Patent GB-658599-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a cooling structure for a heat generating power plant
IPC: F01P9/06
Filed: 1949-08-05
Abstract: 658,599. Refrigerating; cooling internal combustion engines. STEVENS, A. H. (Collier, R. T.). Aug. 5, 1949, No. 20403. [Classes 29 and 64(iii)] The cylinder block 23 of an internal combustion engine is cooled by jackets 20 forming the generator of a continuous cycle absorption refrigerating machine of the inert gas type, the amount of liquid circulating through the jacket varying automatically with the amount of cylinder cooling required. The absorbent is water, the refrigerant ammonia and the inert gas hydrogen or helium. From 10 to 30 per cent of the water may be replaced by methyl alcohol or acetone which, at high cylinder temperatures, is also expelled in the generator to give added cooling. Glycerol, methanol or calcium chloride may be added to reduce the vapour pressure and lower the partial pressure. Ebullience in the jacket 20 raises mixed liquid and gas through a pipe 28 to form a hydrostatic head 30 in a separating vessel K from which absorbent flows through a heat exchanger 32 and a pipe 33 to the absorber A made up of sinuous pipes 35 connected in parallel. The absorbent enters each pipe 35 through a jet formed in a continuation 40 of the pipe 33. The absorbent enriched in refrigerant collects in an absorber vessel 38 from which the rich liquor flows through a pipe 60 forming part of heat exchanger 32 to a pumping unit L. The pipe 60 is formed with a helical external fin 61. In the unit L the rich liquor enters a vertical chamber 68 depending into which is a conduit 65 receiving hot gases from the separating vessel K. These gases pump the rich liquor up the chamber 68 whence they flow through orifices 69 and through a pipe 26 to the cooling jacket 20. If the heat evolution of the engine increases more gases will be evolved resulting in a higher pressure head 30 and, because of a greater pumping action in the unit L, a higher pressure head in the chamber 68 which causes a faster circulation of absorption liquor. Refrigerant gas flows from the unit. L through a pipe 70, and a rectifier 71 to a condenser C comprising a coiled tube. Liquid refrigerant flows to a collector 85 and thence through a pipe 86 to an evaporator R under the dashboard 17 of the vehicle, the flow of refrigerant being controlled by a valve 87 operated by a thermostatic element 88 adjacent the evaporator. Excess liquid refrigerant overflows from collector 85 through a pipe 89 to the rich liquor pipe 60. Inert gas flows from a large vessel 95 through a pipe 94 to the evaporator where is mixes with vaporized refrigerant, the mixed gases flowing through a pipe 96 to the bottom of the absorber A where the refrigerant is absorbed the inert gas returning by a pipe 34 to the vessel 95. If heating of the vehicle is desired, a valve 108 in the pipe 86 is closed by a knob 112 to interrupt supply of refrigerant to the evaporator and hot gases from the pump unit L are directed by operation of a valve 102 through a pipe 100 to the avaporator which thus acts as a condenser, liquid flowing through pipe 96 to the absorber and hence to the absorber vessel. The flow of cooling air over the absorber A and the condenser C is directed by baffles 54, 55, 79, 80. Cooling air enters the ducts' so formed through louvres 50 located at the front of the bonnet 12. The air-flow is controlled in accordance with the cooling required by levers 46, 48, 49 operating the louvres 50 and operated by a thermostatic element 44 located in the absorber vessel 38, an increase in temperature of which indicates a demand for greater cooling: Alternatively the louvres 50 may be controlled in accordance with the pressure in the system.