Power generation systems based on thermal differences using slow-motion high-force energy conversion

1. An apparatus comprising:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter extends lengthwise from an end of the cylinder and is adjacent to the piston, the converter comprising:

a chain coupled to a portion of the piston that remains outside the cylinder, the chain configured to rotate based on the linear movement of the piston; and

a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the converter further comprises a rigid frame, the gearbox coupled to the rigid frame; and

the chain is securely routed around multiple sides of the gearbox within the rigid frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox comprises a multi-stage set of gears.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a body configured to contain the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator;

wherein the first and second tanks are positioned on opposite sides of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a flow of the refrigerant between the first tank and the first volume of the cylinder and a flow of the refrigerant between the second tank and the second volume of the cylinder are based on at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks.

6. An apparatus comprising:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter comprises:

a ball screw coupled to the piston, the ball screw configured to move along a ball screw shaft based on the linear movement of the piston and cause rotation of the ball screw shaft;

a chain configured to be rotated by the ball screw shaft; and

a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the converter further comprises:

a first sprocket coupled to the ball screw shaft and configured to rotate the chain; and

a second sprocket coupled to a shaft of the gearbox and configured to be rotated by the chain, the second sprocket having a smaller size than the first sprocket.

8. An apparatus comprising:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion;

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion; and

a body configured to contain the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator;

wherein the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator are collinear in the body.

9. A system comprising:

a vehicle comprising a body and a power generation system;

wherein the power generation system comprises:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter extends lengthwise from an end of the cylinder and is adjacent to the piston, the converter comprising:

a chain coupled to a portion of the piston that remains outside the cylinder, the chain configured to rotate based on the linear movement of the piston; and

a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the converter further comprises a rigid frame, the gearbox coupled to the rigid frame; and

the chain is securely routed around multiple sides of the gearbox within the rigid frame.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second tanks are positioned on opposite sides of the body.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein a flow of the refrigerant between the first tank and the first volume of the cylinder and a flow of the refrigerant between the second tank and the second volume of the cylinder are based on at least one of a temperature differential and a pressure differential between the tanks.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle comprises an underwater vehicle.

14. A system comprising:

a vehicle comprising a body and a power generation system;

wherein the power generation system comprises:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the converter comprises:

a ball screw coupled to the piston, the ball screw configured to move along a ball screw shaft based on the linear movement of the piston and cause rotation of the ball screw shaft;

a chain configured to be rotated by the ball screw shaft; and

a gearbox configured to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the generator configured to produce the electrical power based on the faster rotational motion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gearbox comprises a multi-stage set of gears.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the converter further comprises:

a first sprocket coupled to the ball screw shaft and configured to rotate the chain; and

a second sprocket coupled to a shaft of the gearbox and configured to be rotated by the chain, the second sprocket having a smaller size than the first sprocket.

17. A system comprising:

a vehicle comprising a body and a power generation system;

wherein the power generation system comprises:

first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure;

a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein the first and second tanks, the cylinder, the piston, the converter, and the generator are collinear in the body.

18. A method comprising:

creating flows of refrigerant between first and second tanks and first and second volumes of a cylinder, each of the first and second tanks configured to receive and store the refrigerant under pressure, the cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

moving a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

translating linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

producing electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein translating the linear movement of the piston into the rotational motion comprises using a converter that extends lengthwise from an end of the cylinder and is adjacent to the piston, wherein using the converter comprises:

rotating a chain coupled to a portion of the piston, which remains outside the cylinder, based on the linear movement of the piston; and

using a gearbox to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the electrical power produced based on the faster rotational motion.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the gearbox is coupled to a rigid frame of the converter; and

the chain is securely routed around multiple sides of the gearbox within the rigid frame.

20. A method comprising:

creating flows of refrigerant between first and second tanks and first and second volumes of a cylinder, each of the first and second tanks configured to receive and store the refrigerant under pressure, the cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks;

moving a piston passing into the cylinder and comprising a head, the head dividing the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank;

translating linear movement of the piston into rotational motion; and

producing electrical power based on the rotational motion;

wherein translating the linear movement of the piston into the rotational motion comprises:

moving a ball screw coupled to the piston along a ball screw shaft to cause rotation of the ball screw shaft;

rotating a chain using the ball screw shaft; and

using a gearbox to convert a slower rotational motion of the chain into a faster rotational motion, the electrical power produced based on the faster rotational motion.