Composite hybrid inductive layered electric generator
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for generating electricity using a thermodynamic inductor formed from a thermodynamic conductor winding that converts heat into a dynamic magnetic field density within the winding, inducing a current in the winding, which is electric power for loads. The winding may be a composite, including a coaxial arrangement of two or more superconducting layers. The first layer has a low critical magnetic field. When the field in the thermodynamic layer increases, the layer transitions to the intermediate state, cooling from the entropy increase, and absorbing heat. Subsequently when the field decreases, the layer resumes superconductivity, increasing available energy which is used to expel the field and induce generated electricity. The second conductive layer in the winding, in electrical contact with the first, remains in the superconducting state, reducing heating. A connected capacitor provides L-C oscillations and energy storage, maintaining cyclical operation, and powers connected and dissipating loads.
1 . A method of operation of a composite hybrid inductive layered electric generator to implement a cyclical process, comprising:
disposing a magnetic field at a thermodynamic conductor winding, wound into a thermodynamic inductor disposed inside a cryostat, the winding contiguous with and electrically connected to a conductor having an electrical resistance less than or equal to the winding,
increasing the magnetic field above a critical field of the winding,
penetrating the winding with the magnetic field,
transferring heat from a heat source outside the cryostat to the winding, decreasing the magnetic field below the critical field of the winding, expelling the magnetic field from the winding,
generating an electric power in the winding,
transferring the electric power to a load circuit disposed substantially outside the cryostat,
increasing the electric power transferred to the load circuit when an internal temperature of the cryostat is increasing, and
decreasing the electric power transferred to the load circuit when the internal temperature of the cryostat is decreasing.
2 . A method of operation of a composite hybrid inductive layered electric generator to implement a cyclical process, comprising:
disposing a magnetic field at a thermodynamic conductor winding, wound into a thermodynamic inductor, the winding contiguous with and electrically connected to a flux trapping conductor,
increasing the magnetic field above a critical field of the winding,
penetrating the winding with the magnetic field,
absorbing heat in the winding,
exceeding a lower critical current characteristic of the flux trapping conductor, trapping a trapped magnetic field within the flux trapping conductor, disposing a reversed polarity magnetic field at the winding,
opposing the trapped magnetic field with the reversed polarity field, decreasing the magnetic field below the critical field of the winding, expelling the magnetic field from the winding, and
generating an electric power in the winding.
3 . A method of operation of a composite hybrid inductive layered electric generator to implement a cyclical process, comprising:
disposing a magnetic field at a thermodynamic conductor winding, wound into a thermodynamic inductor,
increasing the magnetic field above a critical field of the winding,
expanding the magnetic field outward,
penetrating the winding with the magnetic field,
absorbing heat in the winding,
decreasing the magnetic field below the critical field of the winding,
expelling the magnetic field from the winding,
compressing the magnetic field inward, and
generating electric power in the winding.
4 . A method of converting heat gradients to electricity, the method comprising:
providing a thermodynamic conductor winding,
providing a flux trapping conductor,
generating a magnetic field above a critical field of the winding,
penetrating the winding with the magnetic field,
absorbing heat in the winding,
measuring current within the flux trapping conductor,
trapping a trapped field within the flux trapping conductor,
disposing a reversed polarity magnetic field at the winding,
opposing the trapped field with the reversed polarity field,
decreasing the generated magnetic field below the critical field of the winding, expelling the magnetic field from the winding, and
generating an electric power in the winding.
5 . The method of converting heat gradients to electricity of claim 4 , wherein said heat gradients comprise a difference between an ambient temperature and a temperature of the winding.
6 . The method of converting heat gradients to electricity of claim 4 , the thermodynamic conductor winding comprises a thermodynamic inductor.
7 . The method of converting heat gradients to electricity of claim 4 , wherein the measuring of current within the flux trapping conductor continues until the measurement exceeds a lower critical current characteristic of the flux trapping conductor.
8 . The method of converting heat gradients to electricity of claim 4 , further comprising adding a heat source.
9 . The method of converting heat gradients to electricity of claim 4 , further comprising a heat source which comprises a radioisotope.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said heat source comprises a radioisotope.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said load comprises a battery and said battery provides startup energy as well as is recharged by the generator.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said load comprises an electric heater located within the generator.
13 . The method of claim 1 , excluding a cryogenic pump or waste heat sink.
14 . The method of claim 2 wherein a single conductor comprises the winding, and a first fraction of a volume of each turn of the winding is adapted to be quenched while a second fraction of the volume of each turn of the winding remains in a superconducting state.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein said single conductor comprises a superconductor.