Patent ID: 9404392
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: F01D,F01K,F28D,H02K

Claim Text:
1. A heat engine system comprising: an array comprising a first heat engine and a second heat engine in series; each heat engine comprising a capillary-pumped heat pipe containing a working fluid; a generator assembly comprising an expander and a generator; a coupling system between the expander and the generator; wherein each heat pipe of the array contains at least one stage of the expander; wherein each heat pipe comprises an evaporator section with an evaporator temperature and a condenser section with a condenser temperature, wherein the temperature range of operation for the first heat pipe is different than the temperature range of operation for the second heat pipe, and wherein the condenser temperature of the first heat pipe is substantially the same as the evaporator temperature of the second heat pipe during operation; and wherein a shaft couples each stage of the expander.