A Liquid-Piston Steam Engine (The Design and Performance Evaluation of a Liquid-Piston Steam Engine)

A novel liquid-piston steam engine which can achieve high efficiency at low temperature region of T < 300 degree C as well as high reliability and low cost is developed. In this study, a numerical simulation tool for designing the liquid-piston steam engine is developed and experimentally verified. In this study, nucleate boiling and thin film evaporation are both considered in the model. It is verified that sensitive heat transport and simultaneous occurrence of evaporation and condensation are the major causes of losses. It is expected that higher efficiency can be achieved if whole liquid which is introduced in the heating section is totally vaporized.