New principle of heat-to-work conversion

An intense heat-to-work conversion process is proposed that requires only a single thermostat. Working fluid delivered to the heating unit is evaporated at constant pressure and temperature which are significantly less than the critical values; the vapor is accelerated using a Laval nozzle; supersaturated vapor is then delivered to the converter, where it is condensed; and the condensed mixture is returned to the heating unit. The work is produced as a result of the gas-phase expansion. When nitrogen is used as the working fluid and for specified vortex-device parameters, the converter power can amount to tens of kW.