Heat engine operating over small temp. difference - has two units which draw water alternately from power station cooling water discharge and river to expand and contact solid or hollow body

摘要

A power station (1) receives cooling water from a river (2) and returns (6) this water to the river. Two auxiliary heat engines (3, 4) draw water alternatively from the cooling water return of the station (1) and directly from the river. The temperature of the water they receive thus alternates between two fairly close values. In each engine the water flows over a solid body or a container of gas or liquid. The hot stream causes the body to expand and the cold stream causes it to contract again. This movement is amplified either by gears or by levers to give a usable output of adequate proportions.