Power generating system utilizing expanding fluid

Abstract

A system for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid includes a vessel having at least a portion of the working fluid, a heating device in thermal communication with the portion of the working fluid in the vessel for heating the portion of the working fluid in the vessel and expanding the working fluid, and a conversion tool. The conversion tool is in fluid communication with the vessel and is configured to receive working fluid from the vessel when the working fluid expands. The conversion tool is further configured to extract work from the expanded working fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid, comprising:
 a vessel comprising at least a portion of the working fluid;   a heating device in thermal communication with the portion of the working fluid in the vessel for heating the portion of the working fluid in the vessel and expanding the working fluid; and   a conversion tool in fluid communication with the vessel configured to receive working fluid from the vessel when the working fluid expands, the conversion tool further configured to extract work from the expanded working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein in extracting work from the expanded working fluid, the conversion tool is configured to generate electricity using the expanded working fluid or to provide a mechanical output force using the expanded working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a component of a motor vehicle, and wherein the vessel is mounted in thermal communication with the component. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the component is at least one of a combustion engine of the motor vehicle or an exhaust of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein in extracting work from the expanded working fluid the conversion tool is configured to generate electricity using the expanded working fluid, wherein the motor vehicle comprises an electric energy storage unit, and wherein the conversion tool is configured to provide electrical power to the electric energy storage unit during operation of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first fluid line assembly fluidly connecting the vessel to the conversion tool for supplying expanded working fluid from the vessel to the conversion tool; and   a second fluid line assembly fluidly connecting the conversion tool to the vessel for returning working fluid from the conversion tool to the vessel.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first fluid line assembly extends from the vessel to the conversion tool such that the conversion tool is directly fluidly connected to the vessel through the first fluid line assembly, and wherein the second fluid line assembly extends from the conversion tool to the vessel such that the vessel is directly fluidly connected to the conversion tool through the second fluid line assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first fluid line assembly comprises a pressure valve at a location upstream of the conversion tool, the pressure valve defining a minimum baseline flowthrough pressure, and the second fluid line assembly comprises a one-way check valve at a location upstream of the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second fluid line assembly is configured for thermal connection to a heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the heating device is a first component of a motor vehicle, wherein the vessel is mounted in thermal communication with the first component, wherein the second fluid line assembly is thermally connected to a heat sink, and wherein the heat sink is a second component of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is a phase change fluid having a vaporization temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid defines a volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion between about 250/10 6 /Kelvin and about 1,100/10 6 /Kelvin at twenty degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a solar panel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A method for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid, the method comprising:
 heating the working fluid in a vessel using a heating device to expand the working fluid in the vessel;   transferring at least a portion of the expanded working fluid to a conversion tool in fluid communication with the vessel;   extracting with the conversion tool work from the expanded working fluid from the vessel transferred to the conversion tool; and   returning substantially all of the working fluid from the conversion tool to the vessel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the working fluid is a phase change fluid, wherein heating the working fluid in the vessel using the heating device to expand the working fluid in the vessel comprises vaporizing at least a portion of the working fluid in the vessel, and wherein transferring at least a portion of the expanded working fluid to the conversion tool comprises transferring at least a portion of the vaporized working fluid to the conversion tool. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein extracting with the conversion tool work from the expanded working fluid from the vessel transferred to the conversion tool comprises generating electricity using the expanded working fluid or providing a mechanical output force using the expanded working fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heating device is a component of a motor vehicle, and wherein heating the working fluid in the vessel using the heating device comprises transferring heat from the component of the motor vehicle to the working fluid in the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein extracting with the conversion tool work from the expanded working fluid from the vessel transferred to the conversion tool comprises generating electricity using the expanded working fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the motor vehicle further comprises an electric energy storage unit, and wherein extracting with the conversion tool work from the expanded working fluid from the vessel transferred to the conversion tool further comprises transferring generated electricity to the electric energy storage unit. 
     
     
         20 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 a combustion engine;   an exhaust system for exhausting combustion gasses from the combustion engine;   a radiator in thermal communication with the combustion engine;   one or more brake assemblies; and   a system for extracting work from the expansion of a working fluid, the system comprising:   a vessel comprising at least a portion of the working fluid;   a heating device in thermal communication with the portion of the working fluid in the vessel for heating the portion of the working fluid in the vessel and expanding the portion of the working fluid in the vessel; and   a conversion tool in fluid communication with the vessel configured to receive working fluid from the vessel when the working fluid in the vessel expands, the conversion tool further configured to extract work from the expanded working fluid