Without doubt, everyone nowadays is aware of the importance of the ecology problems(80% of them are caused by the pollution of the environment by vehicle engines and power-plants). The well-known and widely-spread internal-combustion engines (ICE) are usuallyreferred to as culprits of pollution.
There is, however, a possible substitute to the ICE and thermopower plant engines: thesteam-liquid engine (SLE) which is an engine with external heating (as are the undeservedlyforgotten "steam" engines - SE), but it differs from the conventional ones in its thermodynamicworking cycle.
Engines of this type, including the SLE, are practically noiseless, are easier to control,and their exhaust gases contain hundreds of times (or thousands in case of CH-compounds) aslittle harmful compounds as those of the ICE.
In addition to many advantages over other engines, the SLE provides:
No new technology is required to manufacture the SLE, and its construction issubstantially simpler, since it includes no carburettor, reduction gear, change-spead gear,muffler, ignition system, etc.
The new elements of the SLE are the working body heater, the working body pump, andthe steam condenser.
The ecology and efficiency goals are acomplished by implementing and using engineswith external heating, their main construction principle kept, but their only (but very significant)virtual flaw - low efficiency - removed.
The "steam" engines' low efficiency is determined by a large waste output of the workingbody condensation heat which is usually partly used for heating in the beginning of the cycle(heat regeneration). For example, in the currently used working cycle of the "steam" power-plants (Renkin cycle), a maximum of 15-20% of the condensation heat is actually utilized and therest of the heat (75-80%) is wastefully put out into the environment. The most effective means toincrease the efficiency is the reduction of the amount of the wasted condensation heat (increaseof the heat regeneration degree).
This is possible if the working body is not converted into steam before the cycle begins(as it is in the known SE cycles). It is more efficient to heat the condensed working body to themaximum temperature of the cycle and, while it is still in liquid state, supply it into the workingchamber. With the volume in the chamber increasing, the pressure in working body decreasesleading to partial evaporation, so that the resultant steam performs mechanical work.
By controlling the cycle's working parameters one can cause almost all the steam formedto be regeneratively condensed towards the end of the volume expansion. This requires that theamount of the dry steam formed during expansion correspond to the amount of heat potentiallyconsumable by the liquid working body in the same temperature diapazone. The correspondencein heat amounts can be attained according to simple thermodynamical computations usingknown relationships.
Hence, the distinctive feature of the new working cycle is the input of the liquid workingbody (heated, with dryness degree X=0) into the working chamber, its partial evaporation andexpanstion of its steam component, combined with a possibly fuller condensation of steam whilehaving work done. The other processes of the cycle are not different from the conventional ones.
The SLE can be built as reciprocated engines or turbines. The substantiation of thethermodynamic cycle and its feasibility is confirmed by the conclusions of competent specialistsand by testing a sample.
The principal contents of the work have been patented in Russia (patents #2006597 and#2008479); an application has been submitted for patenting abroad in the main industrialcountries (# PCT/RU 94/00123 from 06.06.94).
In order to continue the work, working documentation has to be created for specific testmodels, new samples have to be manufactured and tested; also, financing is needed.
Please e-mail questions and comments to Mike Oslon (moslon@interlog.com) or mailthem to:
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