US 12,312,980 B2
Plant and process of converting thermal energy into mechanical and/or electrical energy
Gino Zampieri, Verona (IT)
Assigned to Star Engine S.R.L., Negrar (IT)
Appl. No. 18/292,594
Filed by STAR ENGINE S.R.L., Negrar (IT)
PCT Filed Jul. 27, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/056916
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/007380, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 2, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000019994 (IT), filed on Jul. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0075640 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. F01K 17/04 (2006.01); F01K 25/08 (2006.01)
CPC F01K 17/04 (2013.01) [F01K 25/08 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plant for converting thermal energy into electrical and/or mechanical energy comprising:
a closed circuit for circulation of a working fluid,
a pump operative in the closed circuit for circulating the working fluid in the closed circuit,
an evaporator active on the closed circuit and configured to receive heat from a hot source (H) and heat the working fluid to cause its transition from liquid to gaseous state,
an expander operative in the closed circuit downstream of the evaporator and configured for receiving incoming working fluid in gaseous state,
a condenser active on the closed circuit downstream of the expander and upstream of the pump, said condenser being configured for determining transition of the working fluid from gaseous to liquid state,
wherein the pump comprises:
a casing, and
a piston operating within the casing, wherein the piston has a first head delimiting, in cooperation with said casing, a first compartment, and a second head delimiting, in cooperation with said casing, a second compartment,
wherein the first compartment is positionable in fluid communication with a first portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of the pump and upstream of the evaporator to send working fluid in liquid state towards the same evaporator, and
wherein the second compartment is positionable in fluid communication with a second portion of the closed circuit, extending downstream of said first portion and upstream of the expander to receive working fluid in gaseous state generated by the evaporator.