Dual thermodynamic cycle cryogenically fueled systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of converting thermal energy comprising:
- transferring thermal energy into a cryogenic fluid from a first portion of working fluid to expand the cryogenic fluid and create a first gas and to convert the first portion of working fluid to a working liquid;
transferring thermal energy into a second portion of the working fluid to expand the second portion of the working fluid and create a second gas;
utilizing the second gas to operate an energy conversion apparatus;
transferring additional thermal energy to the first gas from exhausted second gas from the energy conversion apparatus to increase the energy in the first gas; and
utilizing the first gas with said increased energy to operate another energy conversion apparatus.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for converting thermal energy, such as solar energy, from a localized thermal energy source to another form of energy or work comprise dual thermodynamic cycle systems that utilize the liquid-to-gas phase transitions of a cryogenic fluid such as liquid nitrogen and a working fluid such as sulfur hexafluoride to drive prime movers. Heat transfer between the fluids as they undergo the phase transitions is used to increase the energy in the system and its work output, and improve system efficiency.
61 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of converting thermal energy comprising:
-
transferring thermal energy into a cryogenic fluid from a first portion of working fluid to expand the cryogenic fluid and create a first gas and to convert the first portion of working fluid to a working liquid;
transferring thermal energy into a second portion of the working fluid to expand the second portion of the working fluid and create a second gas;
utilizing the second gas to operate an energy conversion apparatus;
transferring additional thermal energy to the first gas from exhausted second gas from the energy conversion apparatus to increase the energy in the first gas; and
utilizing the first gas with said increased energy to operate another energy conversion apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of converting thermal energy comprising:
-
expanding a portion of a working fluid in a first system operating according to a first thermodynamic cycle to create a working gas for operating first energy conversion apparatus;
expanding a portion of a cryogenic fluid in a second system operating according to a second thermodynamic cycle to create another gas for operating second energy conversion apparatus, said second system being coupled to said first system and said expanding comprising transferring heat from the working gas to said portion of cryogenic fluid to create said other gas; and
transferring additional heat from said working gas in said first system to said other gas in said second system to increase the internal energy of said other gas. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of converting thermal energy, comprising:
-
transferring heat into a working fluid in a first container to expand a portion of the working fluid to create a first gas;
operating a first prime mover using said first gas;
exhausting said first gas from said first prime mover into a second container immersed in a cryogenic fluid in a third container;
transferring heat from the exhausted first gas to said cryogenic fluid to expand a portion of said cryogenic fluid to create a second gas;
operating a second prime mover utilizing the second gas; and
swapping said first and second containers and repeating said foregoing steps.
-
-
20. A system for converting thermal energy, comprising:
-
a cryogenic fluid reservoir;
a condenser for a working fluid, the condenser and the cryogenic fluid reservoir being in thermal communication for the transfer of heat to cryogenic fluid in said cryogenic fluid reservoir to expand a portion of the cryogenic fluid to a first gas;
a boiler for transferring heat to working fluid from said condenser to expand the working fluid to a second gas, the second gas operating energy conversion apparatus, and the energy conversion apparatus exhausting said second gas;
a heat exchanger receiving the first gas and the exhausted second gas for transferring thermal energy from said exhausted second gas to the first gas to increase the energy in the first gas; and
the first gas with increased energy operating another energy conversion apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of operating a system that operates on a closed thermodynamic cycle to circulate fluids through the system without using a pump, the fluids comprising fluids that expand to a gas and condense to a liquid upon the transfer and removal of heat, the method comprising:
-
filling substantially the first tank with cold liquid and the second tank with hot gas;
pressurizing the first tank with the hot gas from the second tank;
flowing cold liquid into the second tank while expanding the liquid from the first tank to form a gas;
supplying the gas to a prime mover;
condensing the gas from the prime mover to said cold liquid; and
repeating said foregoing steps by swapping said filling, said pressurizing, and said flowing steps between said first and second tanks, thereby circulating said fluids through said system.
-
Specification