on each side of the power piston (20). As the power piston (20) moves forward, one cryogen production piston (36) is pushed forward by a connecting rod (19) and the other cryogen production piston (36) is pulled back by a connecting rod (19).

[0041] A portion of the cryogen production output (5) passes through the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) where the liquid air (cryogen) is vaporized into cryogenic vapor by heat transfer from the counter-flowing, incoming air (32), which is further heated by compression within the compressor turbine (27). Also, heat produced by the electric generator (29) that is connected to the shaft (34) of the compressor turbine (27), which is powered by a rotary vane motor (28) also connected to the shaft (34) is drawn into the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) by the compressor turbine (27). Electricity (1 0) is generated by the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) and by the electric generator (29). The cryogenic vapor passes through the cryogenic vapor supply lines (33) that supply cryogenic vapor through solenoid valves (21) to the power piston (20) and supply cryogenic vapor through solenoid valves (16) to the reversible rotary vane motors (15) attached onto the axles (31) next to the vehicles'wheels (14). The exhaust cryogenic vapor exits from the rotary vane motors (15) through solenoid valves(18) and may be used to drive the rotary vane motors (28) that power the electric generator (29) and compressor turbine (27). The vehicle's frame (30) supports the axles (31) and bearings (17) allow rotation of the axles (31).

[0042] A portion of the cooled and compressed air (9) exiting the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) through cooled and compressed air exhaust valves (11) may be used for passenger comfort by providing air-conditioning to the passenger compartment of the vehicle as a substantial volume of incoming air (32) must pass through the thermoelectric vaporizer (12) in order to extract sufficient heat from the incoming air (32) in order to produce electricity (10) and to vaporize the cryogen (5) and only a relatively small portion of the cooled and compressed air (9) produced will be required for use by the cryogen production unit (1) and the excess cold air (9) will be available for other purposes, such as cooling the passenger compartment. The cooled and compressed air (9) which is not used is exhausted through an exhaust valve (11).

[0043] Heated and expanded cryogenic vapor is supplied to the power cylinder (37) through solenoid valves (21) and is exhausted from the power cylinder (37) through solenoid valves (24). The exhaust cryogenic vapor still possess substantial pressure (kinetic energy) and is supplied to the rotary vane motor (28) that drives the electric generator (29) and the compressor turbine (27).

[0044] The power piston (20) is propelled by pressurized cryogenic vapor supplied through cryogenic vapor supply solenoid valves (21). Cryogenic vapor is alternately supplied to the power cylinder (37) on one side of the power piston (20) and then to the power cylinder (37) on the opposite side of the power piston (20), causing the piston to go back and forth. As cryogenic vapor is supplied on one side of the power piston (20), the exhaust cryogenic vapor solenoid valve (24) is opened to exhaust the spent cryogenic vapor on the opposite side of the power piston (20).

[0045] Electricity (10) generated by the thermoelectric vaporizer (12), thermoelectric incoming air heat exchanger (7) and the electric generator (29) may be used to provide electrical power to electric resistance heating units (13) and additional electricity output (10) may be used to power accessories on the vehicle and also may be stored in an electrical storage battery (38). The electrical resistance heating units (13) can provide high-temperature heat to provide a high-level of thermal energy to a portion of the cryogen (5) for increased performance of the power piston (20) or rotary vane motors (15) that power the wheels (14) of the vehicle, etc. The heat for passenger comfort may also be provided by the electrical resistance heating units (13).

[0046] As a cryogen production piston (36) moves forward forcing produced cryogen (5) out of the cryogen production cylinder (35) ahead of the cryogen production piston (36), a vacuum is formed behind the piston (36) and compressed and pre-cooled incoming air (32) is allowed to enter through an electrically operated solenoid valve (22) to produce more cryogen. The cylinder (35) is then pressurized with previously produced cryogen (5). When the piston (36) reverses direction again, the newly produced cryogen (5) and previously produced cryogen (5) will be forced out of the cylinder (35) ahead of the piston (36) through a check valve (23); and a vacuum will form on the other side of the piston (36) and the process is repeated on that side of the piston (36). The process of cryogen production is thus performed alternately on one side of the piston (36) then on the opposite side of the piston (36).

[0047] A portion of the produced cryogen (5) is stored in a Dewar vessel (26) which has a supply valve (25). Pressure release valves (6) assure that the pressure of the system does not exceed the design pressure.

[0048] A computer control unit (39) electronically controls the functions of all the electrically operated solenoid valves and the timing of the opening and closing of all valves, etc. as well as the flows of cryogen (5) and of the cryogenic vapor, etc. as required to operate the vehicle.

[0049] FIG. 2. is a detail of the cryogen production unit consisting of a power piston (20) within a power cylinder (37) with cryogen production pistons (36) within cryogen production cylinders (35) on each side of the power cylinder (37) of FIG. 1. The power piston (20) is connected to the two cryogen production pistons (36) by connecting rods (19). Each cryogen production cylinder (35) has a series of valves connecting to the cylinder (35) on each end of the cylinder (35). These valves will be detailed in FIG. 3.

[0050] The cryogen production cylinder (35) is surrounded and cooled (40) by previously produced cryogen (5) that prevents external heat from reaching the supply of compressed, pre-cooled incoming air (9) that is expanded into the cylinder (35) and serves to further cool the incoming air (9). The production cylinder (35) is also surrounded by vacuum insulation (4) that prevents external heat from reaching the production cylinder (35).

[0051] Heated and expanded (pressurized) cryogenic vapor with a high kinetic energy is allowed to enter solenoid valves (21) that supply the vapor to the power cylinder (37) that applies a force to the power piston (20). The spent cryogenic vapor that still has sufficient pressure (kinetic energy) exits the power cylinder (35) through exhaust solenoid valves (24).

[0052] FIG. 3. is a detail of the cryogen production unit (1) in which cryogen (5) is produced in FIG. 1. Pre-cooled and compressed incoming air (9) passes through solenoid supply valves (22) and passes through a gas expander (42) into a vacuum formed within the cylinder (35). The incoming air (9) expands with isentropic expansion and work is performed externally by the gas expander (42), having a greater reduction in temperature and specific volume than may be accomplished by a Joules-Thompson Value (isenthalpic expansion). An output shaft (41) is provided to extract work provided by the turbine expander (42). The temperature of the incoming air (9) falls and the specific volume decreases to a fraction of the original volume of the incoming air (9) and a change of state takes place as the gaseous air becomes super-cold liquid air, a cryogen, (5). The cooled air supply solenoid valve (22) also acts to regulate the flow of incoming air (9) in regards to the volume of air (flow rate) allowed to pass through the valve (22) and maintains the vacuum allowing compressed and pre-cooled incoming air (9) to enter the cryogen production cylinder (35) only when sufficient vacuum pressure exists.

[0053] As the vacuum pressure within the cylinder (35) decreases due the volume of incoming air (9) allowed to enter and to be expanded, an electrically operated solenoid valve (2) is opened to allow previously produced cryogen (5) to enter the cryogen production cylinder (35) through a joules-Thompson expansion valve (3) and the cryogen (5) is expanded and is further cooled by isenthalpic expansion as work is only performed internally to overcome the intermolecular forces to enable the expansion to take place. The pressure in the cylinder (35) is increased until it is equal to or near equal to the pressure of the pressurized, previously produced cryogen (5) that is allowed to enter the cylinder (35) The newly produced cryogen (5) and the previously produced cryogen (5) are forced from the cylinder (35) through a check valve (23) as the production piston (36) moves forward.

[0054] The cryogen production process is repeated on the opposite side of the cryogen production piston (36) as a vacuum forms behind the piston (36) as it moves forward. The required components: pressurized cryogen supply solenoid valve (2), Joules-Thompson expansion valves (3)and gas expanders (42), cooled air supply solenoid valves with regulation of vacuum pressure (22), and check valves for cryogen production output (23) are located on each end of the production cylinder (35) to accommodate cryogen production on each side of the production piston (36).

[0055] FIG. 4. is a detail of the reversible cryogenic vapor powered rotary vane motor (15) built onto the axle (31) next to the wheel (14) of the vehicle of FIG. 1. A wheel (14) is mounted on an axle (31) and a rotary vane motor (15) is also mounted to the axle (31) next to the wheel (14). The axle (31) is attached to the vehicle frame (30) and bearings (17) are provided to allow rotation of the axle (31).

[0056] Heated, expanded (pressurized) cryogenic vapor is supplied the rotary vane motor (15) by electrically operated solenoid valves (16). The exhaust cryogenic vapor exits through electrically operated solenoid valves (18). The direction of rotation of the rotary vane motor (15) is reversible. The cryogenic vapor may enter through the solenoid valve (16) at the top of the motor (15) and may exit through the exhaust valve (18) at the bottom of the motor (15). The direction of rotation may be reversed by allowing the cryogenic vapor to enter through a solenoid valve (16) at the bottom of the motor (15) and to exit through a solenoid valve (18) at the top of the motor (15).

Claims

1. An air cryogen production unit is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the air cryogen production unit is a cryogenic engine capable of producing air cryogen, having a temperature below −150C., from ambient temperature air within the atmosphere.

2. A power cylinder and power piston are hereby claimed.

It is hereby claimed that liquid air (air cryogen) may be produced using a power piston within a power cylinder that is driven by heated, expanded, and pressurized cryogenic vapor produced within a thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13.

3. Cryogen production cylinders and cryogen production pistons are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the power piston of claim 2 is connected to a series of cryogen production pistons within cryogen production cylinders, whose diameters are less than the diameter of the power cylinder and power piston of claim 2.

It is claimed that any number of cryogen production pistons within cryogen production cylinders may be connected to and powered by one power piston.

4. Rods connecting the power piston of claim 2 to the cryogen production pistons of claim 3 are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the power piston is connected to the cryogen production cylinders and pistons by connecting rods, and;

it is claimed that cryogen production cylinders and pistons are located on each side of the power cylinder and power piston of claim 2.

5. It is claimed that the power piston of claim 2 moves back and forth within the power cylinder of claim 2.

Solenoid valves are hereby claimed that allow pressurized cryogenic vapor to enter the power cylinder on each side of the power piston and allow the cryogenic vapor to exit the power cylinder on each side of the power piston.

It is claimed that cryogenic vapor is allowed to enter through solenoid valves on one (first) side of the power piston of claim 2 and to exit through solenoid vales on the opposite (second) side of the power piston causing the power piston to move forward.

It is claimed that the process is reversed as cryogenic vapor is allowed to enter on the second side of the cylinder and is allowed to exit on the first side. It is claimed that the reversal causes the power piston to move in the opposite direction and, thus, the power piston moves back and forth.

6. It is claimed that as the power piston of claim 2 moves forward that the cryogen production pistons of claim 3 are pushed forward or they are pulled backwards by the connecting rods of claim 4.

7. It is claimed that the force of the power piston in claim 2 causes powerful vacuums to be formed in the production cylinders of claim 3.

It is claimed that the vacuums are formed on each side of the cryogen production pistons of claim 3.

8. Compressed and pre-cooled incoming air from the atmosphere that has a temperature below the inversion temperature of air is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that ambient temperature air from the atmosphere is compressed via a compressor turbine of claim 17 and that the incoming air counter-flows cryogen through a thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 and is substantially cooled.

It is claimed that the incoming air then counter-flows cryogen through a vacuum insulated heat exchanger of claim 19 to further cool the air, with the vacuum acting to prevent the heat of the environment from coming into contact with the incoming air so that the incoming air may be substantially cooled.

It is claimed that the temperature of the compressed and substantially cooled incoming air is below the inversion temperature of air.

9. Gas expanders are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that compressed and cooled atmospheric air that is below the inversion temperature of air of claim 8 is allowed to be expanded into the vacuums of claim 7 formed by the production pistons of claim 3 through gas expanders.

It is claimed that the expansion causes the temperature of the air to drop according to the Joules-Thompson Effect.

It is claimed that the specific volume of the air reduces (implosion), allowing the vacuum to be substantially maintained.

It is claimed that a portion of the air entering the vacuums condenses and becomes liquid air or solid air crystals (air cryogen).

It is claimed that liquid air or solid air crystals are produced in vacuums formed on each side of the cryogen production pistons.

10. Electrically controlled solenoid valves for the supply of liquid cryogen to the cryogen production cylinders of claim 3 are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the solenoid valves supply previously produced pressurized liquid air to the cryogen production cylinders.

11. Joules-Thompson expansion valves are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that as the vacuum of claim 7 declines in the cryogen production cylinders of claim 3 that the solenoid valves of claim 10 supply high-pressure, super-cold, liquid cryogen that was previously produced to the cylinders through Joules-Thompson expansion valves, thus cooling the liquid further and absorbing the latent heat from any remaining gases from the atmospheric air of claim 8 previously introduced into the production cylinders and causes any solid air crystals of claim 9 to be melted by the incoming cryogen.

It is claimed that the cryogen production cylinders become pressurized by this process and that the cryogenic production cylinders are filled with liquid air and the pressure is made equal to or near equal to that of the pressurized liquid air entering the cylinders.

12. It is claimed that the power piston of claim 2 provides a powerful force to compress the cryogen from the cryogen production cylinders of claim 3 as the power piston moves back and forth.

Cryogen production check valves are hereby claimed that allow the flow of cryogen out of the cryogen production cylinders.

It is claimed that as the power piston forces the cryogen from the cryogen production cylinders, of claim 3 the cryogen passes through cryogen check valves that allow flow in only one direction.

13. A thermoelectric vaporizer is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the liquid air in the cryogenic line is heated, expand, and generates greater pressure than the original pressure of the liquid by passing the cryogen through a thermoelectric vaporizer that has a counter-flowing heat source such as heat from the atmosphere, heat produced by a geothermal heat source, heat generated by a solar collector, heat produced by the compression of air, heat as a by-product of manufacturing, chemically produced heat, or heat of friction, heat generated by combustion, etc.

It is claimed that the heat source causes the liquid to transform into cryogenic vapor, having a substantially increased temperature, pressure and/or specific volume if allowed to expand with no increase in pressure.

It is claimed that according to Boyle's Law the volume of an ideal gas at a constant temperature is inversely proportional to its pressure and that according to Charles' Law doubling the temperature of a gas will double the volume of the gas. Temperature, volume and pressure are therefore directly and proportionally related. If the temperature of a gas within a closed container (constant volume) is doubled, the pressure of the gas is also doubled as the gas cannot expand in volume.

14. It is hereby claimed that the production of liquid air (cryogenics) in claim 1 may require less energy to produce the cryogen than the amount of energy that may be generated by the heated, expanded, and pressurized cryogenic vapor formed from the liquid air, so long as sufficient thermal energy is gained by the cryogenic vapor to provide sufficient internal energy to the cryogenic vapor as to exceed the energy required to produce the liquid air (in an open cycle), with such excess energy coming from heat sources such as thermal energy in the atmosphere, concentrated solar heat, geothermal heat, the heat of compression, the heat of combustion, or the heat of friction, etc. or any combination of heat sources as may be available.

15. A cryogenic vehicle using the cryogenic production unit (cryogenic engine) of claim 1 is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the production of liquid air (air cryogen) as described in claim 1 provides the mechanism for the production of energetic cryogenic vapor produced within the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 by vaporizing the cryogen into cryogenic vapor, and;

it is claimed that subsequent heating of the cryogenic vapor within the vaporizer causes the pressure of the cryogenic vapor to increase and, thus, causes the internal energy of the cryogenic vapor to increase, and;

It is claimed that the pressurized cryogenic vapor has sufficient internal energy to produce a kinetic energy drive force capable of powering a vehicle.

16. Rotary vane motors, axles, bearings, wheels, and solenoid valves are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that rotary vane motors are attached to axles that are adjacent to the vehicle's wheels and it is claimed that bearing allow the axles to rotate.

It is claimed that heated and expanded cryogenic vapor causes rotary motion of the rotary vane motors in both the forward direction and reverse direction by reversing the direction of cryogenic vapor flow through the rotary vane motor with the use of electrically controlled solenoid valves.

It is claimed that the rotary vane motors provide rotary motion to the wheels of the vehicle.

17. An electric generator, shaft, compressor turbine, and rotary vane motor are claimed.

It is claimed that energetic cryogenic vapor produced in the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 provides the kinetic energy to cause the rotary vane motor to rotate.

It is claimed that the rotary vane motor is connected to the shaft and that the shaft is connected to the electric generator and the compressor turbine.

It is claimed that as the shaft turns, the electric generator generates electricity and the compressor turbine compresses atmospheric air into the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13.

It is claimed that cryogen produced by the cryogen production unit of claim 1 counter-flows through the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 in the opposite direction to the flow of the atmospheric air compressed into the thermoelectric vaporizer by the compressor turbine.

18. It is claimed that the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 generates electricity thermoelectrically with the atmospheric air as a heat source and with the cryogen as the cold source.

It is claimed that heat is produced by the generator due to friction, and;

it is claimed that compression of the atmospheric air by the compressor turbine causes heat of compression to be formed, and;

it is claimed that the heat is transferred to the atmospheric air compressed into the thermoelectric vaporizer by the compressor turbine of claim 17.

It is claimed that the thermoelectric vaporizer transforms the cryogen into energetic cryogenic vapor via the transfer of heat from the atmospheric air, containing the heat of fiction from the generator and heat of compression, compressed into the thermoelectric vaporizer by the compressor turbine which causes the cryogen to change from the liquid state to the gaseous state to form energetic cryogenic vapor.

19. A vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that a vacuum insulated heat exchanger further cools the compressed incoming air by counter-flowing cryogen output in the opposite direction to the direction of flow of the incoming atmospheric air that is pre-cooled and is compressed within the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13.

It is claimed that electricity is produced thermoelectrically by the vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger.

It is claimed that the vacuum insulation surrounding the heat exchanger keeps ambient heat contained in the atmosphere from preventing the further cooling of the incoming pre-cooled and compressed atmospheric air.

20. Electrical resistance heating units are hereby claimed.

It is claimed that electricity is produced by the thermoelectric generator of claim 13, and by the electrical generator of claim 17, and by the vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger of claim 19.

It is claimed that high-temperature heat may be generated by electrical resistance heating units.

It is claimed that the electrical resistance heating units may be used as high-temperature heat sources.

It is claimed that the high-temperature produced by the electrical resistance heating units may be used to increase the temperature of a portion of the cryogenic vapor produced within the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 and that such increase in temperature of that portion of the cryogenic vapor will result in greater volume and/or greater pressure within that portion of cryogenic vapor, making that portion of the cryogenic vapor more energetic, having a higher internal energy.

21. An electrical storage battery is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that electricity produced by the thermoelectric generator of claim 13, and by the electrical generator of claim 17, and by the vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger of claim 19 may be stored in an electrical storage battery that may be used at a later time to either provide heat via the electrical resistance heating units of claim 20 or as otherwise used.

22. An electrolyzer is hereby claimed to disassociate water into hydrogen and oxygen.

It is claimed that cold electrolysis of water may take place using the electricity, and;

it is claimed that steam may be produced by electric resistance heating units of claim 20, and;

it is claimed that steam may be produced by combusting a portion of the hydrogen and oxygen produced, and;

it is claimed that high-temperature steam electrolysis generally has an efficiency higher than ninety percent.

The applicant has simultaneously with the filing of this patent filed a U.S. Patent application for patent protection on a process to produce hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis of pure water, titled, “Solid Oxide or Solid Acid High-Temperature Steam Electrolyzer Constructed in Alternating Layers of P-Type, N-Type, and Solid Oxide or Solid Acid Materials for the Self-Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically for Electrolysis of High-Temperature Steam into Hydrogen and Oxygen”.

23. A computer control unit is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that a computer control unit acts to operate all of the valves, switches, etc. of the cryogenic vehicle as required.

24. It is claimed that spent cryogenic vapor that is allowed to exit through exhaust solenoid valves in claim 5 from the power cylinder of claim 2, still contains substantial internal energy, and;

it is claimed that the spent cryogenic vapor that exits the exhaust solenoid valves of claim 5 is directed to the rotary vane motor of claim 17 that operates the compressor turbine of claim 17.

It is claimed that spent cryogenic vapor exiting from the exhaust solenoid valves of claim 16 from the rotary vane motors of claim 16 that drive the wheels of claim 16 of the vehicle of claim 15 still contains substantial internal energy, and;

it is claimed that the spent cryogenic vapor that exits the exhaust solenoid valves of claim 16 is directed to the rotary vane motor of claim 17 that operates the compressor turbine of claim 17.

25. A heating and cooling unit is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the cryogen production unit of claim 1 along with the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 may be used as a heating and cooling system.

It is claimed that heat may be produced by compression of atmospheric air by a compressor turbine as in claim 17, and;

it is claimed that cold air may be produced by the thermoelectric vaporizer by counter-flowing cryogen with the air to be cooled within the thermoelectric vaporizer as in claim 13.

It is claimed that electricity will be produced thermoelectrically within the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 as a process of cooling the air.

26. It is claimed that the cryogen production unit of claim 1 may be used for the production of air cryogen, and;

it is claimed that industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, etc. may be obtained by separating the cryogen into the specific gases by well known methods.

27. An electric power generating plant is hereby claimed.

It is claimed that the cryogenic engine of claim 1 and the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 may be used together to form an electric power generating plant.

It is hereby claimed that the cryogen production unit of claim 1, and the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 may be used as an electric power plant for the production of electricity.

The applicant has simultaneously with the filing of this patent filed a U.S. Patent application for patent protection on a process to produce electricity by use of a thermoelectric vaporizer as in claim 13 to thermoelectrically produce electrical power titled, “Thermoelectric Vaporizer for the Efficient Generation of Electricity Thermoelectrically and for the Simultaneous Vaporization of a Cryogen”.

28. It is claimed that the cryogen production unit in claim 1, may be used to produce water from the water vapor in the atmosphere.

It is claimed that the low operating temperature of the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13, having extremely low-temperature cryogen flowing through the vaporizer, will cause water vapor to condense into water.

It is claimed that the compressor turbine of claim 17 causes a substantial of atmospheric air to pass through the vaporizer; and,

it is claimed that the atmospheric air contains a significant amount of water vapor, and;

it is claimed that a significant amount of water will be produced from condensation of the water vapor, and;

it is claimed that pure water will be formed.

29. It is hereby claimed that the cryogen unit in claim 1 and thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13 as used together for the production of cryogen, production of high-pressure energetic cryogenic vapor, and the production of electricity are capable of providing mechanical drive.

It is claimed that mechanical drive may be produced by use of the kinetic energy contained in the energetic cryogenic vapor produced by the thermoelectric vaporizer, and;

it is claimed that mechanical drive may be produced by use of the electricity generated by the thermoelectric vaporizer of claim 13, and by the electrical generator of claim 17, and by the vacuum insulated thermoelectric heat exchanger of claim 19 to operate an electric motor.

It is claimed that the mechanical drive may be used to power an airplane, a land vehicle, a boat or water craft, an electric generator, or any other device that may be operated by mechanical drive, such as hydraulic systems, piston driven or rotary driven motors, gas expanders or turbine engines, and can provide the energy needed for manufacturing and industrial processes as well as for agriculture and aquaculture, such as pumping water.