Power generation by exchange of latent heats of phase transition

A system for the recovery of available ambient heat and its conversion to a useful form of energy comprising the steps of:

• extracting the heat of fusion of water by means of heat exchange therefrom to a working fluid in liquid phase at a temperature below 0.degree. C., the said working fluid having a boiling point below, and being superheated at, the freezing point of water;
• by said heat exchange freezing the water, and vaporizing, and superheating the vapor of, the working fluid under autogenous pressure to substantially the initial temperature of the water;
• releasing the said vapor from said autogenous pressure in an expansion engine and adiabatically expanding the vapor whereby the expanding vapor drives the engine and effects a conversion to available mechanical shaft energy;
• removing from the engine vaporized working fluid cooled by said adiabatic expansion and bringing the same into heat exchange contact with a cooling medium generated within the said system and thereby removing heat of vaporization from, and condensing, the vaporized working fluid to form said working fluid in liquid form;
• and
• pumping said liquified working fluid into heat exchange contact with water against the autogenous pressure of vaporized, superheated working fluid.

A process of recovery of the heat content of water, including its latent heat of fusion, and of conversion of said heat to available kinetic energy, the said process comprising:

• bringing a working fluid in the liquid state and consisting of a halogenated fluorocarbon that boils at a temperature below 0.degree. C. into heat exchange relationship with water thereby extracting the latent heat of fusion of the water, forming ice, and heating the working fluid to a temperature substantially that of the water and vaporizing the said working fluid at the said temperature under autogenous pressure;
• expanding adiabatically the vaporized fluid in an expansion turbine thereby converting the kinetic energy of the expanding vapor to mechanical shaft energy;
• condensing said expanded, cooled working-fluid vapors effluent of the expansion turbine by heat-exchange contact with a eutectic mixture of ice that is formed by said extracting of said latent heat of water and calcium chloride at a temperature of about -55.degree. C.;
• and
• pumping said condensed working fluid against said autogenic pressure into heat-exchange contact with an additional quantity of water at a temperature of at least 0.degree. C.