IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0385590
(2006-03-21)
|
등록번호 |
US-7546732
(2009-07-01)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Glasgow, Carl W.
- Olson, Robert C.
- Stockton, Edward J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A system for converting potential energy into heat including a tower configured to contain a fluid and to permit the formation of a substantially nitrogen-free combustion chamber defined by the tower and the surface of the fluid in the tower and at a pressure less than ambient, a first tower outlet
A system for converting potential energy into heat including a tower configured to contain a fluid and to permit the formation of a substantially nitrogen-free combustion chamber defined by the tower and the surface of the fluid in the tower and at a pressure less than ambient, a first tower outlet in fluid communication with a first fuel valve configured to regulate a flow of the fluid out of the tower, an oxygen source in fluid communication with an oxygen valve in fluid communication with an oxygen inlet in fluid communication with the tower, a source of combustible fuel including hydrogen in fluid communication with a fuel valve in fluid communication with a fuel inlet in fluid communication with the tower, and an ignition source positioned so that it resides within the combustion chamber and is configured to initiate a reaction between oxygen and fuel.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system for converting potential energy into heat comprising: a tower configured to be oriented vertically when in an operating mode at an intended site of use, the tower further configured to contain a first fluid in a sealable manner therein and to permit the formation of
What is claimed is: 1. A system for converting potential energy into heat comprising: a tower configured to be oriented vertically when in an operating mode at an intended site of use, the tower further configured to contain a first fluid in a sealable manner therein and to permit the formation of a substantially nitrogen-free combustion chamber at a pressure less than the ambient pressure proximate to the tower at the intended site of use when in the operating mode, the combustion chamber dynamically defined by walls of a first end of the vertically-oriented tower and the top surface of the first fluid contained in the tower during use; a first tower outlet proximate to a second end of the tower, the second end defining the lower portion of the tower when in the operating mode; a first valve in fluid communication with the first tower outlet, the first valve configured to regulate a flow of the first fluid out of the tower; an oxygen source configured to supply a flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to the resulting combustion chamber in the tower when in use through an oxygen inlet in fluid communication with the tower and the oxygen source; an oxygen valve in fluid communication with the oxygen source and the oxygen inlet, the oxygen valve configured to regulate the flow of oxygen out of the oxygen source into the tower through the oxygen inlet; a combustible fuel source configured to supply a flow of fuel comprising hydrogen from the combustible fuel source to the combustion chamber through a fuel inlet in fluid communication with the tower and the combustible fuel source; a fuel valve in fluid communication with the combustible fuel source and the fuel inlet configured to regulate the flow of fuel out of the combustible fuel source into the tower through the fuel inlet; an ignition source positioned proximate to a first end of the tower so that it resides within the combustion chamber and configured to initiate an exothermic reaction between the flow of oxygen and the flow of fuel so as to produce H2O when in the operating mode; and a fluid circulating loop for absorbing energy generated in the tower when the tower is in use, the loop comprising: a second fluid contained within the loop for circulation therethrough; a second fluid reservoir configured to contain at least some of the second fluid; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with and downstream of the second fluid reservoir and in thermal communication with the tower, the heat exchanger configured to transfer heat resulting from the reaction in the combustion chamber to the second fluid circulating through the heat exchanger so that at least a portion of the second fluid is vaporized; and a turbine in fluid communication with and downstream of the heat exchanger and configured to generate electricity from the passage therethrough of the vaporized second fluid. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of the tower is designed to be greater than the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate the flow of the first fluid out of the tower when the height of the first fluid in the tower exceeds the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate the flow of the first fluid out of the tower when a pump in fluid communication with the first tower outlet pumps the first fluid out of the tower. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the combustible fuel comprises hydrogen gas. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the combustible fuel consists essentially of hydrogen gas. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the combustible fuel consists of hydrogen gas. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ambient pressure is atmospheric pressure. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tower outlet is located in an end of the tower. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the oxygen inlet and the fuel inlet are located in an end of the tower. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that at least some of the H2O is in the form of steam. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the reaction produces substantially no NOx. 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the first tower outlet. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate a flow of the first fluid out of the tower into the first fluid reservoir when the height of the first fluid in the tower exceeds the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the bottom of the first fluid reservoir is at a lower altitude than the second end of the tower in the operating mode. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first fluid reservoir has a volume at least greater than the volume of the combustion chamber. 17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the second fluid reservoir and configured to regulate a flow of the second fluid out of the second fluid reservoir and through the heat exchanger. 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a condenser in fluid communication with and downstream of the turbine and in fluid communication with and upstream of the second fluid reservoir, the condenser configured to condense at least a portion of the vaporized second fluid and to permit the passage therethrough of the second fluid to the second fluid reservoir. 19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first fluid turbine in fluid communication with the first tower outlet and configured to generate electricity when the first fluid flows out of the first tower outlet. 20. A system for converting potential energy into heat comprising: a tower configured to be oriented vertically when in an operating mode at an intended site of use, the tower further configured to contain a first fluid in a sealable manner therein and to permit the formation of a substantially nitrogen-free combustion chamber at a pressure less than the ambient pressure proximate to the tower at the intended site of use when in the operating mode, the combustion chamber dynamically defined by walls of a first end of the vertically-oriented tower and the top surface of the first fluid contained in the tower during use; a first tower outlet proximate to a second end of the tower, the second end defining the lower portion of the tower when in the operating mode; a first valve in fluid communication with the first tower outlet, the first valve configured to regulate a flow of the first fluid out of the tower; an oxygen source configured to supply a flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to the resulting combustion chamber in the tower when in use through an oxygen inlet in fluid communication with the tower and the oxygen source; an oxygen valve in fluid communication with the oxygen source and the oxygen inlet, the oxygen valve configured to regulate the flow of oxygen out of the oxygen source into the tower through the oxygen inlet; a combustible fuel source configured to supply a flow of fuel comprising hydrogen from the combustible fuel source to the combustion chamber through a fuel inlet in fluid communication with the tower and the combustible fuel source; a fuel valve in fluid communication with the combustible fuel source and the fuel inlet configured to regulate the flow of fuel out of the combustible fuel source into the tower through the fuel inlet; an ignition source positioned proximate to a first end of the tower so that it resides within the combustion chamber and configured to initiate an exothermic reaction between the flow of oxygen and the flow of fuel so as to produce H2O when in the operating mode; and at least one reactant turbine in fluid communication with either the oxygen inlet or the fuel inlet, the at least one reactant turbine configured to generate electricity from the pressurized flow of oxygen or fuel, respectively, therethrough. 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a second tower outlet proximate to the first end of the tower, the second tower outlet configured to permit a flow of steam out of the tower when the tower is in the operating mode. 22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a second valve in fluid communication with the second tower outlet and configured to direct the flow of steam. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve is configured to regulate the pressure in the combustion chamber when the tower is in the operating mode. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve is configured to cause H2O within the tower to form superheated steam. 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve directs the flow of steam to a steam turbine, the steam turbine configured to generate electricity when steam flows out of the second tower outlet when the tower is in the operating mode. 26. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve directs the flow of steam to a heating system. 27. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve directs the flow of steam to a cooling system. 28. The system of claim 22, wherein the second valve directs the flow of steam to a cooking system. 29. The system of claim 21, further comprising a steam condenser in fluid communication with the second tower outlet and configured to condense at least a portion of the steam when steam flows out of the second tower outlet. 30. The system of claim 20, wherein the length of the tower is designed to be greater than the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate the flow of the first fluid out of the tower when the height of the first fluid in the tower exceeds the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 32. The system of claim 20, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate the flow of the first fluid out of the tower when a pump in fluid communication with the first tower outlet pumps the first fluid out of the tower. 33. The system of claim 20, wherein the combustible fuel comprises hydrogen gas. 34. The system of claim 20, wherein the combustible fuel consists essentially of hydrogen gas. 35. The system of claim 20, wherein the combustible fuel consists of hydrogen gas. 36. The system of claim 20, wherein the ambient pressure is atmospheric pressure. 37. The system of claim 20, wherein the first tower outlet is located in an end of the tower. 38. The system of claim 20, wherein the oxygen inlet and the fuel inlet are located in an end of the tower. 39. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured such that at least some of the H2O is in the form of steam. 40. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured such that the reaction produces substantially no NOx. 41. The system of claim 20, further comprising a first fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the first tower outlet, wherein the first valve is configured to regulate a flow of the first fluid out of the tower into the first fluid reservoir when the height of the first fluid in the tower exceeds the ratio of the ambient pressure at the intended site of use to the density of the first fluid. 42. The system of claim 20, further comprising a first fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the first tower outlet, wherein the bottom of the first fluid reservoir is at a lower altitude than the second end of the tower in the operating mode.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.