초록 ▼

A combustion system includes a reactant storage device configured to store lithium; a combustion device configured to receive the lithium from the reactant storage device and react the lithium with an oxidizer to generate heat energy; a product storage device configured to store reaction products re

A combustion system includes a reactant storage device configured to store lithium; a combustion device configured to receive the lithium from the reactant storage device and react the lithium with an oxidizer to generate heat energy; a product storage device configured to store reaction products resulting from the reaction of the lithium and the oxidizer; and a recovery device configured to recover lithium from the reaction products and provide the lithium to the storage device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combustion system, comprising: a reactant storage device configured to store lithium;a combustion device configured to receive the lithium from the reactant storage device and react the lithium with an oxidizer to generate heat energy;a product storage device configured to store reaction produc

1. A combustion system, comprising: a reactant storage device configured to store lithium;a combustion device configured to receive the lithium from the reactant storage device and react the lithium with an oxidizer to generate heat energy;a product storage device configured to store reaction products resulting from the reaction of the lithium and the oxidizer; anda recovery device configured to recover lithium from the reaction products and provide the lithium to the storage device. 2. The combustion system of claim 1, wherein the combustion device is adapted to react the lithium with an oxidizer including molecular oxygen. 3. The combustion system of claim 1, wherein the combustion device is adapted to react the lithium with an oxidizer including molecular oxygen and a dry molecular oxygen oxidizer. 4. The combustion system of claim 1, further comprising a combustion engine, wherein the combustion engine includes the combustion device. 5. The combustion system of claim 4, wherein the combustion engine comprises a reactant metering system configured to control the delivery rate of at least one of the lithium and the oxidizer into the combustion device responsive to a specified generation rate of heat energy. 6. The combustion system of claim 4, wherein the combustion engine includes an external combustion engine. 7. The combustion system of claim 1, further comprising a thermopile configured to convert heat energy into electrical energy. 8. The combustion system of claim 7, wherein the combustion device is configured to provide heat energy to the thermopile. 9. The combustion system of claim 1, wherein the reactant storage device is configured to store the lithium in solid form. 10. The combustion system of claim 9, further comprising a transfer device configured to transfer the lithium from the reactant storage device to the combustion device, the transfer device including a deformation mechanism configured to deform the lithium in solid form to increase a surface area of the lithium prior to the lithium entering into the combustion device. 11. The combustion system of claim 9, further comprising a transfer device configured to transfer the lithium from the reactant storage device to the combustion device, the transfer device including a thermal heating system configured to melt at least a portion of the lithium prior to the portion of lithium entering into the combustion device. 12. The combustion system of claim 1, wherein the reactant storage device is configured to store lithium in liquid form. 13. The combustion system of claim 12, further comprising a heat exchanger configured to transfer at least a portion of the generated heat energy into the stored liquid lithium. 14. A combustion system, comprising: a reactant storage device configured to store an alkali metal;a combustion device configured to receive the alkali metal from the reactant storage device and react the metal with a dry molecular oxygen oxidizer to generate heat energy;a product storage device configured to receive reaction products resulting from the reaction of the alkali metal and the oxidizer; anda recovery device configured to recover at least a portion of the alkali metal from the reaction products and provide the alkali metal to the reactant storage device. 15. The combustion system of claim 14, further comprising a combustion engine, wherein the combustion engine includes the combustion device. 16. The combustion system of claim 15, wherein the combustion engine is configured to convert heat energy into mechanical energy. 17. The combustion system of claim 15, wherein the combustion engine comprises a reactant metering system configured to control a delivery rate of at least one of the alkali metal and the dry molecular oxygen oxidizer into the combustion device responsive to a specified generation rate of heat energy. 18. The combustion system of claim 15, wherein the combustion engine includes an external combustion engine. 19. The combustion system of claim 14, further comprising a thermopile configured to convert heat energy into electrical energy. 20. The combustion system of claim 19, wherein the combustion device is configured to provide heat energy to the thermopile. 21. The combustion system of claim 14, wherein the reactant storage device is configured to store the alkali metal in solid form. 22. The combustion system of claim 21, further comprising a transfer device configured to transfer the alkali metal from the reactant storage device to the combustion device, the transfer device including a deformation mechanism configured to deform the alkali metal in solid form to increase a surface area of the alkali metal prior to the metal entering into the combustion device. 23. The combustion system of claim 21, further comprising a transfer device configured to transfer the alkali metal from the reactant storage device to the combustion device, the transfer device including a thermal heating system configured to melt at least a portion of the alkali metal prior to the portion of alkali metal entering into the combustion device. 24. The combustion system of claim 23, further comprising a heat exchanger configured to transfer at least a portion of the generated heat energy into the portion of the alkali metal. 25. An energy conversion system, comprising: a supply system configured to store an alkali metal;a combustion system configured to combust the alkali metal in a thermal combustion engine;an electrochemical system including an electrochemical electrical generator configured to utilize the alkali metal; anda control system configured to control operation of the supply system to selectively provide the alkali metal to at least one of the combustion system and the electrochemical system. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the electrochemical electrical generator comprises a battery. 27. The system of claim 25, wherein the electrochemical electrical generator comprises a fuel cell. 28. The system of claim 25, wherein the control system is configured to control operation of the supply system based on a desired power output amount of the energy conversion system. 29. The system of claim 25, wherein the control system is configured to control operation of the supply system based on a user input. 30. The system of claim 25, wherein the control system is configured to control operation of the supply system based on a desired power output type. 31. The system of claim 25, further comprising a recovery device configured to receive reaction products from at least one of the combustion system and the electrochemical system and recover alkali metal from the reaction products. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the supply system is configured to receive at least a portion of the recovered alkali metal. 33. The system of claim 25, wherein the combustion system includes an external combustion engine. 34. The system of claim 25, further comprising a transfer device configured to transfer the alkali metal from the supply system to the combustion system and the electrochemical system, the transfer device including a deformation mechanism configured to deform the alkali metal in solid form to increase a surface area of the alkali metal. 35. The system of claim 25, wherein the supply system is configured to store the alkali metal in liquid form.