The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 05, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2009
Richard L. Henderson, Portland, OR (US);
Richard L. Henderson, Portland, OR (US);
Other;
Abstract
A horizontal structure defines an expansive floating solar pond underlain by an open-ended chamber, and a distributed network of heat engines produce electricity based on the temperature differential between the heated solar pond water and ambient seawater. Each heat engine includes a heat exchanger disposed near the bottom of the solar pond, a working fluid boiler at least partially submerged in the solar pond, a turbine-generator, and a working vapor condenser disposed under the solar pond in the open-ended chamber. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger and the boiler to vaporize working fluid for powering the turbine-generator, and cold ambient seawater is passed through the condenser to condense working vapor downstream of the turbine-generator. Warmed seawater from the condenser is exhausted into the open-ended chamber, where it is naturally retained by convection to minimize heat transfer from the solar pond to the ambient seawater.