Reverse convection power generation
AssigneeCFD Research Corporation
InventorJoseph Roger Herdy, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of power generation is provided that uses one or more structures made of zirconium tungstate in a convection fluid that rise or fall with temperature to create a reverse convection current cycle. The method can include heating the one or more zirconium tungstate structures to cause a decrease in volume and sink in the convection fluid. The method can include cooling the one or more zirconium tungstate structures to cause an increase in volume and rise in the convection fluid. The method includes generating power from the reverse convection current cycle.
Claims19
A method of power generation, comprising:
- providing one or more structures made of a material having a negative thermal expansion coefficient (NTEC structures);
- placing the one or more of the one or more NTEC structures in a convection fluid;
- heating the one or more NTEC structures to cause a decrease in volume of the one or more NTEC structures such that the one or more NTEC structures sink in the convection fluid;
- cooling the one or more NTEC structures to cause an increase in the volume of the one or more NTEC structures such that the one or more NTEC structures rise in the convection fluid;
- generating a reverse convection cycle in the convection fluid with the one or more NTEC structures, wherein the one or more NTEC structures sink after the one or more NTEC structures increases in temperature past an upper temperature threshold and rise after the one or more NTEC structures decreases in temperature past a lower temperature threshold;
- and
- generating power from the reverse convection cycle.
A reverse convection power generation system, comprising:
- one or more zirconium tungstate structures that are configured to decrease in volume when being heated and increase in volume when being cooled;
- a convection fluid containing the one or more zirconium tungstate structures;
- one or more turbines configured to rotate in response to vertical movement of the one or more zirconium tungstate structures and/or convection fluid;
- a power generator configured to generate power from rotation of the one or more turbines;
- and
- a housing structure having the one or more zirconium tungstate structures, the convection fluid, and the turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.