Power plants – Utilizing natural heat – Geothermal
Patent
1975-03-12
1977-10-04
Ostrager, Allen M.
Power plants
Utilizing natural heat
Geothermal
60675, 60531, 60659, F03G 102, F03G 706
Patent
active
040516784
ABSTRACT:
A heat engine operating from power derived from the difference in temperatures between, for example, solar heat ambient air and an underground water source. A plurality of enclosed tanks are supported in radially opposed pairs from a framework which is rotatable about a horizontal axis. Each tank has its interior divided by a flexible membrane to provide first and second chambers. The first chamber of each tank contains a liquid propellant, and the two first chambers of each radially opposed pair of tanks are interconnected for fluid communication therebetween. The second chamber of each tank contains a high vapor pressure fluid and is coupled to an evaporator coil positioned adjacent its tank and to a condensor coil positioned adjacent the radially opposite tank. The lower-most tank has its first chamber first coil within a hot reservoir to cause the high vapor pressure fluid to expand, applying pressure to the flexible diaphragm of that tank. This forces the liquid propellant from that tank to the radially opposite, elevated tank in which it applies pressure to the diaphragm, forcing the high vapor pressure fluid from that tank to its second coil which is within a cold reservoir, aiding condensation of the high vapor pressure fluid. A thermal panel is made up of a metallic plate member and a pipe in thermal contact therewith. An underground water source supplies one of the hot and cold reservoirs, while water passing through the thermal panel pipe supplies the other. Because the thermal panel plate member is exposed to sunlight and ambient air, the thermal panel supplies the hot reservoir when its temperature is greater than the temperature of the underground water or the cold reservoir when the ambient air temperature is less than the temperature of the underground water. A thermal storage tank stores heat from the heat elements powering the generator for heating the water of the hot reservoir when the ambient air temperature is close to the underground water temperature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 378998 (1888-03-01), Barthel
patent: 784005 (1905-02-01), Ketchum
patent: 2942411 (1960-06-01), Hutchings
patent: 2969637 (1961-01-01), Rowekamp
patent: 3441482 (1969-04-01), Avery
patent: 3495402 (1970-02-01), Yates
patent: 3604822 (1971-09-01), Saxe
patent: 3785144 (1974-01-01), Fairbanks
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