초록 ▼

This invention describes a miniaturized hybrid diesel-electric engine formed by a closed-loop system powered by plasma-aided combustion of JP-8 fuel (or other hydrocarbon fuels) working in tandem with a vapor cycle utilizing miniaturized expanders and condensers. The output of this engine is electri

This invention describes a miniaturized hybrid diesel-electric engine formed by a closed-loop system powered by plasma-aided combustion of JP-8 fuel (or other hydrocarbon fuels) working in tandem with a vapor cycle utilizing miniaturized expanders and condensers. The output of this engine is electric power and mechanical work. Water, or organic fluids, heated by the combustion product developed inside a special burner, undergoes an explosive, quasi-supersonic conversion to steam. This steam drives a high-speed turbine connected together with a gas turbine outputting shaft work. This work output is utilized to power internal subsystems, cool down the miniaturized condensers, and to produce torque and electric power. The dimensions of this miniaturized hybrid-engine are so compact that it can fit inside the battery compartment of most applications requiring high-density miniaturized power sources.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An engine comprising: a heat source; a first fluid channel having a surface in thermal contact with the heat source, so that heat energy is transferred from the heat source to a first fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a first turbine coupled to a shaft to convert

What is claimed is: 1. An engine comprising: a heat source; a first fluid channel having a surface in thermal contact with the heat source, so that heat energy is transferred from the heat source to a first fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a first turbine coupled to a shaft to convert at least a portion of the heat energy transferred to the first fluid into mechanical energy; a second fluid channel through which the first fluid flows after passing through the first turbine; a cooling channel in thermal contact with the second fluid channel; and a second turbine coupled to the shaft to utilize a portion of the mechanical energy to force a second fluid to flow through the cooling channel, wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel extracts heat from the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel, wherein the first fluid is condensable, and wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel causes the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel to condense, and wherein the first fluid and the second fluid do not mix one another. 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first turbine and the second turbine are coaxially arranged about the shaft. 3. The engine of claim 1, further comprising an electric generator coupled to the first turbine to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electricity. 4. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical coupler to convert the mechanical energy into a desired torque. 5. The engine of claim 1, wherein the surface of the first fluid channel is defined by a channel wall which separates the interior of the first fluid channel from the heat source. 6. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first fluid channel comprises a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section separated by a U-shaped section. 7. The engine of claim 1, wherein the second turbine is in fluid communication with an exterior of the engine and is configured to suction the second fluid from the exterior of the engine and force the second fluid into the cooling channel. 8. The engine of claim 1, wherein the second fluid channel surrounds the first fluid channel. 9. The engine of claim 1, wherein the second fluid comprises air. 10. An engine comprising: a heat source; a first fluid channel defined at least partially by a channel wall surrounding the heat source, the first fluid channel being separated from the heat source by the channel wall, the channel wall being configured to allow transfer of heat energy from the heat source to the first fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a first turbine coupled to a shaft to convert at least a portion of the heat energy transferred to the first fluid into mechanical energy; a second fluid channel through which the first fluid flows after passing through the first turbine; a cooling channel in thermal contact with the second fluid channel; and a second turbine coupled to the shaft to utilize a portion of the mechanical energy to force a second fluid to flow through the cooling channel, wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel extracts heat from the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel, and wherein the first fluid is condensable, and wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel causes the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel to condense. 11. The engine of claim 10, wherein the first turbine and the second turbine are coaxially arranged about the shaft. 12. The engine of claim 10, further comprising an electric generator coupled to the first turbine to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electricity. 13. The engine of claim 10, further comprising a mechanical coupler to convert the mechanical energy into a desired torque. 14. The engine of claim 10, wherein the first fluid channel comprises a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section separated by a U-shaped section. 15. The engine of claim 10, wherein the second turbine is in fluid communication with an exterior of the engine and is configured to suction the second fluid from the exterior of the engine and force the second fluid into the cooling channel. 16. The engine of claim 10, wherein the second fluid channel surrounds the first fluid channel. 17. The engine of claim 10, wherein the second fluid comprises air. 18. An engine comprising: a heat source; a first fluid channel having a surface in thermal contact with the heat source, so that heat energy is transferred from the heat source to a first fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a first turbine coupled to a shaft to convert at least a portion of the heat energy transferred to the first fluid into mechanical energy; a second fluid channel through which the first fluid flows after passing through the first turbine; a cooling channel in thermal contact with the second fluid channel; and a second turbine coupled to the shaft to utilize a portion of the mechanical energy to force a second fluid to flow through the cooling channel, wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel extracts heat from the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel, and wherein the first fluid is condensable, and wherein the second fluid flowing through the cooling channel causes the first fluid flowing through the second fluid channel to condense, and wherein the engine is a mobile unit. 19. The engine of claim 18, wherein the second fluid comprises air. 20. The engine of claim 18, wherein the second turbine is in fluid communication with an exterior of the engine and is configured to suction the second fluid from the exterior of the engine and force the second fluid into the cooling channel.