U.S. patent application number 12/739231 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for installation and method for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy.
This patent application is currently assigned to TIPSPIT INVENSTORS B.V.. Invention is credited to Rob Jansen, Hans Van Rij.
Application Number | 20100263378 12/739231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39415004 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100263378 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Rij; Hans ; et
al. |
October 21, 2010 |
INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAT INTO MECHANICAL
ENERGY
Abstract
An installation and method for the conversion of thermal energy
into mechanical energy. The installation includes at least two
closed containers, a converter for the conversion of flow energy
into mechanical energy, a switching system as well as a supply
line, a discharge line and a heat supply system. Each time, the
converter is supplied with a fluid under high pressure and
temperature from one container and the temperature-reduced fluid is
then collected in another container. As soon as the other container
is filled and the first container becomes empty, these containers
are exchanged or replaced by other containers.
Inventors: |
Van Rij; Hans; (Vlaardingen,
NL) ; Jansen; Rob; (Hoogvliet, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
TIPSPIT INVENSTORS B.V.
Vlaardingen
NL
|
Family ID: |
39415004 |
Appl. No.: |
12/739231 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 10, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2008/050596 |
371 Date: |
May 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/650 ;
60/682 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01K 25/02 20130101;
F01K 27/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/650 ;
60/682 |
International
Class: |
F01K 25/02 20060101
F01K025/02; F01K 27/00 20060101 F01K027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 10, 2007 |
NL |
2000849 |
Claims
1-22. (canceled)
23. Installation for the conversion of thermal energy into
mechanical energy, whereby the installation comprises: at least two
closed containers for containing a fluid; a converter for
converting flow energy into mechanical energy; a switching system;
a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end section;
a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end
section; a heat supply system; whereby the inlet end section of the
supply line is connected to the switching system for the receipt of
fluid from the switching system; whereby the outlet end section of
the supply line is connected to the converter for supplying the
converter with the fluid; whereby the inlet end section of the
discharge line is connected to the converter for discharging the
fluid from the converter; whereby the outlet end section of the
discharge line is connected to the switching system for supplying
the switching system with the fluid; whereby the heat supply system
is made connectable via the switching system with each of the
containers for heating the fluid in said containers; whereby each
container is made connectable via the switching system with the
supply line for the supply of fluid to the converter and with the
discharge line for the receipt of the fluid discharged from the
converter; whereby the switching system is switchable between at
least two switching positions; whereby the switching system is
arranged so that, when switching from one switching position to
another, it repeatedly connects other containers than those in the
previous switching position to the supply line or discharge line;
whereby, on the one hand, the switching system is further arranged
in order to connect, in each switching position, at least one of
the containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in
said container and, on the other hand, the supply line for the
supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time,
another of those containers is disengaged from the heat supply
system and connected to the discharge line in order to collect the
fluid discharged from the converter, whereby each container (9, 11)
acts cooperatively with a heater (102) which is present in a space
(103) which is isolated in relation to at least the most
substantial part of the internal volume of the respective
container, through which said heaters (102) each respective
container (9, 11) is connected with the switching system.
24. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the supply line is
provided with an evaporator for evaporating the liquid-state
fluid;
25. Installation according to claim 24, whereby the evaporator
comprises a heat-exchanger which is connected to the heat supply
system.
26. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the discharge line
is provided with a cooler for cooling the fluid flowing through the
discharge line.
27. Installation according to claim 26, whereby the cooler is
arranged in order to supply the heat-exchanger with the cooling
medium, the temperature of which is determined by the ambient
temperature.
28. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the converter
comprises a turbine, in particular a liquid turbine.
29. Installation according to claim 23, whereby the converter
comprises a flywheel.
30. Installation according claim 23, whereby each heater (102) is
positioned exterior to the container (9, 11) and is connected to
the container via connection lines (104, 105).
31. Installation according to claim 23, whereby each container (9,
11) acts cooperatively with a cooler (11, 12).
32. Installation according to claim 23, whereby a heat pump is
provided which is connected to the heat supply system and the
discharge line for extracting heat from the discharge line and for
the supply of the heat extracted from the discharge line to the
heat supply system.
33. Assembly comprising an installation according to claim 23,
including an electricity generator, whereby the generator is
coupled to the converter for generating electricity from the
mechanical energy generated from the converter.
34. Method for the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical
energy, whereby the method is performed with the use of at least
two containers, whereby the method comprises the following steps:
a) heating a liquid-containing fluid present in a first mentioned
container, by means of a medium with a high temperature, in such a
manner that a portion of the liquid is converted to a gaseous phase
and the pressure in the container increases; b) increasing the
pressure in the first container in order to transfer the
liquid-phase fluid, such as a liquid-state fluid, from the first
container to a converter; c) converting flow energy in the
converter, present in the fluid supplied to the converter, into
mechanical energy; d) discharging the energy-reduced fluid to a
second said container; e) collecting in the second container all
the fluid discharged from the converter; f) exchanging the first
container with another container with a higher liquid level when
the liquid level of the first container drops below a certain
minimum level; g) exchanging the container in use with another
container with a lower filling level when the liquid level of the
second container has exceeded a predetermined upper threshold;
whereby a container made available in a step g) is used in step f);
whereby a container made available in a step f) is used in step g)
whereby in step a) a portion of the liquid in the container is
separated from the rest of the liquid, the separated portion is
heated and whereby the gaseous phase thus obtained from the
separated portion is transported back to the container.
35. Method according to claim 34, whereby steps f) and g) take
place simultaneously.
36. Method according to claim 35, whereby the method is performed
with the use of two containers which, when steps f) and g) are
executed, are both mutually exchanged.
37. Method according to claim 34, whereby the fluid is evaporated
during step b).
38. Method according to claim 34, whereby the fluid is cooled
during step d).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an installation, as well as
a method, for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy.
[0002] Installations and methods which convert heat into mechanical
energy are known in the present art. Such installations and methods
are often used for generating electricity (whereby a generator is
connected which converts the mechanical energy into electricity) in
order to use thermal energy that would otherwise remain unused.
Such thermal energy is often present in cooling water and waste
gases. Such thermal energy is also present in ground-water. The use
of solar radiation is also known. It is also known that stone,
asphalt and other such materials have the properties to retain heat
under the effects of solar radiation and solar heat. Likewise, it
is also known that this solar heat can be extracted from stone and
asphalt, for example, by providing them with water-containing pipes
that pass through them.
[0003] Although installations and methods for converting heat into
mechanical energy generally use available heat, most often residual
heat, the efficiency of such conversion processes still remains
significant. Because the effective yield from the conversion of
heat into mechanical energy or electricity leaves a lot to be
desired, it is not often used in practice, although processes for
this purpose are known. It clearly remains practical, especially in
the use of available (residual heat) for the purpose of heating
processes or buildings.
[0004] When heat is converted to mechanical energy, this generally
requires a transfer medium. This transfer medium can be a fluid
which is circulated in a circuit by means of pumps. The liquid is
then heated to a higher energy level with a higher pressure and
temperature by means of available heat, lead through a converter in
which the energy level drops, in particular the temperature and
pressure, and then returned via a pump or compressor. This process
is not efficient since the pump or compressor requires just as much
or more energy to operate than the mechanical energy that is
generated in the converter.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an
installation and method for the conversion of heat into mechanical
energy, using a transfer medium in the form of a fluid, with which
such a process can be efficiently achieved.
[0006] As regards the installation, this object according to the
invention can be achieved by providing an installation for the
conversion of heat into mechanical energy, whereby the installation
comprises:
[0007] at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;
[0008] a converter for the conversion of flow energy into
mechanical energy;
[0009] a switching system;
[0010] a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end
section;
[0011] a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end
section;
[0012] a heat supply system;
whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to
the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching
system; whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is
connected to the converter for supplying the fluid to the
converter; whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is
connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the
converter; whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is
connected to the switching system for supplying the fluid to the
switching system; whereby the heat supply system is made
connectable to each of the containers via the switching system for
heating the fluid in said containers; whereby each container is
made connectable via the switching system to the supply line for
the supply of fluid to the converter and to the discharge line for
receiving the fluid discharged from the converter; whereby the
switching system is switchable between at least two switching
positions; whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when
switching from one switching position to another, it repeatedly
connects other containers than those in the previous switching
position to the supply line and/or discharge line; whereby, on the
one hand, the switching system is further arranged in order to
connect in each switching position at least one of the containers
to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said container
and, on the other hand to the supply line for the supply of the
fluid to the converter, whereas, at the same time, another of those
containers is disengaged from the heat supply system and connected
to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from
the converter.
[0013] The process that takes place in the installation is briefly
as follows: at the high pressure side of the process there is a
closed container filled with fluid. By heating this fluid in the
closed container by means of available (residual) heat, the
temperature and the pressure in that container increase. Here, a
portion of the fluid in the container evaporates. The pressure and
temperature in the container increase. This pressure will force
fluid, in particular liquid-state fluid, from the container to the
converter via a supply line. A fluid then arrives at the converter
with a relatively high level of flow energy, with a relatively high
temperature and pressure. This flow energy is then converted in the
converter to mechanical energy, whereby the level of the flow
energy (temperature and/or pressure) present in the fluid will
drop. The fluid with the low energy level originating from the
converter is then collected at the low pressure side in another
container. When the container at the high pressure side is empty,
at least when the fluid contained therein drops to below the lower
threshold, and/or when the container on the low pressure side is
full, at least when the liquid level of the fluid contained therein
exceeds an upper threshold, the container at the high pressure side
or the container at the low pressure side can be exchanged, either
by a full or an empty container respectively. When the process is
applied with the use of two containers, this then means the
immediate exchange of the containers at the low and the high
pressure side.
[0014] The installation according to the invention is based on the
principle that in the previously described circuit the pump or
compressor used for pumping back the fluid from the low pressure
side to the high pressure side is omitted and substituted by two or
more closed containers which can be mutually interchanged in order
to supply fluid at the high pressure side to the converter, or to
collect fluid originating from the converter at the low pressure
side. When a container at the high pressure side is empty, this can
then be exchanged with a filled container at the low pressure side.
This therefore changes the continual circuit process, in which a
pump or compressor is used, into an interrupted circuit process.
Compared with a pump or a compressor, the exchange of the
containers requires very little or no energy. The containers do not
need to be physically moved, but can be connected at specific
desired times by means of a switching system to the high pressure
side or to the low pressure side of the process.
[0015] According to the invention it is beneficial, when increasing
the energy level of the fluid supplied to the converter, if the
supply line is provided with an evaporator for evaporating
liquid-state fluid which is transported up and down the line to a
gaseous or vapour-like fluid. According to a further advantageous
embodiment, this evaporator comprises a heat-exchanger connected to
the heat supply system. In this manner therefore, evaporation can
be achieved using the same available heat source as that with which
the container at the high pressure side is heated.
[0016] According to a further embodiment, it is advantageous if the
discharge line is provided with a cooler for cooling the fluid
flowing through the discharge line. In this manner, the saturated
gaseous particles of the fluid are easily evaporated. The process
can be controlled more effectively with the use of such a cooler. A
further advantage of the invention is when the cooler is a
heat-exchanger and when the cooler is arranged to supply the
heat-exchanger with a cooling medium, the temperature of which is
determined by the ambient temperature. The ambient temperature can
be the temperature of the air, surface water, seawater, a rock
formation, the ground etc. Therefore, in this way, the ambient
temperature is used to cool. The ambient temperature is essentially
a freely available medium which enables one to use essentially
freely available cooling energy.
[0017] According to an alternative embodiment, each container can
act cooperatively with a heater positioned in a space isolated in
respect of, or at least for a substantial part of the internal
volume of the respective container, from which heaters each
respective container is connected to the switching system. By
definition, each isolated space contains a relatively small amount
of fluid, only a relatively small amount of which is required for
the purpose of heating. This is beneficial in that a considerable
expansion of gaseous fluid can be obtained with only a relatively
small amount of energy. In this way, a liquid or gas can be
supplied in an efficient manner to the converter.
[0018] In conjunction herewith, each heater can be positioned
externally to the container and be connected to the container by
means of connecting lines; however, it is also possible to isolate
said space within the interior of the container in relation to the
remaining space therein.
[0019] Furthermore, each container can act cooperatively with a
cooler, which is preferably present within the container. This
cooler can be in continual operation, whereby said cooler can cool
the gaseous phase directly, as soon as the fluid level in the
container is so low that the cooler is disengaged. In this way a
rapid cooling of the gaseous phase is achieved, which is beneficial
to a short cycle period. Subsequently, the respective cooler can
then be quickly re-filled with liquid from another container as a
result of the low pressure thus achieved.
[0020] The invention relates further to an installation for the
conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy, whereby the
installation comprises:
[0021] at least two closed containers for containing a fluid;
[0022] a converter for the converting flow energy into mechanical
energy;
[0023] a switching system;
[0024] a supply line with an inlet end section and an outlet end
section;
[0025] a discharge line with an inlet end section and an outlet end
section;
[0026] a heat supply system;
whereby the inlet end section of the supply line is connected to
the switching system for the receipt of fluid from the switching
system; whereby the outlet end section of the supply line is
connected to the converter for supplying the converter with the
fluid; whereby the inlet end section of the discharge line is
connected to the converter for discharging the fluid from the
converter; whereby the outlet end section of the discharge line is
connected to the switching system for supplying the switching
system with the fluid; whereby each container acts cooperatively
with a heater; whereby the heat supply system is made connectable
via the switching system with each of the heaters for heating the
fluid in said containers; whereby each container is made
connectable through the switching system, with the supply line for
the supply of fluid to the converter and with the discharge line
for the receipt of the fluid discharged from the converter; whereby
the switching system is switchable between at least two switching
positions; whereby the switching system is arranged so that, when
switching from one position to another, it repeatedly connects
other containers than those in the previous switching position to
the supply line and/or discharge line; whereby, on the one hand,
the switching system is further arranged in order to connect, in
each switching position, the heater of at least one of the
containers to the heat supply system for heating the fluid in said
container and, on the other hand, to connect that container to the
supply line for the supply of the fluid to the converter, whereas,
at the same time, another of those heaters is disengaged from the
heat supply system and the other of those containers is connected
to the discharge line in order to collect the fluid discharged from
the converter.
[0027] This installation may be provided with a heat discharge
system;
whereby each container acts cooperatively with a cooler; whereby
the heat discharge system is connected to each of the coolers of
the containers for cooling the fluid in said containers.
[0028] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
converter comprises a turbine, in particular a liquid turbine.
Gaseous and/or liquid flows with high efficiencies can be converted
into mechanical energy by the use of a turbine.
[0029] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
converter comprises a flywheel. This enables the converter to
compensate for any interruptions or irregularities in the supply of
fluid.
[0030] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to an
assembly comprising an installation according to the invention,
including an electricity generator, whereby the generator is
coupled to the converter for generating electricity from the
mechanical energy generated from the converter.
[0031] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to the
use of an installation according to the invention for the
conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy.
[0032] According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to
the use of an assembly according to the invention for the
conversion of thermal energy into electricity.
[0033] As regards the method, the object of the invention,
according to yet another aspect of the invention, is achieved by
applying a method for the conversion of heat into mechanical
energy, whereby the method is applied with the use of at least two
containers,
whereby the method comprises the following steps: a) the heating of
a liquid-containing fluid present in a first said container, by
means of a medium with a high temperature, in such a manner that a
portion of the liquid is converted to a gaseous phase and the
pressure in the container increases; b) the use of the increase in
pressure in the first container in order to transfer the fluid,
particularly a liquid-phase fluid, from the first container to a
converter; c) the conversion in the converter of flow energy,
present in the fluid supplied to the converter, into mechanical
energy; d) the extraction of the energy-reduced fluid to a second
said container; e) the collection in the second container of all
the fluid extracted from the converter; f) the exchange of this
first container with another container with a higher liquid level
when the liquid level of the first container drops below a certain
predetermined lower threshold; g] the exchange of the container in
use by another container with a lower filling level when the liquid
level of the second container has exceeded a predetermined upper
threshold; whereby a container made available in step g] is used in
step f]; whereby a container made available in step f] is used in
step g].
[0034] Further advantageous embodiments of this method are
described in the claims 17-21. With regard to the further
description of the method according to the invention, as well as
advantageous embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the
aforementioned, as well as to the description of the figures given
hereinafter.
[0035] The fluid used in the installation and by the method
according to the invention can essentially be any fluid which is
evaporable from its liquid state. The liquid may be water, for
example. In particular, the fluid will be a fluid typically applied
in cooling systems, such as R407C, R134a, Freon and
Freon-substitues etc.
[0036] The installation and assembly according to the invention are
highly suited to being constructed as containers in a modular
fashion. Here, conceivable containers would be, for example,
freight containers and sea containers, such as those used in road
transport, sea transport or for other means of transport over
water.
[0037] When the installation according to the invention is applied
with the use of high pressure steam--i.e. steam with a pressure
exceeding 70 bar, for example, higher than 130 bar (for example
with a pressure of 180 bar and a temperature of 540.degree.
C.)-considerably higher efficiency rates are achievable than in
conventional high-pressure steam systems.
[0038] The present invention will be described hereinafter in more
detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic representation of an
installation according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 is also a schematic representation, in this case
however, of an alternative embodiment of the lower section of the
installation according to FIG. 1 indicated by parentheses II;
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows an installation 1 according to the invention.
Here, 2 indicates a converter for the conversion of flow energy
into mechanical energy, 3 indicates a generator 3 for generating
electricity from the axle 16 driven by converter 2, 4 indicates an
optional cooling system which is optionally operable with the use
of a heat-exchanger 5, 6 indicates an optional evaporator to which
the energy required for evaporation is optionally supplied by means
of heat exchanger 7, 8 indicates a switching system, 9 and 11
indicate closed containers, and 10 and 12 indicate
heat-exchangers.
[0043] The switching system 8 here is shown schematically as a
block that can be caused to move between two positions in
accordance with the twin arrow 84, in which a multiple of
connecting channels 85 are positioned, illustrated in inclined
positions, which, depending on the position of the switching system
8 connect the lines 20, 30, 40 and 50, lying on the upper surface
of the block, either with the lines 21, 31, 41, and 51
respectively, or with the lines 22, 32, 42 and 52 respectively.
[0044] Line 20 is indicated together with the supply line and
connects the switching system 8 with the inlet 13 of the converter
2. This supply line 20 can optionally comprise an evaporator 6 in
order to evaporate the liquid-state fluid flowing through the line
20.
[0045] Line 30 is indicated as discharge line and connects the
outlet 14 of the converter 2 with the switching system 8. This
discharge line 30 may optionally comprise a cooler 4 for cooling
the fluid flowing through the discharge line 30.
[0046] When a fluid is supplied via the evaporator 6 through line
20 to the converter 2 (in this example a turbine) under relatively
high pressure, for example 15 to 20 bar, a turbine wheel in the
turbine is caused to rotate which drives an axle 16 with which
electricity can be generated by a generator 3, the electricity thus
generated being indicated by arrow 100. The energy-reduced fluid in
the converter 2 will enter the discharge line 30 via the outlet 14
and, if necessary, can thereby be cooled by means of the cooler 4.
Subsequently, in order to enable the fluid to circulate in a
continual process, the discharge line 30 and the supply line 20
would need to be jointly connected via a pump or compressor. In
such cases, the pump of compressor requires such a high level of
power that the electricity 100 thus generated is obtained in an
extremely inefficient manner. The present invention eliminates this
problem by means of connecting the circuit between the discharge
line 30 and the supply line 20 in a different manner.
[0047] The present invention uses at least 2 closed containers 9
and 11, the example according to FIG. 1 showing exactly 2. The
closed container 9 contains a fluid which is heated by means of a
heat-exchanger 10. The pressure and temperature in the closed
container 9 will rise as a result of this, for example, to 15 to 20
bar and 40.degree. C. As soon as the pressure in the closed
container 9 exceeds a certain threshold value the non-return valve
91 of the installation will open and force liquid-state fluid from
the closed container 9 into the line 21. The switching system 8
connects line 21 with supply line 20 and in this manner enables the
liquid-state fluid to be transferred to the turbine 2 via the
evaporator 6. In the turbine 2, the flow energy present in the
fluid is converted into mechanical energy, in the form of a
rotating axle 16, after which the energy-reduced fluid, which, for
example, still has a pressure of 5 bar and a temperature of
20.degree. C., is discharged from the converter 2 via discharge
line 30. Discharge line 30 is connected to a line 32 via switching
system 8, from which the energy-reduced fluid is collected in the
other closed container 11. By continuing this process, the fluid
level 80 in container 9 will drop and the fluid level 83 in
container 11 will rise. As soon as the fluid level 80 in container
9 drops below the lower threshold 82, the container 9 is considered
empty. At approximately the same time, the fluid level 83 in
container 11 will exceed an upper threshold 81, after which the
container 11 will be considered as full. As soon as this situation
occurs, the switching system 8 will be switched from the switching
position shown in FIG. 1 to another switching position by sliding
the block 8 to the left. As soon as the block 8 is moved to the
left, the line 22 which was closed off by the block 8 whilst in its
initial position is connected to the supply line 20, the line 21
that was previously connected to supply line 20 is closed off, the
line 32 that was previously connected with the discharge line 30 is
closed off, and the line 31 that was previously closed off is
connected to the discharge line 30. Subsequently, by heating the
fluid in the container 11, which had the pressure of 5 bar and the
temperature of 20.degree. C., as given in the example, before
switching took place, to the previously mentioned pressure of 15 to
20 bar and a temperature of 40.degree. C., and by decreasing the
temperature and pressure in the container 9 (for example, by means
of cooling) to the level at which the pressure and temperature in
container 11 was (in this example 5 bar and 20.degree. C.) before
switching, the process described hereinbefore can be repeated. The
converter 2 will now be supplied from the container 11 and the
energy-reduced fluid will be collected in container 9. As soon as
the fluid level in container 9 has exceeded the upper threshold 81
and/or when the fluid level 83 in container 11 has dropped to
beneath the lower threshold 82, the switch system 8 can be switched
back to the position shown in FIG. 1. In principle, this continual
switching of the switching system 8 can be infinitely repeated.
[0048] The heat required for heating the fluid in container 9 (in
the position indicated in FIG. 1) or in container 11 in a different
switching position, originates from the respective exchanger 10 or
12. The heat-exchangers 10 and 12 can be supplied with cooling
water originating from, for example, an industrial process or an
electric power station, or with groundwater, or otherwise with a
warm fluid (such as a gas liquid, or gas/liquid mixture) which does
not necessarily need to be water. The heat for supplying the
heat-exchangers 10 and 12, for example, can also be obtained by
laying a pipe system containing water within the asphalt, so that
the water can absorb solar heat via the asphalt. The heat supplied
for heating the fluid in container 9 or 11 is supplied via line 38
which, as shown in FIG. 1, is connected via line 40 to the
switching system 8. Line 40 can be connected via the switching
system 8 either with line 41 or line 42. The switching position
according to FIG. 1 is line 40 connected to line 41 in order to
supply the heat-exchanger 10. The return flow from the
heat-exchanger 10 is returned via line 51, via switching system 8,
line 50 and line 48. When the switching system 8 is set to the
position to the left, the heat will supply heat-exchanger 12 via
line 42 and the backflow will flow via line 52 to line 50 and line
48. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the same heat flow 38 can also be
used to supply the heat-exchanger 7 in the evaporator 6. This
occurs via a branch line 39. The return flow from the
heat-exchanger 7 is supplied via a line 49 back to line 48.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an alternative lower
section of the installation 1, other than that indicated in FIG. 1
by means of parentheses II. In this alternative embodiment the
switching system is indicated by 88, and in addition, the
containers 110 and 101 are added, which, incidentally correspond to
the containers 9 and 11. Container 100 is provided with lines 23,
33, 43 and 53 which correspond to the respective lines 21, 31, 41
and 51 of container 9 and the respective lines 22, 32, 42, and 52
of container 11. In the same manner, container 101 is provided with
the respective lines 24, 34, 44 and 54. The liquid level in
containers 100 and 101 is indicated by 85 and 86 respectively. For
the remainder, the reference numerals used in FIG. 2 correspond to
the reference numerals used in FIG. 1.
[0050] By means of the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the yield of
mechanical energy or, possibly, electricity can be increased.
Consequently, when the containers 9 and 11, for example, are in use
for supplying the converter or for the return flow of fluid from
the converter 2, the fluid in container 101, which is filled to a
high level 86, can in the meantime be heated in order to bring this
container 101 up to the pressure and temperature level of container
9 whilst, in the meantime, container 100 can be allowed to cool to
the pressure and temperature level of container 11. Subsequently,
when container 11 is full and container 9 is empty, the switching
system 8 can continue switching in order to connect container 101
to the supply line 20 in order to supply converter 2 and container
100 to the discharge line 30 in order to return collected fluid.
The process is then effectuated by means of the containers 100 and
101. Meanwhile, container 11 can be heated and container 9 can be
cooled. As soon as container 101 becomes empty and container 100 is
filled, switching may continue in order to supply converter 2 from
container 11 and to receive back the fluid in container 9, whilst,
in the meantime, container 100 is heated and container 101 cools.
As soon as container 11 empties and/or container 9 is filled,
switching can be continued, and so forth. If desired, more than
four containers can be used, for example, when the time required
for the transfer of the content from the container at the high
pressure side to the container at the low pressure side is shorter
than the time required for heating the filled container(s) to the
desired heat level or cooling the empty container(s). So, in this
manner, an essentially continual process can be achieved by using
an appropriate number of containers.
[0051] In the alternative embodiment in FIG. 3, external
heat-exchangers or heaters 102 are applied at each container 9, 11
and incorporated within the housings 103. These housings 103 are
each connected to a line 104 with the upper side of the containers
9, 11 and with a line 105 with the lower side of the containers 9,
11. The volume of the housings 103 is substantially smaller than
the volume of the containers 9, 11. The heaters 102, which are
supplied via the lines 105 with liquid-state fluid, only need to
heat a small quantity of fluid in order to reach the gaseous phase,
which is supplied to the respective containers 9, 11 via the lines
104. In the containers, these gases produce an egressive effect on
the liquid which, as a result, can be transported back to the
converter 2 via the opened valve 91 and lines 21 and 22
respectively. Therefore, a relatively small quantity of energy,
which is sufficient to heat the quantity of liquid in the housings
103, will result in the rapid egression of liquid from the
containers 9, 11 by the gases obtained in the housings. The
resulting expansion in the containers ensures an efficient
egression of the liquid from the containers 9, 11, which liquid
does not need to be heated in its entirety in order to enable that
egression. This shortens the cycle period, which is advantageous to
the performance of the installation. The term `cycle period` is
understood to mean the time required to force the liquid from the
one container to the other and back again.
[0052] Additionally, a heat pump 110 is provided, which is supplied
via the line 111 with a portion of the electrical energy generated
by generator 3. The heat pump enables the reclamation of heat which
would otherwise be discharged from the installation and be lost.
The heat pump 110 absorbs heat from the heat-exchanger 5 via line
109, and transfers the heat thus absorbed to the line 38. Cooling
is then supplied to the heat-exchanger via line 108.
[0053] Furthermore, the heat-exchangers 10, 12 or coolers may cool
the container after the liquid has been forced out, as described
hereinbefore, in order to obtain a low pressure in the interior of
said container. To this end, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3
these coolers 10, 12 are connected via the lines 106 to the line
109 and via the line 107 to the line 108. The coolers are therefore
continually operative when the heat pump is in use. They cool the
liquid in the containers 9, 11 and, as soon as the liquid level in
the containers has dropped partially or entirely to below the level
of the heat-exchangers 10, 12, they will immediately begin to cool
the gas present above the liquid. This ensures an efficient cooling
of the gas, such that a correspondingly fast drop in pressure in
the containers 9, 11 occurs which is beneficial to the efficient
continuation of the successive cycles of the cooling of the gas in
the container in conjunction with the collection of liquid that has
been forced out of the other container etc.
[0054] External heat can be supplied via the heat-exchanger to the
installation via the lines 38' and 48'. Also, even if the
heat-exchanger is not in operation, external heat can be supplied
to the installation via lines 38'' and 48''; in connection with the
exchange of operations with or without a exchanger, appropriate
switching means (not shown) can be provided for using the
respective lines 38' and 48' or 38'' and 48''.
[0055] Although in the previous description the coolers 102 are
cooled by the operation of the heat pump, this is not a
requirement. Cooling by a different means may also ensure the
desired cooling effect, such as cooling by means of a cold ambient
environment.
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