EFFICIENT VAPOR (STEAM) ENGINE/PUMP IN A CLOSED SYSTEM USED AT LOW TEMPERATURES AS A BETTER STIRLING HEAT ENGINE/REFRIGERATOR

摘要

A high efficiency vapor (steam) engine/pump process in a closed system can use either water or liquefied gases for its working fluid to extract thermal energy from the ambient or non-ambient heat sources to increase its heat transfer rate and obtain power generation efficiency over 50%. A slow-speed two-phase piston steam engine's flywheel has a high ratio gear reducer attached to increase a generator's speed and produce power with over 50% efficiency and meet its power generation requirements (3,600 RPM). This two-phase vapor (steam) engine/pump substitutes the cooling condenser's and pump's functions of compressing the waste streams directly back into the boiler, and allows the process to run at temperatures lower than room temperature, with no need for a conventional cooling condenser. The present process will not discharge thermal pollution and/or radioactive/hazardous wastes into the heat sink and to the global environment, which is highly recommended for new nuclear/general power steam engine/turbines modifications.