US4041707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater thermal energy conversion unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-07
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1996-07-07
Abstract
Abstract An underwater thermal energy conversion unit adapted to exploit the temperature differential between the surface temperature and the water temperature at the depth of submersion to generate useful power. The unit includes a cylinder divided by a piston assembly into a variable-temperature (VT) air-filled chamber and a constant-temperature (CT) air-filled chamber, both chambers being in heat exchange relationship with the relatively cold water at the depth of the submerged cylinder. The air in the CT chamber is always at the cold water temperature, whereas the air in the VT chamber communicates through a thermally-insulated duct with ambient air above the water body, so that when a control valve is open, the air temperature within the VT chamber rises above the cold water temperature, and when the valve is thereafter closed to isolate the VT chamber from ambient air, the air temperature therein falls again to the cold water temperature. A sensing system causes the valve to open when the temperatures in both chambers are at about the same level. As a consequence, the temperature in the VT chamber proceeds to rise to create an air pressure difference between the chambers, causing the piston assembly to move in the direction of the CT chamber to compress the air therein. When the temperature in the VT chamber reaches a level close to that of the ambient air, the sensing system then acts to close the valve, and the temperature in the VT chamber then proceeds to fall. As this occurs, the pressurized air in the CT chamber forces the piston assembly in the direction of the VT chamber to a point of equilibrium to complete the cycle. The reciprocation of the piston assembly is converted into output power.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Spector
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:59
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/04; F03G7/05; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
An underwater thermal energy conversion unit comprising: A. a cylinder submergible in a body of water at a depth at which a marked temperature difference is encountered between ambient air temperature at the surface and water temperature; B. a reciprocating piston assembly disposed in said cylinder and dividing the cylinder into an air-filled variable temperature first chamber and an air-filled constant temperature second chamber, both chambers being in heat exchange relationship with the cold water at the depth of submersion; C. a duct communicating with said first chamber and extending to the surface whereby said first chamber is fillable with air at ambient temperature, the temperature of air in the second chamber always being that of the surrounding water; D. a control valve interposed between said duct and said first chamber, whereby when the valve is open, the air temperature in said first chamber rises above the temperature of the water, and when the valve is closed, it falls to the temperature of the water at a rate determined by the heat exchange relationship between said first chamber and the surrounding water; and E. means responsive to the temperature difference between the air in said first chamber and the air in said duct and to the temperature difference between the air in said first and second chambers to produce control signals for operating said valve, whereby when the air temperature in both chambers are at about the same level, the valve is caused to open to admit warm air therein, as a consequence of which the temperature in the first chamber rises to create a pressure difference causing the piston assembly to move in the direction of the second chamber and to compress the air therein until a point of pressure equilibrium is reached, and when the temperature in the first chamber reaches a temperature level close to that of the ambient air, the valve closes and the air temperature in the first chamber then proceeds to fall, in the course of which the compressed air in the second chamber forces the cylinder assembly in the direction of the first chamber until a point of pressure equilibrium is reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
An underwater thermal energy conversion unit comprising: A. a cylinder submergible in a body of water at a depth at which a marked temperature difference is encountered between ambient air temperature at the surface and water temperature; B. a reciprocating piston assembly disposed in said cylinder and dividing the cylinder into an air-filled variable temperature first chamber and an air-filled constant temperature second chamber, both chambers being in heat exchange relationship with the cold water at the depth of submersion; C. a duct communicating with said first chamber and extending to the surface whereby said first chamber is fillable with air at ambient temperature, the temperature of air in the second chamber always being that of the surrounding water; D. a control valve interposed between said duct and said first chamber, whereby when the valve is open, the air temperature in said first chamber rises above the temperature of the water, and when the valve is closed, it falls to the temperature of the water at a rate determined by the heat exchange relationship between said first chamber and the surrounding water; and E. means responsive to the temperature difference between the air in said first chamber and the air in said duct and to the temperature difference between the air in said first and second chambers to produce control signals for operating said valve, whereby when the air temperature in both chambers are at about the same level, the valve is caused to open to admit warm air therein, as a consequence of which the temperature in the first chamber rises to create a pressure difference causing the piston assembly to move in the direction of the second chamber and to compress the air therein until a point of pressure equilibrium is reached, and when the temperature in the first chamber reaches a temperature level close to that of the ambient air, the valve closes and the air temperature in the first chamber then proceeds to fall, in the course of which the compressed air in the second chamber forces the cylinder assembly in the direction of the first chamber until a point of pressure equilibrium is reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a pair of piston heads, one head constituting the end wall of the first chamber, and the other head the end wall of the second chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, further including underwater means to convert the reciprocating motion of the assembly into rotary motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said duct is provided with thermal insulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the temperature differences includes a first sensor to detect the difference between the air temperature in the duct and that in the first chamber to produce an output signal, and a second sensor to detect the air temperature difference between the two chambers to produce an output signal, the output signals of the sensors being applied to a valve control mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the air in the second chamber is confined within a bellows secured to one of said piston heads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said heads are interconnected by a rod which passes through a thrust-bearing in a partition which divides the cylinder in half to define a left compartment between one head and the partition and a right compartment between the other head and the partition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said compartments are operatively coupled to a hydraulic pump, valve means being provided to alternately pass fluid from said compartments into said pump as said assembly reciprocates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein said valve means is constituted by an inlet and outlet check valve in each compartment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said compartments are filled with a hydraulic fluid in a recirculating closed system in which the output of said hydraulic pump is fed alternately to said compartments through the inlet check valves thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first chamber is provided with radiating fins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, further including a heat-exchanger coupled by inlet and outlet pipes to said first chamber to accelerate the transition in said chamber from the ambient air temperature to the temperature of the water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, further including a solar energy collector at the input of the duct to raise the temperature of the air fed into the first chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A unit as set forth in claim 8, further including a generator operated by said hydraulic pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A unit as set forth in claim 1, further including a nozzle disposed in said duct at the entry to said first chamber to purge the air therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |