Unknown

Abstract

A liquid is evaporated by the sun, raised to as vapor and condensed by passing through a reservoir that condenses the liquid by heat transfer. The liquid is stored in a tank just below this reservoir of water. These tanks are connected to a turbine. Turbine is fed by condensed liquid, and the liquid is evaporated again. The system is closed and the liquid has an intermediate boiling point between ambient temperature in the sun and ambient temperature in the condensing reservoir.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many attempts have been made to utilize energy of the sun in a low thermal efficiency environment (photovoltaic cells, hot water heaters, etc.) because there is so much energy available. This invention concentrates the energy that is available in an simpler, more efficient way than has been previously. Much of the prior art are attempts to harness this energy by having a well-insulated collector evaporate a liquid, usually water, the steam then being conducted to a higher elevation where the water condenses, and finally the water is conducted to a water turbine, which generates electricity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention uses a liquid that boils at a temperature lower than the ambient heat of the solar collector, and thus avoids the use of insulation or even enclosing the solar collector. At the top of the hill, this gas is condensed by passing the piping that has the vapor inside it, through a reservoir of liquid that is below the temperature at which time the gas condenses and is store in a smaller reservoir sited just below the larger reservoir. This stored liquid is used to generate electricity in much the same way as other inventions.

DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS IN DRAWINGS, WITH EXPLANATION OF FLOW OF LIQUID THROUGH THE SYSTEM

1. This absorption field is laid on a slope with no vegetation present to maximize collection of solar energy. (1)

2. This is the piping that conducts the gas generated up the hill and into the reservoir (3).

3. The piping is coiled inside the reservoir (4) to increase surface area for condensation to take place.

4. The liquid is collected inside this flexible bladder

5. The liquid is released into pipe (5), which conducts liquid into turbine

6. This turbine generates electricity

7. The pipe (7) leads the fluid back to the absorption field (1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (WITH THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

There are two items that are different from other systems of this type this explanation will concentrate on the differences, as the rest of the system is well understood.

First, the system uses a liquid that boils at less than the ambient temperature of the solar collector after it has been exposed to the solar energy (which is during the day). In the preferred embodiment, the liquid is N-pentane, a byproduct of natural gas production. the boiling point of pentane is approximately 30 degrees centigrade (98 degrees). A black pipe left out in the sun reaches a temperature of over a 35 degree centigrade within 30 minutes of being in the sun. Thus, once the liquid vaporizes, no insulation is required to keep the vapor from condensing until it reaches the heat sink of the reservoir.

Second, the liquid releases its energy into the liquid (usually water) which is large enough and is insulated from the sun's energy by a covering that also prevents evaporation. The energy of the vapor circulates in this liquid until it is transmitted into the earth. The temperature of the earth is approximately 17 degrees centigrade, which is below the boiling point of the liquid.

Claims

1. A solar collector and associated piping that has a liquid in that does not need to be insulated against loss of energy and associated condensation of the liquid before the vapor reaches the top of the system. The liquid that is used in the system must have a boiling point between the heat of the solar collector and its surrounding ambient temperature and the colder temperature of the heat sink.

2. A reservoir for the liquid associated with a heat sink that removes energy from the vapor, until the vapor is below the boiling point, condenses and drips in to the reservoir below it. The heat energy transferred to the water and is in turn transferred to the earth that is in contact with the reservoir.

1. A solar collector and associated piping that does not have to be insulated against loss of energy and condensation of the liquid before the vapor reaches the heat sink at the top of the system. The liquid that is used in the system must have a boiling point between the solar collector and the heat sink at the top of the system.

2. A heat sink is added to traditional systems. At the highest elevation of the system, a large body of liquid (usually water) is stored with a large surface area of the liquid in contact with the earth. This liquid transfers the energy of the liquid of the system (in this case, Pentane) into the heat sink (the earth through the medium of the water reservoir).