Apparatus and method for periodically charging ocean vessel or other system using thermal energy conversion
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F17C-009/04
B63G-008/00
B63G-008/14
출원번호
US-0173178
(2016-06-03)
등록번호
US-10036510
(2018-07-31)
발명자
/ 주소
Heinen, Gregory W.
Corriveau, Pierre J.
출원인 / 주소
Raytheon Company
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
13
초록▼
An apparatus includes multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks. The apparatus further inc
An apparatus includes multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks. The apparatus further includes at least one generator configured to receive a flow of the liquid refrigerant and to generate electrical power based on the flow of the liquid refrigerant. The apparatus also includes one or more first valves configured to control the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks and through the at least one generator. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more second valves configured to control a flow of the water into and out of the one or more insulated water jackets.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus comprising: multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure;one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks;at least one generator configured to receive a fl
1. An apparatus comprising: multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure;one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks;at least one generator configured to receive a flow of the liquid refrigerant and to generate electrical power based on the flow of the liquid refrigerant;one or more first valves configured to control the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks and through the at least one generator; andone or more second valves configured to control a flow of the water into and out of the one or more insulated water jackets. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a first insulated water jacket and a second insulated water jacket;the multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the first insulated water jacket and a second tank within the second insulated water jacket; andthe at least one generator comprises a first generator and a second generator. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a controller is configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;cause the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water; andcause the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the second generator to the second tank. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;cause the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water; andcause the liquid refrigerant to move from the second tank through the first generator to the first tank. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a first thermal energy conversion subsystem comprises the tanks, the one or more insulated water jackets, the at least one generator, the one or more first valves, and the one or more second valves;the apparatus further comprises a second thermal energy conversion subsystem; andthe flow of the liquid refrigerant in the first thermal energy conversion subsystem is substantially opposite a flow of liquid refrigerant in the second thermal energy conversion subsystem. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one generator comprises at least one Pelton turbine. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the multiple tanks comprise a first tank and a second tank; anda controller is configured to control the first and second valves in order to cause the liquid refrigerant to repeatedly flow back and forth between the first and second tanks. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a single insulated water jacket; andthe multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the insulated water jacket and one or more second tanks. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a controller is configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water;after the one or more second tanks have warmed, cause the liquid refrigerant to move from the one or more second tanks to the first tank;cause the insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water; andafter the one or more second tanks have cooled, cause the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the at least one generator, evaporate, move into the one or more second tanks, and condense. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each tank is segmented and comprises multiple third valves configured to alter an effective volume of the tank. 11. A system comprising: a vessel comprising a body and fins projecting from the body;the vessel also comprising a thermal energy conversion system, the thermal energy conversion system comprising: multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure;one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks;at least one generator configured to receive a flow of the liquid refrigerant and to generate electrical power based on the flow of the liquid refrigerant;one or more first valves configured to control the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks and through the at least one generator; andone or more second valves configured to control a flow of the water into and out of the one or more insulated water jackets;the vessel further comprising a controller configured to control the first and second valves. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a first insulated water jacket and a second insulated water jacket;the multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the first insulated water jacket and a second tank within the second insulated water jacket; andthe at least one generator comprises a first generator and a second generator. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;cause the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water; andcause the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the second generator to the second tank. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;cause the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water; andcause the liquid refrigerant to move from the second tank through the first generator to the first tank. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein: the system further comprises a second thermal energy conversion system; andthe flow of the liquid refrigerant in the thermal energy conversion system is substantially opposite a flow of liquid refrigerant in the second thermal energy conversion system. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a single insulated water jacket; andthe multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the insulated water jacket and one or more second tanks. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second valves in order to: cause the insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water;after the one or more second tanks have warmed, cause the liquid refrigerant to move from the one or more second tanks to the first tank;cause the insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water; andafter the one or more second tanks have cooled, cause the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the at least one generator, evaporate, move into the one or more second tanks, and condense. 18. The system of claim 11, wherein: the body further comprises wings and at least one adjustable ballast, the wings configured to be swept forward or backward depending on whether the vessel is ascending or descending, the at least one adjustable ballast configured to alter a center of gravity of the vessel. 19. A method comprising: receiving and storing a liquid refrigerant under pressure in at least one of multiple tanks;receiving and retaining water around at least part of one or more of the tanks using one or more insulated water jackets;creating a flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks, the flow created at least in part based on a pressure differential between the tanks;generating electrical power based on the flow of the liquid refrigerant using at least one generator;controlling the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks and through the at least one generator using one or more first valves; andcontrolling a flow of the water into and out of the one or more insulated water jackets using one or more second valves. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a first insulated water jacket and a second insulated water jacket;the multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the first insulated water jacket and a second tank within the second insulated water jacket;the at least one generator comprises a first generator and a second generator; andcontrolling the flow of the liquid refrigerant and controlling the flow of the water comprise: causing the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;causing the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water;causing the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the second generator to the second tank;causing the second insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water;causing the first insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water; andcausing the liquid refrigerant to move from the second tank through the first generator to the first tank. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein: the one or more insulated water jackets comprise a single insulated water jacket;the multiple tanks comprise a first tank within the insulated water jacket and one or more second tanks; andcontrolling the flow of the liquid refrigerant and controlling the flow of the water comprise: causing the insulated water jacket to receive and retain colder water;after the one or more second tanks have warmed, causing the liquid refrigerant to move from the one or more second tanks to the first tank;causing the insulated water jacket to receive and retain warmer water; andafter the one or more second tanks have cooled, causing the liquid refrigerant to move from the first tank through the at least one generator, evaporate, move into the one or more second tanks, and condense.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.