Thermal energy conversion system

摘要

A power generation system includes a first vessel having a generally constant volume and a second vessel having a variable volume. Thermal energy is supplied to an ideal gas within the first vessel in order to raise its temperature and pressure. The thermally compressed gas is then released into, and expands the volume of, the second vessel. The expanding volume of the second vessel expands raises a mass and/or strains an elastic member, thus storing gravitational and/or elastic potential energy. This stored potential energy can be released on demand by evacuating the second vessel, typically into a third vessel, and used to power a generator. Preferably, the potential energy is used to coupled to the generator using a planetary gear drive, such that a relatively small number of input rotations yields a relatively large number of output rotations.

主权项

1. A power generation system, comprising:
at least one thermal energy accumulation vessel containing a gas; a potential energy generation system including at least one battery vessel connected to the at least one thermal energy accumulation vessel, the at least one battery vessel defining a chamber having a variable volume, wherein the potential energy generation system generates and stores potential energy via expansion of the volume of the chamber defined by the at least one battery vessel when a quantity of the gas moves from the at least one thermal energy accumulation vessel to the at least one battery vessel after increasing in temperature while in the at least one thermal energy accumulation vessel; a thermal energy dissipation vessel connected to the at least one battery vessel via at least one one-way valve; and an energy conversion system coupled to the potential energy generation system, wherein the energy conversion system converts the potential energy stored by the potential energy generation system into electrical energy only when the at least one one-way valve is opened so that a quantity of the gas is evacuated from the at least one battery vessel and flows through the at least one one-way valve to the thermal energy dissipation vessel after the expansion of the volume of the chamber defined by the at least one battery vessel.