Isothermal power

Abstract

This invention provides means for producing power by using isothermal compressors and isothermal expanders. One embodiment has an isothermal compressor that compresses air (or other gas), passes the air through a counter-flow heat exchanger, which heats the air, uses the heated air to drive an isothermal expander for power generation, and transfers the expander exhaust back through the counter-flow heat exchanger to heat the input air to the expander. Another embodiment has a boiler that produces vapor that flows through a counter-flow heat exchanger to superheat the vapor. The vapor then flows through an isothermal expander for power generation. The exhaust from the isothermal expander flows back through the counter-flow heat exchanger to supply heat to the vapor coming from the boiler and then flows through another heat exchanger that preheats the feed liquid flowing to the boiler.

1 . An isothermal power generating system comprising:
 means for adding energy to a working fluid;   a cooler for cooling the fluid;   a counter-flow heat exchanger for heating the fluid;   an isothermal expander for expanding the heated fluid to produce mechanical power;   a heater for supplying hot fluid to the isothermal expander to keep hot the working fluid; and   a means for conducting the expanded working fluid back through the counter-flow heat exchanger to heat the fluid;   wherein the working fluid from the heating means flows through the counter-flow heat exchanger, where the working fluid vapor is heated, and   wherein the working fluid vapor flows into the isothermal expander to extract mechanical energy from the expanding working fluid vapor, and the working fluid vapor flows back through the counter-flow heat exchanger to heat the working fluid from the heating means.   
   
   
       2 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 1  wherein the working fluid is a gas, and further wherein:
 the means for adding energy comprises an isothermal compressor for compressing gas therein;   the cooler supplies a cooling fluid to the isothermal compressor to keep cool the gas in the isothermal compressor;   an isothermal expander for expanding the heated compressed gas to produce mechanical power by extracting mechanical energy from the gas as the gas expands;   the counter-flow heat exchanger heats, with heat energy from gas flowing from the isothermal expander, the compressed gas flowing from the isothermal compressor;   the heater keeps hot the fluid flowing in the isothermal expander;   the means for conducting the expanded gas back through the counter-flow heat exchanger comprises means for conducting gas from the expander to heat compressed gas flowing from the compressor; and   the isothermal compressor compresses cooled and expanded gas drawn from the isothermal expander via the counter-flow heat exchanger, and forces the gas into the counter-flow heat exchanger.   
   
   
       3 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the isothermal compressor and isothermal expander each comprise:
 a piston in a cylinder;   a connecting rod operatively connected to the piston for moving the piston;   spaced-apart piston components on a face of the piston for promoting heat transfer between the piston components and the gas to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart cylinder components on an end of the cylinder for promoting heat transfer between the cylinder components and the gas to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   at least one channel within each of the piston components and each of the cylinder components for conducting fluid for transferring heat energy to or from the piston components and cylinder components;   at least one channel within the connecting rod and the piston for conducting fluid to the channels in the piston components on the face of the piston;   at least one channel within the end of the cylinder for conducting fluid to the channels in the cylinder components on the end of the cylinder;   wherein when the piston approaches the end of the cylinder, the piston components on the face of the piston are fittable between the cylinder components on the end of the cylinder.   
   
   
       4 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 3  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       5 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 3  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered concentric circular forms. 
   
   
       6 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the isothermal compressor and isothermal expander each comprises:
 two rotatable pistons attached to shafts within a housing, which rotatable pistons roll together to form a seal there-between;   spaced-apart piston components on the inside of the rotatable pistons for transferring heat energy between the piston components and the gas to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart housing components on the housing for transferring heat between the housing components and the gas to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   at least one channel within each of the piston components and each of the housing components for conducting fluid for transferring heat energy to or from the piston components and housing components;   at least one channel within each shaft for conducting fluids to and from the channel in the piston components on the inside of the rotatable pistons; and   at least one channel within the housing for conducting fluids to and from the channels in the housing components on the housing.   
   
   
       7 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 spaced-apart piston components on first sides of the rotatable pistons are fittable between spaced-apart housing components on first sides of the housing when the rotatable pistons rotate toward the first sides of the housing, and wherein spaced-apart piston components on a second side of the rotatable pistons are fittable between spaced-apart housing components on a second side of the housing when the rotatable pistons rotate toward the second side of the housing.   
   
   
       8 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 6  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       9 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 6  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered concentric circular forms. 
   
   
       10 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the isothermal compressor and isothermal expander each comprises:
 a casing for a turbine, which casing contains upper channels and lower channels therein for conducting heating or cooling fluid;   a central core for the turbine, which central core contains channels for conducting heating or cooling fluid;   a first external pipe in fluid connection with the top of the casing for delivering heating or cooling fluid from a fluid source to the top of the casing;   a second external pipe in fluid connection with the bottom of the casing for retrieving heating or cooling fluid from the bottom of the casing to the fluid source;   upper turbine stator blades, attached to the casing and to the central core of the turbine, containing interior channels for the conducting of heating or cooling fluids for transferring heat to or from gas flowing through the turbine;   lower turbine stator blades, attached to the casing and to the central core of the turbine, containing interior channels for the conducting of heating or cooling fluids for transferring heat to or from gas flowing through the turbine;   a central shaft, inside the central core, containing:
 a first shaft channel for providing heating or cooling fluids; and 
 a second shaft channel for retrieving heating or cooling fluids; and 
   rotatable blades on the central shaft and having interior channels for conducting heating or cooling fluids into and out of the rotatable blades for transferring heat energy to or from gas that flows through the turbine;   wherein fluid flows through the upper channels to the interior channels in the upper turbine stator blades, then through the interior channels in the upper turbine stator blades to channels in the central core, through the channels in the central core to channels in the lower turbine stator blades, through the interior channels in the lower turbine stator blades to the lower channels, and then flows through the lower channels to the second external pipe at the bottom of the casing, and   wherein heating or cooling fluid flows in one end of the central shaft through the first shaft channel to channels in the rotatable blades, through the channels in the rotatable blades to the second shaft channel in the central shaft, through the second shaft channel in the central shaft to the other end of the central shaft, and then flows out to the fluid source.   
   
   
       11 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the isothermal compressor and isothermal expander each consist of:
 a container comprising:
 a circular top; 
 a circular bottom; and 
 a circular bellows forming the circular side walls; 
   a push rod for moving the circular top of the container;   spaced-apart top components on the inside of the circular top for receiving heat from compressing gas or supplying heat to expanding gas, thereby to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart bottom components on the inside of the circular bottom for receiving heat from compressing gas or supplying heat to expanding gas, thereby to keep the gas close to isothermal;   channels within the top and bottom components for conducting heating or cooling fluids to transfer heat energy to or from the top and bottom components;   channels within the push rod and within the circular top for conducting heating or cooling fluids to the channels in the top components; and   channels within the circular bottom for conducting heating or cooling fluids to the channels in the bottom components;   wherein when the circular top approaches the circular bottom of the container, the spaced-apart top components on the circular top are fittable between the spaced-apart bottom components on the circular bottom.   
   
   
       12 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 11  wherein the spaced-apart top components and the spaced-apart bottom components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       13 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 11  wherein the spaced-apart top components and the spaced-apart bottom components comprise tapered concentric circular forms. 
   
   
       14 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 1 , adapted for two-phase fluids and wherein:
 the means for adding energy comprises a boiler for boiling a working fluid to produce a working fluid vapor;   the counter-flow heat exchanger comprises a first counter-flow heat exchanger for superheating the working fluid vapor;   the isothermal expander expands the heated working fluid vapor to extract mechanical energy from the working fluid vapor; and   the heater supplies hot fluid to the isothermal expander to keep hot the working fluid vapor that is flowing through the isothermal expander;   the isothermal power generating system further comprises:
 a pump to pump the liquid toward the boiler; and 
 a second counter-flow heat exchanger for preheating the liquid feed to the boiler; 
   the means for conducting comprises means for conducting the expanded working fluid vapor from the isothermal expander back through the first counter-flow heat exchanger to heat working fluid vapor flowing from the boiler and through the second counter-flow heat exchanger for preheating the liquid feed to the boiler;   the cooler comprises a condenser for condensing the working fluid vapor to a liquid; and   wherein the working fluid vapor flows into the condenser to be condensed to a liquid, and is then pumped to the boiler by the pump via the second counter-flow heat exchanger.   
   
   
       15 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 14  wherein the isothermal expander comprises:
 a piston in a cylinder;   a connecting rod operably connected to the piston for moving the piston; and   spaced-apart piston components on the face of the piston for supplying heat to the expanding working fluid vapor to keep the working fluid vapor substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart cylinder components on an end of the cylinder for supplying heat to expanding working fluid vapor to keep the working fluid vapor substantially close to isothermal;   at least one channel within each of the piston and cylinder components for conducting heating fluids to add heat to the piston and cylinder components;   channels within the connecting rod and the piston for conducting heating fluids to the channel in the piston components; and   channels within the end of the cylinder for conducting heating fluids to the channel in the cylinder component on end of the cylinder;   wherein when the piston approaches the bottom of the cylinder, the piston components on the face of the piston are fittable between the cylinder components on the end of the cylinder.   
   
   
       16 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 15  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       17 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 15  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered concentric circular forms. 
   
   
       18 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 14 , wherein the isothermal expander comprises:
 two rotating pistons attached to shafts within a housing, which rotating pistons roll together to form a seal there-between;   spaced-apart piston components on the inside of the rotating pistons for supplying heat to the expanding working fluid vapor to keep the working fluid vapor substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart housing components on the housing for supplying heat to the expanding working fluid vapor to keep the working fluid vapor substantially close to isothermal;   channels within the piston components and the housing components for conducting heating fluids to add heat to the piston components and to the housing components;   channels within the shafts for conducting heating fluids to and from the channels in the piston components; and   channels within the housing for conducting heating fluids to and from the channels in the housing components.   
   
   
       19 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 spaced-apart piston components on first sides of the rotatable pistons are fittable between spaced-apart housing components on first sides of the housing when the rotatable pistons rotate toward the first sides of the housing, and wherein spaced-apart piston components on a second side of the rotatable pistons are fittable between spaced-apart housing components on a second side of the housing when the rotatable pistons rotate toward the second side of the housing.   
   
   
       20 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 18  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       21 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 18  wherein the piston components and the cylinder components comprise tapered concentric circular forms. 
   
   
       22 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 14 , wherein the isothermal expander comprises:
 a casing for a turbine, which casing contains upper channels and lower channels therein for conducting heating or cooling fluid;   a central core for the turbine, which central core contains channels for conducting heating fluid;   a first external pipe in fluid connection with the top of the casing for delivering heating fluid from a fluid source to the top of the casing;   a second external pipe in fluid connection with the bottom of the casing for retrieving heating fluid from the bottom of the casing to the fluid source;   upper turbine stator blades, attached to the casing and to the central core of the turbine, containing interior channels for the conducting of heating fluids for transferring heat to gas flowing through the turbine;   lower turbine stator blades, attached to the casing and to the central core of the turbine, containing interior channels for the conducting of heating fluids for transferring heat to gas flowing through the turbine;   a central shaft, inside the central core, containing:
 a first shaft channel for providing heating; and 
 a second shaft channel for retrieving heating fluids; and 
   rotatable blades on the central shaft and having interior channels for conducting heating fluids into and out of the rotatable blades for transferring heat energy to gas that flows through the turbine;   wherein fluid flows through the upper channels to the interior channels in the upper turbine stator blades, then through the interior channels in the upper turbine stator blades to channels in the central core, through the channels in the central core to channels in the lower turbine stator blades, through the interior channels in the lower turbine stator blades to the lower channels, and the flows through the lower channels to the second external pipe at the bottom of the casing, and   wherein heating fluid flows in one end of the central shaft through the first shaft channel to channels in the rotatable blades, through the channels in the rotatable blades to the second shaft channel in the central shaft, through the second shaft channel in the central shaft to the other end of the central shaft, and then flows out to the fluid source.   
   
   
       23 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 14 , wherein the isothermal expander comprises:
 a container comprising:
 a circular top; 
 a circular bottom; and 
 a circular bellows forming the circular side walls; 
   a push rod for moving the circular top of the container;   spaced-apart top components on the inside of the circular top for receiving heat from compressing gas or supplying heat to expanding gas, thereby to keep the gas substantially close to isothermal;   spaced-apart bottom components on the inside of the circular bottom for supplying heat to expanding gas, thereby to keep the gas close to isothermal;   channels within the top and bottom components for conducting heating fluids to transfer heat energy to the top and bottom components;   channels within the push rod and within the circular top for conducting heating fluids to the channels in the top components; and   channels within the circular bottom for conducting heating fluids to the channels in the bottom components;   wherein when the circular top approaches the circular bottom of the container, the spaced-apart top components on the circular top are fittable between the spaced-apart bottom components on the circular bottom.   
   
   
       24 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 23  wherein the spaced-apart top components and the spaced-apart bottom components comprise tapered plates. 
   
   
       25 . An isothermal power generating system according to  claim 23  wherein the spaced-apart top components and the spaced-apart bottom components comprise tapered concentric circular forms.