초록 ▼

A system is disclosed for converting thermal energy into chemical energy by means of a low-temperature process. A liquid flow loop with two vertical columns that are interconnected at the top and bottom circulates an electrically conducting fluid, such as mercury. A convective flow of this electrica

A system is disclosed for converting thermal energy into chemical energy by means of a low-temperature process. A liquid flow loop with two vertical columns that are interconnected at the top and bottom circulates an electrically conducting fluid, such as mercury. A convective flow of this electrically conducting fluid is established by heating the fluid in one of the columns and cooling the fluid in the other column to establish a weight differential between the fluid in the two columns. A magnetohydroynamic generator is placed on this loop so that, as the fluid flows through the loop and through the generator, electrical energy is generated. This electrical energy is used to electrolize a second fluid, such as a solution of sulphuric acid, into gasses such as hydrogen and oxygen. The gasses so generated are injected into the rising column of the electrically conducting fluid to increase the weight differential between the fluid in the two columns and enhance the convective flow of that fluid. These gasses, which contain chemical energy, are then removed from the loop at the top of this column.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into chemical energy, comprising: (1) a closed fluid loop through which flows an electrically conducting liquid, said loop comprising: (a) a first substantially vertical column; (b) a second substantially vertical column; (c) interconnection means between t

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into chemical energy, comprising: (1) a closed fluid loop through which flows an electrically conducting liquid, said loop comprising: (a) a first substantially vertical column; (b) a second substantially vertical column; (c) interconnection means between the top of said first column and the top of said second column; and (d) interconnection means between the bottom of said first column and the bottom of said second column. (2) means for creating a temperature differential between the portions of said liquid in each column by heating the portion of said liquid in said first column and cooling the portion of said liquid in said second column to form a density differential in said liquid and establish a convective flow of said liquid through said loop; (3) a magnetohydrodynamic generator coupled to said loop for generating electrical energy from said flowing liquid, the amount of electrical energy generated being proportional to the velocity of the said liquid; and (4) means for supplementing said convective flow to increase the electrical energy generated by said magnetohydrodynamic generator by increasing the density differential between the liquid in each of said columns, comprising: (a) an electrolytic gas generator coupled to said mangetohydrodynamic generator for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to electrolyze a second liquid to form a gas, said gas containing said chemical energy; (b) means for introducing a portion of said gas into said first column to decrease the density of the portion of said liquid in said first column and increase the density differential between the portions of said liquid in each column; and (c) means for removing said gas near the top of said first column.