CA1199668A - Energy conversion system - Google Patents

Abstract

ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM
Abstract A system is disclosed for converting one form of energy into an alternate form of energy by means of a low-temperature process. A liquid flow loop with two vertical columns that are interconnected at the top and bottom circulates a fluid. A convective flow of this fluid is established by heating the fluid in one of the columns and cooling the fluid in the other column to establish a weight differential between the fluid in the two columns. An electric generator is placed on this loop so that, as the fluid flows through the loop and through the generator electrical energy is generated. This electrical energy is used to electrolize a second fluid, such as a solution of sulphuric acid, into gasses such as hydrogen and oxygen. The gasses so generated are used to increase the rate of flow of the fluid, and consequently the rate of electric energy production, In one embodiment, the gasses are injected into the rising column of the fluid to increase the weight differential between the fluid in the two columns and enhance the convective flow of that fluid. These gasses, which contain chemical energy, are then removed from the loop at the top of this column.
Alternatively, the gasses can be accumulated at high pressure, and the pressure used to inject a volatile fluid into the loop.

Description

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96~t~1 ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM
Background of the Invention With the advent of higher prices for the energy the world consumes, much interest has been generated in new sources oE energy and in more efficient uses of this energy. One of the energy conversion devices for which promise has been held is the magnetohydrodynamic generator (~HD). The basis for the operation of an ~HD is that passing an electrically conducting fluid through a strong magnetic field will produce an electric potential ~etween opposite sides of the throat through which the con~ucting fluid flows. The magnitude of the power generated with a given fluid is proportional to the velocity o~ th~ ~luid through the throat~
MHD development has typically focused on the use of high temperature, high pressure gas or plasmar although some systems have been developed using an electrically conducting liquid. The temperature o~ the plasma or liquid used in these devices is usually on the order of several hundred to a few thousand degrees Celsius~ The pressure under which the working fluid operates is also very high in most systems, on the order of several hundred to a few thousand pounds per square inch. The use of such high temperature and pressure fluids limits the choice of materials out of which the system can be made. The high temperatures and high pressures in these systems also make the systems prone to leaks and contribute to the rapid deterioration of machinery such as pumps used in the sys_em.
To provide the flow of conducting fluid through the ~HD throat, some systems have incorporated means for establishing a convective flow of the fluid around a closed loop. This convective flow is established by g~
966!3 heating the ~luid a~ one point in the loop and coolin~ it at anothPr~ Such a system is shown in U.S. Patent No.
3,375,664 to Wells. It has been found, thouyh~ tha~ thP
low velocit~ thus obtained has not been sufficient to per~it the ~lHD to generate more than a few milli~atts o~
po~er even with vertical le~ ~embers up to 100 fee~
tall. Another means o~ ca~lsing a flou o~ the oonducting ~luid through an ~D loop has been to es~hl~sh a convective flow.by introducin~ a gas into part of ~he loop to c~eate a densi~y differential ~etween the ~luid in ~ifferent sections ~f the lo~p. This has typically been accomplished by boiling either the conducting liquid or a second 1uid and usin5 the vapor ~ubbles.to lev~ate one column o the fluid. A system that operates in this ~5 ~anner is disclosed in U.S~ Patent ~o. 3y~43,12g to ~ammitt. Such systems~ however, have been trou~lesome~
. since boiling the fluia takes thermal energy from ~he syste~, reducing the heat in the conducting 1uid in the ~ising column. Also, ~he height and temperature o the

2~ rising. column are severely constrained by the need to prevent condensation of the gas bubbles before they reach the top oE th~ colu~n.
Su~mary of the Invention The present invention includes an apparatus ~or converting one ~orm o energy into an alternate ~ar~ o energy, and comprises a fluid condui~ through which flows ,a ~luia~ a fir~t means fo~ es~ablishing a ~low of saia fluid throug~ thP flui~ conduit, an electric genera~or coupled to the conduit to ~enera~ electrlc ene~y rom the flowing fluia, a ~as generator that uses a portion of the electric energy ~enerated by the electric genera~or to orm a gas~ and an apparatus that uses at leas~ a por ion o the gas generated by the ~as gener2tor to increase ~he rate of flow of the fluid through the conduit~
~he present invention efficiently con~erts ~h~r~al energy (heat3 into an alternate orm of en,ergy by means o ~9~66~3 a low-temperature process. The invention consis~ o~ a fluid flo~J loop with two vertical columns interconnected at the top and the bottom~ The fluid that flows in this loop is an electrically c3nducting fluid, pre~erably a liquid such as mercury. The column in which t~e fluid rises is heated to a temperature of approximate}y 40 ~
15 0 C by a thermal source and the col~mn in which t~e ~luid . f lows ~lown is cooled to a temperat~re ~f approximately ~ ~ 30 C by means of a lower temperakure heat sink~ The diference in the densit~ of the fluid in these columns induces a convective flow of that ~luid through the l~opO An MHD is coupled to one o~ these vertical columns. The ~HD includes a magnet that creates a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the low o~ the ~luid. ~s the fluid flows through ~hroat sectionS th~
have electrodes in contact with the fluid, an electric potential is generated bet~7een th~ electrQdes, causing an - . electric rurrent to flow through the electrode~ and throug~ an exterllal electric ci~cui~, rom ~hich p~wer may be drawnD The key to the p~esent invention is that the electric power so produced is lar~el~ fed back tv augmentT
or ~peed up, the low oE ~he conductin~ liquid~ This is accomplished by using the electric power to dissociate water molec.ules in an electr~lytic solution, such as XS sulfuric acid~ H2S0~, and inject som~ or all of the gasses obtained (H2 and 2) into the rising column o~ ron~uctin~
li~uid. The gas is removed ~rom the loop ~ the top o~
~he rising column and may be put to any o~ a number of uses~ The ~emainder of the ~asses~ whirh are not i~3ecte~
into the loop m~y be taken di~ectly from ~he elec~rQlysis and put to use~ Among the possible uses for thP ~asses produced by this system are burning to produce ~eaty power and pure water using them to synthesize other fuels~ such as methane or ~e~hanol~ The introduction o~ the ga~ into the rising column ~reatly reduces the density and weight of the rising column of electrically ~onducting ii~uid~

~ 66~

and hence increases the weight diEference between the two columns of liquid. As the weight dif~erence between th~
colu~ns is increased, the convective flow of the liquid is increased, further increasing the produc~ion of electrical energy. With the increased electrical output, more gasses are produced, and the convective flow velocity of the liquid is further increased; which additionally increases`
the amount of elPctric power yenerated by the ~lE~. The rate of generation of the electrolyzed gasses is increasea until an equilibrium is established between the ge~eration of the gasses and the viscous and other flow retarding forces~ .
The Ther~al Ener~ Conversîon System o~ the present invention has numerous ~d~antages over the MHD syste~
previously developed. These advantages include:
. 1) lower operating temperatures for the working fluia;
2~ lower pressures in the s~stem loop;
33 less 6evere constraints on the design and ~n si~e o the system co~ponents;
4) less severe constrain~s on the choice o materials out oE which the system componen~s are made~
and . 5) greater power outpu~ with a smaller system due to increase~ operating efficiency.
Brief Description of the Dra~ings FIGUR~ 1 is a schematic drawing of the Thenmal Energ~
Conversion System of the present invention, ~URE 2 is a perspective view o~ the 20 3n ~agnetohydrodynamic generator couple~ to the 1uid 10w lo~p~
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the ~agnetohydrod~namic gene~atoE with the magnet withdrawn from the throat section of the fluid flow loopO
~I~URE 4 is a cross-sec~ional view of the ~a~netohyd~odynamic generator used in ~he present invention taken along lines ~-4 of Figure ~

6 ~i ~ ; r .

-5- .
- FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taXen alon~ line 5-5 of Figure ~. .
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6~6 of ~igure 2.
~IGURE 7 is a schematic drawing of a first altcrn~tive embodi~ent o~ the Thermal Energy Conversion SystemO
FIGURE ~ is a schematic dra~ing of ~ second alternative`
embodimen~ of the Ther~al Energy Conversion System.
FI~URE 9 is a schematic drawing o a third alternati~e embod~ment oE the Energy Conver,sion System o~ the pres~n~
invention.
F~GURE lO is a schematic drawing o~ a fourth alternative embodiment of the Ener~y Conversion System o~
the presen~ ~nvention.
~IGU~E ll is a schematic drawing of a ~ifth - alterna~iv~ ~mho~i~ent o the Energy Convers;on System o _ _ the present inventlon.
~es~rip~ion of the Preferred Embodimen~
.
Gen~ral System The system of the present invention is shown schematically in Figure l. Xt co~prises a fluia loop ll that is preferably closed, includin~ first and second vertical column~ o~ ~e~s 13 and 15 that are în~e~connec~ea at th~ top and bottom. A conduc~ fluia~ such as li~uid ~5 ~ercury, flows through ~he loop ll~ uid mercury is advanta~eous ~ecause o~ its high electriral conducti~ ~y ~igh density, and low ~pecific heat ~alue, but o~her electrically conduc~ive ~luids such as electrolytic solutions ~ay also be used r d~pending on co~t rvn5idera~ions~ eguip~ent design or availa~ility~ or o~her factors, On the second column 15 is an electric generaor lQl t such as a magnetohydrodynamic generator ~D~ l0l.
Electri~al leads 43 transmit the electric poten~ial generated b~ ~he ~HD l~l.
A source of ~hermal ener~y 2l is coupled to the loop near the bot~Gm of the first column ~3~ This source 21 ~g6f~8 ~ay be virtually any type of thermal energy source, including ~ burner for fossil fuels or a heat exchanger drawing heat from a reservoir heated by either solar energy or ~eothermal ener~y. The temperature increase provided by the thermal energ~ source ~1 depends ~pon the environment in which the system operates. This temperature increase can ranye ~rom 20 ~o 1~0 C ~r ~oret and is preferabl~ at least 40~ C~ .
A heat exchanger or other device for removing thermal t~ energy from the working fluid 31 is connected to ~he loop ne~r the top of the second column 15 to draw heat from the conduc~ing ~luîd and transer it to a heat sink, s~ch as a large body of cool water that is isolated from the SUnr Qr some other low temperature bodyt which may be a hody of 15 ice if the system is used in a parti~ularly cold environment .
A gas injector S9 for introducing gas into th~ system loop is placed near the bottom o the ~irst colu~n 13.
Gas injec~or 59 is a gas noz~le outle~ of conv~ntional design. and is substantially cen~rally loca ed in column 13.
A yas separator 71 is coupled to the loop near the top of ~he first leg 13O Separator 71 ma~ be of conventiona}
desiyn for drawing gas from a two phase flow9 Gas separator 71 permits the liquid ~ercury to conkinue flowing around the loop, while removing ~he gasses introduced by gas injector 59 ~o b~ drawn o~f thrsugh ou~let 73~ Outlet 73 is connec~ed so that the gas~es ma~
be put to other uses~ ~uch as burned to produce heat or power, s~ored ~o be burned later~ ~r used to ~n~hesl2e other fuels~ such as methane or methanol~ ~
~ n electrolytic gas ~enerator 51 uses the electrlcal energy genera~ea by ~he MHD 101 to electrolyze an e}ectrolyte~ such as a solution of sulfuric acia ~H25o4g to generate hyd~ogen and oxygen gas~ which contain che~ical energy~ The preSsure at which the gas generator ~99~6~

- must be capable oE producing the gasses depends opon the static pressure in column 13 at gas injector 59 caused by the column o.mercuryy since~ to enter the column~ the gas must ~e at a pressure at least as great as ~hat of that static pressure. This static pressùre depends on the.
height of the cglu~ns 13 and 15~ For a small sys~em wi~h short columns, th~ gas ~enerator 51 nee~ only prod~ce the ~
- gas at a pressure of a ~ew pounds per s~are inchJ ~hile a gas generator coupled to a s~s~em using much taller ~olumns needs to produce the gas at a pressure on th~
order o~ a few hundred pounds per s~uare inch.
Outlet 53 fxom the ~as generator 51 is pr~Eera~ly designed to Xeep the ox~gen and hydrogen formed by the gas .generator separate, since together the~ fonm a po~entially t5 explosive mixture. Outlet 53 branches into pipe~ 55-and ~7. Pipe 55 leads to ga5 injector 59, so that par~ or all s ~~-o~ ~he gasses generated by the electrolytic ~as ~enerator 51 may be iniected into the ~irst column 13. Val~ ~3 is provided on pipe 55 to contrQl the volume o~ gas entering ~ the fluid flow loop. Pipe 57 leads to a device for either storing or using the ~asses~ Advantageousl~, pipe 57 also keeps the gasses segregated, so that 50~e o whichever of the gasses is injected into ~he colu~n 13 may~ if aesired~
. also be diverte~ awa~ from the 10w loop, ~fid st~red or used directly. ~alve 65 on pipe 57 controls~.the Yolume o gas being divertea away from the 10w loop~ Adjus~ing th~
valves 63 and 65 permits careful control of the por~ion of gasses tha~ goes directly to other uses and the por~ion intro~uced in~o the f luia f low loop.

3~ Electrical leads 43 and 47 permit the power generate~
by the MHD 101 to be transferred to ~he electrolytic gas generator 51. This feedbac~ of the power genera~ea ba~k into the system greatly inereases the systems efficiency. Leads 45 permit power ~hat ;s not ~sed to opera~e the yas generator 51 to be drauri of the system and used for ~ther purp~ses~

e^ ~~

6~3 The MHD
The MHD 101, shown in Figures 2-6, includes ~ ma~net 111 with closely juxtaposed north and south poles 115 and 113, a nonferromagnetic block 1~1, and electrodes 133 and 135. Between th~ poles 115 and 113 is a throat section 17 ~f the block 121 (Figure 4). This throat section 17 i~
aefi~ed by two d osely juxtaposed rectangular walls 127 and 129 to allow a thin sheet of the mercu~y ~o pass ~etween thP ~oles of the ma~net. The magnetic poles 113 and 115 are closely juxtaposed to m~xi~ize the intensi~y of the ~a~netic ~ield across the sheet of mercuxy pass;ng throug~ throat section 17. Block 121 further includes threaded openinys 122 and 12~ for receiving the ends o~
~he tubular pipin~ that ~or~s the remainder of the second ~olumn lS. The passage throu~h which the mercury passes is tape~ed within the portions o* the block 121 ab~ve and below the throat sec~ion 17 to form a transi~ion betwe2n the tubular section of the second le~ 15 and t~e ~hin . ~hroat section 17. As shown in Figure 2, the exterior o the block 1~1 i5 a~so narrowed at throat section 17 so it will ~it between the poles 113 and 115 o~ the magnet 111~
Electrodes 133 and 13S ~Figure S) are placed on either side of thîs throat section 17 ~o tap t~e electric potentia} created between these two sides o the throat section. These elec~roaes are advantageously shaped so that continuous contact between the electrodes and the mercury ~lowing through the throat section 17 ls promoted~
The throat section 17 is sizea so that a ve~turl effect provides a ratio of approximately five ~o one between the speed of the mercury through the th~oat and the spee~ through the other sections of the loop.
The Eluid 10w passage thro~gh the ~lHD 101 ~ust be construc~ed to contain the ~ercury flowing th~ugh it, particularl~ at the threaded openings 122 and 1~, and at the points at which electrodes 133 and 135 enter throat sectio~ 17. But the passage is not suhjec~ed ~o the V2ry 95~615 - .

_g_ high pressures that the r~HD throat sections of systems that use a plasma as the working fluid must contain~
The Electrol~tic Gas Generator Electrolysis occurs when an electric current i5 pa55ea S through an electrolyte between two electrodes, a~ anode and a cathoae. Ions in the solution move tc and ~rom ~he anode and cathode so that material ~ay be transporte~ and deposited on one o~ the electrodes, new compounds may he formed, or gasses ma~ be liberated. Certain electro~tes~
1~ such as sul~uric acia, sodium h~droxide, and po~assium - carbonate, when dissolved in water, cause the water îtsel~
to decompose into its component parts, h~drogen and oxygent when a current is passed through the solutlon.
The amount of ma~erial or ~as formed by the ~5 elec~rolysis can be found using Faraday's Laws, w~ich sa~
~hat (1) the amount of chemical change produced by an -. electric current is proportivn~l to the ~uantity o~
.~
- electricit~ and (2) the amou~t of different substances liberated by. a ~iven ~uantity of electricity are proportional to their chemical equivaleht weightsO
~Equivalen~ weight = atomic weight divided by valence change~) Thus, ~he amount o~ material or gas pro~uced is proportion~l to the curxent ~assed ~hrouyh the.solu~ion.
When water is electroly~ed, the volume of hydrogen .and oxygen produced is proportional to ~he current passed through the solution.
An example o~ a simp~e ~lectrolytic gas generator that may be installed in the pr2sen~ system as gas generator 51 is a fully charged automobile s~orage battery comprising lead plates immPrsed 1~ a s~lution of sulfuric aciaO ~s cur~ent is passed throu~h the solutlon in the e~ he water in the solution i~ dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen~ The hyarogen is ~iven of~ at ~ne of ~he electro~es, and the ox~yen at the other~ ~s ~he electrolyte solution is dissocia~ed into its component parts to form ~he ~asses~ the wat~r ~ust be replaced~ but ~396~3 .

the acid itself remains in the solution.
The gasses produced should be kept separate, since, in the case of hydrogen and oxygen, the two gasses toge~her form an explosive mixture. This separation can be ~aintained by placing a membrane between the elect~odes.
Since the ~mount of gas produced is proportional ~o ~he current, but not the p~essure under which ~he cell operates ~except at the extrPmes), the gasses ~ay be - produced at relati~el~ high pressures wi~h. negligible incrèases in the power consumed, ~eneration o~ gasses a~
a p~essume o~ forty atmospheres is possible with elec~rolysis. Even by conservative estimates, the electrolytic process can produce high pressures in gasse~
15~ more efficiently than standard ~echanical pumps~
15Other types of electrolytic cells may also be ~sed as gas generator 51~ A cell comprising a nickle anode an~
- I~r~on-cathode immexsed in a solution of 50dium hydrvxide in water proauces oxygen at the anode and hydrogen at the cathodes. Nickel electrodes im~ersed in a solution ~f potassium carbonate may ~lso be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen.
~he Therma~Ene~gy Source The thermal energy source 21 may be one o a n~mber of available apparatuse~ for transferrin~ ther~al energy to the fluid circulating in the loop~ The purpose of the ~hermal energy source 21 is to inc~ease the temperature of the liquid in column 13 relative to the li~uld l~ column 15 so that a ~ensity dierential is established be~we~n the mercury in the two.columns~ causin~ a convQcti~e f~ow of the fluid li~uid around the lo~p~ Thus, the grea~er the temperatu~e differentlal that can be e~tablis~ed~ the greater the convective flow of the liquidD
Particula~ly appropria~e as a thermal energy 50UrCe~
in ligh~ of the interest in renewable resources, is a heat exchanger drawing heat from a solar heated reservoi~0 Panels for heating liq~ids such as water usiny solar ~ 6~

energy are commercially available in many sizes from nu~erous sources, as are containers for storing the soiar heated water. Heat exchangers are also readily ava;lable that can be coupled to ~h~ closed loop and are suitable 5 for circula~ing the heated water from ~he reservoir and transferring its heat to ~he me~cury circulating in ~he ~losed loop. ~uch ctpparatus can provide a 40~ C
' ~emperature diferentlalr which is suitable for operation ' of the syste~.
10Also appropriate would be the use oE a heat ~ ng~
circulating ' geoth~r~lly heated waterO Geothermally heated wate~ ofte~ is at a mu~h higher tempera~ure than solar heated water would be, on the order of 1~0 180~, C, and thus would be able to produce a greate~ temperature differential be~ween the mercury in column 13 and the mercury in column 15. This increased temperature . ~
' dif~erential is advanta~e'ous in that the density differential between the mercur~ in the two columns is greater, and consequently the convective flow oE the mercury is increased. But, the availability of geothermal energy is limited.
~ n addîtior,t to the sources of thermal energy just discussed, a ossil fuel burne~ oE conventional des;gn ~a~
be used a5 thermal energ~ source 21 to directly heat the circulating mercury.
Since the i~portant consideration for operation o~ ~he system is the temperature diferential betw~en the l,iquid in the two columns 13 and 15~ h~at exchanger 31 ~u~t be connecte~ o a h~at sink ~pa~le of absorbing rom ~he 3~ liquid the heat;tranSferre~ to it by thermal energy source 21. ~n a system loca~d in a t~mperature climateg this is -most ef~ectively done by ~irc~latlng in the heat exchanger cool water drawn f~om a large ~servoir kept cool ~y isolatin~ it from expos~re to the sun. ~n a co~der clirnate, a l~r~e body ~f ice may be used, which would permit the temperature of the mercury to be reduce~ to O~

C, or perhaps lower.
Alternatives for Energy Input The thermal energy source ~ puts energy into the system to create the flow of fluid through the conduit to S allow the electrical generator 101 to produce electrical energy. ~hus, the thermal energy source 21 ~ be replaced by any of a number of other mech~ni -- ~or . inputting ener~y to the fluid, such as a pump that impacts - - kinetic energy~ directly to the 1uia.
The flow ~reator 21 begins ~he ~ovem~nt ~f fluid around the loop and through the elec~ric ~enerator 101 so that the production o~ electric energy is begun. Once the production of electric energy has begun, the ~as generator Sl can be used to produce ~a~, and the gas can be used bX
the flo~ augmentation means to increase the rate of 10w, and consequentl~ increase the rate of produc~ion ~f electric energy. The input o energy through the energy source 21 continues to ens.ure the continued ~low ~ fluid through the oonduit~ ~
~ If the flow creator ~1 is a pump or other non-~hermal ener~y source, then obviously the heat sink 31 is not necessary at the top of the second column 15~ since there is no additional heat în the working 1uid that ~ust be removed.
ope~ation of the-Systè~
In operation~ thermal ener~y is added by heat source ,21 to the conducting 1uid in ~he first column ~3 ~ lower the density ~f the ~luid ~in that column~ thereby ind~c~ng a convectiYe flow o the me~cur~ The heat so il~Lo~uced into the conauc~ing fluid is ~movea by the heat e~chan~er 31 a~ the top of the second column 1~ to ensure the continuation of the temperature diferential ~and the - densit~ dif~erential) between the mercury in the $~rs~ an~
second columns. As the fluid flows do~nwar~ in the second solumn, it flows through the throat sectlon 17 of the MHD
101 in a direction perpendicular to the magneSic iela 6~

established by the ma~net 111. This f10~J~ by reason of Faraday's Laws, creates an electric potential betueen the sides of the throat section 17, which is tapped ~y the electroaes 133 and 135. This purely temperatureinduced convective flo~ through the MHD will ~enerate a ~ery low power output~ The power output is lo~ due to ~he low velocity of the electrically conducting 1uid throu~h th~
t~EID, The electric potential is produced in the ollowing manner: When a sheet of. conducting materialO e~g., ~ercury, is passed through a magnetic field. ~ha~ is perpendicular to ~he direction in which the co~duc~in~
material is moving, an electric potential develops between points on the sheet of conductive material that lie on ~n axis perpendicu~ar to both the direction o movement o~
- ~he conductive sheet and the direction of the ~agnetic field.
As the conductîve fluid flows with velocity v ~hrou~h the perpendicular magne~ic field B, a force is exerted on each charge carrier in a third, mutuall~ perpen~icul~r direction~ .This force F is ~iven b~ the vector eql~a~ion:
F - ~v x B
in which q is the charge o~ each charge carrier~ ~e elec~ric field intensîty ~E) resulting from this ~orce is given ~y the vect~r equation;

. .
~ - v x B.
.
This electric field yields an ele~tric potential bekween 3~ t~70 sides o the channel t~rou~h which the conductor flous D This potentlal is:
E - J EdL = ~ ~v x B1d in which L represen,s t~e width o the sheet of conductive fluid~
In the MHD loop9 flow equilibrium is reached when the electromotive forcP so 9enerated e~uals the force driving 6~i~

the fluid flo~7, the difference in ~he ~eight of the mercury in the two columns.
By using the electric power generated by the MHD 101 to electrolyze a second fluid in gas generator 51 ana introduce the gasses so generated into the ris~g ~irst column 13, the efficiency of the syste~ can be greatly increased due to ~he increased rate of 10w Df the .
electrically conducting fluid through the MHD. ~hen the ~asses produce~ by the elect~olytic gas generator 51 are 1~ introducea into the first colu~n 13, the density ana weight o the mercur~ in that column. is substantlallx decreased, which increases the densit~ and ~.eigh~
differentials between the 1ui~ in the first colum~ 13 and the fluid in the second column 15. This i~crease~
differential ~reatl~ enhances the convective flo~ o~ ~he mercury around the loopt increasing th~ rate.of 10w of the conaucting 1uid through the throat 17 of ~he MHD
se-ction of the loop. As ~his flow throu~h the throat section is increased, so is the power produced by the 2~ M~Dn This increase continues until a new ~low e~uili~riu~
is reachedn The ~as injected into the up~low column 13 also con~ains mechanical enexgy, beeause it i5 under pressure D When ~he gas is injected, it occupies a small volume because of the high pressu~e at which ~he gas generator Sl creates it. As the ~as ~ubbles rise in th~
column . 13, the pressure of the surrounding 1~id . decrPases, allowing the gas ~o expand. It has be~n f~und that the energy o compressinn of the gas is conver~ed - int~ kine~ic energy of the wo~lng fluid as the ~ n~ing gas works on the ~luid.
The ~asses introduced into the loop~ whish also - contain chemical energy. are separate~ rom the c~duc~lng fluid at the top of the ~oop b~ the gas separato~ 71 and-may be put to any of a number o use~ as menti~ne~ above~
Each cycle o~ ~low ~once around the loop~ ext~acts an amount o~ energy proportion~l to the weight di~erence . ~

between the two columns (represented by the equation E a a~7 x h, in which d~7 is the difference in ~leight and h is the height o~ the column). The amount of power that can be obtained from the system depends upon the s~eed or time it takes to complete the stro~e, i~e~, the rate at which the work is done. Thus, the power is given by the equation P - dW x v, in which v is the speed of t~e 1uid-flow~ -~s the system continues ~o operate, the M~ID 101 ~ay generate more power ~ban is ~eeded to operate the - electrolytic gas generator 51. Whèn this occurs, electrical leads 45 may ~e attached to an external load suitable for using this excess power~ Alterna~ely, electrical leads 45 may be connected to a battery to store t5 ~he power for later use, Accordin~ the systPm may be adYantageously used to convert the thermal energy supplied thermal energy source 21 to both chemical ener~y in the orm o gasses and electrical energy.
~lterna~ive Embodiments ~ne~al S~stem Alterna~ively to using a single upflowing column 13 in the ~lHD loop 11~ two or more columns 13a and 13b ~ay be used, as shown in Fîgure 7~ In this e~bodiment~ one of the gasses proauced b~ electrol~tic gas generator 51~ for example the oxygen may ~e injected into column 13a and ~he ot~er gasr the hydrogen~ may be in3ected into oolumn 13bn In this way, both the gasses produced may be used to supplement the convective flow~ while keepin~ the gasses separate. Since both ~asses pr~uced b~ the ~a~ generator 3~ are used~ the utility of the feedba~k of the electrical energy generat~d by the ~H~ 101 is enhanced~ This embodiment requ;res at least two gas separators 71~ and 71b ~one to separate each gas out of the flow~, and a gas in~ector 59a and 59b for each column 13a and 13bo The ~lectrol~tic Gas Generato~
As an alternative to using a liquid meta~ such as .

6~

mercury in the ~lHD loop 11 and electrQlyzing a sepa~ate electrolyte in ~as ~enerator 51, an electrolyte ~ay be circulated through the ~ED loop 11' ~Figu~e 8) and passed ~hrough electrolytic gas generator 51' so ~hat the ~D
working fluid itself is elec~rol~zed. ~rom ~as-generator 51' part ,or all of the g~sses may be injected i~to the column 13'. Pipe 57' allows whatever o~ the gasses are not injected into column 13' to be diverted and put ' ~irectly to useD ' . ',.
10Alterna.tive Electrical Gener~tor ~01 As an ~lternative magnetohydrodynamic ~enerator as the electric generator 101, an~ o a number of el~ctric .
gene~ators tha~ generate electrical ener~y ~rom a ~oving . ~luid can be used. Fig. 9 is a schematic drawing of the system with a general designation for the e~ectrical generator 101~ ~or example, the electrical generator 101 - can be a homopolar or Faraday Disk type of generatorD
Another example of such an alternative electric generator is a common turbine ~enerator, in which the moving fluid 2~ turns the blades o the tur~ine to generate electrical energy in a known ~ashionO Fig. ~ shows the sys~em of .
E`ig. 1, with a ~ore general representation o ~he electric generator 101.
It woul~ be apparent ~o th,ose skilled in this art of electrical energy generation that any t~pe o~ genera~or that conver~s the ~inetic energy o~ a moving fluid ~o electric energy can be used a~ the ~eans for genera~n~, ' electric energy ~rom the movin~ ~luid, ., ~i~st Alternative Flow Augmenta~ion ~eans Re~errLng now to the embodiment o the syste~ o~ the invention shown in Fi9ure 10~ the ove~all syst~m is roughly the ~ame as that described above, wi h a pair of substantially vertical flow conduits 13~15~ an electr~c yenerator 101-, and a gas generator 51 hat u5es the electric ener~y generated by the electrlc generator 101~
The ~as generator 51 and the electric ~enerator 101 are ~L19966~

connected by the electrical leads 43.. The system ~yain includes an energy input means 21, such as a ther~al energ~ source or other means to be~in the flow of fluid through the conduit, such as a pump.
- ~ather than injecting the gasses deYeloped by the electrolytic gas generator 51 directly into the workiny ~lui~ in the upflow column 13~ the system of this - alternative embodiment ~ses ~he ~asses generated by the electrol~tic gas ~enerator 51 to.pressuri2e a volatile fluid, which is then injected into the upflow tube 13, where it chan~es to its ~as form and reduces the density of the working fluid to further increase the rate o 1 of the working fluid through the condui~..
~ A pair of fluid containers 211,213 each ~ave fluid inlets 215, 1uid outlets 217~ and ~as inlets 219~ Each o~ these inlets 215~19 ana outle~s ~17 is contxolled by a ~lve 221,223,225 to control the flot~ of fluid into and out_of the c~ntainer 211,213.
The gas from the gas ~enerator 51 is al~ern~ely supplied to the irst and secona ~luid containers 211,~13. ~nitially, the fluid inlet valve 221 on the irst flui~ containe~ ~11 is opened and the irst con~ainer is substantially ~11ed with the vol~tile fluid from the reservoir 2~71~ This volatile 1uid rea~
25 - changes rom the liquid phase to the ~as phase al~
relatively low . temperatures, on the order o~ . the tempera~ure o~ ~he working ~luid in the conduit loop ~Jhen the volàtile fluid enters th~ f irs con~ainer 211; it is in the liquid phase~ After the first container 211 has 30 been su~stantially filled with the ~luid~ the fluid irll~t valve 221 is closedf all~ th~ gas inlet va~ve 225 i5 opened. The gas is supplied from the ~as ~3enerator ~1 to the gas inlet 219 at a hi~h p~essure, so the gas builas h~ pressure inside th~ c~nt~iner 211. ~hen the pres~l-re 35 r~aches a specified l~vely ~h~ fluld outlet valve 223 i.s opened, and the pressur~ înside the fluid conta~rler 211 ~9~6~

: drives the volatile fluid out of the first fluid container 211 through the injecti~n conduit 55 and into the injPction nozzle 59. The injection nozzle 59 is si~ r to the injec~ion nozzle 59 o~ the embodiment sho~n in ~ig.
1 and desoribed aboveO . .
As the volatile fluid is injected into th~ upflow column of the fluid conduit 13, the 1uid is ~ra~s~ormed ~o its ~as phase by the heat o~ the working fluid tha~
surrounds the injection nozzle 59. As the volatile fluid is at a very high pressure as i~ enters the up~low ~ube 13 of the .condult, the ~as ~ubbles it forms are rather small. As ~he gas bubbles move up in the column ~Jith the upflowiny fluid, these ~u~bles expand in si~e as the ex~ernal pressure on ~hem is less in the colu~n li than it was in the injection conduit 55. These expandin~ bubbies ~5 further increase the 10w o~ the working 1uids through ~h~ conduit.
~ Jhile the first ~luid container 211 i5 bein~
~ressuri~ed, the fluid inlet ~alve 2~1 for .the second fluid container 213 is opened and the volatile 1uid is allowed to 10w into the second fluld container X13 to substantiall~ fill it. The second fluid container 213 is ~hen pressurized in the same w~y as ~irst fluid container 211 ~hile ~he volatile fluid îs being driven ou~ ~ the first 1uid con~ainer 211.
While the second fluid container X13 is being pressurized~ the first container 211 is a~ain illed .~i~h .the volatile 1uido As th2 volatlle fluid is driven from thP second fluid container 213i the first container 211 ~s again pressurizedO This al ternating proress contlnues indefinite3y7 uslng the ~wo fluia containers 211~213 o ~ain~ain a constant flow o~ volatile fluid through ~he in3ec~lon conduit 55 at a .hi~h pressure. A ~ixer 233 where the two ou~lets ~17 fr~m the fluid container~
211,~13 join ensures that the flow from the containe~s i~
properly alternated~

9~t~8 o~viously~ more than two of the fluid co~tainers .. 211,213 ~ay be used in a system that operates such as this to further increase the supply o-E the volatile 1uid to the conduit.
To minimize the need for pumps and other e~pensive equipmenty the 1uid containers ~11, 213 are fed ~om the reservoir 227 that is at an elevation higher ~han the elevation of the ~luid containers 211,~13. In t~is wayj when the fluid inlet v~lve 221 on one of ~he fluid -- containes 211,213 is open~ the fluid will flow in~o ~he container by gravi~atîonal ~o~cef eliminating the ~eed o~
a pump or other fluia ~ovin~ apparatus to fill th~
. containers~ .
To ensure an ade~uate high pressure supply o~ gas to pressurize the fluid containers 211r213, a gas accDmulator 22g is connected to the output of the gas genera~or 51~
This accumulator 229 collects th~ sas generated by the ~as ..-gènerator ~1 and allows the gas to ~uild up to a ~er~ high pressure. It is ~ell known that ~he electrol~sis ~rocess o gas generation can produce ~asses a~ ve~y hi~h 2~ pressures without significant loss in eficiency or overall energy consumption~ Thus, the ~as accumula~or ~2g allows ~he p~essure of ~as to ~e built up before it is fed through the ~as inlets 21~ to the irst and secon~ ~lui~
containers 211~213 The gas separato~ 71 at the top of the up10w column 13 allows the gaseous volatile fluid to be removed rom ~he conduit loop..
S~cond Alternative Flow.Au~me~tation ~eans Referrin~ now to the emhodl~ent of the ~ystem of the ~ 30 invention shown in Figure 11,. the overall system is a~a~n roughly the same as that ~escribe~ abover ~ith a pair. of flow tubes 13~ 15, an electric ~en~ra~or 101~ and a ~as ~enerator 51 that uses the electric ener~y genera~e~ by the electric gener~tor 101. The gas generator 51 ana ~he electric ~enerator 101 are connected by the electrlcal !, .

- leads ~3. The system includes an energy input ~e~ns 21, such as a thermal energy source or other ~eans to begin the flow of fluid thr~ugh the conduit, such ~s a pump. If the thermal ene~gy source is used, then, as ~ith ~he previously described syste~, the heat ~xchanger 31 i~
again necessary to remove the heat ~rom ~he fluid to ~aintain the te~perature diferential between the portions - of the fluid in each column.
- Rather than using the ~as ~enerated by ~he g~s generator ~1 to reduce the den5ity o 1uid in the up~low column l3, however, the embodimen-t shown in ~igure 10 uses the gas generated b~ the ~as 9ene~ator 51 to ~uild up . pressure behind ~he fluid to drive the 1uid th~ugh the conduit in an eEficient manner.
To use the gas to propel the fluid thro~gh ~he conduit, a pair.of ~luid con~ainers 211,213 eac~ has a 1uid inlet 215 and fluid outlet 217, in addition to a ~as n~et 219.. Each o these inlets 215,219 and outlets ~17 is con~rolled b~ a valve 2~1,2~3,~25 to control the ~low o f luid into and out of the container 211,213.
- The gas from ~he ~as generator 51 is. supplied alternately to the ~irst and second fluid con~ainers 211,213. Initiallyr ~he fluid inlet valve ~21 on the - first fluid cont~in~r 21~ is opened and the firs~
container 211 is su~stantially illed with ~e syste~
working fluid. Then ~he fluid inlet valve 221 is closedO
and the gas inle~ valve 225 is opened. The gas is supplied to the gas i~let 219 ~t a high pressure~.so ~he ~as builds the pressure insiae the container 211D ~hen 3~ the pressure reaches a specified level~ the 1ui~ outle~
valve 223 is opene~J ~nd the pressure insiae the ~luia container 211 drives the 1uid out of the first fluid co~tainer ~11 th~ough the upflow tube 13 and ~own th~ough the downflow tube 15 and the electric energy ~enerator 3~ 101 As the flow is driven by the pressure~ it is at a higher rate than th~ initia~ flow~ thus i~ereas~ng the .

; ~

~96~

. -21-- production of electric energy by the electric genera~or 101 .
While the ~irst 1uid container 211 is being pressurized~ the fluid inlet valve 221 for th~ second fluid container 213 is opened and the fluid is allowed to flow into the second ~luid container 213 to substantiall~
fill it. The second fluid container ~13 is then pressurized in the same way as the first 1uid ~ntainer 211 while the fluid is being driven out o~ the first 1uid ~0 container 211~
Nhile the second fluid container 213 is ~eing pressuri~ed, the first container 211 is again ~illed .with fluid. As the 1uid is dri~en from the secon~ flu.id . container 213, the irst container 211 is a~ain t5 pressurize2. This alternating .process continues inde~initely, usin~ the two fluid containers 211~213 to - m~intain a constant flow o 1uid through the conduit . 13,1~. . ..
Obviouslyi more than two 1u;~ containers may also be used in a system that operates such as this to further - increase the fluid flow.
To minimi~e the need for pumps and other expensi~e equipment, the 1uid containers ~ 213 are fed from a reservoir 227 that is a~ the bottom of the down~low ~ube 15, ana at an ele~ation higher ~han the elevation of the first and second fluid containers ~11,213. In this way~
when the fluid inlet valve 221 on one o~ the 1uld -cont~iners ~11,213 is opened, the ~luid ~ill 1Ow l~O th~
contai~er b~ ~ravitati4n2} force~ eliminatin~ ~he need for 3n a pump or other fluid moving apparatus~ --To ensure an ade~ua~e hi~h pressure supply o~ gas topressuri~e the first ana second fluid containers ~llo 213 a gas accumulator 229 is connected to the ou tpu~ of the ~as genPrator 51~ This accumulator 229 collects the gas generated b~ the ~as ~nerat~ 51 and allows the ~5 to build up to a very hi~h pressur~O It ls well known that i6~

-~2-the electrolysis proces~ of ~as generation can produce gasses at very high pressures without significant loss in efficiency or overall energy consumption. Thus~ the gas accumulator 229 allows the pressure of gas to be.built up before it is fed through the gas inlets ~19 to the ~ir~t and second fluid containers 211,~13.
A ~as separator 71 at the top of the upflow column 13 allows any ~a5 tnat has been introdueed into the workin~
.- fluid by the fluid 10w augmen~ation ~o be remove~ before 1~ ~he working fluid flows downward throu~h the second column 1~ and the electric generator 101.

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Claims (14)

I CLAIM:

1. An apparatus for converting one form of energy into an alternate form of energy, including a fluid conduit through which flows a fluid, first means for establishing a flow of said fluid through said conduit, and second means coupled to said conduit for generating electrical energy from said flowing fluid, wherein said apparatus is characterized by:
(a) third means coupled to said second means for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to form a gas, said gas pressurized by said third means;
and (b) fourth means for using at least a portion of said gas pressurized by said third means to increase the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid conduit.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said fourth means is characterized by introducing means for introducing into said conduit at least a portion of the gas formed by said third means so that the rate of flow of said fluid is increased.

3. An apparatus for converting one form of energy into an alternate form of energy, including a fluid conduit through which flows a fluid, first means for establishing a flow of said fluid through said conduit, and second means coupled to said conduit for generating electrical energy from said flowing fluid, wherein said apparatus is characterized by:
(a) third means coupled to said second means for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to form a gas; and (b) fourth means for using at least a portion of said gas to increase the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid conduit, said fourth means being characterized by a fluid container having a fluid outlet that can be selectively opened and closed, wherein said container is coupled to said third means so that said gas pressurizes fluid in said container so that when said fluid outlet is opened, said fluid is propelled out of said container into said fluid conduit to increase the rate of flow of said fluid in said conduit.

4. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said fourth means is additionally characterized by a gas accumulator having an inlet coupled to said third means and an outlet coupled to said fluid container so that said gas accumulator:
(a) receives said gas from said third means;
(b) stores said gas at a pressure; and (c) supplies said gas under pressure to said fluid container.

5. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said fourth means is further characterized by (a) means for receiving a second, volatile fluid;
(b) a fluid coupling between said fluid container and said introducing means, so that said second fluid is introduced into said fluid conduit.

6. An apparatus for converting thermal energy into an alternate form of energy, including a fluid conduit through which flows a fluid, first means for establishing a flow of said fluid through said conduit, and second means coupled to said conduit for generating electrical energy from said flowing fluid, wherein said apparatus is characterized by:
(a) third means coupled to said second means for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to form a gas containing chemical energy;
(b) fourth means for using at least a portion of said gas to increase the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid conduit; and (c) said first means being characterized by means for adding thermal energy to said fluid; to create a flow of said fluid.

7, An apparatus for converting one form of energy into an alternate form of energy, including a fluid conduit through which flows a fluid, first means for establishing a flow of said fluid through said conduit, and second means coupled to said conduit for generating electrical energy from said flowing fluid, wherein said apparatus is characterized by:
(a) third means coupled to said second means for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to form a gas; and (b) fourth means for using at least a portion of said gas to increase the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid conduit;
(c) said fluid having low electrical resistance;
and (d) said second means comprising a magnethohydrodynamic generator.

8. The apparatus of any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein:
(a) said fluid conduit is characterized by:
(1) a first, substantially vertical leg;
(2) a second, substantially vertical leg;
(3) first communication means between the top of said first leg and the top of said second leg; and (4) second communication means between the bottom of said first leg and the bottom of said second leg;
(b) said fluid flows upwardly through said first leg;
(c) said fluid flows downwardly through said second leg; and (d) said second means is coupled to said conduit near the bottom of said second leg.

9. The apparatus defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, further characterized by means for removing said gas from said conduit.

10. The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein said magnetohydrodynamic generator is characterized by:
(a) a throat segment of said second vertical column through which said fluid flows;
(b) a magnet creating a magnetic field perpendicular to said flow of fluid through said throat segment so that as said fluid flows through said throat segment, an electric potential is created between two sides of said throat segment; and (c) electrodes coupled to said throat segment, said electrodes tapping said electric potential.

11. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein said throat segment is of smaller cross-sectional area than another section of said second vertical column to provide a venturi effect to said flow.

12. An apparatus for converting one form of energy into an alternate form of energy, including a fluid conduit through which flows a fluid, first means for establishing a flow of said fluid through said conduit, and second means coupled to said conduit for generating electrical energy from said flowing fluid, wherein said apparatus is characterized by:
(a) third means coupled to said second means for using at least a portion of said electrical energy to form a gas; and (b) fourth means for using at least a portion of said gas to increase the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid conduit; and (c) said third means being characterized by an electrolytic gas generator coupled to said second means for generating electrical energy,

13. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein:
(a) said fluid is an electrolyte;

(b) said electrolytic gas generator electrolyzes at least a portion of said fluid; and (c) said electrolytic gas generator is coupled to said conduit so that said gas may be introduced into said conduit.

14. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein:
(a) said electrolytic gas generator electrolyzes a second fluid; and (b) said fourth means for using said gas is characterized by introducing means coupled to said conduit for introducing said gas into said conduit.