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US 2024/0141877 A1Published application
Osmotic energy transfer devices and methods
OwnerLarry D. Howlettinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Osmotic energy transfer systems utilize cyclic electro-chemical stimuli to induce an osmotic gradient and corresponding fluid flows across a semi-permeable membrane. The fluid transfers and osmotic flows are converted into mechanical displacements. By cycling or pulsing the electro-chemical stimuli, fluid transfers across the semi-permeable membrane repeatedly alternatingly change direction over time and correspondingly realizing a cycle of reciprocating mechanical displacements.
Claims11
A method of transferring energy utilizing osmosis, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an osmotic system having:
- (i) a working body which is deformable and which defines an enclosure having a cavity;
- (ii) a semi-permeable membrane which separates the working body cavity into first and second compartments;
- (iii) a solvent fluid which occupies the first and second compartments, is transferable therebetween through the semi-permeable membrane, and has solute contained therein;
- (iv) an actuatable member interfacing with the working body such that deformations of the working body correspond to a positional translation of the actuatable member;
- (b) subjecting the working body to an electric field;
- (c) influencing an osmotic event in response to the electric field by:
- (i) establishing an osmotic gradient across the semi-permeable membrane by changing the concentration of readily available solute within the solvent in at least one of the first and second compartments;
- (ii) transferring solvent fluid from the compartment with the relatively lesser concentration of solute, across the semi-permeable membrane, into the compartment with the relatively greater concentration of solute;
- (d) deforming the working body and correspondingly positionally translating the actuatable member from a first position to a second position;
- (e) attenuating the intensity of the electric field, again deforming the working body, and correspondingly positionally translating the actuatable member from the second position to the first position.
8 more elements
An energy transfer device comprising:
- (a) a fluid filled working body which is osmotically responsive to an electrical signal and which defines first and second chambers on opposing sides of a semi-permeable membrane;
- (b) an actuatable member movable between first and second positions, said actuatable member interfacing with and driven by said working body in response to the osmotic activity of the working body
- (c) an electrical power source in electrical communication with said working body;
- and
- (d) an electrical controller in electrical communication with said electrical power source and said working body, which controls an electrical signal realized at the working body;
- whereby said electrical controller modifies the electrical signal realized at said working body over a given time, such that changes to the signal over time correspond to changes in the direction of osmotic activity across the semi-permeable membrane over time and the direction of movement of the actuatable member over time.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.