D.A. Dudzik
International Association for the Advancement of Steam Power,
United States
Keywords: solar thermal, thermal storage, biofuels, zero carbon, modular system, microgrids, high efficiency, vehicles, combined heat and power, concentrated solar vehicles
Summary:
The early history of steam power is well documented and widely known, as are many of steam power’s past contributions to modern society. Most people today view the steam locomotive as the most familiar steam powered machine. However, today according to NREL (Concentrating Solar Power | Electricity | 2024 | ATB | NREL), Rankine Cycle Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems as large as 700 MW are operating in the US, with a steam-Rankine power cycle running at 574°C and 41.2% gross efficiency, with 55% gross efficiency predicted by 2030. Nonetheless, large Rankine Cycle power plants, including nuclear, coal, oil, and natural gas fueled steam power plants and combined cycle power plants are the most common uses of steam power in the world. Steam powered automobiles (many of which remain operational today) were proven feasible, even with technology from the late 1800’s. With the advent of low-cost gasoline in the1900’s, the internal combustion engine thrived and steam powered automobile and small-scale Rankine cycle power generation technology development ended … almost. Since 2000, The International Association for the Advancement of Steam Power (IAASP) has contacted engineers and scientists throughout the world, working to advance steam power technology. Unlike the other scalable zero carbon technologies of solar PV and batteries, the advancement of modern net zero and zero carbon steam power has remained predominantly the responsibility of a few dedicated pioneers. Unfortunately, these pioneers of modern Rankine Cycle engines, as a group, have been so extremely careful with their inventions and far removed from the mainstream power and transportation funding sources, that few have been able to secure the sustained funding needed to truly advance the technology beyond that of the early 1900s (Steam Power Topics). The one such Advanced Rankine Cycle pioneer has been Harry Schoell, inventor of the Cyclone Advanced Rankine Cycle engine. The engine has been in research and development for almost 20 years. Cyclone has held over 30 patents worldwide on its technology. The engine technology has evolved and matured, (thanks to the pioneering work of inventor and Cyclone Chief Technical Officer Harry Schoell), along with the support of many past and present investors, staff, and technical advisors. In May of 2014, Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. successfully delivered its prototype Advanced Rankine Cycle engine and 10kW auxiliary power unit (APU) to the U.S. Army / Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC), in full satisfaction of the objective of the Army / TARDEC program to develop a prototype of a highly compact (12” x 12” x 17”), lightweight 10kW power generator, driven by Cyclone’s multi-fuel-capable external combustion engine. The latest Cyclone engine designs incorporate the continuous R&D and associated advances in materials and design, successfully producing significant efficiency improvements and reductions in the number of engine moving parts, increased durability and engine life. In 2024, this inventor was issued a patent incorporating operation on solar thermal heat with thermal storage and biofuel backup. This presentation will take a close look into this amazing technology.