Systems and methods for harnessing thermal gradient energy
A method and system of generating electrical power or hydrogen from thermal energy is disclosed. The method includes adding heat to (or removing heat from) a salinity gradient generator configured to generate a more concentrated and a less concentrated saline solution. The method further includes drawing the more concentrated saline solution and the less concentrated saline solution from the salinity gradient generator and feeding the more concentrated saline solution and the less concentrated saline solution into a power generator. Feeding the saline solutions into the power generator causes the power generator to receive the saline solutions and generate power by performing a controlled mixing of the more concentrated saline solution and the less concentrated saline solution. The method further includes drawing, from the power generator, a combined saline solution comprising the mixed saline solutions and feeding the combined saline solution to the salinity gradient generator.
1 . A method of generating electricity, the method comprising:
applying heat to a first external side of a reservoir of a thermal diffusion unit;
generating a thermal gradient across the reservoir by removing heat from an opposing second external side of the reservoir, whereby a cooler internal region is developed inside the reservoir and a warmer internal region is developed inside the reservoir;
using the thermal gradient to cause (i) solutes in a saline solution to move to the cooler internal region inside the reservoir and (ii) solvent molecules in the saline solution to accumulate in the warmer internal region inside the reservoir, resulting in separation of a first saline solution and a second saline solution within the reservoir, wherein the first saline solution is more concentrated with saline than the second saline solution;
drawing the first saline solution from the thermal diffusion unit;
drawing the second saline solution from the thermal diffusion unit; and
feeding the first saline solution and the second saline solution into the power generator;
operating the power generator to:
receive the first saline solution and the second saline solution; and
generate power by performing a controlled mixing of the first saline solution and the second saline solution;
drawing, from the power generator, a combined saline solution comprising the first saline solution mixed with the second saline solution; and
feeding the combined saline solution to the thermal diffusion unit.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding, as needed, makeup water to the reservoir.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein feeding the first saline solution and the second saline solution into the power generator comprises feeding the first saline solution and the second saline solution into a reverse electrodialysis unit.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) system.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the heat to the reservoir comprises adding geothermal heat to the thermal diffusion unit.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the power generator to generate power comprises causing the power generator to generate the electricity.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising using a portion of the generated electricity to produce hydrogen gas through electrolysis.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heat is added to or removed from the reservoir of the thermal diffusion unit by controlling a valve system comprising a multi- zone box to control temperature in multiple spaces.