Utility scale method and apparatus to convert low temperature thermal energy to electricity
First Claim
1. A thermal energy to electricity system comprising:
- an electrical generating unit to receive heat energy to produce electricity;
a concentrator comprising a heat engine, a liquid piston operatively coupled to the heat engine, and a heat pump operatively coupled to the liquid piston, the heat engine adapted to collect thermal energy, and the heat pump operatively coupled to the electrical generating unit to provide heat to the electrical generating unit;
a heat engine floating piston disposed in the heat engine, a heat pump floating piston disposed in the heat pump; and
wherein the heat engine floating piston and the heat pump floating piston oscillate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed to convert low temperature thermal energy to electricity. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electrical generating unit to receive heat energy to produce electricity, a concentrator including a heat engine, a liquid piston operatively coupled to the heat engine, and a heat pump operatively coupled to the liquid piston, the heat engine adapted to collect thermal energy, and the heat pump operatively coupled to the electrical generating unit to provide heat to the electrical generating unit. The example apparatus disclosed herein also includes a heat engine floating piston disposed in the heat engine, a heat pump floating piston disposed in the heat pump, and wherein the heat engine floating piston and the heat pump floating piston oscillate.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A thermal energy to electricity system comprising:
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an electrical generating unit to receive heat energy to produce electricity;
a concentrator comprising a heat engine, a liquid piston operatively coupled to the heat engine, and a heat pump operatively coupled to the liquid piston, the heat engine adapted to collect thermal energy, and the heat pump operatively coupled to the electrical generating unit to provide heat to the electrical generating unit;
a heat engine floating piston disposed in the heat engine, a heat pump floating piston disposed in the heat pump; and
wherein the heat engine floating piston and the heat pump floating piston oscillate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of converting thermal energy to electricity comprising:
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collecting thermal energy;
transferring the collected thermal energy to a concentrator, the concentrator comprising a heat engine, a liquid piston, and a heat pump; and
invoking an oscillating cycle of the heat engine, the liquid piston, and the heat pump to drive an electrical generating unit operatively connected to the heat pump. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:
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collect thermal energy;
transfer the collected thermal energy to a concentrator, the concentrator comprising a heat engine, a liquid piston, and a heat pump; and
invoke an oscillating cycle of the heat engine, the liquid piston, and the heat pump to drive an electrical generating unit operatively connected to the heat pump. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification