Thermal Utilization System Integrating Heat Engine and Chemical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermoelectric systems, solar heat engines, and desalination plants face inefficiencies in heat rejection and energy utilization, leading to energy loss and limited multitasking capabilities, particularly in providing power generation, energy storage, desalination, and fluid transportation over long distances.
Innovation Solution
A thermal utilization system that integrates energy storage and utilization components, using exothermic reactions between working fluids and solutions to generate energy, and incorporates heat engines for power generation, while allowing for both closed and open cycle operations to optimize energy use and reduce energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If cooling towers and cooling units are used to reject heat from thermoelectric systems, then heat rejection is achieved, but energy loss increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with power generation by integrating a heat engine between the heat source and ambient environment. The heat engine converts rejected heat into useful work, combining thermal energy recovery with power generation in a single system, thereby reducing energy loss without adding separate cooling infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The heat engine serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates electrical power from waste heat, provides thermal energy for desalination processes, and acts as the heat rejection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cooling towers or units, reducing both energy loss and device complexity
2Productivity
If separate systems are used for power generation, desalination, energy storage, and fluid transportation, then each function can be optimized, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal thermal energy system where a single heat engine drives multiple processes: power generation through electrical generators, desalination through evaporators and condensers, energy storage via thermal mass, and fluid transportation through vapor flow. This multi-functional integration achieves high productivity while reducing overall system complexity compared to separate dedicated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges power generation, desalination, energy storage, and fluid transportation into an integrated thermal cycle. The heat engine serves as a common platform that couples all these functions through shared thermal energy flows, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure and reducing inter-system energy transfers
3Productivity
If conventional desalination plants are coupled to thermal electrical plants, then desalination is achieved, but energy loss increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaporation of seawater using waste heat from the heat engine before the main condensation process. This pre-evaporation step concentrates the brine and prepares it for efficient condensation, improving desalination productivity while utilizing thermal energy that would otherwise be lost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat rejection from the heat engine into a beneficial resource for desalination. The evaporator and condenser system uses this waste thermal energy to drive the phase change of water, simultaneously achieving desalination and reducing energy loss in a synergistic manner
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 achieves simultaneous power generation, energy storage, desalination, and fluid transportation with reduced energy loss, enabling efficient multitasking and flexible operation across various energy sources, including waste heat and renewable energies.
Implementation Method 1
a separator operable to separate the saturated solution into a working solution and a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
The working fluid and the working solution may react exothermically
Implementation Method 3
Heat engines such as Stirling engine may be used to transfer heat to and from the system while generating power
Implementation Method 4
transport fluid for distances and over terrains and obstacles... transport fluid such as water as vapor
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal utilization system is capable of producing power, storing energy via a chemical or and a hydropower-elevation means. It also capable of transport fluid as vapor over obstacles and terrains, as well as desalinate water. It may in some embodiments do all or some of these tasks simultaneously and with the same amount of energy. It may run with any source of energy including renewable energy sources such as solar energy, and wind. The system may use that energy to run a heat engine and, at the same time, stores that energy via chemical separation. When energy is needed, the system may withdraw the chemical substances and lets them interact to claim the energy back, and then use it to run a heat engine and desalinate water. Some parts of the system can be used for cooling and heating. The system may be configured to be an air conditioner unit or a refrigerator that has an internal back up energy storage.