Power generation systems based on thermal differences using slow-motion high-force energy conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085425-B2
Application number	US-201916451852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2019
Priority date	Jun 25, 2019
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks. The apparatus further includes a piston passing into the cylinder and having a head, where the head divides the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank. In addition, the apparatus includes a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion and a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;
a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;
a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and
a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;
wherein the converter extends lengthwise from an end of the cylinder and is adjacent to the piston, the converter comprising:
a chain coupled to a portion of the piston that remains outside the cylinder, the chain configured to rotate based on the linear movement of the piston; and
a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the converter further comprises a rigid frame, the gearbox coupled to the rigid frame; and
the chain is securely routed around multiple sides of the gearbox within the rigid frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox comprises a multi-stage set of gears.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a body configured to contain the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator;
wherein the first and second tanks are positioned on opposite sides of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a flow of the refrigerant between the first tank and the first volume of the cylinder and a flow of the refrigerant between the second tank and the second volume of the cylinder are based on at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks.

6. An apparatus comprising:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;
a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;
a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and
a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;
wherein the converter comprises:
a ball screw coupled to the piston, the ball screw configured to move along a ball screw shaft based on the linear movement of the piston and cause rotation of the ball screw shaft;
a chain configured to be rotated by the ball screw shaft; and
a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the converter further comprises:
a first sprocket coupled to the ball screw shaft and configured to rotate the chain; and
a second sprocket coupled to a shaft of the gearbox and configured to be rotated by the chain, the second sprocket having a smaller size than the first sprocket.

8. An apparatus comprising:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;
a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;
a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion;
a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion; and
a body configured to contain the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator;
wherein the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator are collinear in the body.

9. A system comprising:
a vehicle comprising a body and a power generation system;
wherein the power generation system comprises:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;
a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;
a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and
a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter extends lengthwise from an end of the cylinder and is adjacent to the piston, the converter comprising:
a chain coupled to a portion of the piston that remains outside the cylinder, the chain configured to rotate based on the linear movement of the piston; and
a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the converter further comprises a rigid frame, the gearbox coupled to the rigid frame; and
the chain is securely routed around multiple sides of the gearbox within the rigid frame.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second tanks are positioned on opposite sides of the body.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein a flow of the refrigerant between the first tank and the first volume of the cylinder and a flow of the refrigerant between the second tank and the second volume of the cylinder are based on at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle comprises an underwater vehicle.

14. A system comprising:
a vehicle comprising a body and a power generation system;
wherein the power generation system comprises:
first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;
a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;
a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;
a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and
a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter comprises:
a ball screw coupled to the piston, the ball screw configured to move along a ball screw shaft based on the linear movement of the piston and cause rotation of the ball screw shaft;
a chain configured to be rotated by the ball screw shaft; and
a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gearbox comprises a multi-stage set of gears.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the conver

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Heinen Gregory W

Classifications

• F03G7/05 Primary

  Ocean thermal energy conversion, i.e. OTEC · CPC title

• B63G2008/002

  unmanned · CPC title

• B63G8/001

  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

• H02K7/1807

  Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02K7/06

  Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa · CPC title