Condensing a vapor produces electrical energy

Abstract

Electrical energy is produced by condensing a vapor back to a liquid. The liquid is either aqueous or a low boiling hydrocarbon. A closed loop or an inverted “U” tube configuration yields similar electrical results. In the closed loop configuration, once a media is sealed therein, it lasts indefinitely. Feeding electrode is in the vapor phase and the collecting electrode is where the vapor is condensed back to a liquid thus yielding its electrical energy. Either configuration becomes auto-genetic when a vapor is present and is silent in operation.

Description

REFERENCE CITED

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0001] 1 4,146,800 March 1996 Gregory- 290/44,55,1; 310/5,6,10; Schurig 179/111; 60/202; 322/2,2A 4,206,396 June 1980 Marks 290/44,55; 310/10,308,309, 11; 322/2A 4,285,481 July 1981 Biscomb 244/33,58,153R; 290/43,44, 54,55; 415/2,3,7; 416/9,84, 85,86 4,324,983 April 1982 Humiston 60/641,398; 290/1,53; 62/ 335,324D,328E 4,719,158 January 1988 Salomon 429/101,50; 290/53,52 5,512,787 April 1996 Dedarick 290/2,4R,42,43,44,53,54, 55,1R 6,100,600 August 2000 Pflanz 290/4R,4A,4D,42,43,44,54, 53,55 6,160,318 December 2000 Komura 290/1R,4R,43,44,53,54,55 6,182,615B1 February 2001 Kershaw 123/19; 417/379,381; 60/ 325,326,398; 290/52,54 6,313,545B1 November 2001 Finley- 290/24,43,53,54 Pscheidt 6,335,572B1 January 2002 Uno - etal 290/1R,1A; 136/205,217; 431/350,76,46 53; 126/ 110E

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The generation of electricity on a large scale has been typically by two well know methods—the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy through the agency of electromagnetic induction, thus making a dynamo or by a chemical reaction of either acids or salts on different metallic electrodes, hence a battery or dry cell. A small-scale method is by thermometry, which uses the fusion of two dissimilar metallic wires to form a junction that produces an electrical current in proportion to the heat sensed by this junction. Photovoltaic cells or solar cells produce electrical energy by the action of light on the cells. Fuel cells use the combination of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. Piezoelectric cells depend on pressure on crystals to emit energy. Research is discovering still newer energy producers.

DISCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] It has been the practice to generate useful quantities of electrically power by conventional methods such as generators or batteries.

[0004] Recent disclosures are showing newer discoveries as following:

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,396—Marks describes a method of using a dispersed by wind aerosols of electrically charged water droplets and collecting these droplets on metallic grids thus generating a large amount of electric power at a high voltage output.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,481—Biscomb describes a tethered shaped airfoil containing a lighter-than-air gas to which wind turbines are attached for the production of electrical energy. The airfoil is held at an angle of attack to the wind direction so that maximum electrical output is obtained. An anchoring cable consisting of a power collection lines and operating control lines simplify the tethering.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,158—Salomon describes a method to exploit the ocean waves motion into electrical energy using a “U” shaped tube containing the combination of a liquid and hydrogen gas. The rocking motion of the “U” tube causes a gas pressure differential to develop which moves oppositely charged particles on to parallel electrocatalyctic electrodes in a closed system. These parallel electrodes collect the electric power for external use.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,572B —Uno describes a thermoelectric device for generating electrical power from combustion. The temperature difference between the high temperature side and the low temperature side of a thermoelectric converter produces sufficient D.C. electric energy after powering its internal system for practical usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with my invention, I have discovered an electrical generator by condensing a vapor back to a liquid. While in the vapor phase, additional electrons can be added to the already available electrons by the known technology of adding an antenna with a diode to the feeding electrode. This technology of the use of an antenna by radio and T.V. to collect the electrical energy that has been transmitted into the air waves to drive these devices. The newly discovered use of a vapor for electrical generation has been tested with aqueous or low boiling hydrocarbons. The spread of the operating temperatures from liquid to vapor and vapor back liquid is lowered by reducing the system's pressure. A lower temperature operation still produces copious quantities of vapors. The configuration of a closed system loop at an inverted “U” tube has been demonstrated. The systems become auto-genetic upon the production of vapor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a closed loop 1 electrical generator in accordance with this invention. The loop is vertical and tipped sideways at about a 45 degree angle by a support structure depending on the diameter of the loop and the diameter of the tube used. The loop 1 is made of a non-metallic material such as glass, ceramic, or plastic. Either an aqueous or a low boiling hydrocarbon liquid is heated by 2 to produce a vapor. 2 is either an electric heating cartridge as shown, or any type of waste heat source. To eliminate heat loss, the loop is lagged with an insulating material 3 from the heating area 2 to beyond the feeding electrode 4 and gauze 5. Access for filling the loop with the liquid to level 9 and for reducing the internal pressure of the loop is by valve 17, which is also a sealing valve. Once filled to level 9 no additional liquid is required for continual operation. Electrode 4 is the feeding electrode to supply electrons to the vapor phase as they pass through the metallic gauze 5. Additional electrons can be supplied by antenna 10 such as a whip, disc, screen or net using known technology with diode 11. These electron laden vapors then pass from 4 to electrode 6 and gauze 7. Here they are condensed back to a liquid by cooling fins 8 thus yielding their energy to collecting electrode 6. Any electrical device placed between 6 and a ground becomes operational.

[0011] FIG. 2 The use of a vertical inverted “U” tube is a different system to exploit vapor to liquid by condensing to produce electrical energy. This device is built on a tower or supported by non-conducting cables. Reservoir A uses a waste heat vessel while B is at a lower temperature due to the heat given up by the condensing vapors. 1 is a vertical riser tube or leg of such a length to operate under reduced pressure with a tepid liquid. The leg is painted black if using solar heating. 1a is the down-corner of similar length as 1, and white if solar heating is used by 1. Both 1 and 1a is non-metallic material as plastic, ceramic or glass. Electrode 4 is connected to 5, a metallic gauze through which the vapors produced in 1 passes and is the feeding electrode 4 can be connected to an antenna 10 and diode 11 if additional electrons are required. These electron laden vapors then passed to the collecting electrode 6 where they are condensed in 7 to a liquid again by the cooling fins 8, thus yielding their electric energy to electrode 6. Valve 17 is connected to a vacuum source, which pulls the liquid levels up in 1 and 1a high enough to create a space for the vapors produced to travel. Valve 16 is a manual shutdown if the temperature in 1 is insufficient to produce vapors.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows a method for making a movable feeding electrode 4, thus providing an automatic separation between 4 and 6. This separation decreases the possibility of internal sparking. The temperature of the liquid in 1 is sensed by a temperature sensing probe 15, which sends this information to transducer 13. Transducer 13 then pushes or pulls feeding electrode 4 with 5 to a controlled separation from electrode 6. This transducer also positions valve 16 to operate at optimum opening linked by 14 by either mechanical, electrically or pneumatics. Electrode 4 attached to 5 is now a disc of stainless steel or screen. A packing gland 12 acts as a seal. All other components as described in FIG. 2 and their operations are the same.

[0013] FIG. 4A plot of test results made to determine electrode separation in inches verses the current generated. Both aqueous or low boiling hydrocarbons were used as the liquid of atmospheric pressure. The vapors produced by a boiler passed through a ⅛″ O.D. tube as the feeding electrode. Various separations of the feeding and collecting electrode were measured. The collecting electrode was an iced chilled copper gauze. This system yielded measurable electric current. Adding an antenna and rectifier diode as discussed above in FIG. 1 displayed a notable increase of the current produced.

[0014] Various modifications of charges in systems of this present inventor will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above described embodiments. While the preferred embodiments have been described, it is intended to claim all such embodiments falling within the true scope of this invention as defined by the following claim.

Claims

1. Electrical energy is generated by the condensing of vapors of both aqueous or low boiling hydrocarbons rich in electrons in a closed loop system, which provide a means of producing a vapor to be then condensed back to a liquid again, thus a non consuming liquid; the vapors passing through a feeding electrode gaining electrical energy that is yielded on a collecting electrode as the vapor is condensed back to a liquid, thus making a continuous supply of D.C. electrical energy that is silent in operation.

2. Any available heat source such as solar heating or waste heat can be utilized by adapting to an inverted “U” tube configuration using vertical tubes or legs of sufficient length to act as seals for reducing pressure operation and a movable feeding electrode for maximum electrical generation at the collecting electrode where the vapor is condensed.

3. All systems become autogenetic when vapors are produced.