Adaptive thermal controller for heat engines
US5899071A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 4, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A solar to mechanical or electric power conversion system which has a controller that varies the speed of a cooling fan and cooling fluid pump fan in accordance with the available solar energy intensity, ambient temperature surrounding the system and other operating conditions. The system includes a suitable heat source such as an isotope heat source, fuel combustor, or a solar concentrator that delivers solar energy to a focal point by reflection from mirrors or by Fresnel lens. A suitable solar concentrator may also be based upon on densifying the solar photon count by a Winston concentrator. For solar heated devices based on concentrated solar energy, a receiver is located at the focal point. This receiver is heated by concentrated solar energy. Heat is transferred to a working fluid which powers a heat engine. The heat engine converts the thermal energy into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is transmitted to a load coupled to the engine. The temperature of the working fluid is lowered by transfer to the surroundings by operation of means selected from the group including a cooling fluid valve means, variable rate fan, a variable rate pump, a cooling fluid to air heat ex…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.