Heating system and method

Abstract

A heating system including a liquid supply system, a cell configured to receive liquid from the liquid supply system and provide heat thereto to output a heated fluid, and a work extraction system configured to extract usable work from the heated fluid output from the cell. The cell includes (i) a housing arranged to define an interior portion for receiving the liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to fluid in the interior portion. The electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the interior portion to generate one or more plasma bubbles that release energy into the fluid in the interior portion and into the housing to provide heat for the fluid in the interior portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of systems and methods for generating heat. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods that use cells to provide heated fluid.

Background Art

[0002] Typically, the generation of electricity and / or heat involves the combustion of certain fuels. For example, in a combustion process for heating water to produce steam and / or hot water, fossil fuels can be used. Steam can be generated for use in driving a turbine, and then this steam can be used to generate electricity. Hot water can be produced for use in a heating system, in which case hot water circulates throughout the building to provide heating for the building. Electricity can be used in an electric boiler or the like to produce warm water. There may be a desire to provide improvements in the efficiency for generating such electricity and / or heat.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in the independent claims, and any features are described in the dependent claims. Aspects of the present disclosure may be provided in relation to each other, and features of one aspect may be applied to other aspects.

[0004] In one embodiment, a heating system is provided that includes a liquid supply system, a cell configured to receive liquid from the liquid supply system and provide its heat to output a heated fluid, and a work extraction system configured to extract usable work from the heated fluid output from the cell. The cell includes (i) a housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion. The electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion in order to provide heat to the fluid in the internal portion by generating one or more plasma bubbles that release energy into the fluid in the internal portion and the housing.

[0005] Embodiments may enable the provision of a high-energy heated fluid from which work can be extracted. Work can be extracted from this high-energy heated fluid to generate heat and / or electricity. Embodiments may provide an efficient system for generating heat and / or electricity. The cell may include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generating fuel cell).

[0006] The system may further include a controller configured to (i) receive a signal indicating at least one operating parameter of the cell, and (ii) control the operation of the heating system based on the operating parameter. The controller may be configured to control the operation of the heating system so that the generation of heat and / or plasma in the cell exceeds a threshold level. Controlling the operation of the heating system may include controlling at least one of (i) the supply of liquid to the cell by a liquid supply system, and (ii) the electrical energy applied by electrodes. The controller may be configured to control the operation in order to keep at least one operating parameter of the cell within a selected range (for example, to provide the cell with a selected level of performance).

[0007] The controller may be configured to control the supply of liquid to the cell and / or the electrical energy applied by the electrodes based on an indicator obtained of the heat demand provided by the cell. If the indicator obtained of the demand indicates an increased heat demand provided by the cell, the controller may be configured to increase at least one of the following: (i) the temperature of the liquid supplied to the cell, (ii) the pressure of the liquid supplied to the cell, (iii) the amount of liquid supplied to the cell, and (iv) the amount of electrical energy applied by the electrodes. For example, controlling the operation in this way may promote an increase in the cell's output (e.g., resulting in the generation of more heated fluid and / or plasma within the cell).

[0008] A signal indicating at least one operating parameter may include an indicator of the quality and / or quantity of plasma generation within the cell. The controller may be configured to control the operation of the heating system so that the quality and / or quantity of plasma generation is maintained within a selected range. For example, the controller may be configured to produce at least a threshold amount of plasma generation. This threshold amount / selected range for plasma generation may be chosen so that sufficient plasma generation occurs to provide the heating system with selected heating characteristics (e.g., so that the amount of heated fluid produced is within a selected range).

[0009] Signals indicating the quality and / or quantity of plasma generation may include at least one of the following indicators: (i) the pressure and / or temperature of the fluid output from the cell; (ii) the amount and / or type of electromagnetic energy present in the cell; (iii) chattering associated with the supply of power to one or more electrodes; (iv) the current flow and / or voltage associated with one or more electrodes; and (v) the fluid dynamics of the fluid in the cell. For example, higher pressure and / or temperature (e.g., of the fluid output from the cell) may indicate increased plasma generation. Similarly, a faster rate of increase in pressure / temperature may indicate better plasma generation. For example, an increase in either electromagnetic activity in the cell and / or chattering associated with the supply of power may provide an indicator of increased plasma generation. For example, a rapid change in current or voltage may provide an indicator of any change in plasma generation. When the current begins to increase, an indicator may be provided that an arc is about to occur. For example, the controller may be configured to reduce or stop the voltage applied to the first electrode if the change in current exceeds a threshold (or if the rate of change of current exceeds a threshold), for example, if the current is increasing excessively. For example, the voltage may be monitored to identify any voltage drops in response to arcs that result in a decrease in resistance to the flow of current. For example, an indicator of increased turbulence in the fluid flow within the cell may provide an indicator of increased plasma generation.

[0010] The controller may be configured to control at least one of the following: (i) the supply of liquid to the cell based on electrical energy applied by multiple electrodes, and (ii) the electrical energy applied by multiple electrodes based on the supply of liquid to the cell. For example, when increasing the supply of liquid and / or electrical energy, the controller may control the supply of electrical energy / liquid (each) in accordance with the change in the supply of the other. The change in one supply may be selected based on the change in the supply of the other (for example, the increase / decrease in one may be selected in proportion to the increase / decrease in the supply of the other). A signal indicating at least one operating parameter may include an index of temperature related to at least one of the following: the cell, the fluid in the cell, and the fluid output from the cell. The controller may be configured to control at least one of the following to increase the temperature of the cell, the temperature of the fluid in the cell, and / or the temperature of the fluid output from the cell: (i) the electrical energy applied by electrodes, (ii) the supply of liquid to the cell, and (iii) an external heater. The controller may be configured to increase the electrical energy applied by the electrodes to produce an increase in heat and / or to reduce the flow rate of liquid through the cell when the temperature indicator is below a threshold level.

[0011] The inner surface of the cell housing may include an electromagnetic energy absorbing material arranged to convert incident photons into heat. At least a portion of the housing may be conductive. For example, the inner surface of the housing may be configured to generate heat in response to photons incident on the surface. The housing (e.g., the inner surface of the housing) may be configured to heat a fluid within its interior portion in response to heat generated from incident photons (e.g., and / or other particles such as electrons). The housing may be configured to provide conductive heating of the fluid within its interior portion. The housing may be made of a metal; for example, the housing may be made of steel. The housing may be formed of several different materials. One or more layers or sleeves may be provided in the housing. For example, the cell may include a sleeve located in the interior portion of the housing. The sleeve may be positioned to fit within the interior portion (e.g., the sleeve may be positioned adjacent to the interior portion of the housing). Multiple such sleeves may be provided. Each sleeve may be positioned to provide different absorption / conductivity properties to other areas of the housing / cell. For example, the housing may be made of a first material (e.g., steel), and a sleeve made of a second material (e.g., aluminum) may be inserted into the housing. The housing and / or sleeve may include a coating to further promote absorption and / or conduction. For example, a gold coating may be applied.

[0012] The liquid supply system may be configured to supply liquid to the cell under pressure. The cell may be arranged to hold fluid within a housing under pressure. For example, the housing may include one or more compression devices configured to hold an internal portion of the housing under pressure, and / or the housing may have sufficient rigidity to resist expansion under pressure applied from the inside of the internal portion. The liquid supply system may be configured to heat the liquid before supplying it to the cell. The liquid supply system may be configured to increase the heat of the liquid before supplying it to the cell if the heat and / or plasma generation in the cell is below a threshold level. The system may be arranged to provide a variable continuous supply of liquid to the cell.

[0013] The electrodes may include (i) an anode positioned to provide a conductive path for a current applied to the fluid in the internal part, and (ii) a cathode positioned to provide a conductive path away from the internal part for a current received from the anode through the fluid in the internal part. The electrodes may further include a balance electrode positioned to provide an additional conductive path toward or away from the fluid in the internal part. The anode and cathode (and, for example, the balance electrode) may be positioned concentrically with respect to each other. The anode, cathode, and balance electrode may have the same coefficient of thermal expansion. The balance electrode may be positioned away from the conductive path between the anode and cathode. For example, the conductive path from the anode to the cathode may be radially outward. The balance electrode may be offset from the anode / cathode in different directions (for example, along the longitudinal axis). The balance electrode may be closer to the anode than to the cathode. For example, the equilibrium electrode may extend substantially perpendicular (e.g., at a right angle) to the current path from the anode to the cathode (for example, the equilibrium electrode may be parallel to the anode).

[0014] The cell may include a resistive element positioned between the anode and the cathode, for example, the resistive element may be made of quartz or borosilicate glass material (e.g., a high-resistance material that can withstand high temperature and / or high pressure). The resistive element may have sufficient electrical resistance so that it can function as an electrical insulator. The resistive element may be positioned between the anode and the cathode to, for example, increase the electrical resistance between the anode and the cathode. For example, the resistive element may be located radially outward from the anode and radially inward from the cathode (for example, in this case the conductive path from the anode to the cathode extends radially outward).

[0015] The system may be configured to provide additional heat to one or more components of the cell (e.g., during the startup mode). The cell may include a heating element to provide such heat. For example, a heater may be located adjacent to the cell, and / or the heating element may be integrated into a part of the cell. The heater may be contained in the end cap of the cell (e.g., a cartridge heater may be provided inside the end cap of the cell). In some examples, this heat may be provided by a resistive heating element. The resistive heating element may be part of the cell (e.g., a voltage may be applied to a component such as an anode or a resistive element, or to an additional resistive heating element or region of the cell, in order to provide resistive heating). Such heat may be provided to increase the temperature associated with the cell, the fluid inside the cell, and the fluid output from the cell, up to a point in time when the plasma is promoted. For example, heat may be provided until bubbles (e.g., bubbles) begin to appear.

[0016] The liquid supply system may be configured to supply the cell with a fluid, such as water, which exhibits at least partially non-Newtonian properties under expected conditions within the cell. For example, here the liquid is configured to withstand the rapid expansion of the plasma within the cell. The system may further include a filter configured to filter the fluid output from the cell. The work extraction system may include at least one of the following: (i) a regulator for mass transfer of a hot and / or pressurized fluid; (ii) a heat exchanger for transferring heat to a working fluid; and (iii) a power generation system, such as a steam-based power generation system. The heated fluid produced by the cell may be used for subsequent applications by itself, or instead, it may be used to heat one or more other fluids for subsequent applications. For example, the heated fluid produced by the cell may be used as a working fluid, or the heated fluid produced by the cell may be used to heat another fluid and then used as a working fluid. The system may include a DC voltage source operable to apply a DC voltage to each electrode.

[0017] In one embodiment, a system is provided comprising: a cell configured to heat a liquid supplied to the cell, the cell including an inlet for receiving the liquid to be heated and an outlet for discharging the heated fluid; a power management system configured to control the application of electrical energy to the cell in order to control the heating of the fluid in the cell; a work extraction system coupled to the outlet and configured to extract usable work from the heated fluid discharged from the cell; and a fluid management system coupled to the inlet of the cell and configured to (i) supply the liquid to be heated to the cell and (ii) process the heated fluid discharged by the cell and used by the work extraction system.

[0018] The cell may include a cell as disclosed herein. The work extraction system may include a work extraction system as disclosed herein. The fluid control system may include, for example, a liquid supply system as disclosed herein that supplies a heated liquid to the cell.

[0019] The fluid management system may include (i) a fluid supply coupling that connects the system to a supply of the liquid to be heated, and (ii) a drain coupling that outputs the heated fluid from the cell and discharges the heated fluid used by the work take-off system. The fluid management system may also include a pump coupled to the fluid supply coupling and the cell inlet. The pump is operable to supply the liquid to the cell under pressure. The work take-off system may include a heat engine. The cell outlet may be coupled to a first engine inlet so that the heated fluid output from the cell can drive the heat engine. The heat engine may be coupled to a generator configured to generate power in response to the engine's operation. The cell outlet may also be coupled to a first heat exchanger. The first engine outlet may be coupled to a first heat exchanger so that the heated fluid from the cell, having passed through the engine, is directed to the first heat exchanger for heating. The first heat exchanger may be coupled to a second engine inlet so that the fluid from the heat exchanger can be reheated to further drive the engine. The engine may be driven at different ratios to the fluid flowing in through the first and second engine inlets. At least one of the engine and the first heat exchanger may be coupled to a second heat exchanger configured to extract further heat from the heated fluid output from the cell.

[0020] The fluid management system may include a filter for filtering the heated fluid output from the cell. The work extraction system may include at least one of the following: a thermal management system configured to receive the heated fluid output from the cell and use the heated fluid as a heat source or in a heat exchanger; and a power generation system configured to receive the heated fluid output from the cell and use the heated fluid to generate power. The power generation system may be coupled to the power management system to provide the generated power to the power management system. The power management system may include an external coupling for coupling to an external power source. The power management system may be configured to receive power from an external power source and / or to provide power generated by the power generation system to an external power source.

[0021] In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing a heated fluid to extract usable work from the heated fluid. The method includes the steps of supplying a liquid to be heated to a cell, wherein the cell includes (i) a housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives the liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion; controlling the operation of the plurality of electrodes to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion in order to generate one or more plasma bubbles; generating heat in a housing adjacent to the internal portion in accordance with the housing receiving incident photons (and so on, e.g., electrons) in relation to the plasma bubbles in the internal portion; and using the housing to conduction heat the fluid in the internal portion.

[0022] In one embodiment, a method for controlling the operation of a heating system is provided. The heating system includes a cell comprising (i) a housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives a liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion. The method includes controlling the operation of the electrodes to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion in order to provide heat to the fluid in the internal portion by generating one or more plasma bubbles that release energy from the plasma into the fluid in the internal portion and the housing. The step of controlling the operation of the electrodes includes receiving a signal indicating at least one operating parameter relating to the cell and / or the fluid associated with the cell, operating in a “cold start” mode if the operating parameter indicates that the generation of heat and / or plasma is below a threshold level, and operating in a “normal” mode if the operating parameter indicates that the generation of heat and / or plasma is above a threshold level. The process of operating in cold start mode includes controlling at least one of (i) electrical energy applied by electrodes, (ii) the supply of liquid to the cell, and (iii) the operation of an external heater, in order to increase the temperature of the cell and / or the fluid associated with the cell when the operating parameters indicate that the generation of heat and / or plasma is below a threshold level.

[0023] Aspects of the present disclosure may also provide one or more computer program products including computer program instructions configured to control a processor to execute any of the methods disclosed herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] Here, some examples of the present disclosure will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the following figures.

[0025] [Figure 1] An overview diagram of an exemplary heating system is shown. [Figure 2] An overview diagram of an exemplary heating system is shown. [Figure 3] An overview diagram of an exemplary cell is shown. [Figure 4] A block diagram of an exemplary heat and power generation system is shown. [Figure 5] An overview diagram of an exemplary heat and power generation system is shown.

[0026] In the figures, the same numbers are used to indicate the same components.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system for generating heat and / or electricity. Such a system can provide heat to a liquid to generate a heated fluid. The heated fluid can then be used for the purpose of generating heat and / or electricity. To generate the heated fluid, a liquid can be supplied to a cell. Electrical energy can be applied to the liquid held in the cell through one or more electrodes of the cell. By applying this electrical energy to the fluid in the cell, plasma bubbles are formed in the bubbles within the cell. Each plasma bubble becomes a localized region having a higher pressure / temperature than the surrounding fluid. The surrounding fluid may limit the expansion of the plasma bubbles, and as a result, when electrical energy is still applied, these bubbles will emit electromagnetic energy. For example, photons may be emitted from atoms (or molecules) in the plasma bubbles. These emitted photons can then heat the material to which the photons are incident. For example, this heating can provide heat to the cell housing and / or the fluid in the cell. This heat provision then enables the cell to output the heated fluid used in the heat and / or power generation system 500. The heating fluid may include liquids and / or gases, and may also include some plasma material.

[0028] Here, an example heating system will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the heating system 50. The heating system 50 includes a liquid supply system 10, a cell 100, and a work extraction system 20. The cell 100 includes a fluid inlet 12 and a fluid outlet 22. The cell 100 has a housing 120 that defines the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The cell 100 also includes a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes include a first electrode 111 and a second electrode 112, as shown in the figure. The cell 100 may also include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generation fuel cell).

[0030] The housing 120 of cell 100 encloses the internal portion 125. A fluid inlet 12 provides a fluid passage for fluid entering the internal portion 125 of cell 100. A fluid outlet 22 provides a fluid passage for fluid exiting the internal portion 125 of cell 100. The internal portion 125 of cell 100 may be otherwise sealed by the housing 120. A liquid supply system 10 is coupled to the fluid inlet 12 of cell 100. A work extraction system 20 is coupled to the fluid outlet 22 of cell 100. The couplings between the liquid supply system 10 and the fluid inlet 12, and between the work extraction system 20 and the fluid outlet 22, are illustrated as annular passages. However, it will be understood that these annular passages are for illustrative purposes only, and any suitable passages may be provided. Also, although not illustrated, the work extraction system 20 may also be coupled to the liquid supply system 10 (for example, to facilitate heating and / or pressurizing the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125).

[0031] The first electrode 111 is at least partially located within the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The second electrode 112 may also be at least partially located within the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The first electrode and the second electrode 112 are arranged concentrically. The first electrode 111 extends within the central region of the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The second electrode 112 is located radially outward from the first electrode 111. The second electrode 112 may be cylindrical, similar to the first electrode 111. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the first electrode and the second electrode 112 are arranged coaxially. The second electrode 112 is located adjacent to the internal surface of the housing 120 (however, in some examples, the second electrode 112 may be integrated with the housing 120 to form, for example, a part thereof, and / or a portion of the housing 120 may be provided with the second electrode 112, for example, if the portion of the housing is conductive).

[0032] The first end of the first electrode 111 is located outside the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. The second end of the first electrode 111 is distal to the first end and is located inside the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. The second electrode 112 may extend along part of the length or the entire length of the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. At least one end of the second electrode 112 may extend from the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. Although not shown in Figure 1, the first electrode and / or the second electrode 112 may each be coupled to a power supply. For example, each electrode may have one end extending outside the internal portion 125 (e.g., into the housing 120), and this end may be coupled to a power supply. In some examples, the housing 120 may provide ground, and the first electrode 111 may be connected to the positive terminal of the power supply.

[0033] The housing 120 may be cylindrical. The fluid inlet 12 is located at the end of the housing 120 opposite to the fluid outlet 22. The first electrode and the second electrode 112 extend along an axis (for example, the longitudinal axis of the cell 100) that extends from the fluid inlet 12 to the fluid outlet 22. The fluid outlet 22 may be located vertically above the fluid inlet 12 (for example, directly above).

[0034] The liquid supply system 10 is arranged to supply liquid to the cell 100. The liquid may be supplied to the cell 100 through the fluid inlet 12. The liquid supply system 10 may include couplings for liquid supply, such as a liquid reservoir. The liquid supply system 10 is configured to control the delivery of this liquid to the cell 100. For example, the supplied liquid may partially or entirely contain a fluid that exhibits non-Newtonian behavior in the environment of the cell 100. The liquid may be water or an aqueous solution.

[0035] The work extraction system 20 is positioned to receive heated fluid from cell 100. The heated fluid can be output from cell 100 through a fluid outlet 22. The heated fluid may include liquid and / or gas. For example, the heated fluid may be a combination of gas and liquid, such as steam containing some water droplets. The fluid outlet 22 is positioned to allow this heated fluid to flow out of cell 100 for use in the work extraction system 20. For example, steam generated in cell 100 rises and exits through the fluid outlet 22. The work extraction system 20 is configured to utilize the heated fluid output from cell 100. The work extraction system 20 may be configured to receive this heated fluid and use it as part of a supply of heated fluid (for example, for heating purposes). The work extraction system 20 may be configured to receive this heated fluid and use it to generate electricity. For example, this heated fluid may be used to drive a generator, for example, by using a steam engine.

[0036] The housing 120 is configured to enclose an internal portion 125. The housing 120 is positioned to define the internal portion 125, which provides a region in which a liquid can be heated. The internal surface of the housing 120 (e.g., facing / defining the internal portion 125) may be configured to generate heat in response to incident photons (e.g., the housing 120 may be conductive). The internal surface may include a region of the housing 120 located adjacent to the internal portion 125. The internal surface may include a portion of the housing 120, and / or the internal surface may include additional components such as layers / films provided on the internal surface to generate heat in response to incident photons. For example, the internal surface may be configured to absorb electromagnetic energy, for example, in the form of visible light. The internal surface is configured to heat up when it receives an incident photon. The internal surface is configured to provide heat to the fluid in the internal portion 125 when it heats up by an incident photon, for example. The housing 120 may be made of a metal such as steel. The housing 120 is configured to hold fluid in its internal portion 125 under pressure.

[0037] The fluid inlet 12, the internal portion 125, and the fluid outlet 22 are arranged to define a flow path for the fluid to flow through the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. The internal portion 125 is arranged to receive a heated liquid through the fluid inlet 12. The cell 100 is arranged to heat this liquid in the internal portion 125 in order to provide a heated fluid. The fluid outlet 22 is arranged to provide a flow path for this heated fluid away from the internal portion 125.

[0038] The first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are configured to provide a current path through the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. One of the electrodes 111, 112 may be provided with an anode, and the other with a cathode. For example, the first electrode 111 may be provided with an anode that brings current into the internal portion 125 of the cell 100, and the second electrode 112 may be provided with a cathode that allows current to flow away from the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The first electrode and the second electrode 112 are spaced apart from each other. The first electrode 111 is positioned to receive a voltage such that a potential difference exists between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112. The first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are arranged capacitively. The presence of fluid in the internal portion 125 can provide a conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode 112. This fluid provides electrical resistance between the two electrodes 111, 112. The first electrode and the second electrode 112 containing the fluid of cell 100 can effectively provide a circuit having capacitance and resistance. The first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 are configured to provide voltage stress to the fluid and / or plasma within the internal portion 125.

[0039] During operation, the liquid supply system 10 supplies liquid through the fluid inlet 12 into the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. In this example, the liquid is water, but other liquids may be used. The liquid supply system 10 operates to supply water to the cell 100 so that the cell 100 is filled with water. Any gases that were previously inside the cell 100 can be forcibly expelled through the fluid outlet 22 of the cell 100. As a result, the cell 100 may be substantially filled with water.

[0040] A voltage is applied to the first electrode 111 (anode). This voltage causes some current to flow through the water. Because water has electrical resistance, this current flow and resistance cause the water to heat up somewhat (for example, I 2 R (heat). When a voltage is applied to the first electrode 111, this resistive heating process continues. As the temperature of the water in the internal portion 125 rises, microbubbles of gas begin to form in the water in the internal portion 125. These microbubbles may be vapor bubbles or bubbles of such air that form released air that was trapped in the water supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. As a result, several gas pockets are created in the liquid of the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. As the voltage continues to be applied to the first electrode 111, plasma bubbles are generated in the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. These bubbles release energy to the surrounding fluid and the internal surface of the housing 120. This then provides heat to the fluid in the internal portion 125.

[0041] Although not bound by theory, applying a voltage to the first electrode 111 charges the capacitor provided by the first electrode and the second electrode 112. As the fluid in the internal portion 125 heats up, the dielectric constant of the fluid may change, which in turn may change the capacitance of the cell 100 (for example, between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112). For example, if water is used, the dielectric constant of water decreases as the water heats up (and then as the water turns into steam). In particular, where microbubbles of gas (e.g., steam) begin to form in the liquid of the internal portion 125, these microbubbles provide localized regions of low dielectric constant. This process can effectively provide a localized drop in dielectric constant. For example, if water is used, this difference in dielectric constant between the bubbles formed in the water and the surrounding water can be about 40 times (for example, the capacitance per unit volume of these bubbles may be 1 / 40 of the capacitance of the surrounding water). During this process, the volumetric energy density of the fluid and / or plasma within the internal portion 125 is kept constant. Because the dielectric constant drops within the gas bubbles, the capacitance decreases in this region. When the volumetric energy density is kept constant and the capacitance decreases, the voltage per meter increases accordingly (e.g., E = 1 / 2 CV). 2 (In order to conserve energy according to the principle). For example, when water is used, the voltage per meter increases by approximately √40 times.

[0042] Although not bound by theory, with electrical energy still applied to the first electrode 111, these gaseous microbubbles (with a lower density than the surrounding liquid) tend to expand rapidly toward the surrounding area. However, the surrounding liquid resists this expansion, for example, because the liquid under these conditions is non-Newtonian. This causes a rapid increase in the temperature and pressure of the microbubbles. Subsequently, the capacitance of the microbubbles decreases further (for example, causing an increase in dV / dr), thereby resulting in a further increase in the voltage stress of the entire bubble. Sufficient voltage stress throughout the bubble can lead to ionization, resulting in the formation of plasma within the bubble. Thus, one or more plasma bubbles may form in the liquid of the interior portion 125. Since plasma can have an even lower density than gas, with voltage still applied to the first electrode 111, the plasma bubbles tend to expand even more rapidly. In particular, because this plasma bubble generation process occurs rapidly, each plasma bubble promotes rapid expansion. This then results in a non-Newtonian fluid response in the liquid of the interior portion 125 of cell 100. For example, if water is used, the water will not immediately yield to the pressure wave caused by the expansion of the plasma bubble. Thus, the plasma bubble is maintained at a relatively constant volume (for example, the plasma bubble may simply expand relatively slowly). While the volume of the plasma is maintained at a relatively constant level, the temperature and pressure within this bubble rise rapidly in response to the voltage stress caused by the voltage applied to the first electrode 111.

[0043] While not bound by theory, energy can be absorbed by atoms (and molecules) within a plasma bubble to adapt to the higher energy levels within the bubble. Thus, the energy levels (e.g., energy states) of these particles can rise. Within the plasma, atoms can move their electrons to higher electron energy levels and / or change the spin state of the atomic particle. For example, the spin state of a hydrogen atom can change from a lower energy para state to a higher energy ortho state. Molecules can also move to higher rotational and / or vibrational energy levels, and / or further split those molecules. As a result, atoms within each bubble (e.g., compared to a conventional fluid / fluid in internal part 125) will be at disproportionately high energy levels.

[0044] While not constrained by theory, photon emission can occur from a plasma to adapt to the high energies within it. Electrons can move to lower-energy electronic states, and / or undergo changes to lower-energy vibrational / rotational / spin states in atoms / molecules. This return to lower-energy configurations results in photon emission (e.g., to adapt to the decrease in energy levels according to the Bohr model). This photon emission can occur on a relatively large scale. When water is used, the majority of this photon emission occurs in the visible light spectrum.

[0045] Photons emitted from each plasma bubble are then absorbed by the fluid in either the internal portion 125 of the cell 100 or the housing 120. In response to receiving such incident photons, the fluid and / or housing 120 absorb the photons, causing the fluid and / or housing 120 to heat up. The internal surface of the housing 120, in particular, absorbs many of these photons and therefore its temperature may increase. Once the internal surface of the housing 120 heats up, this heating then provides conduction heating of the fluid in the internal portion 125. This generates convective currents, which may then cause increased turbulence in the fluid in the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. As a result of this process, the fluid in the internal portion 125 heats up. Subsequently, most of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100 may evaporate, providing a gas (e.g., vapor). In the context of this disclosure, it should be understood that some of the fluid leaving the cell 100 may have a slightly different or at least lower energy configuration compared to the liquid supplied to the cell 100. This is the result of plasma generation within cell 100, followed by energy release.

[0046] This heated fluid then passes through the fluid outlet 22. Typically, the heated fluid is in the form of vapor, generated within the internal section, rising and exiting through the fluid outlet 22. The heated fluid is then used in the work extraction system 20 to extract usable work from the heated fluid. For example, this heated fluid may be used for power generation and / or heat distribution.

[0047] Further examples of this disclosure are described here with reference to Figure 2.

[0048] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the heating system 50. Similar to Figure 1, the heating system 50 in Figure 2 includes a liquid supply system 10, a cell 100, and a work extraction system 20. These components of the heating system 50 in Figure 2 are similar to those in Figure 1, and for example, the features of the heating system 50 in Figure 1 can be used in combination with the features of the heating system 50 in Figure 2.

[0049] The liquid supply system 10 may further include a liquid reservoir 14, a heater 16, and a pump 18. The cell 100 includes a fluid inlet 12, a fluid outlet 14, and a housing 120 defining an internal portion 125. The cell 100 includes a first electrode 111 and a second electrode 112. The cell 100 may also include a third electrode 113 and a resistive element 115, as shown in Figure 2. The cell 100 may include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generating fuel cell).

[0050] The heating system 50 may also include a power supply 30 and a controller 40. To illustrate the operational sensing capabilities of the system 50, several sensors are shown as black circles. The sensors shown include a power supply sensor 41, a fluid inlet sensor 42, a first electrode sensor 43, a second electrode sensor 44, a third electrode sensor 45, a fluid outlet sensor 46, and an internal part sensor 47.

[0051] The liquid supply system 10 may connect a liquid reservoir 14 to the fluid inlet 12 of the cell 100. The liquid reservoir 14 may also be connected to the fluid inlet 12 via a pump 18 and / or a heater 16 (both illustrated in Figure 2). The liquid supply system 10 is configured to supply liquid to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The liquid supply system may supply liquid from a liquid source such as the liquid reservoir 14 illustrated in Figure 2, or the liquid supply system may include a liquid supply for supplying liquid, such as a coupling for a main water supply.

[0052] The first electrode and the second electrode 112 may be arranged within the cell 100 as described above with reference to Figure 1. Furthermore, the third electrode 113 is also provided in the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The third electrode 113 is optional and may or may not be included. If the third electrode 113 is included, the first end of the third electrode 113 may be located outside the internal portion 125, and the third electrode 113 may extend from the first end to a second end located within the internal portion 125. The second end of the third electrode 113 may be located within the internal portion 125 near the second end of the first electrode 111. The first electrode 111 and the third electrode 113 may be parallel (for example, coaxial). The second electrode 112 and the third electrode 113 may be parallel (for example, coaxial). The first electrode 111 may extend into the interior portion 125 from the outside of the first end of the housing 120 toward the opposite end of the housing 120. The third electrode 113 may extend into the interior portion 125 from the outside of the opposite end of the housing 120 toward the first end. The first electrode 111 and the third electrode 113 may extend into the interior portion 125 in such a way that they do not spatially overlap (for example, the second ends of each electrode do not touch / overlap). The second electrode 112 may extend along the length of the interior portion 125 from the first end or the outside of the first end toward the opposite end or the outside of the opposite end. The distance between the second end of the first electrode 111 and the second end of the third electrode 113 may be shorter than the shortest distance between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112. The third electrode 113 may be located away from the expected current path between the first electrode and the second electrode 112.

[0053] The resistive element 115 may also be included in the internal portion 125. The resistive element 115 may also be cylindrical. The resistive element 115 may be positioned to increase the electrical resistance of the conductive path between the first electrode 111 (anode) and the second electrode 112 (cathode). The resistive element 115 may extend around most of the internal portion 125 (for example, along the length and width of the internal portion to obstruct most of the viable conductive path from the anode to the cathode). The resistive element 115 may be located between the first electrode 111 / third electrode and the second electrode 112. For example, the resistive element 115 may be located radially outward from the first electrode 111 / third electrode 113, but not radially outward from the second electrode 112. The resistive element 115 may extend along part of the length of the internal portion 125, or along its entire length. The resistive element 115 may be positioned on the current path between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112, for example, so that current needs to flow through the resistive element 115 to reach the second electrode 112 from the first electrode 111. The resistive element 115 may extend along one or both ends of the internal portion 125 (for example, to reduce the possibility of a conductive path from anode to cathode that does not pass through the resistive element 115 being achievable).

[0054] The power supply 30 may include a DC supply (for example, an AC-DC converter may be present to provide DC). The power supply 30 may be coupled to one or more components of the heating system 50. Figure 2 shows some of these feasible couplings with solid lines. For example, these couplings may include some form of conductor to provide conductive coupling from the power supply 30 to the components. The power supply 30 may be coupled to the first electrode 111 and / or to either the second electrode 112 or the third electrode 113. The cell 100 may also include a heater, such as a resistive heater (for example, a cartridge heater). The power supply may also be coupled to the heater. The power supply 30 may be coupled to a resistive element 115 (for example, to provide resistive heating), as shown in Figure 2. However, it should be understood that the resistive element does not need to be coupled to the power supply. Instead, a resistive element may be included simply to increase the resistance between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112.

[0055] The controller 40 may be coupled to each sensor. The controller 40 may also be coupled to one or more of the power supply 30, the heater 16, and the pump 18. Figure 2 shows these couplings with dashed lines. These couplings may be wired or wireless.

[0056] The liquid supply system 10 is configured to supply liquid to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the liquid supply system 10. For example, the liquid supply system 10 may selectively heat (using a heater 16) and / or pressurize (using a pump 18) the liquid from the liquid reservoir 14 supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the heater 16 and / or the pump 18 to control the temperature and / or pressure of the liquid supplied to the cell 100.

[0057] The power supply 30 may be configured to apply a voltage to the first electrode 111 (for example, to provide the operation described above with reference to Figure 1). The power supply 30 may also be configured to apply a voltage to the third electrode 113 (and / or, for example, the heater of cell 100). The power supply 30 may also be coupled to the second electrode 112 to receive the current flowing from the second electrode 112. The power supply 30 may be configured to selectively apply a voltage, for example, using a high-voltage DC voltage. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the power supply 30. For example, the controller 40 may be configured to control the magnitude of the voltage applied by the power supply 30, the timing of the voltage supply, and / or at least one of the components to which the voltage is applied.

[0058] The third electrode 113 may be active or passive. If active, a voltage is applied to the third electrode 113. If passive, the third electrode 113 may be conductive to receive current within the internal portion 125, but it does not receive power from the power supply 30. The third electrode 113 may be configured to include a balancing electrode (for example, a balancing electrode may be placed to balance the electric field / current generated within the internal portion 125). The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the power supply 30 to selectively control whether (and / or how much) a voltage is applied to the third electrode 113.

[0059] The resistive element 115 may be configured to have a relatively high resistance (compared, for example, to the resistance of the fluid in the electrodes and / or internal portion 125). The resistive element 115 may have sufficient resistance to effectively provide an electrical insulator (between the anode and the cathode).

[0060] In the example, the cell is configured to provide heat in response to the application of a voltage to the cell, for example, a resistor (I 2R) Includes a heater configured to provide heat. The heater may be in a region of the housing or may be a separate component configured to provide resistive heating (for example, it may be integrated into a part of the housing such as an end cap). The heater may be positioned to provide heat to the fluid in the internal portion 125 and / or housing 120 in response to the application of a voltage to the internal portion 125 and / or housing 120. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the power supply 30 to selectively control whether (and / or how much) a voltage is applied to the heater. In some examples, the heater may be provided by a resistive element 115.

[0061] The controller 40 may be configured to receive a signal indicating at least one operating parameter of the operation of the cell 100. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the heating system 50 based on this received signal. For example, the controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of at least one of the heater 16, the pump 18, and / or the power supply 30 based on the received signal. The controller 40 may be configured to control the heat and / or pressure of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125. The controller 40 may be configured to control whether and / or how much voltage is applied to one or more of the first electrode 111, the third electrode 113, and / or the heater. In other words, the controller 40 may be configured to control the supply of liquid to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100, and / or the electrical energy applied by the electrodes of the cell 100.

[0062] The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of cell 100 based on at least one received signal indicating one or more operating parameters of cell 100. The signal may be received from one or more sensors. It should be understood that the exact nature of the received signal, and / or the nature of the sensor receiving the signal, is not considered limiting. Figure 2 shows an exemplary sensor which may provide information indicating one or more operating parameters of system 50.

[0063] The power sensor 41 may be configured to provide an indicator of the operation of the power supply 30. The power sensor 41 may be configured to provide an indicator of the magnitude of the applied power (e.g., voltage) and / or to provide any relevant feedback regarding the signal applied by the power supply 30. For example, the power sensor 41 may be configured to provide an indicator (e.g., to the first sensor) of any chattering related to the voltage applied by the power supply 30. The fluid inlet sensor 42 may be configured to provide an indicator of at least one characteristic of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125. For example, this indicator may include an indicator of the pressure and / or temperature of the supplied liquid. As another example, the fluid inlet sensor 42 may be configured to provide an indicator of one or more chemical properties of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125 (e.g., indicating the chemical composition of the liquid, such as the proportion of impurities / additives). The fluid outlet sensor 46 may be similar to the fluid inlet sensor 42. For example, the fluid outlet sensor 46 may be configured to provide an indicator of the temperature, pressure, and / or chemical composition of the fluid output from the cell 100. The fluid outlet sensor 46 may be configured to provide an indicator of any relevant change in the energy distribution of the fluid exiting the cell 100 (e.g., whether any additional compositions are present).

[0064] The first electrode sensor 43, the first electrode sensor 44, and the third electrode sensor 45 may be configured to provide an index of one or more characteristics of the associated electrical energy present in these electrode sensors. The sensors may also provide an index of the voltage and / or current present in the associated electrodes. For example, the electrode sensors may be configured to provide an index of how much the current and / or voltage of the electrodes change over time (e.g., an index of the time derivative of current / voltage).

[0065] The internal portion sensor 47 is configured to provide an indicator of the conditions within the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The internal portion sensor 47 may be located within the internal portion 125 of the housing 120, for example, mounted on the inner wall of the housing 120 (as shown in Figure 2). Alternatively, the internal portion sensor 47 may be located outside the external portion, but may be configured to provide several indicators of the conditions within the internal portion 125. The internal portion sensor 47 may also be configured to provide an indicator of the fluid dynamics of the fluid within the internal portion 125, for example, an indicator of whether there is any turbulence and / or how turbulent the flow is. This provision includes the use of a flow meter, microphone, or other suitable sensor. The internal portion sensor 47 may also be configured to provide an indicator of the electromagnetic energy present inside the internal portion 125 (e.g., an indicator of the amount and / or type of electromagnetic radiation being generated). For example, the internal partial sensor 47 may include an antenna suitable for detecting the presence of such electromagnetic energy / electromagnetic radiation, and / or include some form of camera (e.g., as part of an optical fiber) configured to acquire an indicator of the light present in the cell 100. The internal partial sensor 47 may also be configured to provide an indicator of the state of activity occurring inside the cell 100.

[0066] During operation, the heating system 50 in Figure 2 functions in much the same manner as the heating system 50 described above with reference to Figure 1. That is, the power supply 30 applies electrical energy (e.g., voltage) to the first electrode 111 to heat the fluid in the internal portion 125. This heat is provided by resistive heating and also by heat from incident light emitted from the plasma bubbles in the internal portion 125. Furthermore, capacitance may be provided between the first electrode and the third electrode 113 and / or between the second electrode and the third electrode 113. This may provide an equilibrium effect to the electric field in the internal portion 125 of the cell 100. The third electrode 113 may provide an equilibrium effect when provided as a floating electrode (e.g., in a passive state) and when a voltage is applied to the third electrode 113 (e.g., in an active state).

[0067] Furthermore, the controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the heating system 50 according to one of several different control loops. Each control loop may provide a feedback loop from which data indicating the operating parameters of the cell 100 is acquired (e.g., from a sensor), and based on this acquired data, the controller 40 controls the operation of the components of the heating system 50. The data may be acquired from any suitable sensor (e.g., any of the aforementioned sensors shown in Figure 2). The controller 40 may control the operation of any suitable component of the heating system 50 to control the supply of liquid to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100 (e.g., by controlling the heater 16 or the pump 18), and / or control the electrical energy applied by one or more electrodes (e.g., by controlling the power supplied by the power supply 30).

[0068] Here, four exemplary control loops are described. In the first example, the operation of cell 100 in “normal” mode is described, in which at least one characteristic is monitored and / or adjusted to improve the efficiency of cell 100’s operation. In the second and third examples, the operation of cell 100 to increase and decrease its output, respectively, is described. In the fourth example, the operation of cell 100 in “startup” mode is described.

[0069] In the first example, the operation of the heating system 50 is controlled in a normal mode of continuous operation. Here, the controller 40 is configured to receive signals indicating the operating parameters of the cell 100, and the controller 40 is configured to control the operation of the system 50 so that the operating parameters are maintained within a range desired for the performance of the cell 100. The cell 100 is designed to provide a heated fluid as its output. The operating parameters may therefore provide an indicator of the output of the cell 100. For example, the operating parameters may provide an indicator of how efficiently the cell 100 is running, and / or an indicator of the magnitude of the heat generated by the cell 100 (for example, the operating parameters may provide an indicator of the amount / temperature of heated fluid generated by the cell 100 per unit time). In the context of this disclosure, the performance of the cell does not need to be determined by itself, but instead, the controller 40 may control the operation of the cell 100 based on indicators of the cell's performance.

[0070] The controller 40 may be configured to receive an indicator of the cell's performance. This indicator of cell performance may provide an indicator of the operating state of cell 100. This indicator may include an indicator of the amount / temperature of the heated fluid generated by cell 100, and / or an indicator of the quality of plasma generation occurring within cell 100. The indicator may be based on the temperature and / or pressure of the heated fluid generated by cell 100 (for example, the indicator may also be an indicator of the temperature and / or pressure). For example, such an indicator may be obtained using a fluid outlet sensor 46. This indicator may be based on both the temperature / pressure of the liquid supplied to cell 100 (e.g., sensed by a fluid inlet sensor 42) and the temperature / pressure of the heated fluid leaving cell 100 (e.g., sensed by a fluid outlet sensor 46). This indicator may be based on the amount of heat supplied by cell 100 (e.g., the difference between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature), and / or the heating rate supplied by cell 100.

[0071] As an example, the controller 40 may be configured to receive a signal indicating the temperature of the heated fluid leaving the cell 100. If the heated fluid is outside a selected range (e.g., above an upper threshold temperature and / or below a lower threshold temperature), the controller 40 may control the operation of the heating system 50 to increase / decrease the temperature as needed to bring the outlet temperature back within a selected range. This control may further include the controller 40 determining whether the liquid supplied to the cell 100 exceeds a threshold amount and / or has been heated within a threshold time interval. The controller 40 may also control the operation of the heating system 50 to generate a sufficient amount of heat and / or heat at a sufficiently fast rate.

[0072] In addition to directly receiving an indicator of the temperature / pressure of the heated fluid leaving cell 100, or alternatively, controller 40 may receive signals indicating the cell's performance. For example, controller 40 may receive signals indicating the amount and / or quality of plasma generation occurring within cell 100. Controller 40 may control the operation of the heating system 50 so that the amount and / or quality of the generated plasma is within a selected range. This then allows control of the generation of heated fluid by cell 100 to function, as the plasma generation within cell 100 ultimately generates heat in the fluid within cell 100.

[0073] The controller 40 may be configured to obtain an index of the characteristics of plasma generation within the cell 100 based on signals received from the sensors. The index of plasma generation characteristics may be determined based on temperature data and / or pressure data of the fluid entering and / or leaving the cell 100. The amount of plasma generation may be determined based on the amount of heat generated and / or the rate at which the fluid is heated. For example, a higher rate / amount of heating may indicate an increase in plasma generation. The controller 40 may be configured to determine that plasma generation is within a selected range if the amount of heat and / or heating rate by the cell 100 is within a selected range.

[0074] The amount of plasma generation may be determined based on indicators of the internal state of the internal portion 125 of the housing 120, acquired (for example, using the internal portion sensor 47). An indicator that the fluid inside the internal portion 125 is moving as turbulence may indicate that more plasma will be generated (for example, due to greater conductive heating provided by the internal portion of the housing 120, which generates convective currents). Alternatively, an indicator that more electromagnetic energy is present (for example, more light is visible / more electromagnetic waves are detected) may also indicate that more plasma will be generated. The controller 40 may be configured to determine that plasma generation is within a selected range if the amount of turbulence and / or electromagnetic energy / electromagnetic radiation is within a selected range.

[0075] The amount of plasma generated may be determined based on an index of current and / or voltage acquired at one of the electrodes. For example, the controller 40 may acquire an index of the voltage applied to the first electrode 111 and an index of the resulting current passing through the first electrode 111 (e.g., using the first electrode sensor 43). The controller 40 may be configured to monitor the voltage and current data over time and determine at what point good plasma generation occurs based on this voltage and current data. For example, the controller 40 may control the power supply 30 to increase the voltage applied to the first electrode 111 over time, and this control may monitor the resulting current. As the voltage increases, the current also increases initially and then remains relatively stable as the voltage continues to increase. When a threshold voltage is reached, the current begins to increase, and the rate of increase of the current increases with the increased voltage. The controller 40 may be configured to detect that good plasma generation has occurred in the region where the current begins to increase again. For example, the controller 40 may be configured to determine that good plasma generation has occurred when the current begins to rise again. The controller 40 may then control the power supply 30 so as not to increase the voltage applied to the first electrode 111 any further.

[0076] The amount of plasma generation may be determined based on an indicator of chattering provided to the power supply 30 in response to the application of voltage to the first electrode 111. For example, since plasma generation causes oscillations, this chattering can provide an indicator of plasma generation occurring in the fuel. The controller 40 may be configured to determine that plasma generation is within a selected range if the detected chattering is within a selected range.

[0077] The above example illustrates operating parameters of cell 100, in which the controller 40 may be configured to determine and / or receive signals indicating operating parameters. Based on the acquisition of an index for any of these operating parameters, the controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the heating system 50. If the acquired index is outside a selected range (e.g., above an upper threshold and / or below a lower threshold), the controller 40 may control the operation of the system 50 so that the parameter value falls within a selected range. For this purpose, the controller 40 can control the electrical energy applied to the liquid supplied to cell 100 and / or the fluid within cell 100.

[0078] The controller 40 may be configured to control the liquid supplied to the cell 100 such that at least one operating parameter is within a selected range. Controlling the liquid supply may include at least one of the following: (i) controlling the temperature of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100; (ii) controlling the pressure of the liquid supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100; and / or (iii) controlling the amount of liquid supplied to the internal portion 125 of the cell 100 within a selected time window. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the heater 16 and / or the pump 18 to control the temperature and / or pressure of the liquid supplied to the cell 100. The fluid inlet 12 may include one opening to receive the liquid, or it may include multiple openings to provide multiple inlet points for the liquid to flow into the cell, for example. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the pump 18 to control the flow rate of the fluid through the cell 100, for example, to control how much fluid is delivered to the cell 100 per unit time. The liquid supply system 10 may be configured to provide a continuous flow of liquid to the cell 100, and the controller 40 may control the rate at which the liquid is supplied to the cell 100.

[0079] If the operating parameters indicate that the output from the cell needs to be increased (for example, that cell 100 needs to provide more fluid heat), the controller 40 may control the liquid supply system 10 to do at least one of the following: (i) supply liquid to cell 100 at a higher temperature, (ii) supply liquid to cell 100 under a higher pressure, and / or (iii) supply more liquid to cell 100. For example, if the operating parameters indicate that plasma generation is below a threshold, this control may increase the heat and / or pressure supplied to cell 100.

[0080] The controller 40 may be configured to control the electrical energy applied to the electrodes of the cell 100 such that at least one operating parameter is within a selected range. This control may include at least one of the following: (i) controlling the amount of time a voltage is applied to the first electrode 111; (ii) controlling the voltage applied to the first electrode 111; (iii) controlling the voltage applied to the second electrode 112; and / or (iv) controlling the voltage applied to the heater. If the operating parameter indicates that the temperature generation needs to be increased and / or that the plasma generation is below a threshold, the controller 40 may control the power supply 30 to increase the applied energy. For example, if the plasma and / or heat generation is below a threshold, the controller 40 may apply a voltage (or a higher voltage) to the heater and / or the first electrode 111.

[0081] The controller 40 may be configured to control both the electrical energy applied by the electrodes of the cell 100 and the supply of liquid to the cell 100 (for example, both may be controlled simultaneously). The controller 40 may control one depending on how the controller 40 controls the other. For example, the controller 40 may choose how to control the electrical energy applied by the electrodes of the cell 100 (and / or vice versa) based on how it controls the supply of liquid to the cell 100. If the controller 40 determines that it is necessary to increase plasma generation, it may increase the voltage applied to the heater and / or the first electrode 111, and similarly increase the temperature and / or pressure of the water supplied to the cell 100. If the controller 40 determines that it is necessary to increase the generation of heated fluid, it may increase the voltage applied to the electrodes and / or the heater, and similarly increase the amount of liquid supplied to the cell 100.

[0082] In the second and third examples, the controller 40 is configured to receive a request signal indicating a demand for output from cell 100. The request signal may indicate that more or less output is needed from cell 100. For example, this demand may not depend on the efficiency of cell 100, and cell 100 may operate within a threshold range of relevant operating parameters, but the request signal may indicate that the output needs to be changed (e.g., increased or decreased).

[0083] When a request signal indicates that less power is needed, the controller 40 is configured to control the amount of liquid supplied to the cell 100 and the electrical energy applied to the electrodes of the cell 100. As demand decreases, the controller 40 reduces the supply of liquid to the cell 100. For example, the controller 40 may reduce the fluid flow rate through the cell 100. The liquid may be supplied to the cell 100 at the same or similar temperature and / or pressure. The controller 40 may reduce the applied electrical energy. For example, the controller 40 may reduce the voltage applied to the first electrode 111. The controller 40 may also supply the same or similar voltage to the third electrode 113 and / or heater. The controller 40 may also control its operation so that, for example, despite the decrease in total power, plasma generation remains within a selected range.

[0084] If the request signal indicates that more output is needed, the controller 40 may control the operation in the opposite way. The controller 40 may increase the rate at which the liquid is supplied to the cell 100 and the amount of electrical energy applied to the electrodes of the cell 100. The controller 40 may be configured to control the operation of the cell 100 so as to prevent the flow rate of the liquid through the cell 100 from exceeding the plasma generation threshold (the amount of flow that is too high to generate sufficient plasma). The controller 40 may also control the operation so that, for example, the plasma generation remains within a selected range even though the total output is increasing, as described above.

[0085] In the fourth example, the controller 40 is configured to control the operation of the system 50 in startup mode. For example, when cell 100 is first turned on, it may take some time for the cell to become operational at higher efficiency. In particular, the housing 120 of cell 100 may be colder than the housing in use. The controller 40 may be configured to determine whether startup operating conditions should be used. For example, the controller 40 may obtain an index of the temperature of the relevant components of the system 50 (e.g., the housing 120) to determine whether the system 50 must operate in startup mode, and / or the controller 40 may determine that startup mode should be used based on an index of previous use (e.g., that the system 50 has not been used recently).

[0086] In startup mode, the controller 40 is configured to control the operation of the cell 100 to provide additional heat. The controller 40 may increase the voltage applied to the first electrode 111 to provide additional resistive heating. In addition, or instead, the controller 40 may apply a voltage to a heater, for example, to provide resistive heating. For example, the controller 40 may control the operation so that a higher voltage is applied to the heater during startup mode than during normal operation (for example, no voltage may be applied to the heater during normal operation). For example, the controller 40 may control the operation of the heater to provide more heat during startup (for example, more thermal energy may be used). The controller 40 may also control the operation of an additional heater, such as a cartridge heater, to provide heat to the cell 100 / internal portion 125. The controller 40 may control the supply of liquid to the cell 100 so that the liquid supplied to the cell 100 is at a higher temperature and / or pressure, and / or the flow rate of fluid through the cell 100 is lower during startup mode. The controller 40 may be controlled so that the electrical energy applied to the electrodes and / or heaters is high during startup mode.

[0087] The controller 40 may be configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of cell 100 to determine when to exit the startup mode. For example, while the acquired index for the temperature associated with cell 100 remains below a threshold temperature, the controller 40 may control the operation of the system 50 to enter startup mode. When this temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the controller 40 may control the operation of the system 50 to operate under normal mode operating conditions. For example, in normal mode, the liquid may not be preheated to a great extent. The controller 40 may be configured to determine that sufficient plasma generation has occurred (for example, in the manner described above) and switch to normal mode operation in response to this determination.

[0088] Here, another exemplary cell 100 is described with reference to Figure 3. Since cell 100 in Figure 3 is closely related to the previously mentioned cell, the description of its related components will not be repeated here.

[0089] Figure 3 shows cell 100. Cell 100 includes a first electrode 111, a second electrode 112, a third electrode 113, and a resistive element 115. Cell 100 also includes a housing 120 having a fluid inlet 12 and a fluid outlet 22, defining an internal portion 125. Cell 100 also includes a first end cap 122, a second end cap 124, and a compression device 126. Cell 100 may also include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generating fuel cell).

[0090] The internal portion 125 extends from the first end of the housing 120, which includes the fluid inlet 12, to the second end of the housing 120, which includes the fluid outlet 22. The internal portion 125 may be cylindrical. The housing 120 encloses the internal portion 125, except that it defines the fluid inlet 12 and the fluid outlet 22. In this example, the resistive element 115 is located adjacent to the internal wall of the housing 120, but in other examples, the resistive element 115 may be integrated with the internal wall or separated from the wall and located inside the internal portion 125. The first end cap 122 and the second end cap 124 may also form part of the resistive element 115, for example, the first end cap 122 and the second end cap 124 also contribute to an increase in resistance to the conductive path from anode to cathode. The second electrode 112 is located within the internal wall of the housing 120 (for example, integrated with the internal wall). The first electrode and the third electrode 113 are at least partially located within the internal portion 125. The first electrode 111 extends from the outside of its first end into the internal portion 125. The third electrode 113 extends from the outside of its second end into the internal portion 125. A gap exists between these two electrodes located within the internal portion 125. These three electrodes and the resistive element 115 may be coaxial (for example, these three electrodes and the resistive element 115 may be concentric).

[0091] The first end cap 122 encloses the internal portion 125 at the first end. The second end cap 124 encloses the internal portion 125 at the second end. The end caps 122 and 124 form part of the housing 120 corresponding to the internal portion 125. The first end cap 122 is nonconductive. The second end cap 124 is nonconductive. Each end cap can effectively form part of a resistive barrier against the conductive path from anode to cathode (for example, the end cap may form part of the resistive element 115, or function in combination with the resistive element 115). Each end cap 122 and 124 includes one or more openings that allow fluid to flow through each end cap. One or both end caps may have an opening near the center of the end cap. For example, the opening of the first end cap 122 may be located proximal to the first electrode 111. The openings may be positioned to facilitate the flow of liquid into the internal portion 125 while preventing the formation of a conductive path from anode to cathode through the openings. The first end cap 122 may have multiple openings to facilitate multiple different locations through which the liquid can flow into the internal portion 125. A compression device 126 is located in the first end of the housing 120 adjacent to the first end cap 122. The compression device 126 may include any preferred biasing means, such as a spring. As shown in Figure 3, each end of the housing 120 may have a thicker material. At least a portion of the housing 120 may be connected to electrical ground. As shown in Figure 3, the first end of the housing 120 is grounded. One or both of the end caps may include a heating element (e.g., a resistance heater). This heating element may be used to provide heat to the liquid in the internal portion 125 (e.g., during startup). For example, a power supply 30 may be coupled to the heater at the end cap (e.g., the first end cap 122). The controller 40 may be configured to control the application of power to the heaters of the end caps in order to provide heat.

[0092] The first electrode 111 may include a conductor extending along the length of the electrode. The conductor may be provided inside an insulator to provide the electrode. An insulating shroud may be provided over at least a portion of the area of ​​the electrode within the internal portion 125 (for example, the insulating shroud may be provided at the end of the first electrode 111 located in the internal portion 125). For example, the electrode may have a conductor extending along a central axis, in which case this conductor is radially surrounded by an insulator along the length of the conductor present in the internal portion 125 (for example, the conductor may extend along its entire length). The first electrode 111 may also include a carrier at the end of the first electrode 111 away from the internal portion 125. The carrier may include appropriate fastening means, such as a ledge, for attachment to the first end cap 122. The carrier may include sealing and mounting means for attaching the first electrode 111 to the first end cap 122 and sealing the internal portion 125. For example, a radially extending flange may provide a sealing surface. For example, the end cap 122 may be secured to the electrode by a screw thread to seal the internal portion 125. A similar arrangement may be provided for the third electrode 113, for example, the arrangement of the third electrode 113 including the second end cap 124.

[0093] The compression device 126 is configured to apply pressure to the first end cap 122 toward the internal portion 125 of the housing 120. The compression device 126 may facilitate the retention of the internal portion 125 of the housing 120 under pressure. The housing 120 is arranged so that liquid flows into the internal portion 125 through the fluid inlet 12 and vapor / liquid flows out through the fluid outlet 22. The housing 120 is arranged to provide structural supports that allow the internal portion 125 to be retained with fluid inside under pressure. For example, the side walls of the housing 120 are arranged to withstand the radial expansion of the internal portion 125, and the end walls of the housing 120 are arranged to withstand the longitudinal expansion of the internal portion 125. The operation of cell 100 is the same as that previously described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and will not be described again here.

[0094] The heating systems described herein may be used in larger-scale generation systems. Examples of such larger-scale generation systems are described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0095] Figure 4 shows a heat and power generation system 1000. The heat and power generation system 1000 includes a power management system 200, a cell 100, a heat management system 300, a fluid management system 400, and a power generation system 500. Figure 4 also shows a main power coupling 220. The cell 100 may include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generation fuel cell).

[0096] Figure 4 shows a block diagram illustrating the functional interrelationships between the different constituent systems of the heat and power generation system 1000. However, it should be understood that this diagram is intended to show functional connections, not specific structural connections. It should also be understood that the structural arrangements of the different constituent systems may be interconnected (as described later, for example, with reference to Figure 5).

[0097] As shown in Figure 4, the power management system 200 is coupled to cell 100. Cell 100 is coupled to the thermal management system 300. The thermal management system 300 is coupled to the power generation system 500 and the fluid management system 400, respectively. The fluid management system 400 is coupled to cell 100. The power generation system 500 is coupled to the power management system 200. This coupling is intended to demonstrate the functional interrelationships between different constituent systems. The power management system 200 may also be coupled to the mains power coupling 220 (for example, as shown in Figure 4).

[0098] The power management system 200 is configured to control the application of power to the cell 100. The power management system 200 may also control the electrical energy (e.g., voltage) applied to the first electrode 111 of the cell 100. The power management system 200 may also control the electrical energy (e.g., voltage) applied to the remaining electrodes and / or heaters of the cell 100. The power management system 200 may also control the operation of any pump 18 and / or heater 16 that supply liquid to the cell 100 under pressure and / or high temperature. Thus, the power management system 200 can control the operation of the cell 100 to generate a heated fluid.

[0099] Cell 100 is configured to operate as described above (for example, to apply electrical energy inside the internal part 125 of the cell to generate a heated fluid).

[0100] The thermal management system 300 is configured to receive a heated fluid generated by the cell 100. The thermal management system 300 is configured to utilize this heated fluid to perform the associated thermal work. For example, the thermal management system 300 may be configured to use this heated fluid to provide heat, for example, to heat a building. The thermal management system 300 may include one or more components that provide heat transfer from the heated fluid from the cell 100 to another component and / or substance. For example, the thermal management system 300 may include one or more heat exchangers.

[0101] The power generation system 500 is configured to receive the heated fluid generated by the cell 100. The power generation system 500 is configured to use this heated fluid to generate power (e.g., electrical energy). Figure 4 shows that the output of the cell 100 is supplied to the thermal management system 300, and from the thermal management system 300 to the power generation system 500. However, in the context of this disclosure, it will be understood that one of these systems is not required, or that two systems are provided by the same components. The power generation system 500 may include one or more generators that generate electricity based on the movement of the heated fluid (e.g., using pressurized gas to drive a turbine that generates electricity). This arrangement may also include several thermal management systems (e.g., for distributing heat to other parts of the power generation system 500). In some examples, the heated fluid may be used for the purpose of generating heat and power. The thermal management system 300 may then control the distribution of the heated fluid accordingly (e.g., controlling the distribution of the heated fluid to the power generation system 500). For example, the aforementioned work extraction system 20 may include such a thermal management system 300 and / or power generation system 500.

[0102] The power generated by the power generation system 500 may then be supplied to the power management system 200. For example, this power generated by the power generation system 500 may then be used by the power management system 200 to supply power to cell 100, resulting in further power generation. The power management system 200 may also be coupled to a mains power coupling 220 to receive power and / or transmit power to the mains power supply. For example, during startup mode, the power management system 200 may obtain all of its power from the mains power supply, but after startup, it may receive at least a portion of the mains power supply from the power generation system 500. After startup, a portion of the power generated by the power generation system 500 may be provided to the mains power coupling 220 for distribution to other locations.

[0103] The fluid management system 400 is configured to supply liquid to the cell 100 (for example, as described above for the liquid supply system 10). The fluid management system 400 is configured to receive the fluid output from the cell 100. The fluid management system 400 may be configured to process the fluid that has been heated by the cell 100 and subsequently used by the thermal management system and / or power generation system. The heated fluid generated by the cell 100 may be high temperature and / or high pressure. The thermal management system and / or power generation system is configured to extract usable work from this high temperature / high pressure fluid. By the time the usable work has been extracted, the fluid may be at a much lower temperature and pressure. For example, the fluid may leave the cell 100 as a high temperature and high pressure gas and become a liquid again (for example, at a lower temperature) once all of it has been used to extract work. The fluid management system 400 is configured to process this used fluid. Processing the used fluid may include returning the used fluid to the environment and / or processing the fluid so that it can be used again as a liquid supplied to the cell 100 (for example, by filtering).

[0104] During operation, the power management system 200 receives power (e.g., from the mains coupling 220 and / or the power generation system 500). The power management system 200 applies electrical energy to the cell 100 (e.g., to the first electrode 111). The fluid management system 400 supplies liquid to the cell 100. The electrical energy applied to the cell 100 then heats the liquid supplied to the cell 100, resulting in the cell 100 outputting heated fluid. This heated fluid is received by the thermal management system 300 and / or the power management system 200, which extract usable work from the heated fluid (e.g., to generate heat and / or power). Once this work is extracted, any power generated by the power generation system 500 is supplied to the power management system 200. The used fluid is supplied to the fluid management system, which processes the used fluid. This process may be repeated continuously, for example, to generate heat and / or power.

[0105] Here, a more specific example of the heat and power generation system 1000 is described with reference to Figure 5.

[0106] Figure 5 shows a heat and power generation system 1000. The heat and power generation system 1000 includes a cell 100. It also includes a power supply 30, a pump 18, and a drain pipe 15. The system 1000 includes a plurality of heat exchangers, which include a first heat exchanger 301, a second heat exchanger 302, a third heat exchanger 303, and a fourth heat exchanger 304, as shown in Figure 5. The system 1000 further includes a heat engine 510 having a first drive region 511 and a second drive region 512, and a generator 520. The cell 100 may include a plasma cell (e.g., a plasma generating fuel cell).

[0107] Cell 100 is connected to receive two inputs (liquid and electricity) and provide an output (heated fluid). The inputs to cell 100 are shown at the bottom and right of cell 100, and the output is shown at the top.

[0108] The output of cell 100 is coupled to the first heat exchanger 301 and the heat engine 510, respectively. The output flow path may be divided into two, one flow path coupled to the first heat exchanger 301 and the other flow path coupled to the heat engine 510. In particular, the output from cell 100 is coupled to the first drive region 511 of the heat engine 510. The heat engine 510 has a first engine inlet that receives fluid to drive the engine 510 in the first drive region 511. The first drive region 511 is also coupled to a first engine outlet that outputs the fluid that drove the engine 510 in the first drive region 511. The first engine outlet is also coupled to the first heat exchanger 301.

[0109] The engine 510 also includes a second engine inlet and a second engine outlet. The second engine inlet is for receiving fluid to drive the engine 510 in the second drive region 512. The second engine outlet is for outputting the fluid that has driven the engine 510 in the second drive region 512. The second engine inlet is also coupled to the first heat exchanger 301. For example, fluid may flow from the first engine outlet through the first heat exchanger 301 to the second engine inlet. The engine 510 is coupled to a generator. The first drive region 511 and the second drive region 512 of the engine 510 may each be coupled to a generator. The first drive region 511 and the second drive region 512 may drive the engine 510 in different ratios. Both may contribute to driving the generator, thereby generating electricity.

[0110] The first heat exchanger 301 may be coupled to the second heat exchanger 302. The system 1000 may be configured such that the heated fluid from the cell 100 flows through the first heat exchanger 301 to the second heat exchanger 302. The second heat exchanger 302 may also be coupled to a third heat exchanger 303 and / or a fourth heat exchanger 304.

[0111] Power supply 30 is coupled to cell 100. Power supply 30 provides input to the fuel supply (e.g., provides electrical energy to the electrodes of cell 100). Power supply 30 may include a coupling that receives power from a mains power source (e.g., power supply 30 receives three-phase power). Power supply 30 may include a converter that provides a DC output, such as a high-voltage DC output (e.g., AC-DC). The high-voltage DC output may then be supplied to cell 100, for example, to be applied to the first electrode 111. Power supply 30 may also be coupled to a generator to receive electricity generated by the generator. Power supply 30 may receive AC or DC from the generator. If power supply 30 receives AC, the AC may be converted to DC (e.g., using the same or different AC-DC converters). A portion of the power generated by the generator may be supplied to the mains power source for use elsewhere, for example.

[0112] A third heat exchanger 303 and / or pump 18 may be coupled to the input to cell 100. The liquid supplied to cell 100 may be heated and / or pressurized using the third heat exchanger 303 and / or pump 18. This heating and / or pressurization may provide the liquid input to cell 100, which is used to generate the heated fluid. The heated fluid output from cell 100 is eventually coupled to the drain pipe 15. For example, fluid that has passed through both regions 511 and 512 of engine 510 may be supplied to the drain pipe 15. Similarly, fluid that has passed through any of the heat exchangers (e.g., the second heat exchanger 302, the third heat exchanger 303, and / or the fourth heat exchanger 304) may then be coupled to the drain pipe 15.

[0113] System 1000 is configured to provide multiple uses for the heated fluid generated by cell 100, for example, to extract work from the heated fluid in multiple ways. System 1000 is configured to provide a hot, high-pressure fluid output from cell 100 to drive a first drive region 511 of engine 510. A generator is configured to generate electricity from this drive of the first drive region 511. A first heat exchanger 301 is configured to reheat this fluid that has driven the first drive region 511 of engine 510. The first heat exchanger 301 is configured to exchange heat between the heated fluid from cell 100 and the fluid that has driven the first drive region 511 of engine 510. System 1000 is configured to drive a second drive region 512 of engine 510 using the reheated fluid that has driven the first drive region 511 of engine 510. The second drive region 512 of the engine 510 is configured to have a gentler ratio (for example, so that lower energy is required for rotational drive) compared to the first drive region 511. The fluid passing through the second drive region 512 may be at a lower pressure than that in the first drive region 511. The generator is configured to generate electricity in response to the driving of the first drive region 511 and / or the second drive region 512 of the engine 510.

[0114] System 1000 is configured to provide further heating applications, where applicable, for the heated fluid that has passed through the first heat exchanger 301 and / or exited from the second engine outlet. For example, System 1000 may be configured to deliver the heated fluid to one or more of the second heat exchanger 302, the third heat exchanger 303, and / or the fourth heat exchanger 304 in order to extract usable thermal work from this heated fluid. Any of these heat exchangers 302, 303, and 304 may be coupled to an external component that uses such heat. System 1000 may also be configured to exchange heat from the heated fluid with the liquid supplied to the cell 100 in order to provide heat to the cell before it is delivered to the cell 100. System 1000 is configured to drain any remaining fluid using a drain pipe 15.

[0115] During operation, liquid is supplied to cell 100 to generate a heated fluid, and electrical energy is applied to the electrodes of cell 100. The heated fluid leaves cell 100 and flows through both the first heat exchanger 301 and the first drive region 511 of engine 510. The heated fluid flows through the first drive region 511, driving engine 510 and a generator to generate electricity. This fluid then flows into the first heat exchanger 301, where it is reheated by the heated fluid that has traveled directly from cell 100 to the first heat exchanger 301 (for example, without going through engine 510). The fluid that has traveled through engine 510 then flows through the second engine drive region after being reheated. This fluid then drives engine 510 and a generator to generate electricity. The fluid that has passed through the second drive region 512 of engine 510 and / or the fluid that has passed through the first heat exchanger 301 away from engine 510 is then used in further heat exchangers 302, 303, 304 to extract more usable thermal work from the fluid. This fluid is then discharged using the drain pipe 15.

[0116] It will be understood in the context of this disclosure that the examples described herein are not intended to be considered limiting. Alternative and / or additional features may also be included. For example, references have been made to concentric electrodes, where a central first electrode 111 and a second electrode 112 located radially outward from the first electrode 111 are arranged coaxially. However, this arrangement may be reversed. Alternatively, the electrodes do not need to be arranged concentrically. For example, the two electrodes may be arranged in alternative ways, such as as plate electrodes, e.g., two parallel plates, or parallel wires, or other parallel objects such as a sphere.

[0117] References to the electrodes of cell 100 have been made herein. A first electrode 111 may be provided with an anode, a second electrode 112 with a cathode, and / or a third electrode 113 with a balance electrode. It will be understood in the context of this disclosure that each electrode may provide a conductive path, for example, each electrode may include a conductor extending along the length of the electrode. The anode may include a conductor that provides a conductive path from outside the internal portion 125 to the internal portion 125, to the distal end of a conductor within the internal portion 125. The cathode may include a conductor that provides a conductive path from within the internal portion 125, or from adjacent to the internal portion 125, to away from the internal portion 125. The balance electrode may include a conductor that provides a conductive path from outside the internal portion 125 to the internal portion 125, or from within the internal portion 125 to away from the internal portion 125. The first electrode 111 may be positioned to pass closer to the third electrode 113 than the second electrode 112. For example, the shortest distance between a point on the first electrode 111 and a point on the third electrode 113 may be shorter than the shortest distance between the first electrode and the second electrode 112. For example, the shortest distance between the first electrode and the third electrode may be much shorter than the shortest distance between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112.

[0118] The examples described herein relate to the use of a single cell. However, it will be understood in the context of this disclosure that multiple cells may be provided. For example, the operation of different cells may be timed to provide a uniform output of the heated fluid over time. The operating timing of each cell may be staggered so that the total output of the heated fluid over time remains relatively constant. For example, each cell may have an output of the heated fluid that changes over time, and multiple cells may have timed cell operation such that the output from all the combined cells is more uniform than the output of any single cell alone. The controller 40 may be configured to control the supply of liquid to each cell and / or the application of electrical energy to the electrodes in order to provide a uniform output of the heated fluid. For example, one or more sensors may be used for each cell to determine operating parameters such as the output of the heated fluid of the cell.

[0119] It should be understood that the supply of liquid to cell 100 may occur continuously over time or only in individual time segments. The controller 40 may be configured to control whether or not liquid is delivered to cell 100. For example, cell 100 may include a fluid inlet valve operable to control whether or not fluid can flow into the internal portion 125, and / or the operation of the pump 18 may control whether or not liquid is delivered to cell 100. Fluid may be continuously replaced within cell 100, for example, with fluid constantly being supplied to cell 100 and heated fluid continuously leaving cell 100 (e.g., as gas through the fluid outlet 22). Individual time segments for fluid input may exist, with a unit of liquid being delivered to cell 100 (e.g., enough to fill cell 100), and then no further liquid being supplied, for example, when all the fluid has been heated enough to be released through the fluid outlet 22, while electrical energy is applied to the electrodes to provide heated fluid. Next, another unit of liquid may be supplied to cell 100. In this mode of operation, it will be understood that multiple different cells operating together may operate at times such that while one unit of liquid is being delivered to one cell, another cell applies electrical energy to the fluid within that other cell. It will be understood that multiple different cells (e.g., more than two) may be used with all their timings staggered from one another, for example, when one cell is nearing the end of heating, another cell is in the middle of heating, and another cell has just begun heating.

[0120] The internal surface of the housing 120 has been described as an electromagnetic energy absorbing surface. This may be the properties of the material used to provide the housing 120, for example, steel, and / or a coating may be provided on the internal surface to facilitate the absorption of electromagnetic energy (e.g., from photon emission). It will be understood that the absorption of electromagnetic energy may include receiving incident photons (e.g., of the visible light spectrum) and generating heat in response to the photons incident on the surface. It will also be understood that electrons or other particles (e.g., charged particles emitted from a plasma / plasma cooling process) may be incident on the internal surface of the housing 120. The internal surface of the housing 120 may also be configured to generate heat in response to such incident particles. For example, resistive heating may be provided in response to electrons flowing through the internal surface.

[0121] It will be understood from the above description that the illustrated examples are for illustrative purposes only and include features that may be described herein, generalized as described in the claims, removed, or replaced. Referring to the drawings in general, it will be understood that schematic functional block diagrams are used to illustrate the functions of the systems and apparatus described herein. In addition, processing functions may also be provided by devices supported by electronic devices. However, it will be understood that functions do not need to be divided in this way and should not be considered to imply any particular structure of hardware other than those described below and claimed. One or more functions of the illustrated elements may be further subdivided and / or distributed throughout the apparatus of this disclosure. In some examples, the functions of one or more illustrated elements may be integrated into a single functional unit.

[0122] As will be understood by those skilled in the art in the context of this disclosure, each example described herein may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Any feature of any aspect of this disclosure may be combined with any other aspect of this disclosure. For example, an aspect of a method may be combined with an aspect of an apparatus, and a feature described with reference to the operation of a particular element of an apparatus may be provided in a way that does not use that particular type of apparatus. In addition, each feature of each example is intended to be separable from the features described in combination, unless it is explicitly mentioned that another feature is essential to the operation of that feature. Each of these separable features may, of course, be combined with any other feature of the described example, or with any other feature or combination of features of any other example described herein. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described herein may be used without departing from the invention.

[0123] Certain features of the methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, and one or more functions of an apparatus may be implemented in a method step. Furthermore, it will be understood in the context of this disclosure that the methods described herein do not necessarily have to be performed in the order in which they are described, nor necessarily in the order in which they are illustrated. Thus, aspects of this disclosure described with reference to a product or apparatus are also intended to be implemented as methods, and vice versa. The methods described herein may be implemented as computer programs, hardware, or any combination thereof. Computer programs include software, middleware, firmware, and any combination thereof. Such programs may be provided as signals or network messages, or recorded on computer-readable media such as tangible computer-readable media capable of storing computer programs in a non-transient format. Hardware includes computers, portable devices, programmable processors, general-purpose processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and logic gate arrays. For example, any controller 40 described herein may be provided by any control device, such as a general-purpose processor configured with a computer program product configured to program the processor to operate in any one of the methods described herein. The functions of the controller 40 may be provided by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or by a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or by a configuration of logic gates, or by any other control device.

[0124] Other examples and variations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art by considering the context of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A heating system, Liquid supply system, A cell configured to receive liquid from the liquid supply system, heat the liquid, and output a heated fluid, A work extraction system configured to extract usable work from the heated fluid output from the cell, Controller and It has, The aforementioned cell is (i) A housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives the liquid to be heated, (ii) A plurality of electrodes, including a first electrode configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion, Equipped with, The first electrode is configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion in order to heat the fluid in the internal portion by generating one or more plasma bubbles that release energy into the fluid in the internal portion and the housing, The controller is configured to reduce or stop the application of voltage to the first electrode when the change in current or the rate of change of current exceeds a threshold. A heating system characterized by the following features.

2. A heating system, Liquid supply system, A cell configured to receive liquid from the liquid supply system, heat the liquid, and output a heated fluid, A work extraction system configured to extract usable work from the heated fluid output from the cell, It has, The aforementioned cell is (i) A housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives the liquid to be heated, (ii) A plurality of electrodes, including a first electrode configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion, and a second electrode capacitively arranged with respect to the first electrode, Equipped with, The heating system is configured to heat the fluid in the internal portion by applying electrical energy to the first electrode, thereby charging a capacitor provided by the first electrode and the second electrode, generating one or more plasma bubbles in the fluid in the internal portion, and releasing energy into the fluid in the internal portion and the inside of the housing. A heating system characterized by the following features.

3. The controller is configured to (i) receive a signal indicating at least one operating parameter of the cell, and (ii) control the operation of the heating system based on the operating parameter, The heating system according to claim 1.

4. (i) A controller configured to receive a signal indicating at least one operating parameter of the cell, and (ii) to control the operation of the heating system based on the operating parameter, Having, The heating system according to claim 2.

5. The controller is configured to control the operation of the heating system such that the generation of heat and / or plasma within the cell exceeds a threshold level. The heating system according to claim 3 or 4.

6. Controlling the operation of the heating system includes controlling at least one of (i) the supply of liquid to the cell by the liquid supply system and (ii) the electrical energy applied by the electrodes. The heating system according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

7. The controller is configured to control the supply of liquid to the cell and / or the electrical energy applied by the electrodes, based on an index obtained regarding the heat demand provided by the cell. The heating system according to claim 6.

8. The signal indicating at least one operating parameter includes an indicator of the quality and / or quantity of plasma generation within the cell, The controller is configured to control the operation of the heating system so that the quality and / or quantity of the plasma generation is maintained within a selected range. The heating system according to any one of claims 3 to 7.

9. The signal indicating the quality and / or quantity of the plasma generation includes at least one of the following indicators: (i) the pressure and / or temperature of the fluid output from the cell; (ii) the amount and / or type of electromagnetic energy present in the cell; (iii) chattering related to the supply of power to one or more electrodes; (iv) current flow and / or voltage related to one or more electrodes; and (v) fluid dynamics of the fluid in the cell. The heating system according to claim 8.

10. The controller is configured to control at least one of the following: (i) the supply of liquid to the cell based on the electrical energy applied by the plurality of electrodes, and (ii) the electrical energy applied by the plurality of electrodes based on the supply of liquid to the cell. The heating system according to any one of claims 3 to 9.

11. The signal indicating at least one operating parameter includes an index of temperature related to at least one of the cell, the fluid in the cell, and the fluid output from the cell, The controller is configured to control at least one of (i) the electrical energy applied by the electrodes, (ii) the supply of liquid to the cell, and (iii) an external heater in order to increase the temperature of the cell, the fluid in the cell, and / or the fluid output from the cell when the temperature index is below a threshold level. The heating system according to any one of claims 3 to 10.

12. The liquid supply system is configured to increase the heat of the fluid before supplying the liquid to the cell if the heat and / or plasma generation in the cell is below a threshold level. A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Multiple electrodes are, (i) an anode arranged to provide a conductive path for the current applied to the fluid in the internal portion, (ii) A cathode arranged to provide a conductive path away from the internal portion for the current received from the anode through the fluid in the internal portion, including, A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Equilibrium electrodes are arranged to provide further conductive paths toward or away from the fluid in the internal portion. It has, The anode, the cathode, and the equilibrium electrode all have the same coefficient of thermal expansion. The heating system according to claim 13.

15. The equilibrium electrode is spaced apart from the conductive path from the first electrode to the second electrode, The equilibrium electrode extends perpendicularly away from the conductive path from the first electrode to the second electrode, The equilibrium electrode is positioned closer to the first electrode than to the second electrode. The heating system according to claim 14.

16. The cell comprises a resistive element positioned between the anode and the cathode, The resistive element includes quartz, The heating system according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. The anode and the cathode are arranged concentrically with respect to each other. The heating system according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. The work extraction system comprises at least one of the following: (i) a regulator for mass transfer of a high-temperature and / or pressurized fluid; (ii) a heat exchanger for transferring heat to a working fluid; and (iii) a power generation system such as a steam-based power generation system. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A method for providing a heated fluid from which usable work can be extracted, A step of supplying a liquid to be heated to a cell, wherein the cell comprises (i) a housing positioned to define an internal portion that receives the liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes, including a first electrode configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion. A step of controlling the operation of a plurality of electrodes to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion in order to generate one or more plasma bubbles, wherein the control of the application of the electrical energy to the first electrode includes reducing or stopping the application of voltage to the first electrode when the change in current or the rate of change of current exceeds a threshold, In relation to the plasma bubble in the internal portion, the process involves generating heat in the housing adjacent to the internal portion, depending on the housing that receives the incident photon. The process of using the housing to conduction heat the fluid in the internal portion, Having, A method characterized by the following:

20. A method for providing a heated fluid from which usable work can be extracted, A step of supplying a liquid to be heated to a cell, wherein the cell comprises (i) a housing positioned to define an internal portion for receiving the liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the fluid in the internal portion, the plurality of electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode arranged capacitively, A step of applying electrical energy to the first electrode, wherein the capacitor provided by the first electrode and the second electrode is charged to generate one or more plasma bubbles in the fluid within the internal portion, In relation to the plasma bubble in the internal portion, the process involves generating heat in the housing adjacent to the internal portion, depending on the housing that receives the incident photon. The process of using the housing to conduct heat to the fluid in the internal portion, Having, A method characterized by the following:

21. Computer program instructions configured to control a processor in order to perform the method described in claim 19 or 20, Having, A computer program product characterized by the following features.

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