Power plants – Utilizing natural heat – With natural temperature differential
Patent
1982-01-05
1984-05-29
Ostrager, Allen M.
Power plants
Utilizing natural heat
With natural temperature differential
60675, F03G 704
Patent
active
044506899
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an arrangement in or relating to a power plant for exploitation of the temperature difference between different water layers in a pelagic area, comprising a closed system which at least partially is filled with a fluid which at least partially exists in the liquid phase, said system comprising at least two heat exchanging apparatuses in fluid communication with each other, of which a first supplies heat to the fluid by heat exchange with water from a relatively warmer water layer while another removes heat from the fluid by heat exchange with water from a relatively colder water layer, whereby a pressure difference is created in the system which is utilized to take energy out of the system.
A power plant of the above mentioned type is known from the article "Power from the sun by way of the sea?" by J. H. Anderson in the periodical "Power", February 1965. The power plant described therein is in its entirety mounted on or in a floating vessel. The working fluid, being propane, is pumped up to a pressure of about 8 ato before it is vapourized in heat exchange with warm surface water. The propane vapour is used to drive turbines, whereupon it is condensed by heat exchange with colder water from a deeper water layer. The liquid propane is then again pumped around in the cycle as indicated above. In this known power plant cold water is taken in through a vertical pipe which extends from the vessel down to a depth of more than 600 m. Great difficulties will be associated with the installation of such a pipe and, furthermore, it will be highly exposed to forces induced by current and waves. Thus, the diameter of the pipe must necessarily be kept so small that relatively high pressure drops result. This will have grave adverse effects on the total efficiency of the power plant. Common to the above mentioned and other suggestions for power plants exploiting the temperature differences in nature, is that the working fluid exists in the vapour phase with relatively low pressure. This results in low power yield relative to the dimensions of the power plant, so that the construction costs become excessive relative to the yearly production of the power plant. If internal circulation losses and losses in the form of energy to drive auxiliary equipment are to be held at an acceptable level, the previously suggested power plants must be so large that they may not be built for sufficiently high pressures due to technical reasons.
The purpose of the invention is to solve these problems and provide a power plant for exploitation of the naturally occuring temperature differences in a pelagic area, which plant is technically feasible to build and provides a yield which can compete with conventional power plants. According to the invention one has realized, that in order to reach this goal, the problem is to increase both the size and pressure level substantially with respect to what has previously been regarded as possible. According to the invention this object has been realized by a power plant of the type mentioned by way of introduction, where the characteristic features are that said first and second heat exchanging apparatuses are arranged in respective chambers which are comprised by cavities in solid, resp. consolidated rock. Further advantageous features of the invention will appear from the dependent claims.
By placing the heat exchanging chambers in rock with sufficient covering, these chambers may be given a diameter in excess of 100 m and still withstand internal pressures of about 100 ato. Should corresponding chambers be made free standing in steel, one would have to use a wall thickness of more than 1 m, this being unthinkable both from a technical and economic point of view. The heat exchanging chambers and the necessary connecting shafts may be mined out by means of known methods developed for instance for conventional hydroelectric power plants. By letting the supply and discharge lines for water to the heat exchanges consist of mined shafts, these may be given such a large cr
REFERENCES:
patent: 1493368 (1924-05-01), Merz
patent: 3274769 (1966-09-01), Reynolds
patent: 3953971 (1976-05-01), Parker
patent: 4030301 (1977-06-01), Anderson
patent: 4087975 (1978-05-01), Owens
patent: 4233813 (1980-11-01), Simmons
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