Dynamics of a pistonless engine capable of utilizing solar energy

摘要

The dynamics of a liquid piston engine capable of working at low temperature differences is discussed in detail. Two working fluids have been considered, viz., dry air and air saturated with water vapor. A resonance condition for the length of the liquid columns is obtained by solving the linearized equations of motion. In a study of the complete equations of motion, it is found that the engine using wet air is capable of delivering about 70% of its kinetic energy every second while operating at a temperature difference of only 40 °C. It is also found that the dry‐air engine operates at only very high temperature differences.