Thermodynamically Favorable Thermal Gradient-Generating Device

Abstract

A thermal gradient device which utilizes a thermodynamically favorable physical process in order to spontaneously generate and maintain a temperature difference between two disjoint reservoirs of a volatile compound is disclosed. The device is powered by thermal energy either already within one of the reservoirs or which enters the reservoir from an external source.

1 . A thermal gradient device comprising:
 a first part which has a cavity known as the low temperature reservoir containing a first volatile compound;   a second part which has a cavity known as the high temperature reservoir containing said first volatile compound;   a passageway connecting said low temperature reservoir to said high temperature reservoir so as to allow vapor of said first volatile compound to pass freely between said low temperature reservoir and said high temperature reservoir;   a method of sealing said low temperature reservoir and said high temperature reservoir and said passageway so as to separate the contiguous interior of said low temperature reservoir and said high temperature reservoir and said passageway from the exterior of said low temperature reservoir and said high temperature reservoir and said passageway;   wherein one or more second compounds or a mixture of such are dissolved, sorped, or otherwise uniformly dispersed within in said first volatile compound in said low temperature reservoir creating a first resulting substance; one or more third compounds or a mixture of such are dissolved, sorped, or otherwise uniformly dispersed within said first volatile compound in said high temperature reservoir creating a second resulting substance;   wherein said first resulting substance in said low temperature reservoir has a vapor pressure higher than that of said second resulting substance in said high temperature reservoir when said first resulting substance in said low temperature reservoir is at the same temperature as said second resulting substance in said high temperature reservoir;   and wherein the movement of said vapor from said first resulting substance in said low temperature reservoir to said second resulting substance in said high temperature reservoir induces a temperature differential between said low temperature reservoir and said high temperature reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said first volatile compound is liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said first volatile compound is solid. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said first part, said second part, and said passageway are constructed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein a third part contains said first part, said second part, and said passageway inside a third cavity within said third part. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 5  wherein a vacuum is maintained within the interior of said third cavity and exterior of said first part, said second part, and said passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said first resulting substance in said low temperature reservoir is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient device by some means. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said first resulting substance in said low temperature reservoir is thermally coupled to a separate enclosed cavity exterior to said thermal gradient device by some means. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 8  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from the exterior. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said second resulting substance in said high temperature reservoir is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient device by some means. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 1  wherein said second resulting substance in said high temperature reservoir is thermally coupled to a separate enclosed cavity exterior to said thermal gradient device by some means. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal gradient device of  claim 11  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from the exterior. 
     
     
         13 . A multiple unit thermal gradient battery comprising
 many thermal gradient devices as defined by  claim 1 ;   wherein each unit can be assigned a unique number ranging from 1 to the total number of thermal gradient devices (N);   wherein the low temperature reservoir of the first thermal gradient device is known as the cold temperature reservoir and the high temperature reservoir of the N th  thermal gradient device is known as the hot temperature reservoir.   and wherein the second resulting substance in the high temperature reservoir of each thermal gradient device (i) excepting the last thermal gradient device (N) is thermally coupled with the first resulting substance in the low temperature reservoir of the next thermal gradient device (i+1) by some means.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said first volatile compounds in two or more thermal gradient devices are different compounds. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said first volatile compound in one or more thermal gradient devices is liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said first volatile compound in one or more thermal gradient devices is solid. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said thermal gradient devices are at least partially constructed from a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein a third part contains all thermal gradient devices within a cavity in said third part. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 18  wherein a vacuum is maintained on the interior of said third cavity and exterior of said thermal gradient devices. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said first resulting substance in said cold reservoir is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient battery by some means. 
     
     
         21 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said first resulting substance in said cold reservoir is thermally coupled to the interior of a separate enclosed cavity exterior to said thermal gradient battery by some means. 
     
     
         22 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 21  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from its exterior. 
     
     
         23 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said second resulting substance in said hot reservoir is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient device by some means. 
     
     
         24 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 13  wherein said second resulting substance in said hot reservoir is thermally coupled to the interior of a separate enclosed cavity by some means. 
     
     
         25 . The thermal gradient battery of  claim 24  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from its exterior. 
     
     
         26 . A thermal gradient array comprising
 one or more thermal gradient batteries, as defined in  claim 13 ;   wherein each thermal gradient battery contains at least one thermal gradient device wherein either the first resulting substance in the low temperature reservoir or the second resulting substance in the high temperature reservoir is coupled by some means either to the first resulting substance in the low temperature reservoir or the second resulting substance in the high temperature reservoir of at least one thermal gradient device that is part of a second thermal gradient battery.   
     
     
         27 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said first volatile compounds in two or more thermal gradient devices within one or more thermal gradient battery are different compounds. 
     
     
         28 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said first volatile compound in one or more thermal gradient devices within one or more thermal gradient battery is liquid. 
     
     
         29 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said first volatile compound in one or more thermal gradient devices within one or more thermal gradient battery is solid. 
     
     
         30 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said thermal gradient batteries are at least partially constructed from a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         31 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein a third part contains all thermal gradient batteries within a cavity in said third part. 
     
     
         32 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 31  wherein a vacuum is maintained on the interior of said third cavity and exterior of said thermal gradient devices. 
     
     
         33 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said first resulting substance in said cold reservoir of at least one thermal gradient battery is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient array by some means. 
     
     
         34 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said first resulting substance in said cold reservoir of at least one thermal gradient battery is thermally coupled to the interior of a separate enclosed cavity exterior to said thermal gradient array by some means. 
     
     
         35 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 34  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from its exterior. 
     
     
         36 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said second resulting substance in said hot reservoir of at least one thermal gradient battery is thermally coupled to the exterior of said thermal gradient array by some means. 
     
     
         37 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 26  wherein said second resulting substance in said hot reservoir of at least one thermal gradient battery is thermally coupled to the interior of a separate enclosed cavity by some means. 
     
     
         38 . The thermal gradient array of  claim 37  wherein said separate enclosed cavity is thermally insulated from its exterior.