Thermal gradient hydroelectric power system and method

Abstract

A thermal gradient hydroelectric power system and method is disclosed herein. Specifically, the method can comprise cycling through a submersed evaporator warm from a natural warm water source, said warm water source having a first temperature. The method also can comprise evaporating a working fluid using said evaporator, and routing the working fluid from the evaporator through a vapor line to a condenser above said evaporator. Finally, the method can also comprise cycling through a condenser cold water from a natural cold water source, the cold water source having a second temperature, and condensing the working fluid, the working fluid having a boiling point between said first temperature and said second temperature.

1 . A power generation system, comprising:
 a submersible evaporator comprising a warm water inlet connectable to a natural warm water source, said warm water source having a first temperature;   an evaporator shell connected to said warm water inlet;   a warm water discharge connected to said evaporator shell;   an evaporator working fluid inlet;   a one or more evaporator coils connected to said working fluid inlet; and   an evaporator working fluid discharge connected to said one or more evaporator coils;   
       a vapor line having
 a vapor line first end connected to said evaporator working fluid discharge; and 
 a vapor line second end; 
 
       a condenser above said submersible evaporator comprising
 a cold water inlet capable of receiving cold water from a natural cold water source; said cold water having a second temperature; 
 a condenser shell connected to said cold water inlet; 
 a cold water discharge connected to said condenser shell; 
 a condenser working fluid inlet connected to said vapor line second end; 
 a one or more evaporator coils connected to said working fluid inlet; and 
 a condenser working fluid discharge connected to said one or more evaporator coils; 
 
       a liquid line having
 a liquid line first end connected to said condenser working fluid discharge; and 
 a liquid line second end; 
 
       an turbine system having
 a turbine system inlet connected to said liquid line second end; 
 a turbine rotatable by a working fluid, said working fluid having a boiling temperature between said first temperature and said second temperature; 
 a turbine system outlet that connects to said evaporator working fluid inlet. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said natural warm water source comes from a first portion of a body of water, and said natural cold water source comes from a second portion of said body of water. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said first portion of said body of water is above said second portion of said body of water. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said liquid line second end connects to said turbine system inlet by a flow control valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said condenser is submersible. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a bio fouling protection system connected to said cold water inlet, said bio fouling protection system connectable to said natural cold water source. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further wherein said bio-fouling protection system creates sodium hypochlorite from seawater. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further wherein said bio-fouling protection system further connects to said warm water inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said condenser is more than one hundred meters higher than said evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said condenser is more than four hundred meters higher than said evaporator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said working fluid is 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane CF3-CHF—CF3. 
     
     
         12 . A method of generating power comprising the steps cycling through a submersed evaporator warm from a natural warm water source, said warm water source having a first temperature;
 evaporating a working fluid using said evaporator;   routing said working fluid from said evaporator through a vapor line to a condenser above said evaporator;   cycling through a condenser cold water from a natural cold water source, said cold water source having a second temperature; and   condensing said working fluid, said working fluid having a boiling point between said first temperature and said second temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps
 routing said working fluid from said condenser to a turbine system; and   turning a turbine in said turbine system with said working fluid.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step returning said working fluid to said evaporator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said natural warm water source comes from a first portion of a body of water, and said natural cold water source comes from a second portion of said body of water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said first portion of said body of water is above said second portion of said body of water. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein wherein said condenser is submersible. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said condenser is more than one hundred meters higher than said evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said condenser is more than four hundred meters higher than said evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said working fluid is 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane CF3-CHF—CF3.