System and method for power generation

• US 20020084121A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tara Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tara Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Hulen, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,831,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/55 Capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/00 Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/043 the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/29 Testing, calibrating, treating, e.g. aging

Abstract

A method for powering a vehicle comprises, in one embodiment, receiving infrared radiation emitted as heat from a roadway surface, and converting energy of the infrared radiation to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

In a further embodiment, a method for powering a vehicle comprises thermally contacting a heat-conductive device to a roadway surface, and converting energy conducted by the heat-conductive device to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

In another embodiment, a method for powering a vehicle comprises: insulating a first region of a road'"'"'s surface with a material that transmits visible light but blocks infrared radiation, while leaving a second region of the surface uninsulated; conducting heat from portions of the road beneath the first region, to the second region; receiving infrared radiation emitted as heat from the second region; and converting energy of the infrared radiation to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

In yet another embodiment, a method for powering a vehicle comprises receiving light emitted from a concentrated light source, and converting energy from the concentrated light source to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

Methods for stationary generation of power are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for powering a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving infrared radiation emitted as heat from a roadway surface; and

converting energy of the infrared radiation to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises receiving the infrared radiation with a thermophotovoltaic cell.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises cooling the thermophotovoltaic cell with a vehicle-mounted onboard coolant system.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the coolant system comprises a source of liquefied gas, the gas being normally in a gaseous state at room temperature.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the liquefied gas comprises liquid hydrogen.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the liquefied gas comprises liquid nitrogen.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the method comprises powering a generator by expanding the liquefied gas using energy from the thermophotovoltaic cell.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises receiving the infrared radiation with a structured plate.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the structured plate comprises a sub-wavelength structured plate.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises transmitting the infrared radiation to an infrared receptor through a lens.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the lens comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of:

Germanium, Zinc Selenium, Gallium Arsenide, and an infrared-transmitting plastic.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises transmitting the infrared radiation through a lens to a light pipe.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises transmitting the infrared radiation through a lens to a heat capacitor.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises filtering the infrared radiation as it is transmitted to an infrared receptor.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises selectively filtering the radiation by wavelength.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises filtering the infrared radiation as it is transmitted to a light pipe.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises filtering the infrared radiation as it is transmitted to a heat capacitor.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises reflecting the infrared radiation onto an infrared receptor.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises reflecting the infrared radiation into a light pipe.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises reflecting the infrared radiation onto a heat capacitor.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the radiation comprises using an infrared receptor mounted on a surface of the vehicle chosen from the group consisting of the bottom, the side, and the top of the vehicle.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the radiation comprises using an infrared receptor mounted in a trailer attached to the vehicle.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energy of the infrared radiation is used to provide at least a portion of the motive power of the vehicle.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the energy of the infrared radiation is used to provide at least a portion of the power for the vehicle'"'"'s accessories.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an engine that derives power from a temperature differential.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the engine is chosen from the group consisting of Stirling cycle and Brayton cycle engines.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the method comprises using a cold sink to aid in establishing the temperature differential.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the cold sink comprises ice.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an engine that is powered by the phase change and expansion of a gas that is initially in a liquid state.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using a thermophotovoltaic cell.

31. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an electron emission device that derives power from a thermal differential.

32. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using a Carnot cycle engine.

33. A method according to claim 1, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises pressurizing hydrogen gas.

34. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises transferring heat by convection.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the method comprises using a blower.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the heat-conductive device comprises a heat-conductive solid material.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the solid material is copper.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the heat-conductive device comprises a heat-conductive liquid.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the liquid is water.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the liquid is liquid hydrogen.

42. A method according to claim 36, wherein the heat-conductive device comprises a body panel of the vehicle.

43. A method according to claim 36, wherein the method comprises moving the heat-conductive device from an initial position in which it does not contact the roadway surface, to a position in which it does contact the roadway surface.

44. A method according to claim 36, wherein the method comprises thermally contacting the heat-conductive device to the roadway surface when the vehicle is stationary.

45. A method according to claim 36, wherein the method comprises thermally contacting the heat-conductive device to the roadway surface when the vehicle is in motion.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the heat-conductive device comprises a heat-conductive wheel.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the heat-conductive device comprises a bundle of heat-conductive fibers.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the fibers are coated with diamond-like carbon.

49. A method according to claim 36, wherein the heat-conductive device is mounted to a surface of the vehicle chosen from the group consisting of the bottom, the side, and the top of the vehicle.

50. A method according to claim 36, wherein the heat-conductive device is mounted to a trailer attached to the vehicle.

51. A method according to claim 36, wherein the energy conducted by the heat-conductive device is used to provide at least a portion of the motive power of the vehicle.

52. A method according to claim 36, wherein the energy conducted by the heat-conductive device is used to provide at least a portion of the power for the vehicle'"'"'s accessories.

53. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an engine that derives power from a temperature differential.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein the engine is chosen from the group consisting of Stirling cycle and Brayton cycle engines.

55. A method according to claim 53, wherein the method comprises using a cold sink to aid in establishing the temperature differential.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the cold sink comprises ice.

57. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an engine that is powered by the phase change and expansion of a gas that is initially in a liquid state.

58. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using a thermophotovoltaic cell.

59. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using an electron emission device that derives power from a thermal differential.

60. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises using a Carnot cycle engine.

61. A method according to claim 36, wherein converting the energy to a useful form comprises pressurizing hydrogen gas.

36. A method for powering a vehicle, the method comprising:

thermally contacting a heat-conductive device to a roadway surface; and

converting energy conducted by the heat-conductive device to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

62. A method for powering a vehicle, the method comprising:

insulating a first region of a road'"'"'s surface with a material that transmits visible light but blocks infrared radiation, while leaving a second region of the surface uninsulated;

conducting heat from portions of the road beneath the first region, to the second region;

receiving infrared radiation emitted as heat from the second region; and

converting energy of the infrared radiation to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

63. A method according to claim 62, wherein conducting heat from portions of the road beneath the first region comprises using copper rods.

64. A method according to claim 62, wherein conducting heat from portions of the road beneath the first region comprises using metal shavings in the road.

65. A method according to claim 62, wherein the method comprises providing an insulating material underneath the road.

66. A method according to claim 62, wherein the second region is a uninsulated window region in a parking lot.

67. A method according to claim 62, wherein the second region is an uninsulated window strip on a roadway.

68. A method according to claim 62, wherein a shutter allows infrared radiation to be emitted from the second region only at the location of the vehicle.

70. A method according to claim 69, wherein the concentrated light source is a laser.

71. A method according to claim 70, wherein the method comprises storing the energy from the laser in a heat capacitor.

72. A method according to claim 71, wherein the method comprises transmitting laser light to the heat capacitor through a light pipe.

73. A method according to claim 71, wherein the method comprises transmitting laser light to the heat capacitor through a lens.

74. A method according to claim 70, wherein the method comprises storing the energy from the laser in an insulated canister.

75. A method according to claim 74, wherein the method comprises receiving light emitted from a carbon dioxide laser.

76. A method according to claim 74, wherein the method comprises transmitting light into the insulated canister through a zinc selenide window.

77. A method according to claim 70, wherein the method comprises transmitting laser light through an aspheric lens.

79. A method according to claim 78, wherein the method comprises generating power for a building chosen from the group consisting of a home, an apartment building, and an office building.

80. A method according to claim 78, wherein the surface is the roof of a building.

81. A method according to claim 78, wherein the surface is the siding of a building.

82. A method according to claim 78, wherein the surface is a panel mounted on the roof of a building.

83. A method according to claim 78, wherein conducting heat from portions of the surface beneath the first region comprises using copper rods.

84. A method according to claim 78, wherein conducting heat from portions of the surface beneath the first region comprises using metal shavings in the surface.

85. A method according to claim 78, wherein the method comprises providing an insulating material underneath the surface.

86. A method according to claim 78, wherein the surface is a heating layer of a flexible mat.

69. A method for powering a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving light emitted from a concentrated light source; and

converting energy from the concentrated light source to a form of energy that is useful for providing power to the vehicle.

78. A method of stationary power generation, the method comprising:

insulating a first region of a surface with a material that transmits visible light but blocks infrared radiation, while leaving a second region of the surface uninsulated;

conducting heat from portions of the surface beneath the first region, to the second region; and

converting heat from the second region to a form of energy that is useful for providing power.