US4191901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for converting solar energy into electricity
Assignee: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
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Filing: 1977-04-27
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Granted: 1980-03-04
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Expires: 1997-04-27
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a method and a system for converting solar energy into electricity by means of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator. The method comprises providing an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle positioned at the inlet port of a MHD generator, providing a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said inlet port, and heating said organic liquid to its boiling temperature by means of solar energy absorbers so as to form high pressure vapors of the organic liquid adapted to propel the liquid alloy through said MHD-generator, whereby solar heat energy is converted into mechanical energy and said mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy in said generator. The system comprises an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle positioned at the inlet port of said MHD-generator, a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said inlet port, a solar energy absorber adapted to heat said organic liquid to a boiling temperature to form vapors adapted to be emitted from said nozzle and to propel the liquid alloy through the MHD-generator wherein solar energy is converted into mechanical energy and mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman Branover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:32
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G6/00; F03G6/003; F03G6/005; F24; F24S; F24S90/00; H; H02; H02K; H02K44/00; H02K44/08; H02K44/085; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for converting solar energy into electricity by means of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle positioned at the inlet port of a MHD generator; (b) providing a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said inlet port; (c) providing a solar energy absorber and heating said organic liquid to its boiling temperature by means of the solar energy absorbed by said absorber so as to form high pressure vapors of the organic liquid; (d) directing the organic liquid vapors through said liquid alloy so as to form a two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase and to propel said mixture through said MHD - generator; (e) separating the vapors from the two-phase mixture; (f) condensing said vapors into liquid; and (g) recycling the organic liquid and the separated alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs, whereby solar heat energy is converted into mechanical energy and said mechanical energy is conterted into electrical energy in said generator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for converting solar energy into electricity by means of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle positioned at the inlet port of a MHD generator; (b) providing a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said inlet port; (c) providing a solar energy absorber and heating said organic liquid to its boiling temperature by means of the solar energy absorbed by said absorber so as to form high pressure vapors of the organic liquid; (d) directing the organic liquid vapors through said liquid alloy so as to form a two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase and to propel said mixture through said MHD - generator; (e) separating the vapors from the two-phase mixture; (f) condensing said vapors into liquid; and (g) recycling the organic liquid and the separated alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs, whereby solar heat energy is converted into mechanical energy and said mechanical energy is conterted into electrical energy in said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solar energy absorber is adapted to heat liquid disposed therein and to effect movement of said heated liquid through conduit means to heat said organic liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said organic liquid is adapted to boil at a temperature below the boiling temperature of the liquid disposed in said absorber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the liquid disposed in said absorber is water and said organic liquid is adapted to boil at a temperature below the boiling temperature of said water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid alloy is a liquid NaK alloy.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for converting solar energy into electricity by means of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle adapted to emit organic liquid vapors; (b) providing a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said ejector nozzle; (c) providing a solar energy absorber and heating said organic liquid to its boiling temperature by means of the solar energy absorbed by said absorber so as to form high pressure vapors of the organic liquid; (d) directing said organic - liquid vapors through said liquid alloy to form a jet of two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase; (e) directing a jet of said mixture into a separator wherein the vapors are separated from the liquid alloy while the propelled liquid metal is directed to pass through said MHD - generator: (f) condensing said vapors into liquid; and (g) recycling the organic liquid and the separated alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs whereby solar heat energy is converted into mechanical energy and said mechanical energy is converted into electric energy in said generator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for converting solar energy into electricity by means of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an organic liquid reservoir having an ejector nozzle adapted to emit organic liquid vapors; (b) providing a liquid alloy reservoir in fluid communication with said ejector nozzle; (c) providing a solar energy absorber and heating said organic liquid to its boiling temperature by means of the solar energy absorbed by said absorber so as to form high pressure vapors of the organic liquid; (d) directing said organic - liquid vapors through said liquid alloy to form a jet of two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase; (e) directing a jet of said mixture into a separator wherein the vapors are separated from the liquid alloy while the propelled liquid metal is directed to pass through said MHD - generator: (f) condensing said vapors into liquid; and (g) recycling the organic liquid and the separated alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs whereby solar heat energy is converted into mechanical energy and said mechanical energy is converted into electric energy in said generator.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for converting solar energy into electrical energy, comprising (a) a magnetohydrodynamic generator (14) having inlet and outlet ports; (b) liquid alloy reservoir means (16) for supplying a liquid alloy to said inlet port; (c) organic liquid reservoir means (8) for storing a quantity of an organic liquid having a boiling temperature less than that of water; (d) solar energy absorption means (2, 46) responsive to the energy of the sun for boiling the organic liquid in said organic liquid reservoir to the vapor phase; (e) ejector nozzle means (12) for directing the organic liquid, vapors through said liquid alloy to form a jet of a two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase and to propel said liquid alloy through the magnetohydrodynamic generator; (f) separator means for separating the vapors from the two-phase mixture; (g) condensing means for condensing said vapors into liquid; and (h) recycling means for returning the organic liquid and the alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs, whereby solar energy is converted into mechanical energy, and mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for converting solar energy into electrical energy, comprising (a) a magnetohydrodynamic generator (14) having inlet and outlet ports; (b) liquid alloy reservoir means (16) for supplying a liquid alloy to said inlet port; (c) organic liquid reservoir means (8) for storing a quantity of an organic liquid having a boiling temperature less than that of water; (d) solar energy absorption means (2, 46) responsive to the energy of the sun for boiling the organic liquid in said organic liquid reservoir to the vapor phase; (e) ejector nozzle means (12) for directing the organic liquid, vapors through said liquid alloy to form a jet of a two-phase mixture of a discontinuous vapor phase and a continuous liquid alloy phase and to propel said liquid alloy through the magnetohydrodynamic generator; (f) separator means for separating the vapors from the two-phase mixture; (g) condensing means for condensing said vapors into liquid; and (h) recycling means for returning the organic liquid and the alloy liquid to their respective reservoirs, whereby solar energy is converted into mechanical energy, and mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said solar energy absorber is adapted to heat liquid disposed therein and to effect movement of said heated liquid through conduit means to heat said organic liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said MHD-generator includes a plurality of parallelly disposed electricity producing liquid carrying channels, said channels being electrically connected in series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein permanent magnets are utilized in said MHD-generator for applying the necessary magnetic field to the liquid alloy-carrying-channels thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the separator means is positioned between the liquid alloy reservoir, wherein the MHD generator and said mixture is propelled through said separator, and further wherein the liquid alloy is separated from the propelling vapors during its propelled flow and substantially only said liquid alloy is directed to said magnetohydrodynamic generator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-04 | 1983-09-03 | 1984-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-04 | 1987-09-03 | 1988-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-04 | 1991-09-03 | 1992-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |