Assembly of gas expansion elements and method of operating said assembly

Abstract

An assembly of gas expansion elements for a device for converting thermal energy into motor energy in particular for a hot-water motor, wherein the assembly includes two closed pressure containers, both of which are filled with a gas or gas mixture, and both of which have an upper injection opening for hot and cold water. The assembly is provided with a short-circuit pipe between the two pressure containers and the short circuit pipe includes at least one controllable valve for equalizing the closed pressure containers, after the gas or gas mixture has performed its work.

1 - 7 . (canceled).  
     
     
         8 . Arrangement of gas expansion elements for a device for converting thermal energy into motive energy, comprising: 
 first and second closed pressure containers filled with a gas or gas mixture, wherein said first and second containers are operatively connected to the device and each include a respectively associated upper injection opening for hot and cold water,    a bypass pipe connecting said first and second containers with at least one controllable valve disposed in series with said bypass pipe for pressure equalization between the pressure containers after the gas or gas mixture has performed its work.    
     
     
         9 . Arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the bypass pipe is arranged in an upper region of at least one of said first and second containers.  
     
     
         10 . Arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the controllable valve is arranged in series with the bypass pipe in a region in the bypass pipe directly adjacent to at least one of said first and second containers.  
     
     
         11 . Arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the bypass pipe is heat-insulated with the at least one controllable valve.  
     
     
         12 . Method for operating an arrangement of gas expansion elements for which hot and cold fluid is alternately injected into pressure containers, comprising the step of: 
 transferring the fluid to one of the first or second pressure containers,    directing the fluid through openings of a controllable valve placed in series with a bypass pipe which communicates between the first and second pressure containers.    
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , wherein after the transfer of usable expansion work of the fluid in one of said first or second pressure containers, a portion of the fluid is led into the other pressure container.  
     
     
         14 . Arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein said controllable valve includes first and second controllable valves placed in series with said bypass pipe, wherein said first and second controllable valves are opened and closed approximately simultaneously.