Patent GB-730277-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to heated pressure-air driven power plant
IPC: F01B17/04
Filed: 1951-05-09
Abstract: 730,277. Gas turbine plant. KUPKA, J. J. May 9, 1951, No. 10949/51. Class 110 (3). [Also in Groups XIII, XXVII and XXXI] A heated pressure air-driven power plant comprises a fired vessel containing a pressure air-heating system immersed in a liquid heat transfer medium having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure above the boiling point of water at the same pressure and supplementary means for absorption and transfer to the circulating pressure air of a portion of the heat contained in the gaseous combustion products of the fuel burned within the fired vessel, a cool pressure-air storage tank and a heated pressure air-driven power generator which may be a turbine. The invention relates particularly to power plants such as those for installation in locomotives and ships. In Fig. 1 air under pressure is supplied by a compressor 4 to a reservoir 7. In operation the air passes from the reservoir through a primary heating coil 11 to a receiver 12 and from the receiver through tubes 13 to a collector 14. From the collector the air passes to a chamber 16 and then to a secondary heating system comprising tubes 17 which lead to a high temperature chamber 25. The motor 19 which may be a turbine is supplied from the high temperature chamber 25 under control of a throttle valve 9. The heating coil 11, tubes 13 and collector 14 are all situated in a heat storage accumulator 3 filled with material sold under the Registered Trade Mark Dowtherm or similar high boiling point compound, heat being supplied to the accumulator by combustion of coal in a combustion chamber 1. The heating tubes 17 are directly heated by combustion products which pass through flues 36 to an outlet chamber 23. The throttle valve 9 is interconnected with a throttle valve 10 which latter valve controls the supply of heated air from the chamber 25 to a turbine 27 which drives the compressor 4. As shown the valves are controlled by a lever 41 (Fig. 4) which permits manual or automatic control. A thermosensitive device 58 is provided. The moment the temperature falls below the limit set by the adjustment of the device 58 a stop 53 is disengaged and thus the throttle 10 is completely shut off and no air passes through the circuits. Thus an excessive cooling of the " Dowtherm " in the heat storage accumulator is avoided during periods of restricted heat release in the combustion chamber. The interconnection may comprise electrical, mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic means. The exhaust of the turbine 27 may be employed for supplying an existing warming and ventilating system of a power house or vehicle or may be supplied into heating ducts for a building or ship after passing through ducts in the combustion chamber. Combustion air is drawn in through the partial vacuum created by the action of a blast pipe 22 which is supplied with expanded air through a duct 21 connected to the motor 19. The plant may be used in a locomotive. Figs. 6 and 7 show a twocylinder heavy freight engine fitted with a power plant according to the invention. A turbo compressor 73 corresponding to the compressor 4 is located at each side of the locomotive. The exhaust of turbines 72 corresponding to the turbines 27 may be supplied to the underside of the grate of the combustion chamber. The air reservoir is indicated at 81, the heat storage accumulator at 83 and the throttle valves at 70. The primary coil 85 corresponds to 11, Fig. 1. Collector 84 (Fig. 7) forms with associated pipes a supplementary heating means corresponding to 14, Fig. 1. The pressure air power generator as shown comprises power cylinders, but a turbine-type power generator may be used in a locomotive. Pipes 75 feed cool compressed air into the primary coil 85. Pipes 76, joints 77 and elbow 80 each contain entry and return pipes to the reservoir 81. Air exhausted from the turbines 72 may be used in a warming and ventilation system of an associated vehicle. In large locomotives more than two compressor sets may be provided. Additional smalldiameter flue tubes may be provided both in the plant of Fig. 1 and in the locomotive engine. It is stated that existing steam locomotives or marine steam engines may be converted. The motor exhaust may be used for heating. Coal, oil or wood may be used as the fuel. The tubes 17 may have means to create air turbulence and hence increase the efficiency of the heat exchange.