US 12,276,212 B2
Heat engine
Anthony Paul Roskilly, Newcastle upon Tyne (GB); and Andrew John Smallbone, Newcastle upon Tyne (GB)
Assigned to The University of Durham, Durham (GB)
Filed by The University of Durham, Durham (GB)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/820,577.
Application 17/820,577 is a continuation of application No. 16/481,238, previously published as PCT/GB2018/050221, filed on Jan. 26, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1701368 (GB), filed on Jan. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0403758 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. F01K 7/36 (2006.01); F01K 23/06 (2006.01); F01K 25/06 (2006.01); F01K 25/08 (2006.01)
CPC F01K 7/36 (2013.01) [F01K 23/065 (2013.01); F01K 25/06 (2013.01); F01K 25/08 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat engine comprising:
a reactor comprising a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, in which a first reactant and a second reactant in a working fluid can react with each other;
a condenser for:
receiving the working fluid comprising a gas and a pre-condenser concentration of a diluent; and
condensing the gas in the working fluid into a condensate, the gas being a combustion product from a reaction of the first and second reactants;
wherein the remaining working fluid flowing from the condenser has a post-condenser concentration of the diluent that is greater than the pre-condenser concentration; and
wherein the condenser comprises a cooling circuit for cooling the working fluid;
a first conduit fluidly coupling an outlet of the reactor to an inlet of the condenser; and
a second conduit fluidly coupling an outlet of the condenser to an inlet of the reactor;
wherein the diluent operates in a closed loop in the heat engine;
wherein the pre-condenser concentration of the diluent in the working fluid in the first conduit is greater than 50% by volume;
wherein the pre-condenser concentration of the diluent in the working fluid is at least 5% by volume;
wherein the diluent has a ratio of specific heats which is at least 1.4; and
wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of Ar, He, Ne, Kr, and Xe.