Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermal chamber, a first reservoir containing a first liquid/vapor two-phase system, a second reservoir containing a second liquid/vapor two-phase system and conduits connecting the first reservoir and second reservoir to the thermal chamber. The first and second liquid/vapor two-phase systems include a liquid phase and a separate vapor phase. The apparatus also includes a conduit connecting the vapor phases of the first and second reservoirs. The apparatus can be used to thermally cycle an object placed in the thermal chamber or the vapor region of the first reservoir. The object can include one or more layers of an electrically or magnetically polarizable material.

Abstract: A method of thermally cycling an object includes alternately contacting the object with vapor from each of a first liquid-vapor two-phase system and of a second liquid-vapor two-phase system of a working fluid, each of the systems two-phase including a liquid phase and a separate vapor phase. The first system two-phase is at a higher temperature and pressure than the second system two-phase. The object can include one or more layers of an electrically or magnetically polarizable material. The object can be housed in a chamber thermal and alternately contacted with vapor from the first liquid-vapor two-phase system and the second liquid-vapor two-phase system contained in a first reservoir and in a second reservoir, respectively.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated by extracting thermal energy from a gas to condense the gas into a liquid and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material in thermal communication with a heat source, wherein the heat source is a condenser. An apparatus is also described which comprises a chamber, one or more conduits inside the chamber for conveying a cooling fluid and an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes on an outer surface of the conduit. A gas introduced into the chamber condenses on the conduits and thermal energy is thereby transferred from the gas to the electrically polarizable material.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated using thermal energy obtained from: a combustion reaction; solar energy; a nuclear reaction; ocean water; geothermal energy; or thermal energy recovered from an industrial process. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material. The heat source used to heat the material can be: a combustion apparatus; a solar thermal collector; or a component of a furnace exhaust device. Alternatively, the heat exchanger can be a device for extracting thermal energy from the earth, the sun, ocean water, an industrial process, a combustion reaction or a nuclear reaction. A vehicle is also described which comprises an apparatus for converting heat to electrical energy connected to an electric motor.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated by extracting thermal energy from a gas to condense the gas into a liquid and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material in thermal communication with a heat source, wherein the heat source is a condenser. An apparatus is also described which comprises a chamber, one or more conduits inside the chamber for conveying a cooling fluid and an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes on an outer surface of the conduit. A gas introduced into the chamber condenses on the conduits and thermal energy is thereby transferred from the gas to the electrically polarizable material.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electricity by exploiting changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in electrically polarizable materials is described. The method uses an internally generated field to achieve poling during cycling. The internal poling field is produced by retaining residual free charges on the electrodes at the appropriate point of each cycle. The method obviates the need for applying a DC voltage during cycling and permits the use of the electrical energy that occurs during poling rather than an external poling voltage which detracts from the net energy produced per cycle. The method is not limited to a specific thermodynamic cycle and can be used with any thermodynamic cycle for converting heat to electricity by thermally cycling electrically polarizable materials. The electrical energy generated can be used in various applications or stored for later use. An apparatus for converting heat to electricity is also described.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electricity is described. The method can be used to efficiently and economically generate electricity from thermal energy directly through ferroelectric or other polarizable materials without the need for first converting thermal energy to mechanical energy or to any other form of energy or work. The method can involve subjecting a polarizable material to a thermodynamic cycle having two isothermal steps and two steps that occur at constant polarization. In an ideal implementation, this thermodynamic cycle allows the conversion of heat to electricity at the ultimate Carnot limit. The ferroelectric material can be continuously cycled in and out of its ferroelectric phase while heat is continuously converted to electricity at high voltage. The electrical energy so generated can be used in a virtually unlimited range of different applications or be stored for later use. An apparatus for converting heat to electricity is also described.

Abstract: A method of thermally cycling an object is provided which comprises alternately contacting the object with vapor from first and second liquid/vapor two-phase mixtures of a working fluid wherein the first mixture is at a higher temperature and pressure than the second mixture. An apparatus is also described which comprises a thermal chamber, a first reservoir comprising the first two-phase mixture, a second reservoir comprising the second two-phase mixture and conduits connecting the first reservoir and second reservoirs to the thermal chamber. The apparatus can be used to thermally cycle an object placed in the thermal chamber. An apparatus is also described which comprises a conduit connecting the vapor regions of the first and second reservoirs. The apparatus can be used to thermally cycle an object placed in the vapor region of the first reservoir. The object can comprise one or more layers of an electrically or magnetically polarizable material.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated by extracting thermal energy from a gas to condense the gas into a liquid and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material in thermal communication with a heat source, wherein the heat source is a condenser. An apparatus is also described which comprises a chamber, one or more conduits inside the chamber for conveying a cooling fluid and an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes on an outer surface of the conduit. A gas introduced into the chamber condenses on the conduits and thermal energy is thereby transferred from the gas to the electrically polarizable material.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electricity by exploiting changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in electrically polarizable materials is described. The method uses an internally generated field to achieve poling during cycling. The internal poling field is produced by retaining residual free charges on the electrodes at the appropriate point of each cycle. The method obviates the need for applying a DC voltage during cycling and permits the use of the electrical energy that occurs during poling rather than an external poling voltage which detracts from the net energy produced per cycle. The method is not limited to a specific thermodynamic cycle and can be used with any thermodynamic cycle for converting heat to electricity by thermally cycling electrically polarizable materials. The electrical energy generated can be used in various applications or stored for later use. An apparatus for converting heat to electricity is also described.

Abstract: A method for converting heat to electricity is described. The method can be used to efficiently and economically generate electricity from thermal energy directly through ferroelectric or other polarizable materials without the need for first converting thermal energy to mechanical energy or to any other form of energy or work. The method can involve subjecting a polarizable material to a thermodynamic cycle having two isothermal steps and two steps that occur at constant polarization. In an ideal implementation, this thermodynamic cycle allows the conversion of heat to electricity at the ultimate Carnot limit. The ferroelectric material can be continuously cycled in and out of its ferroelectric phase while heat is continuously converted to electricity at high voltage. The electrical energy so generated can be used in a virtually unlimited range of different applications or be stored for later use. An apparatus for converting heat to electricity is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for converting heat to electric energy. The invention exploits the rapid changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in ferroelectric materials during phase change. The invention permits robust and economical generation of electric energy from thermal energy, and it can be used in many different applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for converting heat to electric energy. The invention exploits the rapid changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in ferroelectric materials during phase change. The invention permits robust and economical generation of electric energy from thermal energy, and it can be used in many different applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for converting heat to electric energy. The invention exploits the rapid changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in ferroelectric materials during phase change. The invention permits robust and economical generation of electric energy from thermal energy, and it can be used in many different applications.