System for rapid generation of useful steam

Abstract

A method for rapidly generating useful pressure on demand by flash-boiling a liquid within a container by the use of a super-heated object.

Claims

1. A method for rapidly generating useful pressure on demand by flash-boiling liquid, comprising: a) using a container for partly or completely containing and directing pressure; b) using a liquid to be boiled in the container; c) using a super-heated object within the container to flash-boil the liquid within the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In Illustration A, FIGS. I, II, and III, Item a is a super-heated object, Item b is a fluid such as water, Item c is a closed container, Item d is a pressure gauge (for illustrative purposes, not a claimed component), Item e is a means of releasing pressure (in this case a valve, not claimed), Item f is the expanding gaseous form of the flash-boiled liquid, Item g is a possible mechanical application of the pressure (in this case, a projectile). FIG. I shows a closed container with a super-heated object and a fluid within the container. In FIG. II, a super-heated object and a fluid are brought together resulting in the fluid flash boiling and rapidly generating pressure, contained within the container. The pressure gauge in FIG. II shows the rapid increase in pressure. FIGURE III shows a release of pressure through the example valve, accomplishing a mechanical goal (the launch of a projectile), and alleviating the pressure inside the chamber (as shown by the gauge returning to rest).

[0011] In Illustration B, FIGURES I, II, and III, Item a is a super-heated object, Item b is a fluid such as water, Item c is a container that partly but does not totally contain pressure generated by flash-boiling of the fluid, Item d is an object upon which pressure may act, Item e is the expanding gaseous form of the flash-boiled liquid, and Item f is a displacement of Item d by the expanding gas. FIG. I shows a containersuch as a piston cylinder or cannon barrelwith a super-heated object and a fluid within the container, to be brought together. In FIGURE II, the super-heated object and the fluid are brought together resulting in the fluid flash boiling and rapidly expanding. FIG. III shows the expansion of the gaseous form of the fluid performing mechanical work upon an object.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A system comprising a container, with two reacting parts. The parts are a super-heated object (such as an inductively heated tungsten rod, given as an example for its desirably high melting point of 3422 Celsius, approximately 34 times the boiling point of water), and a liquid which expands substantially when boiled (such as water, given as an example for its temperature-dependent rate of expansion into steam and 1:1600 liquid to gas ratio). The two parts are brought together within the container to rapidly and without the aid of any explosives or pre-existing high pressure reservoir produce a useful increase in pressure suitable for accomplishing mechanical goals.

Advantages

[0013] The main advantage of the invention is that it generates pressure extremely rapidly. This is beyond the capability of conventional boiler-fired systems heating liquids (for the sake of simplicity into steam). The invention greatly expands the potential applications of steam power. Applications could include pneumatic guns, rockets, marine vessels, piston engines, pneumatic fracking, and other pneumatic devices. Because the system does not require a large conventional boiler or high-volume storage of steam pending use, the system has the potential to reduce the size and expense of steam-generating equipment for certain uses.

[0014] The invention is feasible. Tungsten can be heated to approximately 3422 degrees Celsius before melting. The melting point of steel is approximately 1370 degrees Celsius. Molten steel contacting water causes violent expansion of the water into steam, such as in foundry explosions. Thus tungsten, for example, can be heated without melting to approximately 2.5 times the temperature of molten steel, more than sufficient to cause flash-boiling of a liquid such as water. The 1:1600 water-to-steam expansion ratio, moreover, compares favorably with some black powder formulations' 1:700 expansion ratio.

[0015] The invention described in this application is unique, highly feasible, not obvious, and useful.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE

[0016] The system is useful for creating pressure for various applications such as pneumatic guns, rockets, marine vessels, piston engines, pneumatic fracking, and other pneumatic devices.