Method and Apparatus

Abstract

An energy transferring system comprises a sealed circuit ( 20 ) for a transfer medium and containing a condenser/absorber ( 22 ), a liquid pump ( 24 ), an evaporator ( 26 ), a superheater ( 28 ), and an energy-consuming device ( 30 ). The circuit has a low pressure side ( 32 ) and a high pressure side ( 34 ), with the medium being converted from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase in the side ( 34 ) and back in the side ( 32 ). The condenser/absorber ( 22 ) includes an absorbent of solid material, for example coal powder or nanotubes, and may be combined with the evaporator ( 26 ) to form a modular unit.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of transferring energy, comprising causing a fluid substance to flow through a circuit and, in sequence, converting said substance from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase by inputting energy from a source and while said substance is under relatively high pressure, and converting said substance from said gaseous phase to said liquid phase by outputting energy and while said substance is under relatively low pressure. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said converting of said substance from said gaseous phase to said liquid phase comprises reducing the saturation vapour pressure of said gaseous phase, and said converting of said substance from said gaseous phase to said liquid phase comprises sorbing said gaseous phase utilising solid sorbent. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said substance has a transition temperature level between said liquid phase and said gaseous phase at atmospheric pressure which is at least 5° C. lower than the temperature of said source, which is ambient water. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said substance has a transition temperature level between said liquid phase and said gaseous phase at atmospheric pressure which is at least 10° C. lower than the temperature of said source, which is ambient air. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said substance has a transition temperature level between said liquid phase and said gaseous phase at atmospheric pressure which is at least 5° C. lower than the temperature of said source, which is ambient water. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said substance has a transition temperature level between said liquid phase and said gaseous phase at atmospheric pressure which is at least 10° C. lower than the temperature of said source, which is ambient air. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for transferring energy, comprising a circuit, a displacing device arranged to displace a fluid substance around said circuit, an evaporating device in said circuit and arranged to convert said substance from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase by inputting energy from a source, a condensing device in said circuit and arranged to convert said substance from said gaseous phase to said liquid phase by outputting energy, said displacing device comprising a pump arranged to act directly upon said liquid phase, said pump being downstream of said condensing device and upstream of said evaporating device. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , and further comprising, in said circuit, a superheating device for said gaseous phase downstream of said evaporating device, and an energy-consuming device downstream of said superheating device, said condensing device being downstream of said energy-consuming device. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said condensing device serves to reduce the saturation vapour pressure of said gaseous phase and comprises solid sorbent material for said gaseous phase. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 23 , and further comprising, in said circuit, a superheating device for said gaseous phase downstream of said evaporating device, and an energy-consuming device downstream of said superheating device, said condensing device being downstream of said energy-consuming device. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said condensing device is in contact with said evaporating device. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 25 , and further comprising, in said circuit, a superheating device for said gaseous phase downstream of said evaporating device, and an energy-consuming device downstream of said superheating device, said condensing device being downstream of said energy-consuming device. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said sorbent material is in contact with said evaporating device. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 27 , and further comprising, in said circuit, a superheating device for said gaseous phase downstream of said evaporating device, and an energy-consuming device downstream of said superheating device, said condensing device being downstream of said energy-consuming device. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said energy-consuming device comprises a driving device. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29  and further comprising an auxiliary circuit including a gaseous-to-liquid phase-change device and serving to convert into said liquid phase said gaseous phase flowing from said condensing device. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said auxiliary circuit is in fluid communication with the first-mentioned circuit. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said auxiliary circuit is out of fluid communication with the first-mentioned circuit. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , and further comprising a supercooling device downstream of said pump.