Status of the tidal regenerator engine for nuclear circulatory support systems
Abstract
An energy system with the considered vapor cycle heat engine is to power an assist heart pump in synchronous operation with the biologic heart and to achieve a significant reduction of left ventricle pressure. The engine, known as the tidal regenerator engine (TRE), has been incorporated into a nuclear-powered implantable system. The system has been extensively tested on an advanced mock circulatory loop. A description of TRE is presented and a bench test for improving the thermodynamic performance is discussed. It is pointed out that the TRE has been significantly improved in terms of size, weight, performance, and reliability.
- Publication:
-
11th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976iece.conf..136W
- Keywords:
-
- Cardiac Ventricles;
- Circulatory System;
- Engine Design;
- Prosthetic Devices;
- Regenerators;
- Biocontrol Systems;
- Engine Tests;
- Heart Function;
- Heart Implantation;
- Heat Sources;
- Life Support Systems;
- Pressure Reduction;
- Reliability Engineering;
- Thermodynamic Efficiency;
- Energy Production and Conversion