Systems and methods for augmenting power generation based on thermal energy conversion using solar or radiated thermal energy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052981-B2
Application number	US-201715725538-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2017
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks. The apparatus further includes a collector configured to transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank and/or radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank. In addition, the apparatus could include first and second insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water, where the first tank is located within the first insulated water jacket and the second tank is located within the second insulated water jacket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks; and
a collector configured to at least one of:
transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank; and
radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank;

wherein the collector comprises:
a larger evacuated tube;
multiple smaller evacuated tubes arranged within the larger evacuated tube; and
a blackbody absorber positioned within each of the smaller evacuated tubes, each blackbody absorber comprising a heat pipe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collector is configured to increase at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks based on the transfer of the solar thermal energy or the radiation of the thermal energy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the collector comprises a first collector configured to at least one of: transfer the solar thermal energy to the first tank and radiate the thermal energy from the first tank; and
the apparatus further comprises a second collector configured to at least one of: transfer solar thermal energy to the second tank and radiate thermal energy from the second tank.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one turbine configured to turn based on the flow of the refrigerant;
wherein the at least one generator is configured to generate the electrical power based on the turning of the at least one turbine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first piston configured to move based on the flow of the refrigerant; and
a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston configured to move hydraulic fluid;
wherein the at least one generator is configured to generate the electrical power based on the movement of the hydraulic fluid.

6. An apparatus comprising:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks;
a collector configured to at least one of:
transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank; and
radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank; and

first and second insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water, the first tank located within the first insulated water jacket, the second tank located within the second insulated water jacket.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the insulated water jackets are configured to receive and retain water of different temperatures to facilitate transport of the refrigerant between the tanks; and
the collector is configured to at least one of:
transfer the solar thermal energy to one of the water jackets in order to heat the water in that water jacket and to thereby heat the refrigerant in the associated tank; and
radiate the thermal energy from one of the water jackets in order to cool the water in that water jacket and to thereby cool the refrigerant in the associated tank.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the collector comprises:
a larger evacuated tube;
multiple smaller evacuated tubes arranged within the larger evacuated tube; and
a blackbody absorber positioned within each of the smaller evacuated tubes, each blackbody absorber comprising a heat pipe.

9. A system comprising:
an underwater vehicle comprising a body and fins projecting from the body;
the underwater vehicle also comprising a power generation system, wherein the power generation system comprises:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks; and
a collector configured to at least one of:
transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank; and
radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank;

wherein the collector comprises:
a larger evacuated tube;
multiple smaller evacuated tubes arranged within the larger evacuated tube; and
a blackbody absorber positioned within each of the smaller evacuated tubes, each blackbody absorber comprising a heat pipe.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the underwater vehicle further comprises wings configured to be swept forward or backward depending on whether the underwater vehicle is ascending or descending.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the collector is configured to increase at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks based on the transfer of the solar thermal energy or the radiation of the thermal energy.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the collector comprises a first collector configured to at least one of: transfer the solar thermal energy to the first tank and radiate the thermal energy from the first tank; and
the power generation system further comprises a second collector configured to at least one of: transfer solar thermal energy to the second tank and radiate thermal energy from the second tank.

13. A system comprising:
an underwater vehicle comprising a body and fins projecting from the body;
the underwater vehicle also comprising a power generation system, wherein the power generation system comprises:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks;
a collector configured to at least one of:
transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank; and
radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank; and

first and second insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water, the first tank located within the first insulated water jacket, the second tank located within the second insulated water jacket.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the insulated water jackets are configured to receive and retain water of different temperatures to facilitate transport of the refrigerant between the tanks; and
the collector is configured to at least one of:
transfer the solar thermal energy to one of the water jackets in order to heat the water in that water jacket and to thereby heat the refrigerant in the associated tank; and
radiate the thermal energy from one of the water jackets in order to cool the water in that water jacket and to thereby cool the refrigerant in the associated tank.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the collector comprises:
a larger evacuated tube;
multiple smaller evacuated tubes arranged within the larger evacuated tube; and
a blackbody absorber positioned within each of the smaller evacuated tubes, each blackbody absorber comprising a heat pipe.

16. A method comprising:
generating electrical power based on a flow of refrigerant between first and second tanks, each of the tanks configured to receive and store the refrigerant under pressure; and
at least one of:
transferring solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank; and
radiating thermal energy from one of t

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Heinen Gregory W
• Rawstron Jon S

Classifications

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title

• B63G8/001 Primary

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title

• F24S10/40

  in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors · CPC title

• B63B2211/02

  Oceanography · CPC title

• Y02E10/46

  Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines · CPC title