US3716990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Condensable vapor power producing system
Assignee: COX E ASS
•
Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-02-20
•
Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Steam or other condensable vapor heated to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure and having a given entropy is expanded in part in a work producing zone to a lower pressure and then condensed while the remaining part is expanded in a second zone; and following expansion, water is added thereto, with or without addition, or following withdrawal, of a portion of steam at the same state as the second portion of steam after expansion, to form a weight of steam greater than that introduced into the second zone but at a lower entropy, using the work of expansion in the second zone to compress the steam expanded in the second zone, plus the further portion of added steam, when such addition of steam is made, or minus the portion removed, when such removal is made, plus the added water, to the original predetermined pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 J Davoud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K19/00; F01K19/02; F01K19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type the method including heating a condensable vapor to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; expanding the first portion of the heated condensable vapor in a work producing zone to a lower pressure; expanding the second portion of the heated vapor in a second zone; adding the liquid of the condensable vapor to the second portion of the condensable vapor to form a weight of the vapor greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; utilizing the work produced in expanding the vapor in the second zone to compress the vapor expanding in the second zone, after expansion, plus the added liquid, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type the method including heating a condensable vapor to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; expanding the first portion of the heated condensable vapor in a work producing zone to a lower pressure; expanding the second portion of the heated vapor in a second zone; adding the liquid of the condensable vapor to the second portion of the condensable vapor to form a weight of the vapor greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; utilizing the work produced in expanding the vapor in the second zone to compress the vapor expanding in the second zone, after expansion, plus the added liquid, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 1 including adding, prior to compression, a further portion of vapor to the said liquid at the same state as the second portion of vapor after its expansion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein the amount of said further portion of vapor added to said liquid is determined by the entropy of the steam at the predetermined state-point at the start of compression and the maintenance of a constant amount of working fluid in the system for a predetermined power output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 including removing, prior to compression, a portion of said second portion of vapor without changing the state of said second portion of vapor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the amount of said second portion of vapor removed prior to compression is determined by the entropy of the steam at the predetermined state-point at the start of compression and the maintenance of a constant amount of working fluid in the system for a predetermined power output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the liquid is added during compression of the second portion of the vapor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the liquid is added before compression of the second portion of the vapor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the liquid is added before and during compression of the second portion of the vapor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type the method including heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; expanding the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing zone to a lower pressure; expanding the second portion of the heated steam in a second zone; adding water to the second portion of the steam plus a further portion of steam at the same state, as the second portion, after expansion, to form a weight of steam gReater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; utilizing the work produced in expanding the steam in the second zone to compress the steam expanded in the second zone, plus a further portion of steam having the same state as the second portion, after expansion, plus the added water to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type the method including heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; expanding the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing zone to a lower pressure; expanding the second portion of the heated steam in a second zone; adding water to the second portion of the steam plus a further portion of steam at the same state, as the second portion, after expansion, to form a weight of steam gReater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; utilizing the work produced in expanding the steam in the second zone to compress the steam expanded in the second zone, plus a further portion of steam having the same state as the second portion, after expansion, plus the added water to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the work produced in the second zone is substantially equal to the work expended in compression.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method described in claim 1, where the expansion in the second zone takes place in the region of superheat, and the compression takes place in the region of mixtures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method described in claim 1, where the expansion in the second zone starts in the region of superheat, and ends in the region of mixtures, and compression takes place in the region of mixtures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method described in claim 1, where expansion in the second zone is from a point above critical pressure to a point in the superheat, and compression is along the line of constant entropy passing through or close to the critical point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method described in claim 1, where expansion in the second zone is from a point above critical pressure, to a point in the superheat, and compression may be along any line of constant entropy between the saturated liquid and saturated vapor lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method described in claim 1, where expansion in the second zone and compression are both within the region of mixtures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating a condensable vapor to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated condensable vapor in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated vapor; means for adding the liquid of the condensable vapor to the second portion of the condensable vapor to form a weight of vapor greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the vapor expanded therein to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating a condensable vapor to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the heated condensable vapor into first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated condensable vapor in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated vapor; means for adding the liquid of the condensable vapor to the second portion of the condensable vapor to form a weight of vapor greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the vapor expanded therein to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 16 including means for adding a further portion of vapor to said liquid at the same state as the second portion of vapor after its expansion prior to compression of said liquid to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 16 including means for removing a portion of the second portion of the vapor without changing the state of said second portion of vapor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the steam in to first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated steam; means for adding water plus an additional portion of steam having the same state as the second portion, after expansion, to the second portion of the steam to form a weight of steam greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the steam expanded therein plus added steam plus added water, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the steam in to first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated steam; means for adding water plus an additional portion of steam having the same state as the second portion, after expansion, to the second portion of the steam to form a weight of steam greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the steam expanded therein plus added steam plus added water, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the steam into first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated steam; means for removing a portion of the exPanded steam from the second means for expanding steam, without altering the state of the portion removed or of the portion remaining, and means for adding water to the portion of steam remaining to form a weight of steam greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the steam expanded therein less steam removed plus added water, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a power producing system of the external combustion type means for heating steam to a predetermined temperature at a predetermined pressure; means for separating the steam into first and second portions; means for expanding to a lower pressure the first portion of the heated steam in a work producing cycle; second means for expanding the second portion of the heated steam; means for removing a portion of the exPanded steam from the second means for expanding steam, without altering the state of the portion removed or of the portion remaining, and means for adding water to the portion of steam remaining to form a weight of steam greater than the weight of the second portion but at a lower entropy; further means for utilizing the work produced in the second expanding means to compress the steam expanded therein less steam removed plus added water, to the original predetermined pressure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the second means and the further means comprise a free piston expander-compressor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the free piston expander-compressor includes air filled bounce chambers to return the pistons after expansion; and in which expansion takes place by introducing steam between the pistons, moving them outwards, and compression takes place as the pistons return under the action of the air compressed in the bounce chambers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the free piston expander-compressor is double-acting, such that both inward (moving together) and outward (moving apart) motion of the pistons is activated by expanding steam, which expanded steam is then compressed in the expander-compressor, plus the addition of water; and in which expansion and compression take place in the space between the pistons, and in the two spaces between the pistons and the ends of the cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3557554A
Cited
US3675416A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |