Hybrid Thermal Converter for an Artificial Heart Device.

摘要

The program consisted of the design and development of breadboard version of a Turbine Organic Rankine Engine System (TORES). This breadboard engine successfully demonstrated the capability of providing 5.2watts of output hydraulic power to the H-TAH blood pump using a simulated 50-watt thermal heat source. This compares favorably with the required minimum 4.0watts hydraulic power output performance goal. The TORES engine utilizes a Pu-238isotope heat source to provide the thermal energy for a turbine-driven hydraulic pump. The pump provides the required flows and pressure levels for both the thermodynamic loop and the hydraulic control loop. Waste heat from the engine is initially rejected to the hydraulic loop flow and finally to the blood at the blood pump heat exchanger.