Patent ID: 8899046
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: F01K

Abstract:
1. A method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy using a non-gaseous working medium present in an apparatus comprising a plurality of heat exchangers and an outgoing shaft, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a multitude of chamber units, each chamber unit comprising an inlet for introducing heat exchange medium and an outlet for the discharging heat exchange medium as well as a closed chamber having a heat exchanger wall for exchanging heat between working medium inside the closed chamber and the heat exchange medium introduced into the chamber unit via said inlet for introducing the heat exchange medium; the closed chambers of the chamber units comprise a cylinder and a piston, wherein the piston of a closed chamber is workably connected to the outgoing shaft, the outgoing shaft being workably driven by the piston if the piston is moved from a first, relatively retracted position in the cylinder to a second, relatively protruding position and free movement of the outgoing shaft is allowed if said piston is moved from the second to the first position; wherein the heat exchange medium having a first, high temperature is used for heating working medium present in a first chamber unit for driving the outgoing shaft; the heat exchange medium having a second, low temperature is used for cooling working medium in a second chamber unit; relatively cool heat exchange medium having a third temperature between the first and the second temperature is introduced via the inlet of a third chamber unit comprising relatively warm working medium to yield warmed-up heat exchange medium; relatively warm heat exchange medium having a fourth temperature between the first and the second temperature is introduced via the inlet of a fourth chamber unit comprising relatively cool working medium to heat the working medium and drive the outgoing shaft; wherein after being heated by the heat exchange medium of the first temperature, the first chamber unit is used as a third chamber unit so as to extract thermal energy from said third chamber unit to result in warmed-up heat exchange medium; after being cooled by the heat exchange medium of the second temperature, the second chamber unit is used as a fourth chamber unit to be warmed by relatively warm heat exchange medium of a fourth temperature; after being cooled down by relatively cool heat exchange medium of a third temperature, the third chamber unit is used as a second chamber unit; and after being warmed by relatively warm heat exchange medium of a fourth temperature the fourth chamber unit is used as the first chamber unit.