Systems and methods for the capture of heat energy, long-distance conveyance, storage, and distribution of the captured heat energy and power generated therefrom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current district heating systems face limitations due to heat losses in flowlines carrying steam or hot water, restricting their feasible areal extent and efficiency, especially in remote or isolated areas where high-transport-cost fuels are necessary, and there's a need for efficient long-distance conveyance and utilization of low-temperature heat energy sources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of stand-alone systems using closed-loop circulation of low-boiling-point fluids to capture heat energy from geothermal, thermal solar, and waste sources, converting it into latent heat for long-distance conveyance at ambient temperatures, and then converting it back to sensible heat for delivery, enabling power generation and heating in remote areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If district heating systems use steam or hot water flowlines to convey heat energy, then heat energy can be delivered to users, but heat losses occur in the flowlines which restrict the feasible areal extent of the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the heat conveyance medium from high-temperature steam or hot water to ambient-temperature liquid carriers. This parameter change eliminates heat losses in flowlines while enabling long-distance conveyance and expanding the feasible areal extent of district heating systems to cover large geographic areas including remote communities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of low-boiling-point fluids (vaporization at heat capture locations, condensation at delivery points) to transfer heat energy. The fluid vaporizes to absorb heat at the source, travels as vapor through insulated lines, then condenses to release heat at the destination, enabling efficient long-distance heat conveyance without thermal losses.
2Power
If low-temperature heat energy sources are used for power generation, then power can be generated from renewable sources, but the exit temperatures are too low for heat utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the power generation function from the heat utilization function. Power is generated at the heat capture location using low-temperature sources, while the remaining heat energy is conveyed separately through ambient-temperature flowlines to distant heat delivery points, allowing both functions to be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ambient-temperature liquid carriers as intermediaries to transfer heat energy from low-temperature sources to utilization points. These carriers absorb heat through phase change at the source, transport it without thermal losses, and release it through condensation at the destination, bridging the temperature gap between low-temperature sources and heat utilization requirements.
3Power
If remote communities rely on high-transport-cost bulk liquid fuels for power generation and heating, then power and heat can be supplied, but transportation costs are very high and infrastructure requirements are extensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables remote communities to become self-sufficient by capturing local low-temperature heat sources (geothermal, waste heat, solar thermal) to generate both power and heat locally. The system uses ambient-temperature conveyance lines that require minimal insulation and infrastructure, eliminating dependence on expensive fuel transportation and external energy infrastructure.
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
This solution allows for efficient long-distance conveyance and utilization of low-temperature heat energy, reducing energy costs and infrastructure needs, and providing self-sufficient power and heating solutions in remote or isolated regions, including emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
transferring and converting the remaining captured-heat energy to the latent heat of a low-boiling point-liquid by vaporization into its vapor phase
Implementation Method 2
conveying over long distances, the captured-heat energy contained in the vapor of the low-boiling-point liquid as latent heat at ambient temperatures
Implementation Method 3
converting the conveyed latent heat energy to sensible heat energy at a delivery site by condensing the vapor of the low-boiling-point liquid into its liquid phase
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.