Self-condensing steam turbine

Abstract

This invention relates to a new method of generating mechanical power by means of pumping boiling liquid through heated pipes, and thus converting heat into kintic energy, which is then recovered in Pelton type turbine. Several methods of converting heat into mechanical energy by means of such low speed liquid turbines are given.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The first working steam engine was built by T. Newcomen and J. Cowley, who applied water on the outside of the cylinder to condense the steam inside the cylinder. It was patented in 1705 and built in 1711 to pump water out of the mine. But it was James Watt who in 1765 patented a steam engine which condensed the steam outside the engine cylinder. He then built in 1782 a steam engine with double action piston. It was Laval who first utilized kinetic energy of steam to build a workable steam turbine, which was improved to operate at a lower and usable speed by Ch. Parson in 1884. However, the conversion of kinetic energy of water was done effectively already around the year of 1870, by means of what it is now called the Pelton wheel. The Pelton wheel found application in the now common automotive torque converter. The torque converter has a sort of an impeller, which when rotated by the combustion engine, throws the fluid inside the converter against the blades of a turbine, which is in effect a Pelton wheel mounted on a separate shaft inside the other half of the converter. It is the pump impeller action and the Pelton wheel effects which I have used to design the law speed self-condensing steam water turbine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] My invention is based on the utilization of the force generated by a boiling liquid, which can be commuted into kinetic energy, when allowed to expand together with bulk of the liquid. The high velocity jet of the liquid can then be made to strike the vanes of Pelton-like wheel to generate mechanical power. Such a system may double the efficiency of present power generation. The easiest way to build such an engine, to prove my idea was to utilize an automotive torque converter. To the torque converter I added heat exchanger tubes, formed in such a pattern that allows liquid in the torque converter flow out at the periphery, agitated by the turbine wheel, which when turned, acts as an impeller, and then return to the torque converter pump side. As a source of heat propane gas was used with the aid of a special burner. About twenty such heat exchanger tubes were attached by welding in special holes drilled, see FIG. 1. To start such an engine, The turbine rotor is made to rotate at suitable speed by a motor driven by a source of external power, which can be DC batteries. The starting motor is disengaged, once the engine generates its own power.

[0003] Another way of building such a self-condensing steam turbine is to utilize two torque converters, which are interconnected with straight beat exchanger tubes as shown on FIG. 2. Many kinds of liquid can be used in the torque converters, which should have lubricating properties. It is felt that water can be satisfactory, special additives, such as soluble vegetable oils can provide adequate lubrication. In my trials I have used Canola oil with some transmission fluid. Power generating engines such as shown on FIGS. 1 & 2 should find application where power requirements are in the order of around 100 HP. Larger units might be difficult to build, mainly because the torque converters, with the heat exchanger tubes mounted on it, have to turn at 1800 RPM to 3600 RPM. Such speeds, increase the overall heat transfer coefficients several times, but are prohibitive bigger engines. This problem can be overcome by the use of pumps to make the liquid flow through heat exchanger pipes. As the liquid starts to boil it will commute its energy to the bulk of the liquid, which can then be lead to strike the vanes of the Pelton turbine, FIG. 3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of an automotive torque converter with a hairpin shaped heat exchanger tubes attached. The entire system is inserted into a drum, which has a combustible gas burner attached.

[0005] FIG. 2 shows how two automotive torque converters are interconnected with heat exchanger tubes to increase the HP of power generation.

[0006] FIG. 3 is an arrangement for a large power generating system, which can one or several pumps to push liquid through beat exchanger to generate high velocity jets, which are then fed to Pelton type turbines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0007] As mentioned in the summary and shown on FIG. 1 the easiest way to put my invention to work is to utilize automotive torque converter. This is done by adding beat exchanger tubes 5, bent in a hairpin shape, in such a way that when installed on the torque converter 1, rotation of the turbine wheel 2 by means of a starting motor (not shown on the drawing) will make the turbine wheel act like an impeller and push the liquid in the torque converter out into the heat exchanger tubes 10, and the liquid in the tubes, exposed to the hot combusted gases will start to boil. The vapor will commute its energy into kinetic energy of the bulk of the liquid, which will then strike vanes 3 attached to the body of the torque converter. The stream of the liquid will then strike the turbine 3. As the torque converter gains speed the starting motor is disconnected.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a self-condensing turbine with two automotive torque converters. The second torque converter 11 has a counter clockwise rotation, which is opposite to the normally used torque converter 1 with a clockwise rotation. The use of two torque converters allows bigger heat exchangers to be built, and therefore much greater capacity i.e. HP. The system shown on FIG. 3 is applicable for stationary electric power generation of much greater capacity. It consists of a pump 12, which pumps liquid such as water through heat exchanger 13, where vapor is commuted into kinetic energy of the bulk of the stream, which then is converted into mechanical energy upon striking the vanes of the Pelton wheel.

Claims

1. A method of converting heat energy into mechanical energy by means of pumping liquid at its boiling temperature through pipes, which are being heated so as to make the liquid boil, causing bulk of the liquid to flow faster and thus commuting the heat energy into kinetic energy, which then generates mechanical energy, when the said liquid is made to strike blades in a Pelton type turbine.

2. A method of converting heat energy into mechanical energy by means of pumping liquid at its boiling temperature through a heat exchanger pipe as in claim 1, but the pumping action is generated by the turbine of an automotive torque converter, and the said liquid is made renter the said torque converter on the impeller side of the said converter, at a greater velocity, imparted to it by the boiling process, and the said liquid is made to strike again the said turbine to generate power.

3. A method of converting heat into mechanical energy in a similar way as in claim 2, but when two said automotive torque converters are used, having opposite rotation, and interconnected with straight heat exchanger tubes, circulating said liquid from one said torque converter to another with the aid of the heat energy transfered through the wall of the tube.