Design, manufacture and testing of a closed cycle thermosyphon rankine engine

The Thermosyphon Rankine Engine (TSR) is a recent concept for power generation using solar or other available low grade heat sources. The basis of the engine is the modification of a heat pipe, with its excellent heat and mass transfer characteristics, to incorporate a turbine, thereby making the system into a Rankine Cycle Engine.

The TSR is directed towards power production from solar ponds, geothermal energy and heat produced by solar collectors, as well as for waste heat utilisation for electrical power generation.

A theoretical formulation and results from experiments on prototype units are presented. Based on the results, it is concluded that the TSR engine may play an important role for conversion into electrical energy of thermal energy produced by conventional solar collectors, geothermal sources and waste heat.