Submersible power generators and method of operating thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160845-A1
Application number	US-201414564563-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A submersible liquid-vapor generator (LVG) includes an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source. The LVG also includes a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion. The LVG further includes a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with the magnetic field apparatus. The LVG also includes a hybrid working fluid including nanoparticles. The evaporator portion, the magnetic field portion, and the condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path. The LVG further includes an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The wick structure at least partially defines a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A submersible liquid-vapor generator (LVG) comprising:
an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source; a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with said evaporator portion; a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with said magnetic field apparatus; a hybrid working fluid comprising nanoparticles, wherein said evaporator portion, said magnetic field portion, and said condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path; and an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with said evaporator portion and said condenser portion, said wick structure at least partially defining a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between said condenser portion and said evaporator portion.

2 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said hybrid working fluid further comprises a metal in one of liquid and gaseous states.

3 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said hybrid working fluid further comprises a fluid having a boiling point less than 100° C. at atmospheric pressure.

4 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field apparatus comprises a permanent magnet.

5 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a power generator comprising said magnetic field apparatus and a plurality of electrodes.

6 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a casing coupled to and extending about said electrically non-conductive wick structure, at least a portion of said casing electrically non-conductive.

7 . The LVG in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said casing comprises a ceramic material that facilitates hermetically sealing said LVG.

8 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said evaporator portion and said condenser portion define opposite ends of said LVG, said magnetic field apparatus positioned therebetween.

9 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said nanoparticles comprise a material that is substantially non-magnetic and substantially electrically-conducting.

10 . The LVG in accordance with claim 1 , said electrically non-conductive wick structure configured to channel said hybrid working liquid using capillary action.

11 . A method of generating power in an undersea environment, said method comprising:
forming a hybrid working liquid comprising combining a liquid and nanoparticles; transferring heat energy from a heat source into the hybrid working liquid, thereby evaporating the hybrid working liquid into a hybrid working vapor; channeling the hybrid working vapor through a magnetic field, thereby inducing a voltage on an electric current carrying conductor; transferring heat energy from the hybrid working vapor, thereby condensing the hybrid working vapor into the hybrid working liquid; and channeling the hybrid working liquid toward the heat source.

12 . The method in accordance the claim 11 , wherein combining a liquid and nanoparticles comprises mixing substantially non-magnetic and substantially electrically-conducting nanoparticles with a metal liquid.

13 . The method in accordance the claim 11 , wherein combining a liquid and nanoparticles comprises mixing substantially non-magnetic and substantially electrically-conducting nanoparticles with a fluid having a boiling point less than 100° C. at atmospheric pressure.

14 . The method in accordance the claim 11 , wherein transferring heat energy from a heat source comprises transferring heat from a fluid channeled from a subsea wellhead into the hybrid working liquid in an evaporator portion of a submersible liquid vapor generator (LVG).

15 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein inducing a voltage on an electric current carrying conductor comprises powering an electric load.

16 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein condensing the hybrid working vapor into the hybrid working liquid comprises transferring the heat energy from the hybrid working vapor into a steam generation system configured to drive a turbomachine including an electric generator.

17 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein channeling the hybrid working liquid toward the heat source comprises channeling the hybrid working liquid through an electrically non-conductive wick structure using capillary action.

18 . A subsea power generation assembly comprising:
a heat exchanger; and a plurality of submersible liquid-vapor generators (LVGs) coupled to said heat exchanger, each LVG of said plurality of LVGs comprising:
an evaporator portion in heat transfer communication with a heat energy source;
a magnetic field apparatus coupled in flow communication with said evaporator portion;
a condenser portion coupled in flow communication with said magnetic field apparatus;
a hybrid working fluid comprising nanoparticles, wherein said evaporator portion, said magnetic field portion, and said condenser portion at least partially define a hybrid working vapor flow path; and
an electrically non-conductive wick structure coupled in flow communication with said evaporator portion and said condenser portion, said wick structure at least partially defining a hybrid working liquid flow path extending between said condenser portion and said evaporator portion.

19 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said heat exchanger comprises:
a heat transfer medium inlet connection; and a heat transfer medium outlet connection, wherein said heat transfer medium inlet connection and said heat transfer medium outlet connection are coupled to at least one turbomachine.

20 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said heat transfer medium inlet connection and said heat transfer medium outlet connection at least partially define a steam generation system.

21 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said condenser portion is coupled in heat transfer communication with said heat exchanger.

22 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said hybrid working fluid further comprises a metal in one of liquid and gaseous states and said nanoparticles are substantially non-magnetic and substantially electrically-conducting.

23 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a power generator comprising said magnetic field apparatus and a plurality of electrodes.

24 . The subsea power generation assembly in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said hybrid working fluid further comprises a fluid having a boiling point less than 100° C. at atmospheric pressure in one of liquid and gaseous states and said nanoparticles are substantially non-magnetic and substantially electrically-conducting.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Weaver Stanton Earl
• Bray James William
• Bowman Michael John

Classifications

• F03G7/05 Primary

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

• E21B41/0085 Primary

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title

• H02K44/085

  with conducting liquids · CPC title

• H02K44/12

  Constructional details of fluid channels · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title