WO2016108763A1

WO2016108763A1 - Device for obtaining energy from kinetic energy of gas molecules

Info

Publication number: WO2016108763A1
Application number: PCT/SI2014/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marko KLOBČIČ; Miro LOZEJ
Original assignee: Rcj D.O.O.
Priority date: 2014-12-29
Filing date: 2014-12-29
Publication date: 2016-07-07

Abstract

The object of the invention is a device that generates an oriented flux of gas molecules and utilises said oriented flux for obtaining electric energy. The device comprises a housing (2) containing gas, a membrane (3) dividing the housing into compartments, wherein the membrane (2) is provided with a plurality of funnel-like through holes (6), a bypass (7) that links the said compartments, a turbine machine (8) with an electric current generator (9), arranged within the bypass (7), and a heat exchanger (10) supplying heat to the first compartment (4). Owing to the configuration of the holes in the membrane, the number of molecules that penetrate from the first compartment (4) to the last compartment (5) exceeds the number of molecules that return from the last compartment (5) to the first compartment (4). Due to the difference in pressures in the compartments, the gas flux flows through the bypass (7) and generates electricity by means of turbine machine (8) and the generator.

Description

DEVICE FOR OBTAINING ENERGY FROM KINETIC ENERGY OF GAS MOLECULES

Field of Invention

The object of the invention is a device that generates an oriented flux of gas molecules and utilises said oriented flux for obtaining electric energy.

Prior Art

The applicant does not know any similar devices. Technical Problem

The technical problem solved by the invention is how to provide a device that will allow obtaining electric current from a stock of internal energy of gas.

Solution to the Technical Problem

Gas molecules randomly move in an enclosed space. This is called thermal motion of molecules. A measure used for measuring the intensity of the thermal motion of molecules is the thermodynamic quantity of temperature which is correlated to an average kinetic energy of thermally moving gas molecules. When molecules hit against each other, they exchange kinetic energy among themselves. The basic thermodynamic quantities such as temperature, density and gas pressure determine a thermal status of a substance. If the thermodynamic quantities do not change in time; the thermal status is stationary.

The invention is based on a finding that within a chamber divided into two compartments by a membrane provided with through holes, wherein the geometry of the holes is such that a sum of the openings at one side of the membrane exceeds the sum of the openings at the other side of the membrane, a certain difference in pressures is generated. The molecules move randomly, however, due to the geometry of the holes more molecules that bounce from the wall of the holes penetrate from one compartment to the other than vice versa. The smaller the diameter of said through holes is, the more distinct the effect of the difference in pressure is. If the compartments are linked by a bypass, a gas flux flows through it and the energy of the flux can be converted to electric energy by means of a turbine machine or an electric generator. When hitting a blade of a turbine machine, the gas molecules lose part of their energy which is replaced by a heat supplied into the chamber.

The invention with embodiments will be presented in more detail in the continuation.

Figure 1 : Schematic view of the device of the invention

Figure 2: Axial view of a hole in a membrane

Figure 3 : Axial view of a hole in a membrane

Figure 4: Axial view of a hole in a membrane

The described technical problem is solved by a device 1 of the invention comprising:

- a housing 2 forming a hermetically closed chamber and containing gas,

- a membrane 3 dividing the chamber into a first 4 and a last 5 compartment, wherein the membrane 2 is provided with a plurality of funnel-like through holes 6, 11, 12, wherein said funnel-like through holes 6, 11, 12 are oriented such that they have a larger diameter at the side of the first compartment, wherein the diameter of the funnel-like through holes at the side of the first compartment 4 is smaller than 10 μιη, preferably smaller than 2 μπι,

- a bypass 7, preferably circular in cross-section, that links the first compartment 4 with the last compartment 5, - a turbine machine 8 arranged within the bypass 7 with an electric current generator 9, and

- a heat exchanger 10 supplying heat to the first compartment 4.

The molecules move in the gas randomly and freely. Heat is supplied to the gas in the first compartment 4, with which its internal energy is increased. Waste heat can be used. Owing to the configuration of the funnel-like through holes 6, 11, 12 in the membrane, the number of molecules that penetrate from the first compartment 4 to the last compartment 5 exceeds the number of molecules that return from the last compartment 5 to the first compartment 4. Consequently, the gas pressure in the last compartment 5 is higher than the gas pressure in the first compartment 4. Due to the difference in pressures in the compartments, the gas flux flows through the bypass 7. The gas molecules hit against the blades of the turbine machine 8 and propel it. The kinetic energy of the gas molecules is reduced. The internal energy of the gas is reduced due to discharged work.

The gas in the hermetically closed chamber may be selected among air and a noble gas.

The funnel-like through holes 6, 1 1, 12 in the membrane 3 are formed in the shape of a truncated cone or have a contour of a circular arc in axial cross-section or are formed as a combination of said forms.

The membrane 3 may be formed from an anodic aluminium oxide with nanoholes. More information about the material and the method of its manufacturing are available in the scientific paper entitled »Anodic Aluminium Oxide-Based Nanostructures and Devices« by Chi Lu and Zhi Chen.

The heat exchanger 10 can be of any known embodiment for heat transfer from any source. The heat source may be environmental air, waste heat or another source. The last compartment can further be divided by n membranes into n+1 compartments that are arranged in succession to the first compartment and to each another. In fact, this contributes to a further increase in the difference in the pressure between the first and each last compartment, which results in an increased efficiency of the turbine machine.

The membrane 3 can be strengthened by a carrier grid.

By increasing the number of funnel-like through holes in the membrane and by increasing the surface of the membrane while preserving identical density and size of the funnel-like through holes, the volume flow of the gas in the bypass is increased. If the number of membranes arranged one after another is increased, the difference in pressure between the first and last compartments is increased, which results in an increased speed of the gas flux.

It goes without saying that, being acquainted with the above description, a person skilled in the art can conceive a different embodiment without circumventing the essence of the invention as disclosed in the description and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for obtaining energy from kinetic energy of gas molecules characterized in that it comprises:

- a housing (2) forming a hermetically closed chamber and containing gas,

- a membrane (3) dividing the chamber into a first (4) and a last (5) compartment, wherein the membrane (2) is provided with a plurality of funnel- like through holes (6, 11, 12), wherein said funnel-like through holes (6, 11, 12) are oriented such that they have a larger diameter at the side of the first compartment (4), wherein the diameter of the funnel-like through holes at the side of the first compartment (4) is smaller than 10 μπι, preferably smaller than 2 μη ,

- a bypass (7), preferably circular in cross-section, that links the first compartment (4) with the last compartment (5),

- a turbine machine (8) arranged within the bypass (7) with an electric current generator (9), and

- a heat exchanger (10) supplying heat to the first compartment (4).

2. Device according to previous claim, characterized in that the gas in the hermetically closed chamber is selected among air and a noble gas.

3. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the funnel-like through holes (6, 11, 12) in the membrane (3) are formed in the shape of a truncated cone or have a contour of a circular arc in axial cross-section or are formed as a combination of said forms.

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the membrane (3) is formed from an anodic aluminium oxide with nanoholes.

5. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (10) utilises heat from environmental air or waste heat.

6. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the last compartment can further be divided by n membranes into n+1 compartments that are arranged in succession to the first compartment and to each another.

7. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the membrane (3) is strengthened by a carrier grid.