U.S. patent application number 11/406493 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for method for converting heat energy into mechanical energy and for purifying water.
Invention is credited to James S. Bass.
Application Number | 20070051107 11/406493 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37828798 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051107 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bass; James S. |
March 8, 2007 |
Method for converting heat energy into mechanical energy and for
purifying water
Abstract
Disclosed is method for converting heat energy into electrical
energy. The method includes the steps of (1) obtaining heat energy,
(2) transferring the heat energy to a gas, (3) transferring the gas
containing the heat energy to a compressor, (4) operating the
compressor to compress the gas containing the heat energy, thereby
concentrating the heat energy, (5) bringing the gas containing the
concentrated heat energy into contact with a liquid in a heat
transfer device, thereby converting the liquid into steam, (6)
converting the heat energy into mechanical energy, and (7) passing
the mechanical energy to a generator where the mechanical energy is
converted to electrical energy. The present invention can be
performed in various structures. For instance, it is possible to
break water apart and store it in one or more double-walled
containers attached to an automobile, to power the automobile; a
non-imaging heat concentrator may be used according to the
disclosed method to run utilities, cell-phone antennas.
Inventors: |
Bass; James S.; (Fort Myers,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW
SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
37828798 |
Appl. No.: |
11/406493 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60672546 |
Apr 19, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/641.1 ;
60/645 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01K 15/00 20130101;
F01K 13/006 20130101; F01K 27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
060/641.1 ;
060/645 |
International
Class: |
F01K 13/00 20060101
F01K013/00 |
Claims
1. A method for converting heat energy into electrical energy,
comprising the steps of, obtaining heat energy, transferring the
heat energy to a gas, transferring the gas containing the heat
energy to a compressor, operating the compressor to compress the
gas containing the heat energy, thereby concentrating the heat
energy, bringing the gas containing the concentrated heat energy
into contact with a liquid in a heat transfer device, thereby
converting the liquid into steam, converting the heat energy into
mechanical energy, and passing the mechanical energy to a generator
where the mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
sunlight or the ambient.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the heat energy is collected in a
member selected from the group consisting of solar panel, a solid
heat source, a geothermal heat source, and a combination
thereof.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the heat energy is concentrated
by a lens.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
a hydrocarbon fire.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
an engine.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of obtaining heat
energy and transferring the heat energy to a gas, occur in a single
step.
8. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of,
converting the heat energy into mechanical energy, occurs in a
member selected from the group consisting of a turbine engine, a
stirling engine, and a steam engine.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the heat
energy to a gas, occurs in a heat exchanger.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the gas
containing the heat energy to a compressor, comprises the sub-step
of transferring the gas through an intake pipe.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the intake pipe includes a
pressure block.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of bringing the liquid
containing the heat energy into contact with a generator to convert
the mechanical energy into electrical energy, comprises the
sub-step of bringing the gas into contact with the blades of a
turbine to cause the turbine to rotably move.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the turbine is operatively
connected to generator.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rotational motion of the
turbine transfers mechanical energy to the generator.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the turbine is operatively
connected to a drive shaft.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rotational motion of the
turbine transfers mechanical energy to the drive shaft.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressor is operatively
connected to a boiler.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the compressor is thermally
insulated.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressor is located below
ground level.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the boiler is located below
ground level.
21. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of
transferring the steam to a condenser where it is converted into a
purified liquid.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the purified liquid is
water.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
combustion.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
a hydrogen source.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat energy is obtained from
an oxygen source.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the
heat energy to a gas, is performed underground.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the gas
containing the heat energy to a compressor, is performed
underground.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the
compressor to transform the gas into a liquid containing the heat
energy, is performed underground.
29. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of bringing the liquid
containing the heat energy into contact with a generator to convert
the heat energy into electrical energy, is performed
underground.
30. The method of claim 3, wherein the heat energy is collected in
a solar panel.
31. The method of claim 3, wherein the heat energy is collected in
a solid heat source.
32. The method of claim 3, wherein the heat energy is collected in
a geothermal heat source.
33. The method of claim 3, wherein the heat energy is collected in
a combination thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing
electricity. In some embodiments of the present invention, the
method of producing electricity advantageously results also in the
purification of water, including the desalination of sea water. The
method of the present invention has particular and novel
applications in the irrigation of land for cultivation, and a
hybrid of an internal combustion engines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for converting
heat energy into electrical energy. Initially, heat energy is
obtained and transferred to a gas. The gas containing the heat
energy is transferred to a compressor. The compressor is operated
to compress the gas containing the heat energy, thereby
concentrating the heat energy in a smaller area. The compressed gas
containing the heat energy is brought into contact with a liquid in
a heat transfer device, where the heat energy in the gas is
transferred to the liquid, thereby converting the liquid to steam.
The heat energy in the liquid is converted into mechanical energy.
Finally, the mechanical energy is transferred to a generator where
it is converted into electrical energy. In some embodiments of the
present invention, steam from the heat transfer device is passed to
a condenser where it is converted into water, preferably purified
water. In some embodiments according to the present invention, the
liquid is waste water, in some, sea water.
[0003] As will be explained in greater detail below, the method of
the present invention may be used to desalinate sea water which may
then be used for drinking water or for the irrigation of land for
cultivation. The electrical energy produced by the present
invention may be used for various purposes, such as the propulsion
of hybrid internal combustion engines.
[0004] The device according to the present invention can be used to
reduce heat in a closed or substantially closed environment in
which heat build-up is a problem, by converting heat energy to an
energy form which may be used and perhaps dissipated. The device
may be used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine
(either a hybrid engine or a traditional engine) in a vehicle that
uses a liquid coolant. The heat energy can then be converted into
electric energy to power the vehicle. Such conversion into electric
energy allows the internal combustion engine to operate at its most
optimal speed, and at the same time using the electrical energy to
improve acceleration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The initial energy used to evaporate the liquid may be
running or falling water, electrical, or fossil fuel, but is most
desirably solar or ambient heat. It is particularly desirable that
the water be preheated by any means, such as lava flows or solar
energy collected by a large array of solar coils or panels which
may or may not be black.
[0006] The liquid is most desirably water, but may be other liquids
such as crude oil (and other hydrocarbon fractions), alcohols and
ammonia. Where the liquid is sea water, the device is desirably
located near the sea, but may also be located in-land if a water
tower or other collector is employed. In some embodiments of the
invention, the first chamber containing the evaporator is located
beneath ground level for heat stability and heat conservation.
[0007] An important feature of the present invention is that it can
be constructed with air conditioning components which are new, old
or even discarded.
[0008] Irrigation systems may be attached directly or indirectly to
the water purifying device of the present invention. Such
irrigation systems are not particularly limited and include those
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,484,439, 6,619,565, 6,626,367,
6,695,231 and 6,834,662 which are incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety. Most preferred among these systems are
drip-systems.
[0009] The steam engine component of the present invention is not
particularly limited and includes those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,854,273 which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. Where operation must occur at low temperatures, a series
of more than one steam engine component, working in tandem or in
parallel, may be used.
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