Patent EP-0143728-B1 (EP)
Title: Thermal steam engine for an autonomous under water vehicle, without communication with the surface
IPC: F01K15/04
Filed: 1984-09-17
Granted: 1989-04-05
Abstract: 1. Prime mover working on the external combustion of a hydrocarbon exclusively composed of C and H, using steam according to the Rankine Hirn cycle with high pressure, re-heating and bleeding, designed to be fitted in a self-sustaining submarine which carries, besides the fuel, the combustion oxygen and which has to keep on board the combustion residues (CO2 and water), characterized in that it is constituted of a monobloc steam generator-condenser assembly with incorporated turbine and sped reduction gear (22), comprising a boiler (b) iwth instant steaming of the rotating heat surfaces, delivering steam either in an external reciprocating engine-relief valve assembly followed by a turbine (20) placed in the condenser (c), or in a multiple-turbine internal engine-reducing valve assembly of which the last reduction stage is also situated inside the condenser (c), the output shaft of the turbine reduction gear, in both cases, driving in rotation the heating surfaces of the boiler, its supply and feed pumps (m, i), the condenser pumps (k, l, x) as well as auxiliaries (y, z) of a combustion residual collecting system constituted of a bubbling-can (d) in which the water contained in said residues condenses in the circuit water and where the CO2 is sucked up by the multi-staged compressor (y), said assembly being associated to a heat-recovery system heating up the water fed to the boiler in three stages, the first stage consisting in drawing the heat from the outer jacket of the boiler (b) and from the gases contained in the bubbling can (d) by means of the flow ket up by the pump (i) at a temperature controlled to about 908C by the thermostat (t) which then directs it towards san expanding vessel (f) acting as feed water tank, and communicating with the cooler (e) run through by the flowing water issued from the condenser in order to expel any excess heat and where are also situated the excess water suction box (h) equipped with oil separator-extractor (s, g, if the engine-reducing valve assembly is reciprocating), the recycling pipe for the gases of the tank (u), as well as the induction pipe of the feed pump (m) which delivers to the second and third heating stages constituted by the oil coolant (q) and the preheater by bleeding (o), whereas the equivalent of the produced water collected by pump (z) in the box (h) accumulates in a capacity of the submarine hull of which the walls are in contact with the sea water, in which capacity it can cool down and serve as flowing water for the condenser (cold source) thereby preventing the strong pressures which would be exerted on a direct sea water colling circuit, at great depths, the machine then permitting the storage onboard in liquid phase of the CO2 combustion residues, the CO2 being compressed by compressor (y) and colled so as to be liquefiable by the cold obtained from the expansion of the fuel-gas and of the combustion oxygen stored under high pressure, and then to be sent in liquid form, instead of the oxygen, in its own storage cylinders, as and when it is used.