F01K15/04

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERIODICALLY CHARGING OCEAN VESSEL OR OTHER SYSTEM USING THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
20170350558 · 2017-12-07 ·

An apparatus includes multiple tanks each configured to receive and store a liquid refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes one or more insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water around at least part of an associated one of the tanks. The apparatus further includes at least one generator configured to receive a flow of the liquid refrigerant and to generate electrical power based on the flow of the liquid refrigerant. The apparatus also includes one or more first valves configured to control the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the tanks and through the at least one generator. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more second valves configured to control a flow of the water into and out of the one or more insulated water jackets.

Hydraulic drives for use in charging systems, ballast systems, or other systems of underwater vehicles
09834288 · 2017-12-05 · ·

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.

ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, METHOD FOR POWERING A CORRESPONDING TASK, PROPULSION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SHIP
20170283023 · 2017-10-05 ·

This electrical energy distribution system comprises assembly of electrical energy generators each driven by a heat engine and supplying a distribution network; means for recovering the heat energy generated during the operation of the heat engines and for vaporizing a working fluid; steam turbine driven by the working fluid and associated with a generator connected to the distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy and at least one frequency converter arranged between the distribution network and an electrical load.

It comprises means for controlling the frequency of the distribution network, where the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid is regulated to a maximum value.

MODIFIED CO2 CYCLE FOR LONG ENDURANCE UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES AND RESULTANT CHIRP ACOUSTIC CAPABILITY
20170283021 · 2017-10-05 ·

A carbon dioxide cycle power generation system includes storage collectively storing portions of carbon dioxide liquid and gas and a transfer connection selectively directing flow of the carbon dioxide through a turbine. The system cycles between different seawater depths in order to employ at least one of seawater pressure and seawater temperature in creating the carbon dioxide flow. Inlet/outlet control valves on variable volume tanks, positioned below movable pistons within the respective tank, selectively allow seawater into or out of a lower portion of the respective tank below the piston to pressurize the carbon dioxide therein relative to the carbon dioxide within the other tank when at depth rather than near the surface. Inhibited versus uninhibited heat transfer between storage portions and the seawater allows different seawater temperatures at depth and near the surface to create the carbon dioxide flow. Acoustic communications may be driven concurrent with the turbine.

MODIFIED CO2 CYCLE FOR LONG ENDURANCE UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES AND RESULTANT CHIRP ACOUSTIC CAPABILITY
20170283021 · 2017-10-05 ·

A carbon dioxide cycle power generation system includes storage collectively storing portions of carbon dioxide liquid and gas and a transfer connection selectively directing flow of the carbon dioxide through a turbine. The system cycles between different seawater depths in order to employ at least one of seawater pressure and seawater temperature in creating the carbon dioxide flow. Inlet/outlet control valves on variable volume tanks, positioned below movable pistons within the respective tank, selectively allow seawater into or out of a lower portion of the respective tank below the piston to pressurize the carbon dioxide therein relative to the carbon dioxide within the other tank when at depth rather than near the surface. Inhibited versus uninhibited heat transfer between storage portions and the seawater allows different seawater temperatures at depth and near the surface to create the carbon dioxide flow. Acoustic communications may be driven concurrent with the turbine.

Carbon negative energy generation system

A method for energy generation includes receiving, at a carbon negative energy generation system, input including calcium oxide and water and reacting, within a reaction chamber of the carbon negative energy generation system, the calcium oxide and water to release energy and generate calcium hydroxide. The method further includes directing, by the carbon negative energy generation system, the released energy to facilitate propulsion or onboard electricity generation and dispensing, by the carbon negative energy generation system, the calcium hydroxide into the ocean to sequester atmospheric CO.sub.2.

Carbon negative energy generation system

A method for energy generation includes receiving, at a carbon negative energy generation system, input including calcium oxide and water and reacting, within a reaction chamber of the carbon negative energy generation system, the calcium oxide and water to release energy and generate calcium hydroxide. The method further includes directing, by the carbon negative energy generation system, the released energy to facilitate propulsion or onboard electricity generation and dispensing, by the carbon negative energy generation system, the calcium hydroxide into the ocean to sequester atmospheric CO.sub.2.

COLD RECOVERY FACILITY AND MARINE VESSEL

A cold recovery facility includes: a first fuel tank configured to store a first fuel in liquid state; a second fuel tank configured to store a second fuel in liquid state having a liquefaction temperature higher than the liquefaction temperature of the first fuel; a first circuit configured to circulate a first medium; a first expansion turbine provided on the first circuit and configured to expand the first medium in gaseous state; a first heat exchanger provided downstream of the first expansion turbine on the first circuit and configured to condense the first medium; a pump provided downstream of the first heat exchanger on the first circuit and configured to boost the first medium; a second heat exchanger provided downstream of the pump on the first circuit and configured to vaporize the first medium; and a third heat exchanger provided downstream of the second heat exchanger and upstream of the first expansion turbine on the first circuit, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to vaporize the first fuel by heat exchange between the first fuel in liquid state from the first fuel tank and the first medium, and the third heat exchanger is configured to vaporize the second fuel by heat exchange between the second fuel in liquid state from the second fuel tank and the first medium.

COLD ENERGY RECOVERY FACILITY AND MARINE VESSEL

A cold energy recovery facility includes a liquid hydrogen tank configured to store liquid hydrogen a first circuit configured to circulate a first working medium, a second circuit configured to circulate a second working medium having a freezing point higher than the first working medium, a first turboexpander provided in the first circuit, the first turboexpander being configured to be driven by the first working medium in a gas state, a second turboexpander provided in the second circuit, the second turboexpander being configured to be driven by the second working medium in a gas state, a first heat exchanger configured to vaporize the liquid hydrogen from the liquid hydrogen tank by heat exchange with the first working medium, a second heat exchanger configured to vaporize the first working medium in a liquid state by heat exchange with the second working medium, and a third heat exchanger configured to vaporize the second working medium in a liquid state by heat exchange with a heat medium, wherein the first circuit and the first turboexpander form a part of a first thermodynamic cycle that uses the liquid hydrogen as a low-temperature heat source in the first heat exchanger, and the second circuit and the second turboexpander form a part of a second thermodynamic cycle that uses the first working medium as a low-temperature heat source in the second heat exchanger.

COLD HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL OR FLOATING BODY

A cold heat recovery system includes a first cold heat recovery cycle including a first expansion turbine and configured to circulate a first heat medium, a second cold heat recovery cycle including a second expansion turbine and configured to circulate a second heat medium, a first heat exchanger provided on a downstream side of the first expansion turbine on the first cold heat recovery cycle and configured to transfer cold energy from a first fuel to the first heat medium, a second heat exchanger configured to transfer cold energy from a second fuel to the first fuel flowing on a downstream side of the first heat exchanger and reliquefy the first fuel, and a third heat exchanger provided on a downstream side of the second expansion turbine on the second cold heat recovery cycle and configured to transfer cold energy to the second heat medium from the first fuel flowing on a downstream side of the second heat exchanger.