DE102006011380B4 - Heat engine - Google Patents

Abstract

Heat engine (1; 101; 201; 401; 601) for converting energy, such as ambient heat energy (240), into kinetic energy, with a motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612), with a working circuit (122; 422; 622) for driving the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) and with an energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) comprising a compressor (6; 106; 406; 606), which is used to heat the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) with this motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) is interactively connected, in which the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) are different from one another, characterized in that the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) is on the one hand an engine heat exchanger (113A; 413A; 613A) as a heater of the working medium, so that thermal energy from the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) can be transferred to the working circuit (122; 422; 622) in order to heat the working medium in the working circuit (122; 422; 622) or in expansion chambers of the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612), wherein on the other hand the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) are thermally connected to one another by means of the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) as an engine heat exchanger (13) and/or at least one further heat energy exchanger (121, 123; 421; 621, 623) is arranged between the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) in order to transfer excess heat energy from the working circuit (122; 422; 622) to the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), wherein the engine heat exchanger (13) and the at least one further heat energy exchanger (121, 123; 421; 621, 623) are arranged in a first energy carrier circuit sub-region (2A; 102A; 602A) (feed line) of the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), which extends in the flow direction (3; 103; 403; 603) from an expansion valve (5; 105; 405; 605) to the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606), wherein the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) is arranged as an engine heat exchanger (13A; 113A; 413A; 613A) in a second energy carrier circuit sub-region (2B; 102B; 602B) (return) of the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), which extends in the flow direction (3; 103; 403; 603) from the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606) to the expansion valve (5; 105; 405; 605), wherein a return heat exchanger (14; 114; 414; 614) is arranged between the first energy carrier circuit sub-region (2A; 102A; 602A) (feed) and the second energy carrier circuit sub-region (2B; 102B; 602B) (return) in order to to supply return heat energy from an engine return to the energy storage medium (4; 104; 404; 604) within the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), and wherein the flow temperature of the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606) is equal to the return temperature of the engine (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612).

Description

The invention relates to a heat engine for converting energy, such as ambient heat energy into kinetic energy, with a motor, with a working circuit for driving the motor and with an energy carrier circuit comprising a compressor which is interactively connected to this motor for heating the motor, in which the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit are different from one another.

A method for operating a heat engine, in which a working medium drives a motor of the heat engine, in which the working medium is heated by means of an energy storage medium, wherein the energy storage medium is heated to a first elevated temperature level by means of environmental thermal energy, is not in accordance with the invention. The following description parts relating to the method(s) serve merely for explanation and are not claimed in accordance with the invention.

Heat engines, which help to convert ambient heat from the environment into forms of energy that can be used by humans, are well known from the state of the art and function more or less well.

However, the known heat engines often operate so inefficiently that they are not economically viable.

From the US 4 389 858 A A heat engine for providing shaft work is known in which a heat pump and a rotary fluid motor are coupled by means of a heat-activatable cooling system, wherein the heat-activatable cooling system has a single fluid circuit.

The DE 195 24 171 A1 shows a low-temperature engine or a refrigeration machine for driving working machines with a closed gas circuit in which gas is used as a working medium and heat carrier. Heat can be absorbed from the ambient air in the gas circuit.

In addition, the US 3 774 397 A Another heat engine is known in which an expandable fluid is brought to a higher energy level by a burner in order to then drive a working machine through expansion work.

In the EN 30 10 389 A1 A system is described by means of which mechanical and/or electrical energy can be generated using ambient heat. The system has at least one circuit, which in turn comprises a heat exchanger, a compressor that can be operated by a motor, and a working machine, through which a liquefiable gas flows one after the other as a coolant. The coolant absorbs heat in the heat exchanger, is compressed in the compressor with an increase in temperature, and is then expanded again in the working machine with work being released. The heat exchanger can be supplied with thermal energy using ambient heat, which is then transferred to the coolant. Several such circuits can be connected in series.

Furthermore, the EN 101 35 205 A1 a multi-stage rotary piston engine is disclosed, wherein a working medium heated by a heat source is passed through the individual engine stages of the multi-stage rotary piston engine in order to perform mechanical work in each of the engine stages. The multi-stage rotary piston engine is used to repeatedly heat the working medium between the individual engine stages.

From the DE 699 14 738 T2 a rotating rotary piston machine with two volume-variable units, each with a rotary chamber and a multi-sided piston, is known, in which each chamber has several dual-function openings which establish a connection between the chambers by means of channels, each of these channels containing a regenerator which enables one volume-variable unit to "suction, expansion and discharge", while the other volume-variable unit carries out "suction, expansion and discharge" due to a suitable relative movement and the position of the openings.

The EN 40 10 206 A1 shows a hot air engine based on the Stirling principle with an external heater combined with a rotary engine. Each cylinder of the hot air engine is divided into a compression and an expansion area, with the cylinders being connected to each other by channels, and each of the cylinders comprising a regenerator.

Furthermore, the topic of decentralized energy supply is in the Book Decentralized Energy Systems, 2nd edition, Munich Vienna: De Gruyter Oldenbourg Verlag, 2006, 2528. - ISBN 978-3-486-57722-8 described.

The object of the present invention is to further develop such heat engines so that environmental heat energy can be used more effectively for humans.

The object of the invention is achieved by a heat engine for converting energy, such as ambient heat energy, into kinetic energy, with a motor, with a working circuit for driving the motor and with an energy carrier circuit comprising a compressor, which is interactively connected to this motor for heating the motor, in which the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit are different from one another, wherein the heat engine is characterized in that the motor housing, on the one hand, is an engine heat exchanger as a heater of the working medium, so that heat energy from the energy carrier circuit can be transferred to the working circuit in order to expand the working medium in the working circuit or in expansion spaces of the motor, wherein on the other hand, the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit are thermally connected to one another by means of the motor housing as an engine heat exchanger and/or at least one further heat energy exchanger is arranged between the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit in order to transfer excess heat energy from the working circuit to the energy carrier circuit, wherein the engine heat exchanger or the at least one further heat energy exchanger in a first Energy carrier circuit sub-region (feed line) of the energy carrier circuit are arranged, which extends from an expansion valve to the compressor as seen in the direction of flow, wherein the motor housing is arranged as an engine heat exchanger in a second energy carrier circuit sub-region (return line) of the energy carrier circuit, which extends from the compressor to the expansion valve as seen in the direction of flow, wherein a return heat exchanger is arranged between the first energy carrier circuit sub-region (feed line) and the second energy carrier circuit sub-region (return line) in order to supply return heat energy from an engine return line to the energy storage medium within the energy carrier circuit, and wherein the feed line temperature of the compressor is equal to the return line temperature of the engine.

The term "heat engine" refers to any device that is suitable for absorbing energy in the form of heat and providing mechanical work from the absorbed thermal energy. This mechanical work can be used by humans. In general and also in particular in the sense of the present invention, the present heat engine therefore provides work from heat.

The term "ambient thermal energy" refers to any type of thermal energy that is present in the natural environment and can be used. However, "ambient thermal energy" within the meaning of the invention can also be obtained from waste heat from technical equipment.

In the context of the heat engine, the term "engine" refers to any device by means of which a first form of energy can be converted into another form of energy. For example, the engine converts environmental heat energy into kinetic energy. This converts energy that would otherwise be of little or no use to humans into a particularly favorable form of energy, which in turn is particularly easy for humans to use.

In the present case, with appropriate modification, almost any engine concept based on compression and expansion processes can be used. For example, these are piston engines such as steam engines, diesel engines, Otto engines, Stirling engines, etc., rotary piston engines such as Wankel engines, gas turbines, etc. In the sense of the invention, compressors or pump types can also be built in such a way that they can be used as engines in the sense of the invention, such as vane compressors, gear pumps, diaphragm pumps, etc.

A working medium circulates in the "working circuit" and is used to drive the engine and to remove heat energy that is no longer required from the engine. The removed heat energy is preferably transferred to the energy carrier medium. The working circuit therefore ideally serves as a heating circuit for the energy carrier medium.

By means of the “energy carrier cycle”, ambient heat energy, particularly that absorbed from the environment, is transported within the heat engine. The transport of energy within the energy carrier cycle takes place by means of a circulating energy carrier medium.

According to the invention, the present heat engine makes it possible to ideally completely convert the absorbed ambient heat energy into energy that can be used by humans, in particular kinetic energy.

A particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the heat engine has working circuits which are interactively connected to the motor.

By means of the working circuits, a multiplication of the engine's working cycles is achieved in a particularly simple structural manner. By doubling the working cycles, a significantly better utilization of the ambient heat energy provided is achieved.

If a total of six working circuits are provided, a heat engine designed in this way achieves six working cycles with only two crankshaft revolutions.

The term “working circuit” refers to a sub-area of the present working circuit which extends between an outlet of a first expansion chamber of an engine and the outlet of a further expansion chamber of the engine.

Solely due to this significantly better utilization of ambient energy, the features in connection with the working circuits are advantageous and inventive even without the other features of the invention.

The working circuit and the energy carrier circuit are different from each other, so that different temperature levels can be achieved in the working circuit and the energy carrier circuit. By means of the different circuits, for example, heat energy that has passed from a working circuit to an energy carrier circuit can be removed from and to the working circuit.

In order to achieve such an energy transfer between the working circuit and the energy carrier circuit, the energy carrier circuit is interactively connected to a working circuit. This can be done in a variety of ways in terms of construction. It is particularly advantageous if the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit are actively connected by means of the motor, preferably by means of a motor housing.

The present heat engine is particularly compact because the motor, preferably the motor housing, is a heater of the working medium. This makes it particularly easy to heat and expand the working medium in an engine working chamber, which causes the motor disks to rotate.

The energy carrier circuit and the working circuit are operatively connected by means of the motor, preferably by means of the motor housing, so that thermal energy can be transferred from the energy carrier circuit to the working circuit in a structurally particularly simple manner.

The engine has a heat exchanger between the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit.

In order to prevent any heat energy remaining in the working circuit from being released unused into the environment, at least one additional heat exchanger is arranged between the working circuit and the energy carrier circuit. This allows excess heat energy to be transferred from the working circuit to the energy carrier circuit.

The engine heat exchanger or the at least one further heat energy exchanger are arranged in a first energy carrier circuit sub-area (feed line) of the energy carrier circuit, which extends from an expansion valve to the compressor as seen in the direction of flow, wherein the engine housing is arranged as an engine heat exchanger in a second energy carrier circuit sub-area (return line) of the energy carrier circuit, which extends from the compressor to the expansion valve as seen in the direction of flow

A return heat exchanger is arranged between the first energy carrier circuit section (supply) and the second energy carrier circuit section (return) in order to supply return heat energy from an engine return to the energy storage medium within the energy carrier circuit.

The flow temperature of the compressor is the same as the return temperature of the engine. This means that all the heat energy that leaves the engine can be reused in the energy storage medium.

In addition, the present invention is characterized by working circuits which are interactively connected to the energy carrier circuit. If the working circuits are connected to the energy carrier circuit, heat energy can be transferred from the working circuit to the energy carrier circuit in a particularly advantageous manner, since the working circuit is often connected to the energy carrier circuit.

A preferred embodiment provides that the motor is a multi-disk motor, preferably a three-disk motor or a four-disk motor. Multi-disk motors are particularly well suited to being driven by expansion and compression processes of a working medium in a working circuit.

The term "multi-disk engine" covers all engines whose pistons preferably rotate eccentrically around a shaft. The individual disks are arranged offset from one another along the shaft in the radial direction. Such engines are also known as rotary piston engines.

A preferred embodiment provides that the motor represents a heat exchanger of the heat engine.

If there are at least two working circuits, these working circuits are advantageously different from one another. By means of the different working circuits, the efficiency of the motor of the heat engine in question can be increased, so that the heat energy absorbed from the environment is used much more effectively.

The heat engine is further increased in efficiency if the energy carrier circuit has at least one flow line and ideally more than one return line, whereby a first return line of the energy carrier circuit and a second return line of the energy carrier circuit are interconnected by means of a return heat exchanger.

The thermal energy from the environment is provided in the energy carrier cycle particularly advantageously when the energy carrier cycle has different cross-sections. In particular, a further increase in the energy of the energy carrier medium is achieved by narrowing the cross-section.

In this context, it is advantageous if the energy carrier circuit has a larger cross-section in a first partial area between an expansion valve and a compressor than in a further partial area between the compressor and the expansion valve.

The thermal energy from the environment can be provided particularly effectively within the energy carrier cycle if two different pressure levels of the energy storage medium are present within the energy carrier cycle between a first sub-area of the energy carrier cycle and a second sub-area of the energy carrier cycle.

In order to be able to control the present heat engine advantageously, a further embodiment provides that the working circuit has a working medium buffer. Using this working medium buffer, almost any amount of a working medium can be stored and made available for retrieval.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for operating a heat engine, in which a working medium drives a motor of the heat engine, in which the working medium is heated by means of an energy storage medium, wherein the energy storage medium is heated to a first elevated temperature level by means of environmental heat energy, and wherein the method is characterized in that, on the one hand, the energy storage medium cools the working medium, wherein waste heat energy from the working circuit is transferred to a first energy carrier circuit sub-area (feed line) of the energy carrier circuit, so that the energy storage medium is heated to a second elevated temperature level by means of this waste heat energy from the working circuit, and that, on the other hand, in order to heat the working medium, heat energy is transferred from the second energy carrier circuit sub-area to the working medium in a second energy carrier circuit sub-area (return line) of the energy carrier circuit.

The energy carrier medium advantageously cools the working medium. This brings the working medium to a low temperature level. On the other hand, heat energy that is no longer required and was previously lost to the environment is fed to the energy storage medium, whereby the energy storage medium gains additional energy or heat energy.

In order to further enrich the energy storage medium with energy, waste heat energy from a working circuit is supplied to the energy storage medium so that the energy storage medium is heated to a second, increased temperature level by means of the waste heat from a working circuit.

A method for converting energy not according to the invention also provides that thermal energy absorbed from the environment is supplied to a heat engine by means of an energy storage medium, wherein the energy storage medium is cooled down from an initial temperature level to a starting temperature level before absorbing the environmental thermal energy.

One process variant provides that the energy storage medium is expanded from an initial pressure level to a starting pressure level before absorbing the environmental heat energy.

The terms “starting temperature level” and “starting pressure level” describe a state of the energy storage medium of the present invention in which the energy storage medium can particularly advantageously absorb environmental heat energy.

The energy storage medium has such a starting temperature and starting pressure level accordingly between an expansion valve and an environmental heat energy exchanger.

If such an expansion valve is not present in a design or process variant, the energy storage medium has such a starting temperature and starting pressure level at least upstream of the environmental heat energy exchanger.

Advantageously, the energy storage medium is fed to a cross-sectional expansion of an energy carrier circuit before or during the absorption of the environmental heat energy. The cross-sectional expansion ensures in a particularly simple structural manner that the energy storage medium is relaxed to a starting pressure level and is cooled down to a starting temperature.

It is also advantageous if return heat energy from an engine return is supplied to the energy storage medium.

It is also advantageous if the energy storage medium is heated to a third, higher temperature level using the return heat energy.

In order to have sufficiently high thermal energy available to drive the motor of the present heat engine, it is advantageous if the energy storage medium is heated to a working temperature level by means of a compressor.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is advantageous if the energy storage medium is fed to a cross-sectional tapering of the energy carrier circuit in the area of the compressor.

Another process variant provides for waste heat from the engine to be fed into the energy storage medium. This reduces the loss of thermal energy.

The aim is to convert as much of the externally absorbed heat energy as possible into kinetic energy.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is advantageous if a first part of the working temperature energy is supplied to the energy storage medium between the first temperature increase and the third temperature increase.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a further part of the working temperature energy is supplied to the energy storage medium between the second and a fourth temperature increase.

The motor housing is heated by means of the energy carrier circuit described here and the energy storage medium circulating therein, with the heated motor housing releasing at least part of the heat energy to the working medium. The working medium heated in this way expands and thus drives the motor of the heat engine in question. This provides kinetic energy. Ideally, all of the environmental heat energy is converted into kinetic energy.

In order to be able to provide more working medium than can be accommodated in the respective working circuit, it is advantageous if a working medium is provided in an intermediate storage facility.

It has proven to be advantageous if the working medium is cooled in the intermediate storage tank. This means that a sufficiently large amount of cooled working medium is almost always available for the motor of the heat engine in question.

Cooling of the working medium in the buffer storage is advantageously carried out if the energy storage medium flows around the buffer storage.

By means of the heat engine according to the invention and the associated method for operating this heat engine, it is possible to provide kinetic energy without external and/or internal combustion. This also means that no pollutant emissions are produced, so that the present heat engine can be operated in a particularly environmentally friendly manner.

Another design variant of the heat engine provides an auxiliary working circuit, by means of which additional working medium can be introduced into the expansion chambers of the engine. The auxiliary working circuit makes it possible to inject additional working medium into the expansion chambers of the engine if the engine requires additional power.

For this purpose, it is advantageous if the auxiliary working circuit of the heat engine includes a control valve. The control valve can be used to very precisely dose the amount of additional working medium that is made available in the engine's expansion chambers.

An advantageous design variant in this regard provides that the working circuit of the heat engine is divided into a main working circuit and an auxiliary working circuit. The auxiliary working circuit can be completely decoupled from the main working circuit by means of the control valve if no additional power is required. are required on the engine. Only when the supply of working medium through the normal working circuit or through the main working circuit is insufficient, the auxiliary working circuit can be switched on in a metered manner using the control valve.

In order to additionally extract heat energy that is no longer required from the working medium, it is advantageous if the auxiliary working circuit has at least one working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage and the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage is operatively connected to a working circuit heat exchanger that is arranged between the energy carrier circuit and the working circuit. Using the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage, additional heat energy can be quickly extracted from the entire working circuit or from the auxiliary working circuit and transferred to the energy carrier circuit.

In addition, it is advantageous if the auxiliary working circuit has at least one engine housing buffer storage, which is operatively connected to the housing of the engine. For example, the engine housing buffer storage is designed as a structural unit with the engine housing and the engine housing buffer storage thus maintains approximately the same temperature level as the engine housing. The engine housing buffer storage needs to be switched on if there is an increased heat energy requirement at the engine.

It is understood that the buffer storage units used in the sense of the patent application can be constructed in a variety of ways, as long as they are capable of extracting energy, in particular thermal energy, from one component group of the heat engine in question and transferring it to another component group of the heat engine.

A preferred embodiment provides that a working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage and an engine housing buffer storage comprise a phase change storage.

The term "phase change storage" means in this case that the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage and the engine housing buffer storage are preferably filled with a medium which changes the state of aggregation at a certain temperature, for example from a solid medium to a liquid medium or vice versa. The temperature level at which the state of aggregation of the medium changes depends on the type of storage medium used and the storage medium must be adapted to the respective power output of the engine.

Advantageously, the phase-change storage ensures rapid energy provision without a significant change in temperature level occurring at the phase-change storage unit concerned and a corresponding heat exchanger. The temperature level is kept constant until a storage medium has reached an aggregate state. This makes it particularly easy to provide a certain amount of additional energy without a significant change in temperature level at the components or groups of components involved.

Further advantages, objects and properties of the present invention are described with reference to the following explanations of the attached drawing, in which the structure and function of the present heat engine are shown in principle by way of example.

• 1 schematisch eine Wärmekraftmaschine ohne einen explizit dargestellten Arbeitskreislauf eines Motors,
• 2 schematisch eine Wärmekraftmaschine mit zwei dargestellten Arbeitskreisläufen eines Dreischeibenmotors,
• 3 schematisch eine Darstellung zur Nutzung von Umweltenergie unabhängig von Tages- und Jahreszeiten sowie Wetter unabhängig,
• 4 schematisch eine Temperaturverlaufskurve vorliegender Wärmekraftmaschinen,
• 5 schematisch eine weitere Wärmekraftmaschine mit einem Arbeitsmediumzwischenspeicher,
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Arbeitskreislaufes mit sechs Arbeitsteilkreisläufen zwischen Auslässen und Einlässen eines Dreischeibenkolbenmotors, und
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung einer alternativen Wärmekraftmaschine, bei welcher der Arbeitskreislauf in einen Hauptarbeitskreislauf und in einen Hilfsarbeitskreislauf unterteilt ist.

Show it

• 1 schematically a heat engine without an explicitly shown working cycle of an engine,
• 2 schematically a heat engine with two working circuits of a three-disk engine,
• 3 a schematic representation of the use of environmental energy independent of the time of day, season and weather,
• 4 schematically a temperature curve of existing heat engines,
• 5 schematically another heat engine with a working medium buffer,
• 6 a schematic representation of a working circuit with six working circuits between outlets and inlets of a three-disk piston engine, and
• 7 a schematic representation of an alternative heat engine in which the working circuit is divided into a main working circuit and an auxiliary working circuit.

The 1 The heat engine 1 shown has an energy carrier circuit 2 in which an energy storage medium 4 circulates according to the arrow directions 3 (here only explicitly numbered).

The energy carrier circuit 2 starts in the area of a nozzle 5, whereby the nozzle 5 represents an expansion valve in the sense of the invention. By means of the nozzle 5, the energy storage medium 4 is expanded and thereby heated to a starting temperature level cooled. For this purpose, the energy carrier circuit 2 has a first energy carrier circuit cross-section 7 between the nozzle 5 and a compressor 6, which is larger than a second energy carrier circuit cross-section 8 of the energy carrier circuit 2. The first energy carrier circuit cross-section 7 extends in a first energy carrier circuit sub-area 2A between the nozzle 5 and the compressor 6. The second energy carrier circuit cross-section 8 extends in a second energy carrier circuit sub-area 2B, which essentially extends from the compressor 6 to the nozzle 5.

Immediately behind the nozzle 5, viewed in the direction of rotation 3, there is an environmental heat exchanger 9, by means of which heat energy is absorbed from the environment 10 and transferred to the energy storage medium 4. As a result, the energy storage medium 4 experiences a first supply of heat energy and thus also a first increase in heat energy.

The energy storage medium 4 then flows through a housing 11 of a motor 12. The housing 11 has the function of an engine heat exchanger 13, by means of which residual heat energy from the motor 12 is transferred to the energy storage medium 4. As a result, the energy storage medium 4 experiences a second increase in heat energy in the area of the engine heat exchanger 13.

A return heat exchanger 14 is provided in front of the compressor 6, by means of which heat energy not used by the engine 12 is supplied to the energy storage medium 4 in the first energy carrier circuit sub-area 2A. As a result, the energy storage medium 4 experiences a third increase in heat energy within the first energy carrier circuit sub-area 2A.

The energy storage medium 4, which is thus enriched with thermal energy, now reaches the compressor 6, where the energy storage medium 4 reaches the second energy carrier circuit sub-area 2B. By means of the compressor 6 and the second tapered energy carrier circuit cross-section 8, the energy storage medium 4 experiences a fourth increase in thermal energy. The energy stored in the energy storage medium 4 is now suitable for driving the motor 12. The motor 12 drives the compressor 6 on the one hand and a generator 15 on the other. Electrical energy can be provided by means of the generator 15. By means of the heat engine 1, it is possible to drive a generator 15 by absorbing environmental thermal energy and thereby generate electrical energy 16.

The 2 The heat engine 101 shown has essentially an identical structure to the heat engine 1 from the 1 . The heat engine 101 has an energy carrier circuit 102 in which an energy storage medium 104 circulates in the direction of circulation 103. The energy carrier circuit 102 is divided into a first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A and a second energy carrier circuit sub-area 102B. The first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A extends from a nozzle 105 to a compressor 106. The second energy carrier circuit sub-area 102B accordingly extends from the compressor 106 to the nozzle 105. The first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A has a first energy carrier circuit cross-section 107 and the second energy carrier circuit sub-area 102B has a second energy carrier circuit cross-section 108. The second energy carrier circuit cross-section 108 differs from the first energy carrier circuit cross-section 107 in that it has a smaller cross-section.

In the heat engine 101, the energy carrier circuit 102 with its first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A is not in direct contact with the housing 111 of the motor 112, but the first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A, which divides at the node 120, is in operative contact with a first working circuit heat exchanger 121 of a working circuit 122 and with a second working circuit heat exchanger 123. The working circuit 122 has a check valve 125 and a check valve 126. The directions of circulation of a working medium within the working circuit 122 are thus determined.

In the area of the nozzle 105, the energy storage medium 104 is relaxed and thus cooled down. The energy storage medium 104 is thus optimally prepared to absorb environmental heat energy from the environment 110 by means of the environmental heat exchanger 109. After flowing through the environmental heat exchanger 109, the energy storage medium 104 experiences a first increase in temperature and a first increase in heat energy.

The energy storage medium 104 continues to flow in the direction of circulation 103 until it reaches a node 120 and is divided into two partial flows there. A first partial flow of the energy storage medium 104 flows through the first working circuit heat exchanger 121 and the second partial flow of the energy storage medium 104 flows through the second working circuit heat exchanger 123. Since the energy storage medium 104 has a lower thermal energy level in the area of the two working circuit heat exchangers 121 and 123 than the working medium of the working circuit 122, heat energy is transferred in the area of the two working circuit heat exchangers 121 and 123 to the energy storage medium 104 of the energy carrier circuit 102. As a result, the energy storage medium 104 experiences a second increase in heat energy within the first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A. The energy storage medium 104 is brought together again at the further point 127 and led to a return heat exchanger 114. In this return heat exchanger 114, the energy carrier medium 104 absorbs heat energy from the second energy carrier circuit sub-area 102B of the energy carrier circuit 102 in the area of the first energy carrier circuit sub-area 102A of the energy carrier circuit 102. As a result, the energy storage medium 104 experiences a third increase in heat energy before reaching the motor 112.

In the area of the compressor 106, the energy storage medium 104 experiences a fourth increase in thermal energy by experiencing a pressure increase and thus also a temperature increase by means of the compressor 106 and the second energy carrier circuit sub-area 102B.

This thermal energy or a portion of this thermal energy of the energy storage medium 104 is transferred to the working medium of the engine 112 via the housing 111 of the engine 112, with the housing 111 acting as an engine heat exchanger 113A. This heat transfer causes the working medium to expand in the working circuit 122 or the corresponding expansion spaces (not shown here) of the engine 112, whereby the disks 128 (shown and numbered here only as an example) rotate eccentrically around the crankshaft 130 in the direction of rotation 129.

By means of the two working circuit heat exchangers 121 and 123, the working medium within the working circuit 122 is cooled again and at the same time heat energy is transferred to the energy carrier medium 104.

Unnecessary heat energy is diverted from the motor housing 111 by means of the second energy carrier circuit section 102B and fed to the return heat exchanger 114 and then to the nozzle 105, so that the energy carrier circuit 102 can start again from the beginning.

The environmental heat exchanger 209 from the 3 is able to extract heat energy from the air, water or soil. The media air, water and soil form accumulators for solar energy, which also provide environmental energy regardless of the weather.

The environmental thermal energy 240 provided in the accumulators is fed into an energy carrier circuit 202 by means of the environmental heat exchanger 209 and converted in the energy carrier medium as thermal energy 241 by means of a motor, in particular a three-disk motor, into kinetic energy and, if necessary, then into electrical energy by means of a generator. Two parts 242 of the electrical energy are fed into a household 243 and three parts 244 of the electrical energy are fed into an existing power grid 245.

Thus, by means of the present heat engine 201, environmental heat energy 240 has been completely converted into electrical energy.

In the area of the nozzle 205, the energy carrier cycle begins again and environmental heat energy 240 is absorbed again in the area of the environmental heat exchanger 209.

The 4 The temperature curve 350 shown shows the temperature level of an energy carrier medium which flows through an energy carrier circuit of the underlying heat engine.

At point one, the energy carrier medium has a first temperature level 351 according to the temperature curve 350. This first temperature level 351 reflects the temperature level immediately before an expansion valve of the energy carrier circuit. When flowing through the energy expansion valve, the temperature level drops to a second temperature level 353 according to the section 352 between the first and second points. In the interval 354 (three to four), the energy carrier medium absorbs environmental heat by means of an environmental heat exchanger and rises to an energy temperature level 355. In the interval 356 (five to six), the energy carrier medium absorbs further heat energy by cooling the working medium of an engine. In this way, it reaches an energy level 357.

In interval 358 (seven to eight), further heat energy is supplied to the energy carrier medium, whereby this further heat energy originates from a return flow of the engine and is fed into the energy carrier medium by means of a return flow heat energy exchanger, so that the latter subsequently rises to a further energy level 359.

In the interval 360 (nine to ten) the energy carrier medium is compressed by means of a compressor. This brings the energy carrier medium to a further energy level 361. This energy level 361 is sufficient to start a motor. As a result, the energy level 361 drops to a lower energy level 363 in the interval 362 (eleven to twelve). In the interval 364 (thirteen to fourteen), the energy carrier medium, which is now in a return area of the engine, releases heat energy to a flow of the energy carrier medium, which then reaches an energy level 365. At this point one, the energy carrier cycle begins again, with the energy carrier medium being brought to a lower energy level 353 (interval one to two) by means of relaxation.

The 5 The heat engine 401 shown has an energy carrier circuit 402 in which an energy storage medium 404 circulates according to the arrow directions 403.

The energy carrier circuit 402 starts in the area of a nozzle 405. By means of the nozzle 405, the energy storage medium 404 is relaxed and cooled down to a starting temperature level.

In this exemplary embodiment, an intermediate storage unit 470 for a working medium of an engine 412, which circulates in a working circuit 422, is arranged directly behind the nozzle 405, as seen in the direction of rotation 403. An environmental heat exchanger 409 is arranged behind the working medium intermediate storage unit 470. By means of the environmental heat exchanger 409, thermal energy is absorbed from the environment 410 and transferred to the energy storage medium 404.

By means of the environmental heat exchanger 409, the energy storage medium 404 experiences a first significant supply of thermal energy, since the energy supply in the area of the working medium intermediate storage 470 is negligible.

The energy storage medium 404 thus enriched with thermal energy then flows through a working circuit heat exchanger 421, in which thermal energy still present in the working circuit 422 behind the motor 412 is transferred to the energy storage medium 404.

The energy storage medium 404 then flows through another heat exchanger, which is referred to as a return heat exchanger 414. In this return heat exchanger 414, the energy carrier medium 404 absorbs heat energy not used by the engine 412.

The energy storage medium 404, which has been enriched with thermal energy in this way, then reaches a compressor 406, by means of which it experiences an increase in pressure and thus a further increase in thermal energy.

The thermal energy present in the energy storage medium 404 or a portion of this thermal energy is transferred to the working medium of the working circuit 422 within the motor 412 via a housing 411 of the motor 412. In this case, the housing 411 of the motor 412 essentially takes over the function of an engine heat exchanger 413A.

By means of this heat transfer within the engine heat exchanger 413A, the working medium within the working circuit 422 is heated after injection via an injection valve 471 in such a way that it evaporates and expands within expansion spaces, whereby rotary pistons (not explicitly shown in this embodiment) of the engine 412 are set in motion and rotate.

The working medium circulating within the working circuit 422 is pumped from the intermediate storage 470 to the nozzle 471 by means of a pump 472.

After the working medium has passed through the motor 412, it reaches the working circuit heat exchanger 421, in which any remaining thermal energy of the working medium is released or transferred to the energy storage medium 404 in such a way that the working medium is liquefied again. The working medium then returns directly to the pump 472. If necessary, additional working medium can be taken from the working medium buffer 470, which is kept cool there. To cool the working medium in the buffer 470, the buffer 470 is kept cool by the energy storage medium expanded by means of the nozzle 405 and thereby cooled.

Since the working medium in the area of the working circuit heat exchanger 421 has already given off a large part of the remaining heat energy, the cooling required in the area of the working medium buffer 470 is very low. Thus, the energy storage medium 404 expanded by means of the nozzle 405 is only supplied with negligible heat while flowing through the working medium buffer 470, which has almost no effect on the heat absorption in the area of the environmental heat exchanger 409.

By means of the working medium buffer 470 described here, the present heat engine 401 can be advantageously controlled, so that the heat engine 401 according to the invention can also be used in areas where rapidly changing operating conditions are required.

The Indian 6 The schematically shown motor 512 of a heat engine not shown in detail here has a total of three rotary pistons 575, 576 and 577.

The expansion spaces (not shown here) of the motor 512 or of the rotary pistons 575, 576 and 577 are operatively connected to one another by means of a first working sub-circuit 578, a second working sub-circuit 579, a third working sub-circuit 560, a fourth working sub-circuit 561, a fifth working sub-circuit 562 and a sixth working sub-circuit 563 of a working circuit.

Each of the working sub-circuits 578 to 563 is interactively connected to an energy carrier circuit by means of a working sub-circuit heat exchanger (not shown here).

Here, the right side represents the front 564 of the motor 512 and the left side represents the rear 565 of the motor 512.

If a working medium reaches an inlet 575A of the first rotary piston 575 at the front 564 of the motor 512, it is expanded within the motor 512 and passes out of an outlet 575B of the rotary piston 575 at the rear 565 of the motor 512 and reaches an inlet 576D of the second rotary piston 576 at the rear 565 of the motor 512 by means of the first working part circuit 578. The working medium is then expelled at an outlet 576C of the rotary piston 576 and reaches an inlet 577A of the third rotary piston 577 at the front 564 of the motor 512 by means of the second working part circuit 579. The working medium performs further work on the rotary piston 577 and is expelled at an outlet 577B at the rear 575 of the motor 512. and transported to an inlet 575D by means of the third working sub-circuit 560. After the work has been done, the working medium reaches the fourth working sub-circuit 561 at an outlet 575C on the front 564 of the motor 512 and by means of this to a further inlet 576A in the area of the second rotary piston 576. The working medium is then expelled again at an outlet 576B on the rear 565 of the motor 512 and reaches an inlet 577D by means of the working sub-circuit 562. In the area of the rotary piston 577, the working medium performs further work and reaches the inlet 575A on the front 564 of the motor 512 via an outlet 577C by means of the sixth working sub-circuit 563. Here the working cycle begins again.

The working medium is cooled in each working circuit 578 to 563 and is heated by the motor 512 during the expansion processes in an expansion space between an inlet and an outlet of the motor 512 in the area of the respective rotary piston 575, 576 and 577 and is thereby expanded. The working medium can therefore perform work on a rotary piston 575 to 577 each time between an inlet and an outlet.

In the present case, the six working circuits 578 to 563 enable six working strokes of the engine 512 with only two crankshaft revolutions of the crankshaft (not shown in detail here), on which all three rotary pistons 575 to 577 are mounted offset from one another.

In the embodiments described above, rotary piston engines are used as the motor of the heat engine. As mentioned at the beginning, rotary piston engines can also be replaced by other suitable engines.

The 7 The alternative heat engine 601 shown has an energy carrier circuit 602 in which an energy storage medium 604 circulates according to the arrow directions 603 (only explicitly numbered here). The energy carrier circuit 602 essentially consists of an expansion valve 605, the outer volume space 680 of an intermediate storage 670, a first working circuit heat exchanger 621, on which a first working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 681 is arranged, a second working circuit heat exchanger 623, on which a second working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 682 is arranged, a return heat exchanger 614, a compressor 606, a housing 611 of a motor 612 and a motor housing buffer storage 683 as well as an environmental heat exchanger 609.

The energy carrier circuit 602 starts in the area of the nozzle 605, wherein the energy storage medium 604 is expanded by means of the nozzle 605. The energy storage medium 604 is cooled down to a starting temperature level. The energy carrier circuit 602 has a first energy carrier circuit cross-section 607 between the nozzle 605 and the compressor 606, which is larger than a second energy carrier circuit 608, which extends in an energy carrier circuit area 602B. The second energy carrier circuit 608 thus extends essentially from the compressor 606 to the nozzle 605. The first energy carrier circuit cross-section 607, on the other hand, extends in a first energy carrier circuit area 602A between the nozzle 605 and the compressor 606.

Behind the nozzle 605, the energy storage medium 604 flows through the outer volume space 680 of the intermediate storage 670, after which it subsequently flows through an environmental heat exchanger 609. By means of the environmental heat exchanger 609, thermal energy is absorbed from the environment 610 and transferred to the energy storage medium 604. In the further course, the energy storage medium 604 passes a node 620, whereby it flows through the first working circuit heat exchanger 621 of a working circuit 622 and the second working circuit heat exchanger 623. However, before the energy storage medium 604 reaches the working circuit heat exchangers 621, 623, it flows through the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 681 or the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 682. The energy storage medium 604 absorbs heat energy that is no longer required from the working circuit 622 by means of the working circuit heat exchangers 621, 623 and the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 681, 682. This causes the energy storage medium 604 to heat up further.

The energy storage medium 604 is then brought together again in a node 627 and guided to the return heat exchanger 614. In this return heat exchanger 614, the energy storage medium 604 absorbs heat energy from the second energy carrier circuit area 602B in the area of the first energy carrier circuit area 602A. The energy storage medium 604 thus experiences a further increase in heat energy before reaching the motor 612. In the area of the compressor 606, the energy storage medium again experiences an increase in heat energy in that it experiences an increase in pressure and thus also an increase in temperature by means of the compressor 606.

The thermal energy or a portion of the thermal energy inherent in the energy storage medium 604 is transferred to a cooler working medium of the motor 612 via the housing 611 of the motor 612, whereby the cooler working medium expands within the motor 612 and thereby performs work on the motor 612. The housing 611 of the motor 612 functions as an engine heat exchanger 613A.

Advantageously, additional heat energy can be supplied to the energy storage medium 604 by means of the motor housing buffer storage 683 before it reaches the motor housing 611, should the motor 612 have to deliver additional power.

Thermal energy no longer required by the engine 612 is returned to the expansion valve 605 by means of the second energy carrier circuit region 602B via the return heat exchanger 614, where the energy carrier circuit 602 begins again.

On the other hand, heat energy no longer required on the motor 612 is dissipated from the working circuit 622 to the energy carrier circuit 602 by means of the working circuit heat exchangers 621 and 623. In this embodiment, a first check valve 625 and a second check valve 626 are installed in the working circuit 622, whereby the circulation directions of the working medium within the working circuit 622 are determined.

In order to be able to dissipate more heat energy from the working circuit 622, in this embodiment an auxiliary working circuit 684 is connected in the area of the working circuit heat exchangers 621 and 623, which passes into a first auxiliary working sub-circuit 684A (the first auxiliary working sub-circuit 684A is connected to the working circuit 622 in the area of the working circuit heat exchanger 621) and into a second auxiliary working sub-circuit 684B (the second auxiliary working sub-circuit 684B is connected to the working circuit 622 in the area of the second working circuit heat exchanger 623).

The discharge of working medium from the working circuit into the first auxiliary working circuit 684A is regulated by means of a pressure control valve 685. This means that when the pressure within the working circuit exceeds a critical value, the pressure control valve 685 operates and part of the working medium enters the auxiliary working circuit 684A. Accordingly, the discharge of the working medium from the working circuit into the second auxiliary working circuit 684B is regulated by means of a second pressure control valve 686. Here too, the working medium flows at least partially from the working circuit into the auxiliary working circuit 684B as soon as the pressure in the working circuit exceeds a critical value.

In the present case, the auxiliary working circuit 684A flows through the first working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 681, whereby heat energy is extracted from the working medium, which can be supplied to the energy storage medium 604 if required. Accordingly, heat energy from the working medium from the auxiliary working circuit 684B is released into the working circuit heat exchanger buffer storage 682, so that additional heat energy from the working medium can also be released into the energy storage medium 604.

Both auxiliary working circuits 684A, 684B are brought together in a node 687 and temporarily stored inside 688 of the intermediate storage 670. If required, the temporarily stored working medium is injected into expansion chambers of the motor 612 by means of a pump 689 via a first injection nozzle 690 and a second injection nozzle 691. This makes it possible to additionally introduce cool working medium into the heated motor 612, which expands there and thereby performs additional work on the disks 628 (shown and numbered here only as an example) of the motor 612. The disks 628 rotate eccentrically around the crankshaft 630 in accordance with the direction of rotation 629.

By injecting the additional working medium, a higher pressure is created in the working circuit 622, which is triggered by a higher proportion of gaseous working medium in the working circuit 622.

The introduced term “working circuit” 622 is also referred to as the main working circuit in the sense of the patent application if an auxiliary working circuit 648 is present.

List of reference symbols:

1

Heat engine

2

Energy cycle

2A

first energy cycle sub-area

2 B

second energy cycle sub-area

3

Arrow direction

4

Energy storage medium

5

Nozzle or expansion valve

6

compressor

7

first energy carrier cycle cross-section

8th

second energy carrier cycle cross-section

9

Environmental heat exchanger

10

Environment

11

Housing

12

engine

13

Engine heat exchanger

14

Return heat exchanger

15

generator

16

electrical power

101

Heat engine

102

Energy cycle

102A

first energy cycle sub-area

102B

second energy cycle sub-area

103

Arrow direction

104

Energy storage medium

105

Nozzle or expansion valve

106

compressor

107

first energy carrier cycle cross-section

108

second energy carrier cycle cross-section

109

Environmental heat exchanger

110

Environment

111

Housing

112

engine

113A

Engine heat exchanger or heater

114

Return heat exchanger

120

Junction

121

first working circuit heat exchanger

122

Work cycle

123

second working circuit heat exchanger

127

another hub

128

Discs

129

Rotation direction

130

Crankshaft

201

Heat engine

205

Energy cycle

209

Environmental heat exchanger

212

engine

240

Environmental heat energy

241

Thermal energy

242

two parts

243

Household

244

three parts

245

Power grid

350

Temperature curve

351

first temperature level

352

Subsection

353

second temperature level

354

interval

355

Energy temperature level

356

interval

357

Energy level

358

interval

359

further energy level

360

interval

361

further energy level

362

interval

363

lower energy level

364

interval

365

Energy level

404

Energy storage medium

405

Nozzle or expansion valve

406

compressor

409

Environmental heat exchanger

410

Environment

411

Housing

413A

Engine heat exchanger or heater

414

Return heat exchanger

120

Junction

421

Working circuit heat exchanger

422

Work cycle

470

Working media cache

471

Injector or nozzle

472

Pump

512

engine

560

third working circuit

561

fourth working circuit

562

fifth working circuit

563

sixth working circuit

564

front

565

back

575

first rotary piston

575A

inlet

575B

Outlet

575C

Outlet

575D

inlet

576

second rotary piston

576A

inlet

576B

Outlet

576C

Outlet

576D

inlet

577

third rotary piston

577A

inlet

577B

Outlet

577C

Outlet

577D

inlet

578

first working part cycle

579

second working part circuit

601

Heat engine

602

Energy cycle

602A

first energy cycle sub-area

602B

second energy cycle sub-area

603

Arrow direction

604

Energy storage medium

605

Nozzle or expansion valve

606

compressor

607

first energy carrier cycle cross-section

608

second energy carrier cycle cross-section

609

Environmental heat exchanger

610

Environment

611

Housing

612

engine

613A

Engine heat exchanger or heater

614

Return heat exchanger

620

Account point

621

first working circuit heat exchanger

622

Working circuit or main working circuit

623

second working circuit heat exchanger

625

first check valve

626

second check valve

627

Junction

628

Discs

629

Rotation direction

630

crankshaft

670

Cache

680

Volume space

681

first working circuit heat transfer buffer

682

second working circuit heat transfer buffer

683

Engine housing buffer storage

684

Auxiliary work cycle

684A

first auxiliary work cycle

684B

second auxiliary work circuit

685

first pressure control valve

686

second pressure control valve

687

Junction

688

Interior

689

pump

690

first injection nozzle

691

second injection nozzle

Claims (4)

Heat engine (1; 101; 201; 401; 601) for converting energy, such as ambient heat energy (240), into kinetic energy, with a motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612), with a working circuit (122; 422; 622) for driving the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) and with an energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) comprising a compressor (6; 106; 406; 606), which is used to heat the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) with this motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612) is interactively connected, in which the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) are different from one another, characterized in that the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) is on the one hand an engine heat exchanger (113A; 413A; 613A) as a heater of the working medium, so that thermal energy from the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) can be transferred to the working circuit (122; 422; 622) in order to heat the working medium in the working circuit (122; 422; 622) or in expansion chambers of the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612), wherein on the other hand the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) are thermally connected to one another by means of the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) as an engine heat exchanger (13) and/or at least one further heat energy exchanger (121, 123; 421; 621, 623) is arranged between the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602) and the working circuit (122; 422; 622) in order to transfer excess heat energy from the working circuit (122; 422; 622) to the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), wherein the engine heat exchanger (13) and the at least one further heat energy exchanger (121, 123; 421; 621, 623) are arranged in a first energy carrier circuit sub-region (2A; 102A; 602A) (feed line) of the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), which extends in the flow direction (3; 103; 403; 603) from an expansion valve (5; 105; 405; 605) to the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606), wherein the motor housing (11; 111; 411; 611) is arranged as an engine heat exchanger (13A; 113A; 413A; 613A) in a second energy carrier circuit sub-region (2B; 102B; 602B) (return) of the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), which extends in the flow direction (3; 103; 403; 603) from the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606) to the expansion valve (5; 105; 405; 605), wherein a return heat exchanger (14; 114; 414; 614) is arranged between the first energy carrier circuit sub-region (2A; 102A; 602A) (feed) and the second energy carrier circuit sub-region (2B; 102B; 602B) (return) in order to to supply return heat energy from an engine return to the energy storage medium (4; 104; 404; 604) within the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402; 602), and wherein the flow temperature of the compressor (6; 106; 406; 606) is equal to the return temperature of the engine (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612). Heat engine (1; 101; 201; 401, 601) according to Claim 1 , characterized by working circuits (578 to 563) which are interactively connected to the motor (12; 112; 212; 412; 512; 612). Heat engine (1; 101; 201; 401; 601) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by working circuits (578 to 563) which are interactively connected to the energy carrier circuit (2; 102; 402, 602). Heat engine (1; 101; 201; 401; 601) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two different pressure levels are present in the energy carrier circuit (102).

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