Prime mover with recovered energy driven compression of the working fluid

Abstract

A prime mover with recovered energy driven compression for stationary and motor vehicle application. Efficient low compression operation, especially beneficial to small gas turbines, is enabled with either ambient or cryogenic intake air. Two features, exhaust gas recirculation by a jet-compressor and a heat of fusion sink to liquefy motive air to the jet-compressor, decrease regenerative heat exchanger terminal temperature difference relative to turbine temperature drop in low pressure operation while reducing heat exchanger surface area.

I claim: 
     
         1 . The compression means of an expansion engine comprising compression cooling means for absorbing heat from said compression means, wherein power is supplied to said cooling means from energy storage means charged by recovered energy selected from the group consisting of motion of a transport vehicle, solar radiation and wind. 
     
     
         2 . The cooling means of  claim 1  comprising heat of fusion sink means, wherein cryogenic coolant alternately melts during absorption of heat from said compression means and solidifies due to suction pressure induced by suction means of said sink, at less than the working fluid intake temperature to said compression means. 
     
     
         3 . The storage means of  claim 2  comprising a storage battery and an electric generator selected from the group consisting of photo voltaic panels and electromagnetic rotating machines, wherein said battery, charged by said generator, supplies power to drive said suction means. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling means of  claim 2  comprising condensed working fluid and melting cryogenic coolant, wherein the working fluid and the coolant are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, nitric oxide, argon, neon, methane and hydrogen. 
     
     
         5 . A transport vehicle comprising recovered energy storage means and exhaust gas circulation means, wherein said storage means supplies power to compression means of the vehicle prime mover for driving said circulation means to circulate exhaust working fluid from the expansion means to the heat source means of said prime mover. 
     
     
         6 . The circulation means of  claim 5  comprising jet compression means, wherein a motive fluid portion of working fluid from said compression means entrains a portion of exhaust working fluid while discharging the mixed motive fluid and exhaust working fluid to said heat source means. 
     
     
         7 . The heat source means of  claim 6  comprising regenerative heating means, wherein the vented portion of exhaust working fluid heats the intake working fluid from said compression means. 
     
     
         8 . The compression means of  claim 7  comprising motive fluid liquefaction means, wherein cryogenic working fluid is liquefied by transfer of heat to melting cryogenic coolant in heat of fusion sink means of said liquefaction means while intake working fluid, is cryogenically cooled in regenerative cooling means of said liquefaction means. 
     
     
         9 . The sink means of  claim 8  comprising motive fluid heat absorption means and coolant suction means, wherein the cryogenic coolant alternately melts during absorption of heat from the cryogenic working fluid in said absorption means, and solidifies due to suction pressure induced by said suction means. 
     
     
         10 . The storage means of  claim 9  comprising recovered energy charging means, wherein said storage means is charged by recovered energy selected from the group consisting of motion of a transport vehicle and solar radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The charging means of  claim 10  comprising a storage battery and an electric generator selected from the group consisting of photo voltaic panels and electromagnetic rotating machines, wherein said battery, charged by said generator, supplies power to drive said suction means. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling means of  claim 11  comprising condensed working fluid and cryogenic coolant import means, wherein the working fluid and the coolant are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, nitric oxide, argon, neon, methane and hydrogen. 
     
     
         13 . The liquefaction means of  claim 12  comprising boil off gas liquefaction means, wherein excess vaporized working fluid is reliquefied and returned to said storage means. 
     
     
         14 . The prime mover of  claim 13  comprising a regenerative gas turbine. 
     
     
         15 . A gas turbine prime mover of a transport vehicle comprising a cryogenic cooling system for absorbing heat from a cryogenic compressor of said prime mover, wherein power is supplied to said cooling system from an energy storage system charged by recovered braking energy of said vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 15  comprising a heat of fusion sink, wherein cryogenic coolant alternately melts during absorption of heat from said compressor and solidifies due to suction pressure induced by a suction compressor of said sink, at less than the working fluid intake temperature to said compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The sink of  claim 16  comprising a cryogenic coolant replacement system selected from the group consisting of importation of solidified coolant to said vehicle and liquefaction of coolant on said vehicle, wherein evaporated coolant is periodically replaced with condensed coolant. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 16  comprising a storage battery and an electric generator, wherein said battery, charged by said generator, supplies power to drive said compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The prime mover of  claim 15  comprising a jet compressor, wherein a motive fluid portion of working fluid from said cryogenic compressor entrains a portion of exhaust working fluid while discharging the mixed motive fluid and exhaust working fluid to a combustor of said prime mover. 
     
     
         20 . The prime mover of  claim 18  comprising a working fluid bypass with a bypass compressor and a cryogenic regenerator, wherein a bypass portion of the working fluid continues in parallel flow relation with the motive fluid to said combustor while regeneratively heating the pressurized motive fluid.