External combustion hot gas engine system

Claim 2

External combustion hot gas engine system having a hot gas engine (1), an engine heat exchanger (2), burner means (8, 13, 22, 26) providing hot combustion gases, and heat supply and distribution means (3, 4, 5, 6), including heat storage means (7) deriving heat from said hot combustion gases and supplying heat to the engine heat exchanger (2), the improvement wherein the heat storage device (7) is connected to receive hot combustion gases from the burner (8) and includes a heat storage substance, a heat pipe (6) extending into the heat storage device in a predetermined direction and in heat exchange relation with the substance, and duct means (32, 43) separate from said heat pipe (6), connected to receive the hot combustion gases from the burner, located in heat exchange relation to the heat storage substance and extending parallel to the heat pipe (6) to permit sequential or simultaneous withdrawal of heat energy by the heat pipe (6) and recharging of the storage device by energy from the burner.

Claim 3

System according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage device includes a vessel (25) retaining the substance which is subjected to cyclical changes in phase, the heat pipe (6) being in heat exchange relation with said substance.

Claim 4

System according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage device (7) comprises a plurality of heat storage units (25) arranged in layers, with individual units arranged in a row, each unit having said duct means, the heat storage units being located relative to each other such that the duct means (32) through which the hot gases pass along the heat storage units are in parallel paths.

Claim 5

System according to claim 3, wherein the speed of flow of the combustion gases through the duct means increases in the direction of flow and as the gases are cooled by heat exchange with the storage units.

Claim 6

System according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of heat storage units (25) is arranged in groups, and the number of heat exchange units (25) in any group having their duct means (32) connected in parallel to the hot combustion gases decreases in the direction of gas flow.

Claim 7

System according to claim 4, wherein (FIGS. 3, 4) the plurality of heat storage units (25) are arranged in groups, and the cross sections of the duct means (32) of different heat storage groups are of different cross-sectional area, in decreasing dimension in the direction of flow and as the ducts are more remote from the burner.

Claim 8

System according to claim 3, wherein (FIGS. 6, 7) the plurality of heat storage units have a common inlet forming an inlet manifold (31) and common outlets forming an outlet manifold (34), the manifolds being connected to the burner and to an exhaust, respectively.

Claim 9

System according to claim 3, wherein (FIGS 4, 5) the plurality of heat storage units (25) are arranged in groups, and wherein the groups of the heat storage units, each, have a common inlet, forming a group inlet manifold, and a common outlet, forming a group outlet manifold, the group inlet manifolds and the group outlet manifolds being connected to the burner means and to an exhaust, respectively.

Claim 10

System according to claim 1, wherein (FIGS. 3-7) the heat storage device (7) comprises at least one heat storage means forming a closed vessel (25) surrounded by a spaced tube or shield (35), the space between the vessel and the tube or shield forming said duct means (32).

Claim 11

System according to claim 1, wherein (FIGS. 9-11) the heat storage means (7) comprises a closed vessel (25') and a plurality of pipe, or conduit means (43) passing within said closed vessel, and forming said duct means, the combustion gases, at least in part, being conducted through said pipe or conduit means.

Claim 12

System according to claim 10, wherein the closed vessel retains a heat storage substance; and the heat supply to any one heat storage unit is distributed in dependence on the mass distribution of the heat storage substance within the closed vessel.

Claim 13

System according to claim 11, wherein the distribution of the pipes or conduits (43) within the closed vessel is arranged, across the cross section of the closed vessel, in dependence on relative mass distribution within the closed vessel of said heat storage substance, regions of greater mass of heat storage substance having a greater concentration of pipes, or conduits, per unit area.

Claim 14

System according to claim 1, wherein the burner means comprises at least two burners (8, 13, 22, 26); the heat supply means comprises a direct heat pipe (5) having heated combustion gases from one of the burners (8, 22) applied thereto and supplying heat to the heat exchanger (2), the heat storage device (7) having heat applied thereto by the hot combustion gases from the other one of the burners (13, 28).

Claim 15

System according to claim 13, including at least one pre-heater (9, 23, 29), receiving heat from exhaust combustion gases from at least one of the burners to pre-heat combustion air being supplied to the burners.

Claim 16

System according to claim 14, wherein said one burner (8) having said direct heat pipe (5) associated therewith is located in advance - with respect to flow direction of combustion gases - of the other burner (13) providing heat to the heat storage device (7).

Claim 17

System according to claim 14, wherein both burners (8, 13) are connected in parallel with respect to pre-heated combustion air.

Claim 18

System according to claim 13, wherein each one of the burners (22, 26) has an individual pre-heater (23, 29), the pre-heater having combustion gases from the associated burner applied thereto to pre-heat air being supplied to the respective burner.

Claim 19

System according to claim 1, wherein the heat supply means comprises a heat distributor (4) connected in heat exchange relation to the heat exchanger (2) to deliver heat thereto and being further connected in heat exchange relation to the heat storage device (7) to receive heat therefrom.

Claim 20

System according to claim 18, wherein the heat supply means further comprises a direct heat pipe (5) having heated combustion gases from said burner means (8, 13, 22, 26) applied thereto and supplying heat to the distributor (4) additionally, or exclusively of heat being supplied by the heat storage device.

Claim 21

System according to claim 19, wherein at least one of: heat distributor (4); heat pipe (6); comprises a thermal triode in which the flow of heat transfer is controllable.

Claim 22

External combustion hot gas engine system having a hot gas engine (1), an engine heat exchanger (2), burner means (8, 13, 22, 26) providing hot combustion gases, heat storage means (7), heat supply and distribution means (3, 4, 5, 6), and heat conduction means (10, 30, 31, 34) to supply heat to the heat storage means, wherein said heat supply and distribution means to transport heat to the engine heat exchanger comprises a heat pipe system (3, 4, 5, 6); said heat pipe system includes first heat pipes (5) exposed to combustion gases from the burner (8, 22); second heat pipes (6) in heat exchange relation with said storage means (7); and third heat pipes (3, 4) in heat exchange relation with at least one of said first and second heat pipes, (5, 6) and conducting heat to the engine heat exchanger (2); the heat storage means (7) comprises a plurality of storage units (25), each being symetrical with respect to a center line thereof, said heat storage units (25) being located in adjacent rows and in superimposed layers, said second heat pipes (6) extending into said units centrally thereof, said units having duct means (32, 43) connected to receive the hot combustion gases from the burner and located in heat exchange relation to the storage medium of the heat storage device, and extending parallel to said heat pipe (6) centrally of the respective unit; and collection manifolds (31, 34) to which said duct means (32, 43) are connected, located at the end surface of the respective storage units (25).

Claim 23

External combustion hot gas engine system having a hot gas engine (1), an engine heat exchanger (2), burner means (8, 13, 22, 26) providing hot combustion gases, heat storage means (7), heat supply and distribution means (3, 4, 5, 6), and heat conduction means (10, 30, 31, 34) to supply heat to the heat storage means, wherein said heat supply and distribution means to transport heat to the engine heat exchanger comprises a heat pipe system (3, 4, 5, 6); said heat pipe system includes first heat pipes (5) exposed to combustion gases from the burner (8, 22); second heat pipes (6) in heat exchange relation with said storage means (7); and third heat pipes (3, 4) in heat exchange relation with at least one of said first and second heat pipes, (5, 6) and conducting heat to the engine heat exchanger (2); the heat storage means (7) comprises a plurality of storage units (25), each being symetrical with respect to a center line thereof, said heat storage units (25) being located in adjacent rows and in superimposed layers, said second heat pipes (6) extending into said units centrally thereof, said units having duct means (32, 43) connected to receive the hot combustion gases from the burner and located in heat exchange relation to the storage medium of the heat storage device, and extending parallel to said heat pipe (6) centrally of the respective unit; and collection manifolds (31, 34) to which said duct means (32, 43) are connected, located at the end surface of the respective storage units (25).

Claim 24

A heat storage battery (7) for combination with external combustion hot gas engine systems comprising a plurality of heat storage units (25) located in adjacent rows and in superimposed layers, each said units including a heat pipe (6) extending centrally of the units; a heat storage medium surrounding said centrally located heat pipe; duct means (32, 43) connected to receive hot fluids in heat exchange relation to said heat storage medium, said duct means extending parallel to the heat pipe centrally of the unit; and distribution and collection manifolds (31, 34) to which said duct means (32, 43) are connected, located at the end surface of the respective storage units whereby hot fluids passing through the duct means will transfer heat radially inwardly to be stored in the heat storage medium, for removal by the heat pipe, as desired, simultaneously, or successively with application of heat to the storage medium by the hot fluids, and independently of flow of the hot fluids through said duct means to store heat in the storage medium.

Claim 25

A heat storage battery (7) for combination with external combustion hot gas engine systems comprising a plurality of heat storage units (25) located in adjacent rows and in superimposed layers, each said units including a heat pipe (6) extending centrally of the units; a heat storage medium surrounding said centrally located heat pipe; duct means (32, 43) connected to receive hot fluids in heat exchange relation to said heat storage medium, said duct means extending parallel to the heat pipe centrally of the unit; and distribution and collection manifolds (31, 34) to which said duct means (32, 43) are connected, located at the end surface of the respective storage units whereby hot fluids passing through the duct means will transfer heat radially inwardly to be stored in the heat storage medium, for removal by the heat pipe, as desired, simultaneously, or successively with application of heat to the storage medium by the hot fluids, and independently of flow of the hot fluids through said duct means to store heat in the storage medium.

Claim 26

Heat storage battery according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of heat storage units (25) are arranged in groups, and the cross sections of the duct means of the different heat storage groups are of different cross sectional area, in decreasing dimension in the direction of flow of the heat supplying fluid, and as the ducts are more remote from the source of said fluid.

Claim 27

Heat storage battery according to claim 22, wherein the closed vessel (25) is provided, said duct, or conduit means comprises a plurality of pipes or conduits (43) passing within said closed vessel, and the distribution of the pipes or conduits (43) within the closed vessel is arranged, across the cross section of the closed vessel, in dependence on relative mass distribution within the closed vessel of the heat storage substance, regions of greater mass of heat storage substance having a greater concentration of pipes, or conduits per unit area.