Hybrid power system
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorLewis S. Proudfoot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat from a safe high energy density fuel, such as aluminum, is used to generate electrical power. In some applications, the fuel may use seawater as an oxidizer. Additionally, the hybrid power system uses a highly efficient and silent thermoacoustic power converter (TAPC) to convert the thermal energy from the oxidation of aluminum to AC electrical energy. The AC electrical energy is converted to DC energy and stored in a battery. In situations demanding low power, the battery can provide power while the fuel combustion process is suspended.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- an aluminum combustor;
- and
- a thermoacoustic power converter thermally connected to the aluminum combustor, the thermoacoustic power converter generating electrical power from thermal energy received from the aluminum combustor using a first and a second flexible membrane, wherein the first and the second flexible membranes move in opposing directions.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a heat source;
- a thermoacoustic power converter thermally connected to the heat source, the thermoacoustic power converter generating electrical power from thermal energy received from the heat source using a first alternator having a first flexible membrane and a second alternator having a second flexible membrane, wherein the first and the second flexible membranes move in opposing directions;
- and
- an electrical energy storage device that stores electrical power obtained from the thermoacoustic power converter.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an aluminum combustor;
- a thermoacoustic power converter thermally connected to the aluminum combustor, the thermoacoustic power converter generating electrical power from thermal energy received from the aluminum combustor using a first and a second flexible membrane, wherein the first and the second flexible membranes move in opposing directions;
- and
- a battery that stores electrical power obtained from the thermoacoustic power converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.