Thermal energy accumulator for power generation and high performance computing center

• US 10,020,436 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matteo B. Gravina
• Original Assignee: Matteo B. Gravina
• Inventors: Gravina, Matteo B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US15/623,473
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/008 Alleged electric or magnetic perpetua mobilia
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 74/09 Perpetual motion gimmicks

Abstract

A thermal energy accumulator for power generation and high performance computing center utilizes heat generated by at least one of a transformer, a parking lot, a roof structure, an air conditioner, a generator, an uninterruptible power supply, a thermal energy conveyer and a thermal energy converter; a source of cold condensed compressed air; and at least one of a thermoelectric generator and a thermoelectric gradient inducer to generate electrical power for a performance computing center.

Claims

1. A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of cold compressed air;

providing a heat exchanger;

providing a cold air main, wherein the cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger through said cold air main;

providing at least one object that generates heat, each one of said at least one object includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air, mixing said cold compressed air received through said inlet with heat from said at least one object to form modified hot compressed air, said modified hot compressed air exits said at least one object through an outlet, said heat exchanger is located at an elevation above said at least one object, such that said cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger; and

providing at least one electrical power generating device, each one of said at least one electrical power generating device includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air and an inlet for receiving said modified hot compressed air, each one of said at least one electrical power generating device includes an outlet for said cold compressed air and an outlet for said modified hot compressed air, a temperature difference between said source of cold compressed air and said modified hot compressed air is sufficient for said at least one electrical power generating device to operate, wherein electrical power is generated from a temperature difference between said cold compressed air and said modified hot compressed air; and

providing a cold air main valve connected to the cold air main that distributes the cold compressed air to the at least one object and the at least one electrical power generating device through a thermal line connected between the at least one object and the at least one electrical power generating device.

2. The method of generating electrical power of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

said at least one object being a transformer, a parking lot, a roof structure, an air conditioner, a generator, an uninterruptible power supply, a motor of a thermal energy conveyer and a motor of a thermal energy converter.

3. The method of generating electrical power of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

said at least one electrical power generating device being one of a thermoelectric generator and a thermoelectric gradient inducer.

10. The method of generating electrical power of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

locating said elevation at least 4,500 feet above said at least one object.

4. A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of cold compressed air;

providing a heat exchanger;

providing a cold air main, wherein the cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger through said cold air main;

providing at least one object that generates heat, each one of said at least one object includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air, mixing said cold compressed air received through said inlet with heat from said at least one object to form modified hot compressed air, said modified hot compressed air exits said at least one object through an outlet, said heat exchanger is located at an elevation above said at least one object, such that said cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger;

providing at least two electrical power generating devices, said at least two electrical power generating devices are arraigned in parallel, each one of said at least two electrical power generating devices includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air and an inlet for receiving said modified hot compressed air, each one of said at least two electrical power generating devices includes an outlet for said cold compressed air and an outlet for said modified hot compressed air, a temperature difference between said source of cold air and said modified hot compressed air is sufficient for said at least two electrical power generating devices to operate, wherein electrical power is generated from a temperature difference between said cold compressed air and said modified hot compressed air; and

providing a cold air main valve connected to the cold air main that distributes the cold compressed air to the at least one object and the at least two electrical power generating devices through a thermal line connected between the at least one object and the at least two electrical power generating devices.

5. The method of generating electrical power of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

said at least one object being a transformer, a parking lot, a roof structure, an air conditioner, a generator, an uninterruptible power supply, a motor of a thermal energy conveyer and a motor of a thermal energy converter.

6. The method of generating electrical power of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

said at least two electrical power generating devices being a thermoelectric generator and a thermoelectric gradient inducer.

11. The method of generating electrical power of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

locating said elevation at least 4,500 feet above said at least one object.

7. A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of cold compressed air;

providing a heat exchanger;

providing a cold air main, wherein the cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger through said cold air main;

providing at least two objects that generate heat, said at least two objects that generate heat are arraigned in parallel, each one of said at least two objects includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air, mixing said cold compressed air received through said inlet with heat from said at least two objects to form modified hot compressed air, said modified hot compressed air exits said at least two objects through an outlet, said heat exchanger is located at an elevation above said at least two objects, such that said cold compressed air moves downward from said heat exchanger; and

providing at least one electrical power generating device, each one of said at least one electrical power generating device includes an inlet for receiving said cold compressed air and an inlet for receiving said modified hot compressed air, each one of said at least one electrical power generating device includes an outlet for said cold compressed air and an outlet for said modified hot compressed air, a temperature difference between said source of cold air and said modified hot compressed air is sufficient for said at least one electrical power generating device to operate, wherein electrical power is generated from a temperature difference between said cold compressed air and said modified hot compressed air; and

providing a cold air main valve connected to the cold air main that distributes the cold compressed air to the at least two objects and the at least one electrical power generating device through a thermal line connected between the at least two objects and the at least one electrical power generating device.

8. The method of generating electrical power of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

said at least two objects being at least two of a transformer, a parking lot, a roof structure, an air conditioner, a generator, an uninterruptible power supply, a motor of a thermal energy conveyer and a motor of a thermal energy converter.

9. The method of generating electrical power of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

said at least one electrical power generating device being one of a thermoelectric generator and a thermoelectric gradient inducer.

12. The method of generating electrical power of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

locating said elevation at least 4,500 feet above said at least two objects.