US20080072597A1

US20080072597A1 - Electrically conductive liquid piston engine

Info

Publication number: US20080072597A1
Application number: US11/533,933
Authority: US
Inventors: Anson J. Call
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 2006-09-21
Filing date: 2006-09-21
Publication date: 2008-03-27

Abstract

A liquid piston engine utilizing an electronically or electrically conductive liquid medium. A method is provided for utilizing the electrically conductive liquid piston engine.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid piston engine utilizing an electronically or electrically conductive liquid medium. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a method of utilizing the electrically conductive liquid piston engine.
2. Background Art
In the current state of the technology, diverse types of piston engines and methods of application thereof, which are adapted to convert heat into work or electricity, are subject to low degrees of operating efficiencies and also are encumbered by relatively poor conditions of reliability. This pertains to both classes of internal and external combustion engines in which the low degree of efficiency during operation is predicated on various origins. Thus, for internal combustion engines, much of the heat generated which is intended to be converted into work or electricity, is wasted in the exhaust of the engine, whereas for both internal and external combustion engines, a considerable portion of the energy is lost due to friction which is internal to the engine. For instance, for a typical automobile engine, it is estimated that probably less than 15% of the energy which is present in a gallon of gasoline, is actually employed in propelling the automobile, with the major portion of the remaining energy being uselessly squandered or wasted.
Furthermore, problems with regard to reliability of such engine are also encountered due to the presence of multiple moving components within an engine and the close or tight tolerances for mutually movable parts, which are necessary for those components to operate satisfactorily in conjunction with each other. For instance, the pistons and cylinder walls must be a close fit with each other, using extremely tight tolerances, or the expanding gases which are generated, would tend to leak around and pass the pistons in the gap present between the former and the cylinder walls and, thus, would fail to provide the desired power for the engine.
Although many of these problems encountered in both internal and external combustion engines, which use mechanical components, have been eliminated or at least ameliorated by employing a liquid piston, problems are still encountered in the presence of an instability of the liquid surface. Hereby, when using the liquid piston, the expanding gases and the engine cylinder push against a liquid and energy is removed from the liquid by passing it through a turbine. A liquid piston eliminates the necessity for tight or close tolerances between the cylinder and the piston and significantly reduces any friction present between the cylinder and the piston. However, due to the instability of the liquid surface, the unstable surface that is encountered causes some of the gas to form bubbles in the liquid, rather than pushing against the liquid, per se. This problem has been overcome in the technology by swirling the liquid within the cylinder, thus creating a vortex and providing a more stable surface for the gas to push against the liquid piston. However, although the foregoing provides significant advantages over the mechanical types of internal and external combustion engines, the liquid piston introduces another type of mechanical component to the engine, in essence, the turbine, which is presently employed to extract energy from the liquid. This turbine component is susceptible to wear and breakdown over extended operative periods of time, and also adds to the complexity of construction and costs of the liquid piston engine.
Although various functional aspects of liquid piston engines and structures thereof have been discussed in the technology, none of these are applicable to any significant degree to the present inventive concept.
Pinto, U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,825 discloses an arrangement for maximizing the thermal efficiency of a hot gas engine, in particular, Ericsson Cycle engines, which are similar to a Stirling engine, by preventing hot gas from entering a cooling cylinder during expansion. This patent discloses three different embodiments, two of which employ liquid pistons, of which one embodiment provides for liquid pistons engines which control phasing by use of cams and camshafts and pushing rods against a type of diaphragm in order to move a liquid. A second embodiment discloses a liquid piston engine which employs a second liquid with pumps to push against diaphragms in order to move a first liquid into and out of cylinders. There is no disclosure of the novel utilization of any electrically conductive fluid analogous to the present invention.
Even more remote from the inventive concept is Howard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,321, which discloses a liquid piston Stirling engine in which the cylinders are attached to an axis in an off center position, whereby this creates moments of rotation around the axis as the liquid piston moves from a hot cylinder to a cold cylinder. These moments cause the axis to rotate and this rotation is the mechanical energy which is extracted from the engine. Again, there is no disclosure of the electronically or electrically conductive fluids of the present invention, which move through a magnetic field to extract energy from the engine.
Goldshtik, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,369 discloses an engine employing a rotating liquid, which pertains to stabilizing fluid surfaces in a liquid piston engine. In that instance, the instability of the fluid surface is a significant limiting factor in employing the liquid pistons. This particular patent employs mechanical valves and pumps and fails to mention any electrically or electronically conductive liquids, nor the benefits in the elimination of the additional mechanical parts which is facilitated through the use of the conductive liquids.
Gerstmann, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,195 disclose a liquid piston heat-actuated heat pump and methods of operating the latter, wherein a Stirling cycle is employed, which utilizes mechanical motion initiated by a phenomenon in which liquid pistons can become self-oscillating through appropriate design thereof at a sufficiently large enough temperature differential between hot and cool sides. This patent discloses standard compression and expansion of gases to transfer heat and does not in any manner pertain to the use of electrically or electronically conductive liquids in the operation of liquid pistons.
Cutler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,122 discloses a liquid piston heat pump using a Stirling cycle and wherein motion of a mechanical nature is initiated by a phenomenon in which liquid pistons can become self-oscillating in a manner similar to the Gerstmann, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,196. Again, there is no disclosure of utilizing an electrically or electronically conductive liquid to activate liquid pistons in a manner analogous to the present invention.
Finally, European Patent Application No. EP 1022453 A1 discloses a system for the combined generation of power and heat purpose of heating through the intermediary of a hot air engine in order to generate mechanical energy. Although a liquid piston-equipped hot air engine is employed in this publication, there is no disclosure of the unique use of electrically or electronically conductive fluids to operate the liquid pistons, which would provide for elimination of an impeller and other mechanical components for implementing fluid motion. This is completely distinct from the present inventive concept.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the provision of a method and a system, which replaces a more general liquid employed in connection with liquid pistons with an electronically conductive liquid. Hereby, as the liquid is pushed out of a cylinder, it passes through a magnetic field generating an electric current, and there is no need to provide a turbine which will extract energy from the engine. In the use of an external combustion engine, for example, such as a Stirling engine, this would result in an engine with no moving mechanical components and would provide an extremely high degree of reliability during operation, while being of an extremely simple construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Reference may now be made to the following detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompany single drawing FIGURE, showing the inventive concept as applied to a Stirling engine, wherein the drawing FIGURE does not represent a complete engine, but a schematic thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now, more specifically, to the single drawing FIGURE, there is diagrammatically illustrated an electronically or electrically conductive liquid piston engine 10, generally in the form of a Stirling engine, wherein heat from a suitable heat source 12 is applied to preferably into the upper portion 14 of a hot cylinder 16, and whereby the heat is removed from a cold cylinder 18. The lower portion 20 of the hot cylinder 16 and the lower portion of the cold cylinder are filled with an electronically or electrically conductive liquid 22. Thus, when a major portion of the liquid 22 is primarily present in the cold cylinder 16, gas 24, which is filled into a duct 26 connecting the respective upper ends 28, 30 of the hot and cold cylinders 16, 18 is primarily positioned into the upper region 14 of the hot cylinder 16. The heat present therein from the heat source 12 causes the gas 24 to be heated and expand, whereby the expanded gas pushes against an electrically or electronically conductive liquid 32, which is contained in a magneto-hydrodynamic generator 34, which communicates with the duct 26 between the hot and cold cylinders 16,18 by means of a duct 36 extending from at one side 38 thereof. This duct 36 is also filled with the gas 24 from the hot and cold cylinders 16, 18. As the heated expanding gas 24 pushes against the liquid 32 in the magneto-hydrodynamic generator 34, and the expansion phase thereof is completed, liquid 22 is pumped from the lower portion 40 of cold cylinder 18 through duct 42 towards the hot cylinder 16 in the direction of arrow A by means of a magneto-hydrodynamic pump 44, which is interposed in the duct 42 communicating between the two lower end portions of the respective hot and cold cylinders. This causes the gas 24 to flow through duct 26 mostly into the cold cylinder 18 from the hot cylinder 16, wherein the cooling gas volume shrinks and the liquid 22 is drawn back into the system through the shrinkage of the gas in the upper duct 36 communicating with the main gas duct 26 between the hot cylinder 16 and the cold cylinder 18.
The magneto-hydrodynamic pump 44, which is arranged in the duct 42 extending between the lower ends of the hot and cold cylinders, and which is essentially of a known structure, consists of a pump with no moving components.
In an electric motor (not shown) comprising a constituent of pump 44, a conductor is set in motion by passing an electrical current through the conductor in a direction perpendicular to a magnetic field. The direction of the conductor is perpendicular to both the magnetic field and a direction of the electric current. In this instance, the conductor is the liquid 22. Thus, by changing the direction of the electrical current, it is possible to pump the liquid 22 from the hot cylinder 16 to the cold cylinder 18, and conversely from the cold cylinder 18 to the heat cylinder 16. However, other methods can be employed in order to accomplish the pumping of the electrically or electronically conductive liquid 22, using electromagnetic principles. For instance, the so-called Einstein refrigerators utilize several different concepts, as is known in the technology.
Reverting to the magneto hydrodynamic generator 34, the structure thereof is essentially the reverse that of the magneto-hydrodynamic pump 44, and whereby a conductor is moved through a magnetic field perpendicular to the flux lines of the field, so as to cause an electrical current in the conductor to flow perpendicular to both the direction of the conductor and the flux lines of the magnetic field. Thus, the energy that is put into the engine 10 as heat from the heat source 12 is removed as work or energy from the engine in the form of electricity at the magneto hydrodynamic generator 34.
The foregoing, in effect, provides for an extremely simple and efficient manner of converting heat into electrical energy, and resultingly into work, without the use of any mechanical components or moving mechanical parts.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated but fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A liquid engine system for converting heat into electrical energy or work, said system comprising:

an arrangement for imparting heat to a gaseous medium at a first location and conducting said gaseous medium to a second location for cooling thereof;

a pumping device employing an electrically or electronically conductive liquid for pumping said gaseous medium in reciprocatory motion between said first and second locations; and

a generator communicating with said gaseous medium intermediate said first and second locations and incorporating an electrically or electronically conductive liquid operative as a liquid engine for generating an electrical output current responsive to movement of said liquid caused by changing flow and temperature conditions of said gaseous medium.

2. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generator comprises a magneto-hydrodynamic generator, said conductive liquid forming a conductor, which is moved through a magnetic field perpendicular to flux lines of said field so as cause an electrical current to flow in the liquid perpendicular to both the direction of the conductive liquid and the flux lines of the magnetic field.

3. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical current is outputted from said magneto-hydrodynamic generator as work or energy.

4. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pumping device comprises a magneto-hydrodynamic pump, said conductive liquid forming a conductor which is moved through a magnetic field perpendicular to flux lines of said field so as cause an electrical current to flow in the liquid perpendicular to both the direction of the conductive pump and the flux lines of the magnetic field.

5. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electrical current causes said conductive liquid to shift in reciprocating motion in directions towards and away from, respectively, said first and second location.

6. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first location comprises a first chamber having a gaseous medium located in an upper portion of said chamber, having an inlet connected to a heat source for imparting the heat to said gaseous medium.

7. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second location comprises a second chamber having an upper portion communicating with the upper portion of said first chamber for the flow of said gaseous medium between said first and second chambers.

8. A liquid engine system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower portions of said first and second chambers communicate with said pumping device and contain said conductive liquid.

9. A method of utilizing a liquid engine system for converting heat into electrical energy or work, said method comprising:

providing an arrangement for imparting heat to a gaseous medium at a first location and conducting said gaseous medium to a second location for cooling thereof;

employing a pumping device containing an electrically or electronically conductive liquid for pumping said gaseous medium in reciprocatory motion between said first and second locations; and

having a generator communicate with said gaseous medium intermediate said first and second locations and incorporating an electrically or electronically conductive liquid operative as a liquid engine for generating an electrical output current responsive to movement of said liquid caused by changing flow and temperature conditions of said gaseous medium.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said generator comprises a magneto-hydrodynamic generator, said conductive liquid forming a conductor which is moved through a magnetic field perpendicular to flux lines of said field so as cause an electrical current to flow in the liquid perpendicular to both the direction of the conductive liquid and the flux lines of the magnetic field.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electrical current is outputted from said magneto-hydrodynamic generator as work or energy.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said pumping device comprises a magneto-hydrodynamic pump, said conductive liquid forming a conductor which is moved through a magnetic field perpendicular to flux lines of said field so as cause an electrical current to flow in the liquid perpendicular to both the direction of the conductive pump and the flux lines of the magnetic field.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said electrical current causes said conductive liquid to shift in reciprocatory motion in directions towards and away from, respectively, said first and second location.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first location comprises a first chamber having a gaseous medium located in an upper portion of said chamber, having an inlet connected to a heat source for imparting the heat to said gaseous medium.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second location comprises a second chamber having an upper portion communicating with the upper portion of said first chamber for the flow of said gaseous medium between said first and second chambers.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lower portions of said first and second chambers communicate with said pumping device and contain said conductive liquid.