Plasma Bubble Heating Cell for High-Exergy Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for generating heat and power, such as those involving combustion of fossil fuels, face inefficiencies and challenges in providing high exergy heated fluids for effective work extraction and power generation.
Innovation Solution
A heating system comprising a cell with electrodes that apply electrical energy to generate plasma bubbles in a liquid, producing high exergy heated fluid, and a controller to manage operational parameters like plasma generation and fluid supply for efficient heating and power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If combustion of fossil fuels is used to generate heat and power, then heating and power generation can be achieved, but efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical combustion system with an electrical plasma generation system. Electrodes generate plasma bubbles in the liquid medium, which directly convert electrical energy to thermal energy through electromagnetic interactions, eliminating the inefficiencies of combustion-based thermal conversion and mechanical steam generation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental energy conversion parameter from chemical combustion to electrical plasma generation. By applying high voltage to create plasma bubbles in the liquid, the system achieves direct electrical-to-thermal energy conversion, fundamentally altering the energy transformation pathway to improve overall efficiency.
2Power
If plasma bubbles are generated in liquid, then high exergy heated fluid is produced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating function into discrete plasma bubbles that form throughout the liquid medium. Each bubble acts as an independent heating element, allowing distributed energy input and simplifying the overall system design while achieving high exergy output through the collective effect of multiple bubble formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the liquid medium itself as an intermediary to transfer and distribute the energy from plasma bubbles throughout the system. The liquid serves as both the working fluid and the heat transfer medium, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and reducing device complexity while maintaining high exergy output.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently generates high exergy heated fluid, enabling effective work extraction and power generation while optimizing operational parameters for enhanced performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to said fluid in the internal portion to generate one or more bubbles of plasma for releasing energy into said fluid in the internal portion and the housing to provide heating of the fluid in the internal portion
Implementation Method 2
The electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to said fluid in the internal portion to generate one or more bubbles of plasma for releasing energy into said fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system comprising: a liquid supply system; a cell configured to: receive liquid from the liquid supply system, provide heating thereof, and output heated fluid; a work extraction system configured to extract useable work from heated fluid output from the cell; wherein the cell comprises: (i) a housing arranged to define an internal portion for receiving liquid to be heated, and (ii) a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to fluid in the internal portion; and wherein the electrodes are configured to apply electrical energy to said fluid in the internal portion to generate one or more bubbles of plasma for releasing energy into said fluid in the internal portion and the housing to provide heating of the fluid in the internal portion.