Unitary engine and energy accumulation system

Abstract

A unitary, hybrid engine which includes an internal combustion engine which is used both for locomotive and heat generation externally of the cylinders of the combustion engine, wherein the generated heat is employed in conjunction with an evaporator to generate steam, which is then stored in an energy accumulator which retains the stored energy by way of a pressured water containment unit. The pressurized water containment unit accretes the energy and, upon attainment of a predetermined pressure and liquid level, the steam is transmitted to one or more of the cylinders of the unitary engine to provide the motive power to the unitary engine. The engine includes control systems to permit the sole use of steam during such times as may be required for environmental or pollution control requirements. The control systems may also selectively permit the use of steam in one or more of the cylinders of the engine simultaneously with the use of fossil fuel in others. The energy accumulation system may, alternatively, be employed to provide the motive power to an engine other than the one from which it has accreted the energy or may provide an energy source to an alternative power consumption device which does not result in the generation of motive power.

1 . A unitary motive power unit comprising;
 a. a combustion engine for the combustion of an air/fuel mixture and production of combustion gasses;   b. heat transfer means operative arranged to accept transfer of heat from the combustion gasses at a temperature in excess of the vaporization temperature of a heat transfer medium situated within said heat transfer means;   c. energy accumulation and storage means to accumulate and store the energy transferred to said heat transfer medium; and,   d. drive means operative connected to said energy accumulation and storage means and capable of being powered by the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium.   
     
     
         2 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the energy accumulation and storage unit is a saturated liquid accumulator. 
     
     
         3 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 2  wherein the saturated liquid accumulator is a steam accumulator. 
     
     
         4 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 2  wherein the saturated liquid accumulator is a flash steam system. 
     
     
         5 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 4  wherein the saturated liquid accumulator is a variable capacity flash steam system. 
     
     
         6 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the drive means is driven solely by the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         7 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the drive means is capable of being driven simultaneously by both the combustion engine and the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         8 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein a combustion chamber of the combustion engine ceases to be supplied with a fuel/air mixture and is supplied with the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         9 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 8  wherein a plurality of combustion chambers of the combustion engine cease to be supplied with a fuel/air mixture and at least one combustion chamber is supplied with the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         10 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 8  wherein all of the combustion chambers of the combustion engine cease to be supplied with a fuel/air mixture and at least one combustion chamber is supplied with the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         11 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the energy accumulation and storage means may be removed from the power unit to provide power to independent drive means operative connected to said energy accumulation and storage means and capable of being powered by the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         12 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the energy accumulation and storage means provide power to an independent industrial or mechanical process operatively connected to said energy accumulation and storage means and capable of being powered by the stored energy transferred to said heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         13 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 12  wherein the independent process is refrigeration. 
     
     
         14 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 13  wherein the refrigeration process is employed to maintain temperature in a transportation refrigeration system. 
     
     
         15 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  wherein the heat transfer medium is water. 
     
     
         16 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 1  further comprising catalytic elements disposed within the heat transfer means. 
     
     
         17 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 16  wherein the catalytic elements disposed within the heat transfer means comprise alkali. 
     
     
         18 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 16  wherein the catalytic elements disposed within the heat transfer means comprise alkaline earth. 
     
     
         19 . A unitary motive power unit according to  claim 16  further comprising a superheater system for achieving temperatures sufficient to convert nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and further comprising precious earth elements as one of the catalytic elements.