US2007051107A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for converting heat energy into mechanical energy and for purifying water

42
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 19, 2005Filed: Apr 19, 2006Published: Mar 8, 2007
Est. expiryApr 19, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James Bass
F01K 27/00F01K 15/00F01K 13/006
42
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

Disclosed is method for converting heat energy into electrical energy. The method includes the steps of (1) obtaining heat energy, (2) transferring the heat energy to a gas, (3) transferring the gas containing the heat energy to a compressor, (4) operating the compressor to compress the gas containing the heat energy, thereby concentrating the heat energy, (5) bringing the gas containing the concentrated heat energy into contact with a liquid in a heat transfer device, thereby converting the liquid into steam, (6) converting the heat energy into mechanical energy, and (7) passing the mechanical energy to a generator where the mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy. The present invention can be performed in various structures. For instance, it is possible to break water apart and store it in one or more double-walled containers attached to an automobile, to power the automobile; a non-imaging heat concentrator may be used according to the disclosed method to run utilities, cell-phone antennas.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for converting heat energy into electrical energy, comprising the steps of, 
 obtaining heat energy,    transferring the heat energy to a gas,    transferring the gas containing the heat energy to a compressor,    operating the compressor to compress the gas containing the heat energy, thereby concentrating the heat energy,    bringing the gas containing the concentrated heat energy into contact with a liquid in a heat transfer device, thereby converting the liquid into steam,    converting the heat energy into mechanical energy, and    passing the mechanical energy to a generator where the mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from sunlight or the ambient.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat energy is collected in a member selected from the group consisting of solar panel, a solid heat source, a geothermal heat source, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the heat energy is concentrated by a lens.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from a hydrocarbon fire.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from an engine.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said steps of obtaining heat energy and transferring the heat energy to a gas, occur in a single step.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of, converting the heat energy into mechanical energy, occurs in a member selected from the group consisting of a turbine engine, a stirling engine, and a steam engine.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring the heat energy to a gas, occurs in a heat exchanger.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring the gas containing the heat energy to a compressor, comprises the sub-step of transferring the gas through an intake pipe.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the intake pipe includes a pressure block.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of bringing the liquid containing the heat energy into contact with a generator to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, comprises the sub-step of bringing the gas into contact with the blades of a turbine to cause the turbine to rotably move.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the turbine is operatively connected to generator.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rotational motion of the turbine transfers mechanical energy to the generator.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the turbine is operatively connected to a drive shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rotational motion of the turbine transfers mechanical energy to the drive shaft.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is operatively connected to a boiler.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compressor is thermally insulated.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is located below ground level.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the boiler is located below ground level.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of transferring the steam to a condenser where it is converted into a purified liquid.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the purified liquid is water.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from combustion.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from a hydrogen source.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is obtained from an oxygen source.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring the heat energy to a gas, is performed underground.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring the gas containing the heat energy to a compressor, is performed underground.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the compressor to transform the gas into a liquid containing the heat energy, is performed underground.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of bringing the liquid containing the heat energy into contact with a generator to convert the heat energy into electrical energy, is performed underground.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heat energy is collected in a solar panel.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heat energy is collected in a solid heat source.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heat energy is collected in a geothermal heat source.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heat energy is collected in a combination thereof.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2007051107A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.