Systems and methods for providing supplemental aqueous thermal energy

摘要

Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and conveying aqueous thermal energy are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a floating film retains solar energy in a volume of water located under the film. A series of curtains hanging from a bottom surface of the film define a passage between a periphery of the film and a center of the film to direct the heated water at the center of the film. The heated water is circulated to deliver the heat to a dissociation reactor and/or donor substance. The donor is conveyed to the reactor and dissociated.

主权项

1. A system for collecting, storing, and conveying thermal energy, comprising:
a transmissive film assembly having a planar lower surface disposed in or on a body of water, an upper surface, and a plurality of cells between the upper and lower surfaces, the film assembly having an inner region and an outer region; an outer curtain coupled to the outer region and an inner curtain coupled to the inner region to define a volume of water under the film between the inner and outer curtains; at least one intermediate curtain carried by the film assembly between the inner and outer curtains to define a channel; a conduit communicating with the volume of water proximate to the inner curtain; a TCP reactor system disposed proximate to the film assembly, the TCP reactor system comprising at least one non-combustive chemical reactor in communication with a source of hydrocarbons, the at least one non-combustive chemical reactor configured to dissociate hydrocarbons; a generator electrically coupled to the at least one non-combustive chemical reactor, and a turbine coupled to the volume of water proximate to the inner curtain to extract power from the volume of water, the turbine being coupled to the generator to drive the generator.