Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ENERGY SYSTEM FOR DWELLING SUPPORT
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed February 13, 2010 and titled
FULL
SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE; U.S. Patent Application
No. 12/707,651, filed February 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND
METHOD OF USE THEREOF; PCT Application No. PCT/ US10/24497, filed February
17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; U.S.
Patent Application No. 12/707,653, filed February 17, 2010 and titled
APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT
Application No. PCT/ US10/24498, filed February 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; U.S.
Patent Application No. 121707,656, filed February 17, 2010 and titled
APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT Application
No. PCT/ US10/24499, filed February 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, filed August 27, 2009 and
titled
ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES. Each of
these applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The world economy is dependent upon energy generated by annual
combustion of more than one million years of fossil accumulations such as
coal,
natural gas and oil. Present practices for producing electricity from fossil
and nuclear
fueled central power plants are very inefficient. Most electricity is produced
by driving
a generator with a heat engine such as a steam turbine or gas turbine that is
fueled
by coal and to a lesser extent by natural gas, oil, or nuclear fuels.
[0003] Original production of fossil hydrocarbons such as coal, oil and
natural
gas started with photosynthesis at a time in the distant past between 60
million and
500 million years ago. Biomass produced by photosynthesis is less than 1%
efficient
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and only a small amount of biomass became anaerobically processed in
geological
circumstances that resulted in preservation of fossil fuels. Thus burning a
fossil fuel in
a power plant that claims to be 40% to 60% efficient actually provides far
less than
0.5% conversion of solar energy into electricity.
[0004] Enormous consumption of fossil fuels has enabled the U.S. to lead the
world in economic development. Some 200 billion barrels of domestic oil and
more or
less equal energy equivalents as natural gas and coal have been burned. About
5%
of the world's six billion humans in the U.S. consume 25% of world oil
production, but
U.S. reserves have been depleted to only 2% of total world reserves. Natural
gas
production has failed to keep pace with demand that has shifted from oil. Coal
is now
shipped great distances by rail car and slurry pipelines from cleaner mine
deposits in
efforts to meet environmental protection standards.
[0005] Ageing U.S. power plants import nuclear fuel and world supplies of
fissionable fuels are declining in close correlation to the fossil hydrocarbon
fuels. It
would require more than 1,600 nuclear power plants to produce the 95 Quads of
energy now consumed yearly by the U.S. Nuclear power is not a viable option.
[0006] Dwellings such as homes, office buildings and manufacturing plants
typically purchase electricity from fossil fueled central power plants and use
a fluid
fuel such as natural gas or propane for space heating and water heating.
Typical
central power plants reject some 50-70% of the heat released by fossil fuel
combustion as an accepted necessity of the thermodynamic cycles utilized by
electricity utilities. If dwellings had access to the energy rejected from
distant central
power plants, virtually all of the space and water heating could be
accomplished
without incurring the cost, pollution, and resource depletion now incurred by
burning a
fossil fuel at the dwelling to produce these needs.
[0007] Most of the world's population is deprived of the standard of living
typical
in the U.S. because of the high cost of electricity production, water heating,
and air
conditioning as provided by central power plants, liquefied petroleum or oil
fired water
heaters, and electric powered air conditioners. As easily exploited fossil
fuel supplies
are depleted, conservation of energy becomes increasingly important to all
nations.
[0008] Much of the world population suffers from occasional or incessant
diseases due to air and water born pathogens and in other instances from
inorganic
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poisons such as radon, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Considerable loss of
food
value or contamination results from attack by rodents, bugs and inappropriate
food
preservation practices and causes disease and malnutrition. These problems
have
proven to be extremely difficult to solve.
[0009] Within the next decade the global economy must rapidly develop
sustainable energy supplies or accept precipitous productivity losses. It is
immoral to
accept the hardships that will follow without a sustainable economy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Figure 1 is a partially schematic circuit diagram of an energy system
for a
dwelling according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0011] Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of an exhaust tube according to
several
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] Figure 3 is a partially schematic circuit diagram of an energy system
for a
dwelling according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a tank for use with an energy
system
according to the present disclosure.
[0014] Figure 5 is a partially schematic diagram of an energy system according
to several embodiments of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present disclosure is directed to an energy system for a dwelling,
comprising an inner tank and a generator within the inner tank. The inner tank
contains a first fluid surrounding at least a portion of the generator, and
the generator
is configured to produce electricity for the dwelling. In some embodiments,
the energy
system includes an outer tank containing at least a portion of the inner tank
at least
partially submerged within a second fluid, and an exhaust port operably
coupled to the
generator to receive exhaust fumes from the generator. The exhaust port can
pass
through the second fluid to exchange heat from the exhaust fumes to the second
fluid. The energy system can further include a fluid outlet operably coupled
to the
outer tank to deliver the heated second fluid from the outer tank for use by
the
dwelling.
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[0016] The present disclosure is further directed to a method for providing
energy
to a dwelling. The method comprises operating an engine positioned within a
first
tank containing a first fluid. The first fluid is configured to absorb energy
from the
engine in the form of at least one of acoustic, vibration, and heat energy.
The method
also includes passing exhaust fumes from the engine through an exhaust port,
and
exchanging heat from the exhaust fumes to a second fluid held within a second
tank.
At least a portion of the first tank is submerged within the second fluid
within the
second tank. In some embodiments, the second fluid is configured to absorb
energy
from the first fluid within the first tank.
[0017] The present disclosure is also directed to an energy system comprising
an
engine and generator for producing electricity and heat, and an exhaust line
configured to receive exhaust from the engine. The system also includes a
fluid
storage tank through which the exhaust line passes to exchange heat with the
fluid in
the fluid storage tank. The system further includes a condensation collector
for
collecting water condensed in the exhaust line, and a heat exchanger operably
connected to the fluid storage tank and configured to receive the fluid from
the fluid
storage tank and deliver heat from the fluid to a dwelling.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present application incorporates by reference in its entirety the
subject matter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/626,021, filed
November
9, 2004 and titled MULTIFUEL STORAGE, METERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM
(Attorney Docket No. 69545-8013US) and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/153,253, filed February 17, 2009 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY (Attorney
Docket No. 69545-8001 US). The present application also incorporates by
reference
in their entirety the subject matter of each of the following U.S. Patent
Applications,
filed concurrently herewith on August 16, 2010 and titled: METHODS AND
APPARATUSES FOR DETECTION OF PROPERTIES OF FLUID CONVEYANCE
SYSTEMS (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8003US); COMPREHENSIVE COST
MODELING OF AUTOGENOUS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF ENERGY, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND NUTRIENT REGIMES
(Attorney Docket No. 69545-8025US); ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF
USE THEREOF (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8026US); SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC
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DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY, MATERIALS RESOURCES, AND NUTRIENT REGIMES (Attorney Docket
No. 69545-8040US); SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8041 US); SUSTAINABLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM
PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES (Attorney Docket No.
69545-8042US); METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF
SUPPLEMENTED OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (SOTEC) (Attorney
Docket No. 69545-8044US); GAS HYDRATE CONVERSION SYSTEM FOR
HARVESTING HYDROCARBON HYDRATE DEPOSITS (Attorney Docket No. 69545-
8045US); APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND/OR FILTERING A
SUBSTANCE (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8046US); ENERGY CONVERSION
ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE
(Attorney Docket No. 69545-8048US); and INTERNALLY REINFORCED
STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF
MANUFACTURING (69545-8049US).
[0019] Many of the details, dimensions, angles, shapes, and other features
shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the
disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions,
angles, and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that further
embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details
described below.
[0020] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an
embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
described in
connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure. Thus, the occurrences of the phrases "in one embodiment"
or "in
an embodiment" in various places throughout this Specification are not
necessarily all
referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,
structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
embodiments. In addition, the headings provided herein are for convenience
only and
do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed disclosure.
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[0021] Figure 1 shows an energy system 100 according to several embodiments
of the present disclosure. The energy system 100 includes an engine 110 and a
generator 112 held within an inner tank 114. The engine 110 can include a fuel
line
118 and an air intake 120 that extend out of the inner tank 114 to provide
needed
materials, such as fuel and air, to the engine 110. The fuel line 118 can
include an
appropriate valve 118a and flow-regulator 118b, and other appropriate fuel
management equipment. Additional details about the fuel delivery and
management
equipment are disclosed in copending U.S. Patent Application No. 09/128,673
titled
"ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM," which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The
air intake 120 can include an upwardly extending pipe 120a and an air filter
120b at
an end of the pipe 120a. In some embodiments, the engine 110 comprises an
internal combustion engine 110. The engine 110 and generator 114 can include a
flywheel to start and stabilize rotation of the engine 110, and to provide
electricity after
the engine 110 reaches a desired speed of operation. The engine 110 and
generator
112 can provide energy in the form of electricity for a dwelling or other
small or
moderate-scale consumption unit such as a store or outpost. An inverter 115
can
receive electricity from the generator 112 and convert the electricity into an
appropriate format for use by the dwelling. The inner tank 114 can include
tubular
walls 114a extending upward above the engine 110. The inner tank 114 can
include
a vent 114b atop the inner tank 114, which may include a roof (not shown) or
other
closure on the vent 114.
[0022] The inner tank 114 can be filled (or substantially filled) with a fluid
116
such as a suitable low vapor pressure fluid. For example, the fluid 116 can be
a high
temperature silicone, fluorocarbon, or suitable eutectic solution (or a
mixture thereof)
that can provide sound attenuation and heat-transfer. In some embodiments, the
fluid
116 can include a self-extinguishing fluid, or a fire proof fluid to buoy
exhaust fluid or
leaked fuel or lubricant from the engine 110 to a surface of the fluid 116 to
be vented
out of the system 100. The fluid 116 can also include a dielectric fluid to
provide
added insulation of high voltage leads from generator 112 and of accompanying
circuitry and cabling. The fluid 116 can also include sulfur hexafluoride,
sand,
aluminum or steel balls, potassium hydroxide, or other media that provides for
noise
attenuation and improved fire proofing of the assembly by forcing displacement
of
leaked vapors, smothering by displacement of air or other oxidants, and by
providing
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quenching capacity. The term "fluid" as used herein includes liquids and
particulate
solids such as sand or metal balls. In embodiments including particulate
solids, a
mixture of sizes of particulates can be used to fit within spaces and openings
of
various sizes within the inner tank 114.
[0023] The inner tank 114 can be within an outer tank 150 that can be filled
with
a fluid 152. In some embodiments, the fluid 152 is potable water. The outer
tank 150
can be made of a polymer-lined composite that is reinforced by high strength
fiber
glass, carbon or polymer windings. This construction enables the tank 150 to
be
inherently insulated and corrosion resistant for an extremely long service
life. The
outer tank 150 can include an inlet 154 at a base of the outer tank 150, and
an outlet
156 at a top of the tank 150. The engine 114 can include an exhaust port 158
connected to a heat-exchanging tube 160. The tube 160 can wind throughout the
outer tank 150 in a helical or other appropriate fashion to transfer heat from
the
exhaust within the tube 160 to the fluid 152 within the outer tank 150. In the
embodiment pictured in Figure 1, the heat-exchanging tube 160 winds helically
about
a generally vertical axis within a generally cylindrical outer tank 150. In
other
embodiments, other arrangements are possible to achieve an appropriate level
of
heat exchange between the exhaust in the tube 160 and the fluid 152 in the
tank 150.
[0024] The outer tank 150 can also include a condensation collector 162 at an
exit of the tube 160 to collect condensation 161 from the exhaust. In
embodiments in
which the engine 110 uses hydrogen as fuel, approximately nine pounds of
distilled
quality water are produced from each pound of hydrogen that is used as fuel in
the
engine 110. In some embodiments, the engine 110 can produce water and heat
according to equations 1 and 2 below:
[0025] H2 + 11202 ----> H2O + HEAT1 Equation 1
[0026] 1 lb hydrogen + 8 lbs oxygen ---> 9 lbs water Equation 2
[0027] In other embodiments, a hydrocarbon fuel such as a fuel alcohol,
liquefied
petroleum, fuel oil, or methane produced from sewage, garbage, farm wastes and
other sources is used. Water may be condensed from the products of combustion
as
shown by the processes summarized in Equations 3 and 4.
[0028] HxCy + y02 ---> xH2O + yC02 + HEAT3 Equation 3
[0029] CH4 + 202 ---> 2H20 + C02 + HEAT4 Equation 4
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[0030] In many areas of the world serious loss of productivity and misery
results
from chronic illnesses and shortened life spans that are caused by bad water.
Collection of water from the exhaust products of the energy conversion process
is
extremely important for assisting communities that are troubled with water-
borne
pathogens or in which ground water is unsuitable due to arsenic, lead, radon,
or other
inorganic poisons. The system 100 provides for safe and clean collection of
about one
gallon of water per pound of hydrogen that is used as fuel in a fuel cell or
engine and
does so in a cascade of energy utilization events that greatly improve the
quality of life
while conserving energy supplies.
[0031] The arrangement of the inner tank 114 and the outer tank 150
advantageously encases energy from the engine 110 and transfers the energy to
the
fluids 116, 152 in the tanks 114, 150. The outer tank 150 can be a vessel such
as a
cylinder, or as a cylinder with baffles, or as a vessel with heat transfer
fins inside and
or outside, or as a vessel with provisions for depressing convective flow of
heated
fluids in the tank 150. Heat, sound, and vibration are therefore not
transmitted
substantially out of the system 100, but are used to heat and/or pressurize
the fluid
152 within the outer tank 150. In some embodiments, the fluid 152 is hot,
potable
water that can be used by the dwelling. The outlet 156 can be connected to
appropriate plumbing ports in the dwelling. The outlet 156 can include a
sensor (not
shown) that triggers the outlet 156 to release pressure from the outer tank
150 if the
pressure or temperature reaches a threshold pressure.
[0032] Several particularly synergistic and beneficial results are provided by
the
system 100. For example, the heat and vibration energy caused by pulse
combustion, as well as the noise, are substantially captured as heat in the
fluid 152
for productive use. Additionally, some combustion processes can produce large
amounts of water in the exhaust. The system 100 can capture this water, which
is
generally clean and usable, for productive use. These benefits are applicable
to
virtually any engine type, including combustion engines and fuel cells. The
engine
110 can be a fuel cell that produces water and noise that are likewise
captured as
clean water and energy, respectively, in the fluid 152.
[0033] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the heat-exchanging tube 160.
In some embodiments, the tube 160 can be a flattened tube 160. In some
embodiments, the outer tank 150 can contain fins or channels that generally
follow
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the path of the tube 160 through the tank 150. The current from the inlet 154
to the
outer 156 can therefore run counter to the path of the exhaust within the tube
160.
Accordingly, the width and height dimensions, w and h, may vary as needed to
assure
that inlet water does not travel in convective or other paths but moves in a
countercurrent heat exchanging arrangement.
[0034] In some embodiments, the tube 160 can be a bowed tube with a generally
crescent overall cross sectional shape in which the middle portion is bowed
upward to
assist in directing the flow of heated and thus expanded water to be kept
within the
bowed underside of the tube 160 by buoyant forces. The tube 160 can fit within
the
outer tank 150 with the tube 160 winding helically throughout the tank 150,
while
leaving a countercurrent path through the tank 150 along which fluid 152 can
pass
from the inlet 154 to the outlet 156. This arrangement increases the
efficiency of the
system, and allows the fluid 152 to reach a reliable, consistent temperature
at the
outlet 156.
[0035] Figure 3 shows a system 200 according to several embodiments of the
present disclosure. The system 200 includes an engine 210 and a generator 212.
The engine 210 can be an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell, or any other
appropriate engine type. The engine 210 includes input lines 210a to provide
the
engine 210 with materials such as fuel, air, hydrogen, or any other
appropriate
material for use in the engine 210. The fuel can be delivered through the
input lines
210a as described in copending patent application entitled " FULL SPECTRUM
ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE," referenced above, and incorporated
by reference in its entirety. The generator 212 can be coupled to the engine
210 to
convert energy from the engine 210 to electricity. The system 200 can include
an
inverter 212a and other suitable electrical equipment 212b, such as cabling,
electrolyzers, batteries, capacitors, etc., to deliver electricity from the
generator 212 to
a dwelling.
[0036] The system 200 can also include an exhaust line 214, a heat exchanger
215, and an oven 216. The heat exchanger 215 can transfer heat from the
exhaust to
the oven 216. The oven 216 can include several ovens of cascading heat levels,
connected by a network of heat exchangers. For example, the oven 216 can
include
a first oven 216a that receives the exhaust heat first; a second oven 216b
that
receives the heat from the first oven 216b; and a third oven 216c that
receives the
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heat from the second oven 216c. The air in the oven 216 can be distributed
among
the several ovens 216a, 216b, and 216c through a series of valves and
regulators
217. The first oven 216a can be used to cook at the highest desirable
temperatures,
for example for a pizza oven. The second oven 216b can be used to cook at a
slightly lower temperature, and the third oven 216c can be used to cook at an
even
lower temperature, such as to dry or preserve food. At least one of the ovens
216
can include a microwave oven. The oven 216 can include a desiccant filter (not
shown) to dry air within the oven 216. The desiccant filter can be
periodically
refreshed using hot exhaust from the engine 210. Drying of fruits, meats and
vegetables offer healthful, energy conserving, and advantageous alternatives
for food
preservation and compact storage. The system 200 provides quick and disease
vector-free drying and preservation of food.
[0037] The system 200 also includes a tank 220 through which the exhaust line
214 can pass to heat fluid, such as water, in the tank 220 after the exhaust
passes
through the oven 216. In some embodiments, a suitable corrosion resistant
material
such as stainless steel can be used for construction of heat exchanger 215 and
the
tube 214. Alternative materials for the heat exchanger 215 include high
temperature
polymers which provide cost effective anticorrosion benefits. The tube 214 can
be
made of polyester, silicone, and/or fluoropolymers. The arrangement of the
exhaust
line 214 and tank 220 can be generally similar to the system 100 described
above
with reference to Figure 1 above. The system 200 can include a condensation
collector 221 near an exhaust port. In some embodiments, for example where
sound,
heat, and vibration attenuation are a priority, the engine 210 and generator
212 can
be situated within an inner tank (not shown) that is in turn found within the
tank 220 in
a manner generally similar to the system 100 described in connection with
Figure 1.
The fluid in the tank 220 can be potable water, and can be used for drinking,
bathing,
washing etc. within the dwelling. In some embodiments, the water (or other
fluid) can
be used to heat the dwelling as well. The tank 220 can include an outlet 222
connected to a heat exchanger 224 including a series of tubes winding through
walls,
a ceiling, and a floor of a dwelling. The dwelling can include insulation
between the
heat exchanger 224 and an external surface of the dwelling, but can be
transmissive
to heat to the interior of the dwelling. The water can return from the heat
exchanger
224 to the tank 220, or it can be used in the dwelling as potable water. The
tank 220
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can be constructed to produce and keep hottest water at the top of tank 220
and
coldest water at the bottom of tank 220 by depressing or preventing mixing due
to
entering water momentum and/or convective currents.
[0038] Provision of a series of heat utilizations at cascading temperatures
starting with internal combustion or high temperature fuel cell operation
followed by
thermochemical regeneration of primary fuels to more energy yielding fuel
species,
heat exchange for cooking food, drying food, heating water, and using heated
water in
a fan coil or floor heating system greatly improves over conventional dwelling
support
practices. Overall energy utilization efficiency is increased compared to
present
practices. Energy security along with assured water production and
pasteurization or
sterilization are provided as inherent benefits.
[0039] Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tank 300 according to
embodiments of the present disclosure. The tank 300 can be made of metal or a
polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride or perfluoroalkoxy. The tank 300 can
include
a central shaft 310 that can be hollow or solid, and can include an axial
tubular
member 314. In some embodiments, the bore of the shaft 310 can be used as a
central conduit for connecting appropriate delivery tubes to pump to and from
various
locations within energy systems 100 and 200, and to external destinations. A
helical
tube 312 can extend around the shaft 310 within the tank 300. Figure 4
illustrates the
tube 312 conceptually as a line; however, it is to be understood that the tube
312 can
have any appropriate dimension within the tank 300. The helical shape of the
tube
312 can reinforce the tank 300 from within. The tank 300 can be rapidly
manufactured by forming a polymer tube in the helical form shown in Figure 4
(which
may or may not include forming around and bonding to a shaft 310). An
impermeable
liner 316 can be thermoformed over and bonded to the outside surfaces of the
tube
312. The tank 300 can include an overwrap 318 made of fiberglass, oriented
polyolefin, oriented polyester, and/or graphite fiber in a suitable thermoset
such as
epoxy. In embodiments in which a central shaft 310 is incorporated, end
reinforcements such as conformal bulkheads 320 and 322 can provide axial load
spreading and reinforcement along with mounting provisions. Bonding shaft 310
to
bulkheads 320 and 322 or providing load transfer by threaded fasteners or
similar
attachment thus provides axial arrestment of pressure stresses in the tank
300.
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[0040] Figure 5 illustrates an energy system 400 for a dwelling or other
consumption unit according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The
system
400 includes solar panels 402 that receive solar energy and convert the energy
into
heat and electricity for the dwelling. The heat can be removed from the solar
panels
402 by a working fluid such as air and/or water by passing the fluid from a
first
manifold 404a to a second manifold 404b. The system 400 can also include an
engine 410 and a generator 412 similar to systems 100 and 200 described above.
Exhaust from the engine 410 and generator 412 can be transferred to a heat
exchanger 414 within a container 416. The container 416 can be any compartment
in
which heat from exhaust can be used, including an oven or a heating unit for a
dwelling. The heat exchanger 414 can use countercurrent air by moving two
fluids
against one another as illustrated by arrows 414a. Alternatively, the exhaust
can be
passed through a thermal storage tank 418. The thermal storage tank 418 may
contain a high specific heat media 419 and/or a change of phase substance such
as
Glaber salt (Na2SO4.10H20) or paraffin to heat or cool fluid adaptively
circulated
through the thermal storage tank 418. The manifolds 404a, 404b can direct heat
from
the solar panels 402 to the thermal storage tank 418 for later use elsewhere.
[0041] The system 400 can include a tank 430, and exhaust tubes 432 that pass
through the tank 430, and a condensation collector 434, similar to the systems
100,
200 described above with reference to Figures 1 and 3. The fluid in the tank
430 can
be heated from the exhaust from the engine 410, or from the thermal storage
tank
418 as needed. The tank 430 can include heat storage coils 431 surrounding the
tank 430. The hot fluid in the tank 430 can be cycled to a heat exchanger 440
in a
floor or wall of a dwelling to heat the dwelling before returning to the tank
430. The
system 400 can include a controller 420 that provides control of the engine
410 and/or
generator 412, and sensors that receive temperature and/or humidity
information.
The controller 420 can adaptively control circulation of working fluids in
various
portions of the system 400. The system 400 can also include a geothermal
storage
return bend 442 that extends below the surface of the earth where temperatures
are
generally more moderate than at the surface of the earth. The fluid in the
return bend
442 can be moved by a pump 444 or other appropriate pressurizing equipment.
The
heat exchanger 440 can exchange heat to the return bend 442, which can
transfer the
heat to a geothermal bank below the surface of the earth. The system 400 can
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circulate well water or water that has been cooled in a heat exchanger (not
shown)
that is buried in the soil at a sufficient depth to allow the water circulated
in heat
exchanger 440 to achieve the mean annual air temperature. In most continents
the
saturated zone of a ground water aquifer remains very close to the mean annual
air
temperature plus one degree for each 80' of overburden to the surface. During
cold
weather months, this ground water is warmer than the ambient air temperature.
During warm weather months, the ground water is often 200 F to 40 F cooler
than the
ambient air temperature and readily serves as a heat sink for cooling a
dwelling.
Similarly in areas near deep ocean water it is often found that adequately
cool water
is available from the ocean depths to readily cool a dwelling.
[0042] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the
description
and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be
construed
in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is
to say,
in a sense of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or
plural number
also include the plural or singular number, respectively. When the claims use
the
word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of
the
following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of
the items in the
list, and any combination of the items in the list.
[0043] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide
further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application
publications,
U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-
patent
publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the
Application Data Sheet
are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the
disclosure can
be modified, if necessary, to employ fuel injectors and ignition devices with
various
configurations, and concepts of the various patents, applications, and
publications to
provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure.
[0044] These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the
above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms
used should
not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed
in the
specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all systems
and
methods that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention
is not
limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined broadly
by the
following claims.
69545-8047. US 00/LEGAL18956169.1 -13-
