Thermal energy from environmental fluids
OwnerYan P. Changinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of utilizing the thermal energy of environmental fluids to produce mechanical work or electricity by an energy conversion system wherein: the source fluid gives heat to the working fluid of a prime mover through a first heat exchange means and is cooled thereby; the cooled source fluid effluent from the said first heat exchange means is further cooled by passing it through a further cooling system which includes either a turbine or an expansion device or both; the further cooled source fluid is employed to cool the expanded working fluid of the prime mover, and the source fluid effluent from the energy conversion system may be used for other cooling and refrigeration processes, such as desalination of seawater, cooling of superconductors, etc.
Claims13
A method of utilizing environmental fluids as heat sources for energy conversion systems, each including:
- a first heat exchange means operatively associated with a heat source;
- a prime mover operating on a closed cycle and operatively associated with the first heat exchange means;
- a further cooling system operatively associated also with the first heat exchange means;
- a second heat exchange means operatively associated with the prime mover and the further cooling system;
- and an auxiliary system for starting the operation of the energy conversion system;
- said method comprising steps of:
- (a) utilizing the aforesaid heat sources as open reservoirs;
- (b) admitting a source fluid to the first heat exchange means;
- (c) applying a coolant provided by the auxiliary starting system to the second heat exchange means for initiating the release of thermal energy from the source fluid and for starting the operation of the energy conversion system;
- (d) disconnecting the auxiliary starting system for the steady state operation;
- (e) continuing to pass the source fluid through the first heat exchange means wherein the working fluid of the prime mover is heated and the source fluid is cooled thereby;
- (f) allowing the heated working fluid to expand in the prime mover to do work;
- (g) conducting a cooled source fluid effluent from the first heat exchange means into a further cooling system to become further cooled;
- (h) utilizing the further cooled source fluid to cool the expanded working fluid of the prime mover through the second heat exchange means;
- (i) utilizing the source fluid effluent from the energy conversion system for other cooling and refrigeration processes, and
- (j) integrating more than one of such energy conversion systems into one unit to increase the output and to reduce the capitol investment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.