Granted Patent B2

US 12,726,078 · App. 18/700,467 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventor: Darryl Weflen (Edmonton, CA)

H02K7/183F28F13/00

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . A system for generating power, the system comprising:

a) a first heat exchanger disposed in a first temperature zone, the first heat exchanger configured as a thermal sink, the first heat exchanger comprising a first inlet and a first outlet;

b) a second heat exchanger disposed in a second temperature zone for absorbing heat, the second heat exchanger comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet operatively coupled to the first outlet via a first conduit, and wherein there is a temperature differential between the first and second temperature zones;

c) a turbine comprising a third inlet and a third outlet, the third inlet operatively coupled to the second outlet via a second conduit, the turbine comprising a rotating turbine shaft disposed therein, the third outlet operatively coupled to the first inlet via a third conduit;

d) thermo-dynamic fluid disposed in the system, wherein the thermo-dynamic fluid flows through the first and second heat exchangers, through the first, second, and third conduits, and through the turbine due solely to convective flow caused by the temperature differential of the thermo-dynamic fluid between the first and second temperature zones and without aid of a pump pumping the thermo-dynamic fluid;

e) a one-way check valve disposed in the third conduit, the one-way valve configured to only allow flow of the thermo-dynamic fluid through the third conduit from the third outlet to the first inlet; and

f) wherein the thermo-dynamic fluid is heated by the second heat exchanger as it passes through the second heat exchanger; and

g) wherein the heated thermo-dynamic fluid exits the second outlet and enters the third inlet to rotate the rotating turbine shaft of the turbine before exiting the third outlet; and

h) wherein the thermo-dynamic fluid exiting the third outlet passes through the one-way check valve to enter the first heat exchanger to be cooled as the thermo-dynamic fluid flows through the first heat exchanger.

2 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an expansion tank disposed in the third conduit, the expansion tank configured to maintain the thermo-dynamic fluid at a predetermined minimum pressure.

3 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a thermally-controlled valve disposed in the third conduit.

4 . The system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the thermally-controlled valve is configured to control the flow of the thermo-dynamic fluid based on a temperature of the thermo-dynamic fluid in one or both of the first and second heat exchangers.

5 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a cut-off valve disposed in or more of the first, second and third conduits.

6 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an air vent valve disposed in the third conduit, the air vent valve configured for removing air trapped within the system.

7 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a connection fitting disposed in the third conduit, the connection fitting configured for ingress of the thermo-dynamic fluid into the system.

8 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an electrical generator operatively coupled to the rotating turbine shaft, whereupon rotation of the rotating turbine shaft thereby results in the electrical generator producing electrical power therefrom.

9 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising rotating machinery operatively coupled to the rotating turbine shaft, whereupon rotation of the rotating turbine shaft results in rotational power being transferred therefrom to the rotating machinery.

10 . A method for generating power, comprising:

a) thermo-dynamic fluid flowing through a first heat exchanger disposed in a first temperature zone, the first heat exchanger configured as a thermal sink to cool the thermo-dynamic fluid;

b) the cooled thermo-dynamic fluid flowing through a first conduit to a second heat exchanger disposed in a second temperature zone for absorbing heat, wherein there is a temperature differential between the first and second temperature zones, the second heat exchanger heating the thermo-dynamic fluid as it flows therethrough;

c) the heated thermo-dynamic fluid flowing through a second conduit to and then through a turbine to rotate a rotating turbine shaft;

d) the thermo-dynamic fluid flowing through a one-way check valve disposed in a third conduit after exiting the turbine, the one-way check valve configured to prevent the thermo-dynamic fluid exiting from the turbine from flowing back into the turbine;

e) the thermo-dynamic fluid then flowing from the one-way check valve through the third conduit to the first heat exchanger; and

f) cooling the thermo-dynamic fluid as it flows through the first heat exchanger, the flow of the thermo-dynamic fluid through the first heat exchanger, the first conduit, the second heat exchanger, the second conduit, the turbine, the one-way check valve, and the third conduit due solely to convective flow caused by the temperature differential of the thermo-dynamic fluid between the first and second temperature zones and without aid of a pump pumping the thermo-dynamic fluid.

11 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising passing the thermo-dynamic fluid exiting the one-way check valve through a thermally-controlled valve before the thermo-dynamic fluid is returned to the first heat exchanger, the thermally-controlled valve controlled to control the flow of the thermo-dynamic fluid based on a temperature thereof in one or both of the first and second heat exchangers.

12 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising rotating an electrical generator with the rotating turbine shaft thereby resulting in the electrical generator producing electrical power.

13 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising coupling rotating machinery to the rotating turbine shaft, whereupon rotating the rotating turbine shaft results in rotational power being transferred therefrom to the rotating machinery.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (86)