Cryoelectric power system

Abstract

A cryoelectric power system for use in application(s) in which a conventional internal combustion engine is used. The power system includes a source of cryogenic fuel, a cryoelectric boiler for vaporizing the cryogenic fuel, a heat exchanger for warming the vapor, and two or more turboalternators, each turboalternator generating electricity. This power system may be utilized either as the primary power source or as secondary pending the needs of the application or location of the power requirement. The Seebeck and Ettingshausen effects may be utilized in the thermoelectric boiler, thereby producing additional electricity, and the electricity produced by the cryoelectric boiler and the turboalternators is output to appropriate controls and circuitry where it may be summed and used to power an electric power system. Superconductive material may be used in the manufacture of the turboalternators and magnetic coil for additional system enhancement. The resulting, highly efficient, power system is used to advantage in, for instance, for powering a non-polluting automobile or as a prime mover for providing a wide array of commercial electrical services or for driving a wide variety of industrial electrical systems.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cryoelectric power system comprising: 
 a source of cryogenic fuel;    a cryogenic boiler in which the cryogenic fuel is vaporized;    a heat exchanger to increase the temperature of the vaporized cryogenic fuel; and    one or more turboalternators driven by the high pressure vapor to generate electricity, said turboalternators being located in such proximity to said source of cryogenic fuel as to be maintained at a temperature selected to improve the efficiency of said turboalternators.    
     
     
         2 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 1  wherein said turboalternators are connected in series so that the vapor output from one of said turboalternators is input to the next of said turboalternators.  
     
     
         3 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a manifold between said heat exchanger and said turboalternators for distributing the vapor to said turboalternators.  
     
     
         4 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 1  additionally comprising an enclosure in which said cryogenic boiler is located and the vapor exiting said turboalternators passes through said enclosure for reducing the accumulation of frost around said cryogenic boiler.  
     
     
         5 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 1  wherein said boiler is provided with means for generating electricity from the difference in the temperature of the cryogenic fuel in said cryogenic boiler and the temperature outside said cryogenic boiler.  
     
     
         6 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 5  wherein said generating means additionally comprises means for exchanging heat between the vaporized cryogenic fuel inside the cryogenic boiler and the ambient temperature outside said cryogenic boiler.  
     
     
         7 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 5  wherein the electricity generated by said generating means and the electricity produced by said turboalternators is summed.  
     
     
         8 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 5  wherein said generating means comprises a layer of thermoelectric material positioned adjacent said cryogenic boiler for producing electricity from the temperature difference between the vaporized cryogenic fuel inside said cryogenic boiler and the ambient temperature outside said cryogenic boiler.  
     
     
         9 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 8  additionally comprising means for applying a magnetic field to said layer of thermoelectric material.  
     
     
         10 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 9  wherein said means for applying a magnetic field is positioned inside said boiler.  
     
     
         11 . The cryoelectric power system of  claim 5  additionally comprising means for increasing the electrical output of said generating means by utilizing the Ettingshausen effect.  
     
     
         12 . A method of generating electricity from cryogenic fuel comprising the steps of: 
 pumping a cryogenic fuel from a storage tank;    utilizing the Seebeck effect to generate electricity from the difference in the temperature of the cryogenic fuel and the ambient temperature;    warming the cryogenic fuel through one or more heat exchangers;    driving a turboalternator with the warmed cryogenic fuel to generate electricity; and    summing the electricity produced by the Seebeck effect and the electricity generated by the turboalternators.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the cryogenic fuel is vaporized in a thermoelectric boiler.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  additionally comprising utilizing the expanded cryogenic fuel to reduce the accumulation of frost on the thermoelectric boiler.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  additionally comprising venting the expanded vapor to the atmosphere.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  additionally comprising applying a magnetic field to the thermoelectric boiler.  
     
     
         17 . A method of generating electricity from a cryogenic liquid comprising the steps of: 
 heating the cryogenic liquid to change the cryogenic liquid from a liquid to a vapor;    increasing the volume of the vapor in one or more heat exchangers to an operating range of from about 200 to about 500 psig; and    driving at least one or more turboalternators with the expanded vapor to generate electricity.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  additionally comprising utilizing the Seebeck effect to produce electricity from a difference in the temperature of the cryogenic liquid and ambient temperature.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  additionally comprising summing the electricity generated by the turboalternators and the electricity produced by utilizing the Seebeck effect.