The thermal buoyancy engine system includes a pressure vessel 18, a high-low hydraulic pressure conversion unit in the pressure vessel, a heat exchanger 1 connected to the high-low hydraulic pressure conversion unit, outer oil bladder 4, inner oil bladder 17, and accumulator 11. There may be phase change material (PCM) in the heat exchanger and hydraulic oil in the phase change material. The high-low hydraulic pressure conversion unit may include a single-acting low-pressure cylinder 7 and a double-acting high-pressure cylinder 10 with fixed relative positions, a hydraulic rod 8 between the cylinders and a carrying bracket 19 for fixing the cylinders. The double-acting high-pressure cylinder may be connected with the inner oil bladder and the accumulator, which may contain high-pressure nitrogen. The design of the high-low hydraulic pressure conversion unit of the invention can effectively achieve the conversion of the hydraulic oil from high pressure to low pressure, so as to achieve the increase of the buoyancy change capability. A method of operating the system is also disclosed.
A new thermal buoyancy engine and its control method
19.01.2022
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch