AU2002244281A1 - Solar-based power generating system - Google Patents
Solar-based power generating systemInfo
- Publication number
- AU2002244281A1 AU2002244281A1 AU2002244281A AU2002244281A AU2002244281A1 AU 2002244281 A1 AU2002244281 A1 AU 2002244281A1 AU 2002244281 A AU2002244281 A AU 2002244281A AU 2002244281 A AU2002244281 A AU 2002244281A AU 2002244281 A1 AU2002244281 A1 AU 2002244281A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- evaporator
- set forth
- condenser
- refrigerant
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Description
Solar-Based Power Generating System
Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application entitled "Solar-Based Power Generating System", filed March
8, 2001, Serial Number 60/274,085, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
This invention relates to power generation. More
particularly, this invention relates to power generated from solar energy
utilizing a closed-loop refrigerant system in which a circulating refrigerant
drives an alternator or generator to produce electrical energy. Description of the Background Art
Presently, there exist many types of systems designed to
generate electrical power. Most dominant is that of an electrical power
plant in which steam is generated to drive one or more generators to
produce electrical power. Another system comprises the use of photovoltaic systems in which solar energy is converted into electrical energy. Unfortunately, generating power through the use of steam
necessarily involves the combustion of fossil fuels or the utilization of
nuclear fuels whereas, the generation of electrical power through photovoltaics has proven to be too costly for large power generating
systems. Thus, there presently exist disadvantages associated with these
prior art power generating systems.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an
improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the
prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant
contribution to the advancement of the power generation art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a power
generation system in which a refrigerant is circulated within a closed-loop
thermal transfer system having an evaporator exposed to solar energy and
a condenser exposed to a significant heat sink such as a body of water,
with the circulating refrigerant driving an alternator or generator to produce electrical power.
The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of
the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended
invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the
disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller
understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of
the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises a solar-based power generating system including an electrical
alternator or generator for generating electrical power in which the
alternator or generator is driven by a refrigerant circulating through a
closed-loop heat transfer system including an evaporator exposed to solar
energy and a condenser disposed within a large heat sink such as a body of
water.
Preferably, the refrigerant comprises a fluid having a low boiling
point which readily boils to produce a high pressure gas when exposed to
solar energy impending upon the evaporator. The high pressure gaseous refrigerant is then employed to drive an alternator or generator that
produces electrical power. The gas then flows into the condenser where it is condensed at a low pressure and temperature through the transfer of heat
energy into the body of water in which the condenser is situated. The
condensed, liquid refrigerant then returns to the evaporator to continuously
repeat the thermal transfer cycle. Importantly, it is noted that the body of
water provides such a significant heat sink to the to assure that adequate condensing of the refrigerant gas is achieved.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the evaporator
comprises a solar collector containing the evaporator. A suitable frame is
provided for positioning the solar collector with its evaporator in the air,
preferably in a position immediately above the condenser positioned within
the body of water so as to be shadowed by the evaporator and the portion of
the body of water above it, from otherwise being heated by solar energy that
would otherwise be incident onto the body of water immediately above the
condenser. In this manner, increased efficiency is obtained due to the reduced heating of the body of water proximate to the condenser that would
otherwise occur if it was not shadowed by the solar collector above. Further,
in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the solar collector may comprise
an upper transparent housing having the evaporator positioned therein so as to create a greenhouse effect proximate to the evaporator and thereby minimize heat loss that would otherwise occur due to wind or precipitation.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed
description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the
present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject
of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily
utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out
the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by
those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the power generating system of
the invention; and
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the power generating system of
the invention.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, the power generating system 10 of the
invention comprises an evaporator 12 and a condenser 14 fluidly connected in
a closed-loop by a high pressure conduit 16 and a low pressure conduit 18. The evaporator 12 preferably comprises a plurality of fluid-communicating
evaporator tubes 12T arranged in a certain pattern and having appropriate
dimensions as may be thermodynamically desired based on the following
description of operation. Likewise, condenser 14 preferably comprises a
plurality of condenser tubes 14T, with fins, arranged in a certain pattern and having appropriate dimensions as may be thermodynamically desired based
on the following description of operation.
The evaporator 12 is preferably positioned within a collector
housing 20 whose upper surface comprises a transparent or translucent
material 22 to achieve a greenhouse effect about the evaporator 12 positioned therein and thereby minimize undesired heat loss from the evaporator 12 that otherwise would occur by precipitation impinging upon the evaporator 12 or by wind flowing over the surface of the evaporator 12.
The collector housing 20 containing the evaporator 12 is
preferably supported by a frame 24 and fixedly oriented in a direction
relative to the path of the sun (elevationally and asmythially) to maximize
the amount of average solar energy from the sun impinging upon the collector
housing 20. It should be appreciated, however, that the collector housing 20
may be mounted onto a gimbal powered by a drive mechanism and controller
that tracks the path of the sun so as to always face the collector housing 20
toward the sun to maximize the amount of solar energy impinging upon the
collector housing 20 throughout the entire day.
Referring to Fig. 2, the condenser 14 is preferably likewise
mounted to the frame 20 to be supported thereby in a position submerged
within a large heat sink such as a body of water 26. Frame 24 may be
permanently mounted to the floor 28 of the body of water 26 or may comprise
a floating structure that rises and falls with any tidal action so as to assure that the condenser 14 is constantly submerged at a predetermined depth
within the body of water 26 irrespective of any tidal action. Finally, it is
noted that preferably the frame 24 is configured such that the collector
housing containing the evaporator 12 is positioned above the submerged
condenser 14 to provide at least some shading to the condenser 14 to reduce the amount of solar heating of the water proximate to the condenser 14 that
would otherwise occur without any shading.
For operation, the system 10 is charged with a refrigerant.
During operation, the refrigerant contained within the evaporator 12
evaporates or "boils" from a liquid state to a high pressure gaseous state. The
high pressure gaseous refrigerant flows from the output of the evaporator 12
through a prime mover 30, such as a turbine, rotary valve or other
mechanical device that may be driven by the high pressure gaseous
refrigerant. Subsequent to the prime mover 30, the refrigerant flows into the
condenser 14 positioned within the body of water and condenses to a liquid
state. A refrigerant reservoir 34 may be provided at the output of the
condenser 14 to provide for the accumulation of the liquid refrigerant. Liquid
refrigerant from the condenser 14 is supplied to the evaporator 12 through
the use of an auxiliary refrigerant pump or via capillary feed, to thereby
repeat the closed-loop refrigerant cycle. Electrical power is generated by the system 10 of the invention by means of a generator or alternator 32
mechanically coupled to the prime mover 30 and is supplied for use via a
power line 32P. Additional electrical power may be attained through the incorporation of photovoltaic cells within the collector housing 20 or as an
adjunct thereof.
The operating parameters of the power generating system 10 of
the invention envisions the following. The body of water 26 and hence the
operating temperature of the condenser 14, is anticipated to be 80 degrees F. The operating temperature of the evaporator 12 is anticipated to be
approximately 160 degrees F on the average through the use of the collector
housing 20. Various conventional refrigerants are anticipated to be used, such as R410A, R134A, R407C and R22. For these types of refrigerants, the
following operating parameters are anticipated.
At High Temp. (160°F)
R410A ~ 704 psi R134A ~ 315 psi R407C ~ 500 psi R22 ~ 445 psi
Δp_
R410A ~ 454 psi R134A ~ 214 psi R407C ~ 500 psi R22 ~ 287 psi
Ah Liquid at 80°F to Gas at 160°F
R410A ~ 120-40 * 70 Btu/lb R134A ~ 130-40 « 80 Btu/lb R407C ~ 130-40 * 80 Btu/lb R22 ~ 120-35 85 * Btu lb
At Low Temperature 80°F
R410A ~ 250 psi R134A ~ 101 psi R407C ~ 170 psi R22 ~ 158 psi
The power generating system 10 of the invention operates
during daylight hours to generate electrical energy from solar energy without
the disadvantages associated with conventional power generation plants that
utilize fossil or nuclear fuels. Hence, significant advantages are achieved.
The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended
claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention
has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred
form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in
the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
Now that the invention has been described,
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
Claims (1)
- 1. A power generating system, comprising an evaporator anda condenser fluidly connected in a closed-loop by a high pressure conduit anda low pressure conduit, a frame for supporting said evaporator in a positionexposed to solar energy and for supporting said condenser in a large heatsink.2. The system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said largeheat sink comprises a body of water.3. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said frame is permanently mounted to the floor of the body of water.4. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said framecomprises a floating structure that rises and falls with any tidal action.5. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein saidevaporator is positioned above said condenser to provide at least some shading to said condenser.6. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein saidcondenser comprises a plurality of fluid-communicating condenser tubesarranged in a pattern and having appropriate dimensions tothermodynamically optimize the exchange of heat between said refrigerant and said body of water.9. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said evaporator comprises a plurality of evaporator tubes arranged in a patternand having appropriate dimensions to thermodynamically optimize theabsorption of solar energy into said refrigerant.10. The system as set forth in Claim 2, wherein saidevaporator is positioned within a collector housing whose upper surfacecomprises a transparent or translucent material to achieve a greenhouseeffect about said evaporator and thereby minimize undesired heat loss from said evaporator.11. A method for electrical power generation, comprising the steps of:employing solar energy to evaporate a refrigerant from a liquidstate to a high pressure gaseous state;flowing the high pressure gaseous refrigerant through a prime mover operatively connected to an electrical power generator to generateelectrical power; andemploying a large heat sink to condense the refrigerant to aliquid state.12. The method as set forth in Claim 11, wherein said largeheat sink comprises a body of water.13. The method as set forth in Claim 12, further comprising the step of shadowing a portion of the body of water that is utilized tocondense the refrigerant.14. The method as set forth in Claim 11, wherein the stepsoccur on a frame floating in the body of water.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US27408501P | 2001-03-08 | 2001-03-08 | |
US60/274,085 | 2001-03-08 | ||
PCT/US2002/007353 WO2002072378A1 (en) | 2001-03-08 | 2002-03-08 | Solar-based power generating system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU2002244281A1 true AU2002244281A1 (en) | 2003-03-20 |
AU2002244281B2 AU2002244281B2 (en) | 2006-11-16 |
Family
ID=23046702
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU2002244281A Expired - Fee Related AU2002244281B2 (en) | 2001-03-08 | 2002-03-08 | Solar-based power generating system |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6820420B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1377474A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002244281B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2440316A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ528506A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002072378A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7694673B2 (en) * | 2005-12-19 | 2010-04-13 | Brown Jr Joseph Francis | Combination heat recovery—solar collector |
DE102007005930A1 (en) | 2007-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | Efficient Energy Gmbh | Heatpipe, small power plant and method for pumping heat |
US20090183853A1 (en) * | 2008-01-22 | 2009-07-23 | Chengjun Julian Chen | Solar-Powered Cooling and Heating System Using a Structured Water Wall |
US8353684B2 (en) * | 2009-02-05 | 2013-01-15 | Grant Peacock | Phase change compressor |
US20100212858A1 (en) * | 2009-02-26 | 2010-08-26 | David Guth | Geothermal Cooling System for an Energy-Producing Plant |
US20100327606A1 (en) * | 2009-06-26 | 2010-12-30 | Larry Andrews | Energy Generation Systems and Processes |
KR100944073B1 (en) * | 2009-07-13 | 2010-02-24 | 김승섭 | Solar light power generating device |
US8387387B1 (en) | 2009-12-07 | 2013-03-05 | Richard L. Henderson | Floating solar pond energy conversion apparatus |
US8465628B1 (en) | 2010-05-03 | 2013-06-18 | Richard L. Henderson | Floating solar energy conversion and water distillation apparatus |
EP2436886A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2012-04-04 | Alstom Technology Ltd | Steam power plant and method for operating a steam power plant with a ground heat exchanger |
US20130025819A1 (en) * | 2011-07-25 | 2013-01-31 | Tai-Her Yang | Close-loop temperature equalization device having single-flowpath heat releasing device |
US11035620B1 (en) * | 2020-11-19 | 2021-06-15 | Richard W. Trent | Loop heat pipe transfer system with manifold |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3937599A (en) * | 1973-10-19 | 1976-02-10 | Agence Nationale De Valorisation De La Recherche (Anvar) | Pumping system using solar energy |
US3995429A (en) * | 1975-07-14 | 1976-12-07 | Walter Todd Peters | Apparatus for generating power using environmental temperature differentials |
US4110628A (en) * | 1976-10-19 | 1978-08-29 | Texaco Development Corporation | Solar sea power system |
US4100756A (en) * | 1976-12-29 | 1978-07-18 | Borg-Warner Corporation | Solar powered absorption refrigeration system |
US4307573A (en) * | 1978-01-11 | 1981-12-29 | King William L | Thermal-cycle engine |
US4209991A (en) * | 1978-09-19 | 1980-07-01 | Sea Solar Power | Dynamic positioning of sea thermal power plants by jet propulsion |
IT7902502A0 (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1979-03-29 | Testolini Giovanni | PROJECT FOR THE CAPTION, CONCENTRATION, EXPLOITATION AND STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY. |
US4416116A (en) * | 1981-03-21 | 1983-11-22 | Kueckens Alexander | Thermal engine arrangement |
US4376435A (en) * | 1981-04-08 | 1983-03-15 | Pittman Charles D | Solar powered air conditioning system |
IL63853A0 (en) * | 1981-09-16 | 1981-12-31 | Solmat Syst | Floating solar pond |
US4856281A (en) * | 1988-12-28 | 1989-08-15 | Taylor William P | Solar power plant and still |
US5419135A (en) * | 1992-02-21 | 1995-05-30 | Wiggs; B. Ryland | Space-based power generator |
US6295827B1 (en) * | 1998-09-24 | 2001-10-02 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Thermodynamic cycle using hydrostatic head for compression |
-
2002
- 2002-03-08 EP EP02709819A patent/EP1377474A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-03-08 WO PCT/US2002/007353 patent/WO2002072378A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-03-08 NZ NZ528506A patent/NZ528506A/en active Application Revival
- 2002-03-08 CA CA002440316A patent/CA2440316A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-03-08 AU AU2002244281A patent/AU2002244281B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2002-03-08 US US10/094,155 patent/US6820420B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7340899B1 (en) | Solar power generation system | |
US6957536B2 (en) | Systems and methods for generating electrical power from solar energy | |
AU2005281624B2 (en) | Production of hydrogen using low-energy solar energy | |
US20120291433A1 (en) | Low temperature rankine cycle solar power system with low critical temperature hfc or hc working fluid | |
US7185493B1 (en) | Solar energy power plant and method of producing electricity | |
US20090228150A1 (en) | HVAC system | |
US6820420B2 (en) | Solar-based power generating system | |
EP2322796A2 (en) | Systems and apparatus relating to solar-thermal power generation | |
WO2011011831A1 (en) | Thermal power plants | |
KR101579004B1 (en) | The power generation system using solar energy | |
AU2002244281A1 (en) | Solar-based power generating system | |
CN101504199A (en) | Low cost solar tracing and novel thermal circulation method | |
CN109140797B (en) | Solar energy and air energy combined power generation system and refrigerating, power generation and heating method thereof | |
CA2736418A1 (en) | A low temperature solar power system | |
Mankbadi et al. | Small-scale solar pumping: the technology | |
CN105986954B (en) | A kind of power and refrigeration cogeneration system | |
KR20200060856A (en) | Solar Module assisted Heat Pump System | |
KR101564813B1 (en) | The power generation system using solar energy | |
CA2742700C (en) | Reservoir temperature differential electrical generator | |
KR101531931B1 (en) | Combined cycle power generating system | |
KR102149442B1 (en) | Generator using solar energy for CO2 Laser | |
KR102329750B1 (en) | Combined cycle power generation system using seasonal thermal energy storage | |
CN114738069B (en) | Energy storage power generation system and energy storage power generation method | |
US20210226582A1 (en) | Windows for producing electricity from solar energy | |
JPS59165873A (en) | Sea temperature difference power plant |