Inventors:
Pasquale S. Canzano - Dover DE
Fred D. Canzano - Cranford NJ
International Classification:
F24J 302
Abstract:
A system, method and apparatus for converting solar energy into heat and/or shaft work and employing two working fluids in admixture is described. One fluid has a relatively low boiling point and is capable of being readily converted to a vapor at low, system pressure. The other fluid has a relatively high boiling point and is not capable of being readily vaporized at low, system pressure. The mixture of fluids is passed through a solar energy absorber or collector where the fluids are heated, the lower-boiling fluid undergoing conversion at least in part to the vapor phase and the higher-boiling fluid remaining in the liquid phase. The heated fluids are passed into a disengaging zone where the vapor phase is separated from the liquid phase. Thereafter, the liquid phase is passed to an energy storage zone and the vapor phase, which consists entirely of the lower-boiling fluid, may be fed to a gas motor to generate useful shaft power. Vapor from the outlet end of the gas motor or direct from the disengaging zone also may be passed through a heat exchanger to give up at least a portion of the sensible heat, and possibly also its latent heat, to a heat exchange fluid.