Direct contact of low-boiling, water-immiscible medium with hot and cold bodies of water to transfer heat for purposes of energy production and/or desalination

Claim 1

A method of producing mechanical energy from a first body of relatively warm or hot aqueous liquid (HW) and a second body of relatively cold or cool aqueous liquid (CW) which comprises: a. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is immiscible with water, which boils at a temperature substantially below that of water, which has a density sufficiently different than that of water and dilute aqueous saline solutions to allow gravity separation of the liquid working fluid (LWF) from water and such solutions and which is capable of condensation from the vapor state to the liquid state within a temperature range of about -50° to 175° F. at atmospheric pressure, b. providing a first, evaporating zone (Zone I); c. providing a second, condensing zone (Zone II); d. continuously circulating aqueous liquid (HW) from said first body through Zone I and simultaneously and continuously introducing said working fluid in the liquid state (LWF) into Zone I and intimately and directly contacting it with said first body (HW) in Zone I to effect direct heat transfer from said first body (HW) to the liquid working fluid (LWF), thereby evaporating the liquid working fluid (LWF) and producing vapor of working fluid (VWF); e. providing also a combustionless energy convertor operable by gas pressure and having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of gas therethrough to operate the same, and passing the vapor of working fluid (VWF) produced in Zone I and resulting from step (d) through said energy converter from its inlet to its outlet thereby operating said energy converter, and continuously withdrawing cooled, spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the outlet of said energy converter, f. simultaneously and continuously passing aqueous liquid (CW) from said second body and the spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) resulting from step (e) through Zone II in intimate and direct contact with one another whereby said vapor is condensed to liquid working fluid (LWF), g. continuously separating the warmed aqueous liquid (UW) and the liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (f), h. continuously recycling the separated liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (g) to step (d), and i. discharging from the system the cooled aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (d) and the heated aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (f).

Claim 2

A method of producing mechanical energy from a first body of relatively warm or hot aqueous liquid (HW) and a second body of relatively cold or cool aqueous liquid (CW) which comprises: a. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is immiscible with water, which boils at a temperature substantially below that of water, which has a density sufficiently different than that of water and dilute aqueous saline solutions to allow gravity separation of the liquid working fluid (LWF) from water and such solutions and which is capable of condensation from the vapor state to the liquid state within a temperature range of about -50° to 175° F. at atmospheric pressure, b. providing a first, evaporating zone (Zone I); c. providing a second, condensing zone (Zone II); d. continuously circulating aqueous liquid (HW) from said first body through Zone I and simultaneously and continuously introducing said working fluid in the liquid state (LWF) into Zone I and intimately and directly contacting it with said first body (HW) in Zone I to effect direct heat transfer from said first body (HW) to the liquid working fluid (LWF), thereby evaporating the liquid working fluid (LWF) and producing vapor of working fluid (VWF); e. providing also a combustionless energy convertor operable by gas pressure and having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of gas therethrough to operate the same, and passing the vapor of working fluid (VWF) produced in Zone I and resulting from step (d) through said energy converter from its inlet to its outlet thereby operating said energy converter, and continuously withdrawing cooled, spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the outlet of said energy converter, f. simultaneously and continuously passing aqueous liquid (CW) from said second body and the spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) resulting from step (e) through Zone II in intimate and direct contact with one another whereby said vapor is condensed to liquid working fluid (LWF), g. continuously separating the warmed aqueous liquid (UW) and the liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (f), h. continuously recycling the separated liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (g) to step (d), and i. discharging from the system the cooled aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (d) and the heated aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (f).

Claim 11

The method of extracting useful mechanical energy from a body of water having warm surface water (HW) and cold deep water (CW) which comprises: a. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is water immiscible, which boils at a temperature substantially less than that of water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water to allow gravity separation and which boils at temperatures of about -50° to 175° F. at atmospheric pressure, b. providing a multi-stage vaporizing zone (Zone I) having m stages (m being a positive integer) and a multi-stage condensing zone (Zone II) having n stages (n being a positive integer), each stage of each zone being adapted to cause direct, intimate contact between the fluids therein, each stage of Zone II having a separate gas inlet and each stage of Zone I having a separate gas outlet, c. continuously conducting warm surface water (HW) from said body thereof into the stages of Zone I and causing it to pass through successive stages from stage 1 to stage m thereof, meanwhile continuously introducing liquid working fluid (LWF) into Zone I and intimately contacting the water (HW) and the liquid working (LWF) in each stage of Zone I at diminishing temperatures and pressures from stage 1 to stage m, thereby causing the production of an increment of vapor of working fluid (VWF) in each such stage at succesively diminishing pressures and temperatures, d. providing a combustionless multi-stage gas prime mover driven by expanding gases having a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets for, respectively, introduction of vapor into the inlets at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure and to vent spent vapor at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure, e. introducing each increment of vapor (VWF) produced in the stages of Zone I into an appropriate inlet of said prime mover and withdrawing increments of spent vapor (VWF) from the outlets of said prime mover at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure, f. continuously passing the resulting increments of vented spent vapor (VWF) into separate stages of Zone II ranging from stage 1 to stage n and with the temperature and pressure of vapor (VWF) introduced into the stages diminishing from stage 1 to stage n, and causing said cold deep water (CW) to pass continuously through Zone II from stage n thereof to stage 1 in intimate, direct contact with the increments of vapor (VWF) introduced into Zone II, thereby condensing an increment of vapor (VWF) to liquid working fluid (LWF) in each such stage, the flow of liquids in Zone II being from stage n to stage 1 and g. separating warmed water (UW) from liquid working fluid (LWF) derived from stage 1 of Zone II and recycling the separated liquid Working fluid (LWF) to Zone I and h. separating cooled water (UW) from zone I and i. discharging from the system the water (UW) separated in steps (g) and (h).

Claim 12

The method of extracting useful mechanical energy from a body of water having warm surface water (HW) and cold deep water (CW) which comprises: a. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is water immiscible, which boils at a temperature substantially less than that of water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water to allow gravity separation and which boils at temperatures of about -50° to 175° F. at atmospheric pressure, b. providing a multi-stage vaporizing zone (Zone I) having m stages (m being a positive integer) and a multi-stage condensing zone (Zone II) having n stages (n being a positive integer), each stage of each zone being adapted to cause direct, intimate contact between the fluids therein, each stage of Zone II having a separate gas inlet and each stage of Zone I having a separate gas outlet, c. continuously conducting warm surface water (HW) from said body thereof into the stages of Zone I and causing it to pass through successive stages from stage 1 to stage m thereof, meanwhile continuously introducing liquid working fluid (LWF) into Zone I and intimately contacting the water (HW) and the liquid working (LWF) in each stage of Zone I at diminishing temperatures and pressures from stage 1 to stage m, thereby causing the production of an increment of vapor of working fluid (VWF) in each such stage at succesively diminishing pressures and temperatures, d. providing a combustionless multi-stage gas prime mover driven by expanding gases having a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets for, respectively, introduction of vapor into the inlets at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure and to vent spent vapor at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure, e. introducing each increment of vapor (VWF) produced in the stages of Zone I into an appropriate inlet of said prime mover and withdrawing increments of spent vapor (VWF) from the outlets of said prime mover at different pressures ranging from a highest pressure to a lowest pressure, f. continuously passing the resulting increments of vented spent vapor (VWF) into separate stages of Zone II ranging from stage 1 to stage n and with the temperature and pressure of vapor (VWF) introduced into the stages diminishing from stage 1 to stage n, and causing said cold deep water (CW) to pass continuously through Zone II from stage n thereof to stage 1 in intimate, direct contact with the increments of vapor (VWF) introduced into Zone II, thereby condensing an increment of vapor (VWF) to liquid working fluid (LWF) in each such stage, the flow of liquids in Zone II being from stage n to stage 1 and g. separating warmed water (UW) from liquid working fluid (LWF) derived from stage 1 of Zone II and recycling the separated liquid Working fluid (LWF) to Zone I and h. separating cooled water (UW) from zone I and i. discharging from the system the water (UW) separated in steps (g) and (h).

Claim 13

A method of operating a multi-stage prime mover driven by expanding gases and having a plurality of gas inlets and a plurality of gas outlets, the gas inlets receiving gas at different pressures ranging from a highest to a lowest and the outlets venting spent gas at different pressures ranging from a highest to a lowest, said method comprising: a. providing a first vaporizing zone (Zone I) having m stages adapted to cause direct, intimate contact between two immiscible liquid phases to produce in each stage an increment of vapor of one of the liquids at pressures diminishing from a highest pressure in stage 1 to a lowest pressure in stage m, b. providing also a second, condensing zone (Zone II) having n stages each adapted to cause direct intimate contact of a vapor with a liquid to condense in each stage an increment of vapor to the liquid state, c. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is immiscible with water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water to allow separation by gravity and which boils at a temperature substantially below the boiling point of water, d. continuously passing warm aqueous liquid (HW) through Zone I from stage 1 thereof through successive stages to stage m thereof, e. continuously passing cold aqueous liquid (CW) through Zone II from stage n thereof through succesive stages to stage 1 thereof, f. causing intimate, direct contact of warm aqueous liquid (HW) and liquid working fluid (LWF) in each stage of Zone I and producing in each stage an increment of vapor of working fluid (VWF), the vapor pressures of the increments diminishing from stage 1 through stage m, g. passing the resulting increments of vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the respective stages of Zone I to the respective inlets of said prime mover and venting spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the prime mover in increments through the separate outlets thereof, thereby operating the prime mover and obtaining useful energy, h. passing the increments of spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the outlets of said prime mover to the respective stages of Zone II, the highest pressure increment passing to stage 1 and the lowest pressure increment to stage n and intermediate increments to intermediate stages, i. introducing cold aqueous liquid (CW) into stage n of Zone II and causing it to pass through successive stages to stage 1 of Zone II and causing direct, intimate contact of such liquid (CW) with the increments of vapor (VWF) introduced into the several stages thereby producing an increment of liquid working fluid (LWF) in each stage, j. separating liquid working fluid (LWF) derived from stage 1 of Zone II from aqueous liquid (W) and recycling the separated liquid working fluid (LWF) to Zone I and, k. withdrawing and discharging aqueous liquid (UW) from stage m of Zone I and from stage 1 of Zone II.

Claim 14

A method of operating a multi-stage prime mover driven by expanding gases and having a plurality of gas inlets and a plurality of gas outlets, the gas inlets receiving gas at different pressures ranging from a highest to a lowest and the outlets venting spent gas at different pressures ranging from a highest to a lowest, said method comprising: a. providing a first vaporizing zone (Zone I) having m stages adapted to cause direct, intimate contact between two immiscible liquid phases to produce in each stage an increment of vapor of one of the liquids at pressures diminishing from a highest pressure in stage 1 to a lowest pressure in stage m, b. providing also a second, condensing zone (Zone II) having n stages each adapted to cause direct intimate contact of a vapor with a liquid to condense in each stage an increment of vapor to the liquid state, c. providing a body of working fluid (WF) which is immiscible with water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water to allow separation by gravity and which boils at a temperature substantially below the boiling point of water, d. continuously passing warm aqueous liquid (HW) through Zone I from stage 1 thereof through successive stages to stage m thereof, e. continuously passing cold aqueous liquid (CW) through Zone II from stage n thereof through succesive stages to stage 1 thereof, f. causing intimate, direct contact of warm aqueous liquid (HW) and liquid working fluid (LWF) in each stage of Zone I and producing in each stage an increment of vapor of working fluid (VWF), the vapor pressures of the increments diminishing from stage 1 through stage m, g. passing the resulting increments of vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the respective stages of Zone I to the respective inlets of said prime mover and venting spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the prime mover in increments through the separate outlets thereof, thereby operating the prime mover and obtaining useful energy, h. passing the increments of spent vapor of working fluid (VWF) from the outlets of said prime mover to the respective stages of Zone II, the highest pressure increment passing to stage 1 and the lowest pressure increment to stage n and intermediate increments to intermediate stages, i. introducing cold aqueous liquid (CW) into stage n of Zone II and causing it to pass through successive stages to stage 1 of Zone II and causing direct, intimate contact of such liquid (CW) with the increments of vapor (VWF) introduced into the several stages thereby producing an increment of liquid working fluid (LWF) in each stage, j. separating liquid working fluid (LWF) derived from stage 1 of Zone II from aqueous liquid (W) and recycling the separated liquid working fluid (LWF) to Zone I and, k. withdrawing and discharging aqueous liquid (UW) from stage m of Zone I and from stage 1 of Zone II.

Claim 19

A method of extracting heat from a body of warm water and converting the heat to useful mechanical energy which comprises: a. providing a first zone (Zone I) for vaporizing a water immiscible liquid working fluid (LWF) which boils at a temperature below the boiling point of water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water and dilute saline solutions to allow gravity separation of a mixture of water or dilute aqueous saline solution from said liquid working fluid (LWF), said zone I being adapted to promote intimate and direct contact of water and liquid working fluid (LWF) and thereby to transfer heat from a body of warm aqueous liquid (HW) to said liquid working fluid (LWF) and to cause vaporization thereof, b. providing a second zone (Zone II) for condensing vapor of liquid working fluid (VWF) by intimate and direct contact of such vapor with cold aqueous liquid (CW), c. causing continuous passage of warm aqueous liquid (HW) and of liquid working fluid (LWF) through Zone I in intimate and direct contact with one another to produce vapor of working fluid (VWF), d. utilizing such vapor of working fluid (VWF) to produce useful mechanical energy by passage into, through and out of a combustionless gas pressure-to-mechanical energy converter, thereby producing useful mechanical energy and cooling the vapor of working fluid (VWF), e. continuously passing the resulting cooled vapor of working fluid (VWF) through Zone II and intimately and directly contacting it with cold aqueous liquid (CW) which is also continuously passed through Zone II thereby causing condensation of vapor of working fluid (VWF) to produce liquid working fluid (LWF) and producing a mixture of aqueous liquid (UW) and liquid working fluid (LWF), f. separating liquid working fluid (LWF) from the mixture of aqueous liquid (UW) and liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (e); g. recycling the resulting separated liquid working fluid (LWF) to Zone I, and h. removing from the system the cooled aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (c) and heated aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (f).

Claim 20

A method of extracting heat from a body of warm water and converting the heat to useful mechanical energy which comprises: a. providing a first zone (Zone I) for vaporizing a water immiscible liquid working fluid (LWF) which boils at a temperature below the boiling point of water, which has a density sufficiently different from that of water and dilute saline solutions to allow gravity separation of a mixture of water or dilute aqueous saline solution from said liquid working fluid (LWF), said zone I being adapted to promote intimate and direct contact of water and liquid working fluid (LWF) and thereby to transfer heat from a body of warm aqueous liquid (HW) to said liquid working fluid (LWF) and to cause vaporization thereof, b. providing a second zone (Zone II) for condensing vapor of liquid working fluid (VWF) by intimate and direct contact of such vapor with cold aqueous liquid (CW), c. causing continuous passage of warm aqueous liquid (HW) and of liquid working fluid (LWF) through Zone I in intimate and direct contact with one another to produce vapor of working fluid (VWF), d. utilizing such vapor of working fluid (VWF) to produce useful mechanical energy by passage into, through and out of a combustionless gas pressure-to-mechanical energy converter, thereby producing useful mechanical energy and cooling the vapor of working fluid (VWF), e. continuously passing the resulting cooled vapor of working fluid (VWF) through Zone II and intimately and directly contacting it with cold aqueous liquid (CW) which is also continuously passed through Zone II thereby causing condensation of vapor of working fluid (VWF) to produce liquid working fluid (LWF) and producing a mixture of aqueous liquid (UW) and liquid working fluid (LWF), f. separating liquid working fluid (LWF) from the mixture of aqueous liquid (UW) and liquid working fluid (LWF) resulting from step (e); g. recycling the resulting separated liquid working fluid (LWF) to Zone I, and h. removing from the system the cooled aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (c) and heated aqueous liquid (UW) resulting from step (f).